We are interested in purchasing a GPS for our summer trip to Paris and Rome. Which one would you suggest. Thanks

TomTom. I loved my Garmin on our recent trip to the U.S., but it does not work well in Europe.

Make sure to buy a GPS that has all Europe and North America maps installed.

My Garmin Nuvi 370 (with both US and Europe maps) worked great throughout France last summer. We used it in cities (e.g., Paris) as we walked all over the city as well as when we were driving in Provence and the Côte d'Azur.

Sam

My question - do you plan on driving in Paris and Rome?? Not usually advised nor necessary.

Or are you talking about driving from Paris to Rome? How long is your trip - that is a looooong drive.

If you have the iPhone, or certain models of the BlackBerry, then you wouldn't have a need for an additional GPS unit when you're out for a walk. The iPhone can pinpoint your location using the Maps application if you just want to find out where you are at any given time.

The BlackBerry (through T-Mobile) has an excellent mapping system and route finder. It also has an active GPS system, but it costs extra to activate.

You can also use both if driving and need to plan your route.

The Garmin Nuvi GPS units with a 7 as the middle number (270, 370, 670 ETC.) have European maps as well as US maps so you can use them on your trip and at home. I got my 270 from Costco.com for about $200 and I love it. The only thing it doesn't have is street names. The voice (in about any language you want will say, "turn left in 1/4 mile" asopposed to, "turn left in 1/2 mile on Main Street".

<i>The iPhone can pinpoint your location using the Maps application if you just want to find out where you are at any given time</i>

Are you logging onto the internet to do this? If so, you'll be paying AT&amp;T's astronomical international roaming charges. If not....

maybe a dumb question - even if your GPS doesn't come loaded with European maps, can't you get them and install them? Would it then make sense to get an inexpensive GPS and only load the maps you need?

Momliz, I did the research and the cheap GPS with add-on maps was a more expensive option that the pre-loaded model I bought.

You can unlock the iPhone (using a new software program) and use it with the MoviStar system (you'll need a MoviStar sim card), or T-Mobile and download an application that allows you to use any open/free WiFi system without charge.

I bought a Garmin 360 a couple of years ago (did not come with European maps). I knew I wouldn't be to Europe for a couple of years and figured I'd just have to download a fresh map when I did go, so it wasn't worth the money at the time. I've loved it here in the states.

But yes....you can certainly purchase and install the European maps. I'm adding the latest Europe maps to my 360 (around $119) for a trip to France this year. If you have an older GPS without the Europe maps (or maybe outdated ones), I would just keep it and add the maps rather than buy a new one.

For Paris and Rome?

Is it for walking around in the city? If it's just walking, why not just get a good map for a fraction of the price of a GPS (plus much lighter and take up much less space in your luggage). For maps, I'm a dedicated fan of the Streetwise series.

Get a new Garmin, and make sure that it has turn advisorys spoken out, so you dont have to keep looking at the screen. Also the mopre expensive Garmins will speak out the street names, which is really nice, as &quot;turn left at the next intersection&quot; can sometimes mean 2-3 differernt streets.
Went all over Eurpe last year with the 670 Nuvi.

Thankyou for all the great information. Does anyone have any expierence with the TomTom GO 93OT.

I agree with Intex on getting one that speaks out the street names. My Garmin 360 does this very well.

The Garmin 370 does this and includes both NA and European maps....it's only $255 on Amazon (brand new).

Speaking of GPS, do the DC converters (state-side) work in European autos?

Garmin Nuvi 370 is a discontinued product. The pre-loaded maps are outdated. If you purchase it, you'll be spending extra $ to buy new maps for upload.

I thought pre-loaded maps could be updated for free, no?

Thanks for all the help. It looks like the Garmin 670 will be our choice. If anyone has more input please reply as we are not shopping for it for a few more weeks.

dorie:


you haven't answered whether the GPS is for the city or not....I'm wth yk above on this, always have been.

yk says:
&gt;&gt;&gt;For Paris and Rome?

Is it for walking around in the city? If it's just walking, why not just get a good map for a fraction of the price of a GPS (plus much lighter and take up much less space in your luggage). For maps, I'm a dedicated fan of the Streetwise series.&lt;&lt;&lt;

Streetwise can be purchased at Borders of B and N...small, plastic-coated, and readable. I'm perfectly content with good old fashioned road maps which I've used in driving dozens of foreign countries on 6 continents..yes, we've been lost a few times...so what? Most of those excursions turned into healthy experiences.
Rather than the mysterious strangers voice on the GPS, I listen to my co-pilot/navigator ...she's a lot more pleasant (and I can argue with her!!)

stu t.