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Best detailed maps

Hi,

Michelin seems to make the "best" maps - easy to read, detailed, both regional and city views, etc. Amazon sells them, but the ones I've seen listed are old, e.g., 2007.

Is there a reliable web site for ordering the latest maps, with all the different Michelin maps available (or another brand someone recommends), with a guarantee of getting the latest versions? I want to be able to see not only the main roads, but the back roads, as well.

Or is it better to wait until I'm over there, e.g., Catalonia, Provence, Côte d'Azur and buy them locally?

Thanks

Posted by
2261 posts

I see what you mean, on Amazon a lot of them show older dates, but I have a feeling that's the original publish date, plus, I'm not sure how much changes in some of those areas.
I found Michelin maps at Barnes & Noble, paid full price but I got to see it first, and they are indeed very good. Otherwise I dislike shopping at B & N since they sell memberships for you to get a better price on stuff, but our local one here does sell the Michelin line.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Michelin+maps+France

Posted by
1174 posts

Check out www.languagequest.com for a Feb 2014 Michelin Map France motoring atlas which is probably about as current as you can find, especially for one price. The motorways and back roads seldom change, if at all, in our experience. We had a Michelin map for Normandy but also had our own Garmin Nuvi with Europe maps loaded on it. Bought it on ebay. We found and save to favorites most of our hotels, museums we wanted to visit and even some rural cafes across Normandy and Brittany. Having the map and the GPS made our excursions trouble free. Having both prevented us from blindly following the GPS advice, which can sometimes take you down veritable cow paths if that "shortcut" is the shortest way to your destination.

Posted by
136 posts

Hi Dave. Thanks. I've been to the B&N stores but they have a limited selection. Michelin has some really good detailed maps, e.g., 339 Gard, Herault Michelin Local Map. I may just take a chance and order them online.

Posted by
10344 posts

There's a good selection of Michelin maps at expressway toll plazas.

Posted by
10117 posts

Can you wait to get the maps once you arrive, but use viamichelin.com for planning in advance? There have been several new autoroutes opened since 2007, but not in Provence, Cote d'Azur. I'm not sure about Catalonia--there is a newer autoroute from Paris going south, but I'm not sure when it opened.

Posted by
136 posts

All good suggestions. I like the idea of waiting until I get there and picking up maps at the toll plaza - that may work best, since they ought to have the latest ones. Thanks everyone.