Sat Nav

[grantforrest]

Last time I was in Orlando I got horribly lost from Orlando International going to All Star Movies and after a flight just got myself very stressed

Obviously not wanting to do that again - this time will be looking at staying at Pop Century I think and will be coming from Sanford so to be better prepared I have been looking at a sat nav. I use a Garmin in the UK which is absolutely fine most of the time but what is the easiest way to do this as we plan to spend a but of time out in the car this time going to Busch Gardens, Gatorland etc?

Should I get one over here, use my iPhone, get one from car hire company.....I really have no idea to be honest!!

 

[wayneg]

Is your own able to accept new US maps? I have no idea about Garmin. With Tom Tom you can just buy the US maps to use on your own unit.

You can buy in Walmart once you are there(doesn't help from the airport) they sell from about £50-60 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tomtom-One-140S-Portable-Gps/11020909

Buy from ebay incl US maps, usually from around £50 used £80 refurbed.

Either of these if you don't want them after your holiday sell on ebay you should get your money back more or less.

Last option renting, UK rental is a little cheaper, US car hire companies about £30-35/week(not priced up recently) either option its cheaper to buy, renting is expensive plus insurance doesn't always cover Satnav.

No idea about iphone, do they need network connection? that would be mega expensive.

 

[Cyrano]

There is a thread on UK Comms here that I am sure will be of interest

 

[grantforrest]

There is a thread on UK Comms here that I am sure will be of interest

Hiya - yes I did see that thread and while it touched on what I was asking there didn't seem to be a definitive answer. I think I will look into trying to upgrade my Garmin (not sure if its possible as I know I have UK and Europe on it) and also look at iphone apps as well.....

 

[grantforrest]

Just saw a TomTom app for US and Canada in the app store for £29.99 - that looks as if it may do the trick but the only thing I am worried about with the iphone is where to store it when driving or are there cradles you can buy?

 

[All Star Paul]

Just saw a TomTom app for US and Canada in the app store for £29.99 - that looks as if it may do the trick but the only thing I am worried about with the iphone is where to store it when driving or are there cradles you can buy?

As Wayne mentioned I would check the cost of using an iphone for sat sav, the normal roaming costs are pretty steep.

 

[disneydaft]

I just put copilot on my iphone last night. It was only £2.99 for the whole of the USA.

I'll post my experiences of it when we get back. It will be my first time driving over there as well as the first time driving an auto.

 

[grantforrest]

From what I can see the TomTom app installs on the iphone in its entirety so no need for connection or data usage - it just uses the GPS receiver in the phone.

 

[les2425]

hi i just bought a american sat nav on ebay this year it cost me £40.00 just been for a few weeks.
not bad really when hire for 2 weeks is £80 +£250 if it get damage or goes missing.
Give the bay a go.

Les

 

[grantforrest]

I just put copilot on my iphone last night. It was only £2.99 for the whole of the USA.

I'll post my experiences of it when we get back. It will be my first time driving over there as well as the first time driving an auto.

Copilot looks excellent and seems to get very good reviews! Please do let me know how you get on with it - the only other thing that may concern me is whether the volume on the iphone is loud enough

 

[luke]

I used TomTom US and Canada on my iphone4 this year - perfect!
Even times when I thought I knew better a followed the instructions and it got me everywhere I asked of it!
As for a cradle, I just had DW hold it

 

[henryk67]

I have a Garmin 255 with UK & Europe maps and just bought US maps on a SD card from ebay for £30 to use for our trip next month.