I will be renting a car and driving for 2 weeks throughout the mainland of Greece. I am having difficulty finding recent road maps. Any suggestions of maps you have used in the past couple of years? I know there are downloadable ones but I'd like a paper copy. Amazon has some outdated ones...
Posted by
Detroit, MI
985 posts
Even if you buy a paper map up to 10 years old or even a few years older, it is almost certainly the case that all of the roads on the map still exist. In addition to paper maps, you could use a website like bing maps or google maps to help you decide which routes to take, then pick up a pencil and paper and write yourself a set of written directions. Put your written directions, along with your paper maps, printed confirmation of your airplane tickets, and typed itinerary, in a rigid plastic folder and pack it in your carry-on bag.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Aren't there some new roads since 2007? I have downloaded maps to have on my ipad, and plan to do just as you say on planning some routes beforehand. I also have had experience with outdated maps, GPS, and guidebooks that have not been accurate in my other European road trips. If I am incorrect about any new roads in Greece,I will purchase an older map from Amazon.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
The current edition of Michelin Greece (map 737) was published in 2012. I've been happy with that map in the past.
Posted by
Detroit, MI
985 posts
Is it possible that if a map maker has maps that are more than a few years old, but all the roads are still the same, the map maker doesn't feel the need to throw away the old maps, change the date to 2017, and print more copies which are the same but just with a more recent date? How did you figure out that the other paper maps you used in the past were inaccurate? (I am a librarian and my judgment is that) a paper road map should be approximately accurate enough even if it is up to 10 or 12 years old.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Mike,
While traveling in Spain and Portugal in June this year we were unable to find a marked highway on our old 2002 map. I like you assumed most roads would be the same. We had a GPS in our rental so that took care of the problem there. We did learn that the highway was new. By the way the highway systems in Spain and Portugal are great and uncrowded but have very high tolls. We like to mark each of our trips with our route so we can go back and review and advise others. This also helps when we are journaling our trip and planning each day the night before. We tend to travel on whims and enjoy the adventure of not "set in stone" plans.