My garmin is acting up, so I need a new one anyway. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good one that has either both US and European maps, or one I can add the European maps to that will actually work?
I've heard some people say that the micro SD cards didn't work on their system.
Also, how accurate are they? We mostly need it to get from Venice, through the Dolomites, maybe into Austria, and back to the Milan airport.
Thanks!!
I've used a Garmin Nuvi 1450 for each of the past 3 summers in Europe (Spain, Ireland, UK) with good results, it uses a micro-SD card for additional maps/memory. Since it's a few years old, it may no longer be available, but any comparable newer model would also have a micro-SD slot. I was able to get maps for most of Europe twice, first for about $25, and again for a few dollars more a few years later (to update). Accuracy was good, I didn't notice any problems. But it may want to send you down a road you're not comfortable with, so it shouldn't be a substitute for a good map and advance planning. I usually pre-program all my destinations and many of the specific routes before I go and have never had a problem with following them. If my planned route is not the most direct or shortest route, I progam the whole route and not just the destination.
We've used a Gamin for years in Europe - France and Spain. It has a "suction cup" that sticks to the windshield. We program the countries into it before we leave. No problems so far. I understand that a TomTom works better in Sicily for some reason.
Thanks for your responses. I was looking at Tom Tom too, but I've always used Garmin. I read that too about Tom Tom though.
One more thing - I heard that there are other companies than Garmin that sell the European Maps for the Garmin. Has anyone used them, and if so, are they good?
" I understand that a TomTom works better in Sicily for some reason."
You read that in my Sicily trip report. I can now confirm that it's true. My friend is going back to the agriturismo we went to last year (the Agricola Silvia Sillitti, report here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/sicily-caltanisetta-central-sicily-agrigurismo).
He put the GPS coordinates into both his Garmin and his new TomTom. When he did this on the Garmin, it showed a blank spot, with no roads. When he did this on the TomTom, he can see the farmhouse and roads leading to it.
However, he had no problems using the same Garmin in Greece.
He bought the TomTom with both North American and European maps on Amazon, and said it was only a bit more expensive than one with NA only maps.
