GPS recommendations?

Posted by Theresa on 03/22/15 03:14 PM

Hi- We'll be headed to Italy in May and plan to drive to the Dolomites. We need a new GPS anyway, so I was wondering if there are any that you recommend. I'd like to stick with Garmin, if possible. I looked at mine, and it doesn't look like it even had the slot for the micro SD card to load the European maps, so I was thinking of maybe seeing if there was a Garmin that was pre-loaded with both US and European maps that was a good one. Seems a cheaper route than loading them after the fact.

Any recommendations would be appreciated!!

Thanks!

Posted by Harold

New York, NY, USA

03/22/15 10:28 PM

11294 posts

When we were in Sicily, we were told by one agriturismo operator that while a TomTom would work to get us to her house, a Garmin would not. We thought this was an exaggeration, but it turned out to be true - the Garmin simply didn't know the roads right around her house. It knew most of the rest of the roads we needed.

Mindful of this, the friend who went with me on that trip just bought a new TomTom on Amazon that came preloaded with North American and European maps, and said it wasn't much more expensive than one with just North American maps. I don't know the model, but see if an Amazon search will turn up something suitable.

Posted by Roberto da Firenze ⚜

San Francisco Bay Area (USA)

03/23/15 12:10 AM

15266 posts

For Europe maybe TomTom is better (more accurate). That's what most people have overthere. Garmin would also work, for the most part.

Posted by Archimedes

Fairfax, Virginia

03/23/15 01:47 AM

331 posts

I've had good experience with a Garmin Nuvi andthe Europe maps, it's worked well in Spain, Ireland and the UK and I will be using it again in Italy this summer. It wasn't pre-loaded with European maps, but it has an SD card slot and the maps are available on in that format.

Posted by Bill

Newton, MA, USA

03/23/15 02:13 AM

55 posts

Garmin maps are also downloadable. You connect the GPS to your PC with a USB cable and transfer the map from Garmin's website.

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

03/23/15 02:24 AM

23341 posts

You will need someway to update your maps - either a SD card or usb. Maps are not static.

Posted by Carol

Martinez, CA, USA

03/23/15 06:09 PM

1512 posts

We also use a Garmin Nuvi that was preloaded with European maps. We have used it in Sicily, Greece, Turkey, France, and other countries but have not used it in mainland Italy. Pretty sure it would work as well as TomTom. We have always printed out driving directions from either google or viamichelin as a backup. One time the cigarette lighter in the rental car did not work and the battery died as we were driving. Luckily we had the printed directions.