Voice navigation

You should consider that your Iphone (or any phone) can potentially loose it's signal - and you would be out of luck. The other consideration is data charges/roaming which can add up when using your phone.

Rather than rent a navigation system with your car, it might be better to just buy one - which you can then use anywhere.

unless you have a data connection, no voice directions are available on any map program you use. Are you driving alone? I get my voice navigation from my wife ...who is looking at Google Maps

I guess the question comes down to how reliable is the data connectivity for iPhone's in Sicily?? We will be traveling from Palermo to Cefalu to Ragusa and then to Siracusa for two weeks. Do you think I need a GPS system (whether rented or brought with me) as a backup or is the IPhone with Google map, Waze, etc. loaded be enough?
Thanks

Thanks and I would look into your suggestions about other apps for the IPhone.

We have used a phone-base GPS in Italy and the biggest problem was understanding what the voice instructions were saying. They were in English, but could not handle the Italian pronunciations so it was difficult (and amusing) to understand mispronounced street names. We always say it takes two to navigate, even with GPS. Do you have a travel partner?

Yep, my wife. But I think that the "voice" will be the same with either the Google app on the CP or the "voice" on the GPS system that I either bring or rent with the rental car, right??
My wife and I don't speak Italian YET!!:-)
By the way, what phone based GPS did you use??
Thanks

We just used the Nav app on our Android phones. We did buy a TomTom that worked great even in remote areas and "her" pronunciation was better. Still it is good if your partner can have a visual on key turns and interpret what is on the screen with what the road signs may say.

Hi,
One final question, I hope.
I have been told that voice/audio does not work with Google Map on IPhone. In other words, it will provide the street guidance but not the voice/audio guidance.
Any thoughts??
Thanks

I believe that iPhones starting with the iPhone 4 have a GPS chip. Using google maps it's possible to download maps so that you don't need data but I think you need to login to to download. I can't help with the voice prompts.

At home the voice prompts work but I find it's not loud enough from the phone's speaker. I have to hook it up to the audio system via Bluetooth.

"I have been told that voice/audio does not work with Google Map on IPhone."

Rubbish! I used my iPhone with Google Maps for a longer trip the other day, and it was providing very clear voice directions. It may be slightly dependent on which version iPhone you're using, but I haven't found a lack of service with an iPhone 6S. Voice instructions may require the use of cellular data.

As you'll be driving in Italy, I assume you're aware of the usual potentially expensive caveats. Each driver listed on the rental form will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. You'll also have to be extremely vigilant to avoid the dreaded ZTL (limited traffic) areas which exist in many cities. Hefty fines will result for each pass through one of these areas.

I should have added "in Sicily". Google Maps works fine in the States or in Canada but I have been told that "in Sicily", for some reason, the voice/audio does not work. Has anyone else experienced this using the Google Maps on IPhone in Sicily?? Also, any experience with Waze in Sicily??
I am aware of the importance of recognizing and avoiding ZTL zones when possible.
Thanks

Thanks for the clarification. The only potential issue that I can think of is that Google Maps may have problems pronouncing the Italian towns, street names or whatever when the phone is set for English. That's certainly been the case with my older Garmin Nüvi when I've used it in various countries in Europe.

If you'll have a data plan when you're travelling, give it a try. However it would be a good idea to pack along a good map for backup.

O.K. I already have a few good maps for backup and also since I will traveling amongst major towns i.e. Palermo, Ragusa, Modica and Siracusa, etc., then as long as I have a good International Data plan, I should be fine.
Thanks for all of your inputs.

I used Google Maps last year when we drove throughout Tuscany, Lake Garda and down to Rome. Voice guidance worked flawlessly. The only thing my husband didn't like is that Google Maps doesn't have lane assist which he is used to from our built-in navy in our cars and also with our Garmin. He was worried that Google Maps wouldn't work as well as our Garmin and insisted on bringing it but it sat in our luggage the entire trip once he saw how reliable Google Maps was.

Thanks Sheron. Good information.

It worked for us in Puglia and Tuscany, so I see no reason why it would not in Sicily (though sometimes the service dropped--in the part of Tuscany we were in, less so in Puglia, surprisingly). With our T-mobile plan, there was no cost to use google maps to navigate. Husband drove and I held the phone, but we had GPS in our rental as a backup. It was especially helpful with the traffic circles! Agree about the garbled pronunciation, so it's best to have your wife assist.

Was the GPS or Google Map helpful in traffic circles?? I wasn't sure which one you were referring to.
Did you use GPS at all or just used Google map for everything?
Thanks

Sorry--we used both, but I especially liked the way google maps showed little illustrations of the circles and said "take the X exit"--as it was not always clear. once you entered the circle. The phone gave me time to visualize and direct the driver to the correct exit.

OK. Thanks again.