We are renting a car through AutoEurope.com for a summer trip to Portugal. We have smartphones and are comfortable using the navigation on our phones but are wondering if it makes sense to also rent a GPS device? Or is using one's smartphone apps sufficient? AutoEurope charges $40 USD to mail the unit to us and then there's a daily charge as well.
Wendy
Do you use your phones for GPS at home? If so, why wouldn't you use them in Portugal? It will work the same way, except the units will be kilometers not miles, etc.
The only concern with a smart phone in Europe is the mobile data you might use. Many GPS-type apps have "offline" modes that let you download the maps ahead of time. Google Maps "offline" does for example. Then you can download the map while on WiFi and keep the phone in airplane mode while you drive if you want. if you use Google Maps, try it out "offline" at home to see how it works. It's a little different from the "regular" Google Maps.
But if you will have mobile data in Portugal on your phones, no worries - it will work there like it works here. Do bring a mobile charger ("cigarette lighter" power port) like you would use in a car at home. GPS can eat the battery quickly on a smart phone. Some newer cars have USB charging ports but I wouldn't count on it - would bring your own car charger/USB charging adapter for a cigarette lighter port instead. Their cars use the same cigarette lighter port that is used in US cars.
I always use the app Copilot in Europe, which doesn’t use my data allowance. I used it this week in Portugal and it worked well. I prefer it to using Google maps.
CoPilot worked great for us in the UK in 2016. It routed us correctly through round abouts. You can run the app on both your iphone and ipad. It work well to have your live navigator hold it in his/her lap while providing that second set of eyes.
I have never used anything except my phone. A couple of times there was a GPS in the car that they said we could use, but we never programmed anything into it. I prefer my phone. My app is DRIVE, so I have to download maps before I leave home. Also, you might need to check to see if there is a charge in Europe. DRIVE has a charge, so I just used the map and directions features and didn't use the voice instructions.
We rented a car in Portugal last year and the rental company told us about a free navigation app to use while in Portugal. It is called MEO Drive and you get it from the App Store. It worked very well all over the country, gave us turn by turn instructions (in English!) and all completely offline. Most of the time we only had to enter the name of our next hotel and it gave us a choice of routes. You can also ask it to avoid toll roads if you wish. Don’t pay to rent a GPS!
We purchased a Garmin a few years ago prior to our road trip in southern France. The cost of the Garmin was slightly more than what the car rental agency was going to charge us. We have used the Garmin a lot since then so we have gotten our money’s worth.
many cars now have sat nav as standard,certainly the last couple of cars I have rented in the UK in the last few months had sat nav installed.
Auto Europe are having a laugh at that price,use your phone if no sat nav in the car.
I bought European maps and took my Garmin, then found that the rental car had one built in. Hardly used either. Used the iPhone 95% of the time.
The best smartphone navigation app is HERE WeGo
I have used it for several years in EU and America; it is very reliable and easy to use. It even works on cruise ships!
If you don't have a data plan when traveling, use wifi when it is available. Keep your cellular data turned off.
I use my iPhone for navigation. No need to spend extra money.
