which GPS device should i buy for my trip to orlando?

[disneyholic family]

I'm going to be doing a lot of driving in Orlando this time - on my own...
including into Orlando itself (to the medical center there)
scary!!

so with no one to read the map and navigate while i drive, i figure my best bet is a GPS device...something i've never used before...i've never even looked at one....but it seems like a good idea for driving on my own to areas of orlando i've never dared venture...

i thought i could buy one when i get to orlando - maybe at walmart?

but i know less than nothing about what's available..

i'd love to hear your recommendations - pros and cons..
what you think is the best GPS device and why..
or if not the best one, the one that would be easiest for me to use in orlando...

and i do mean easy to use - i'm not completely techno-challenged, but easier is better!!

thanks in advance!!

 

[dalt01]

i was all set to say, 95 south to 4 west and take a right at The Crossroads and then you said downtown orlando anyway my daughter swears by Garmin and she is a manager for Best Buy.

 

[FireDancer]

It really depends on what you are going to use it for after the trip that will determine which to buy. If you are due for a cell phone upgrade the best turn by turn navigation you will find is an Android phone running 2.x software. Nothing beats the Google turn by turn directions. The have separate walking, biking, and in some cities public transport directions (some still in beta) and with the integration of street view it is head and shoulders ahead of anything else out there.

If you don't want to go the phone route I would choose a Garmin based on your needs. The least expensive model that has the features you want will suffice. Many of the features of the more advanced units are not really for the street as much as for advanced range finding like geo-caching.

If you don't see any reason you will need the GPS after this trip just get the directions and use the bird's eye view of Bing Maps and Google's web based street view to get directions and find landmarks. A GPS is a waste of money for a single use application.

 

[richard_andmel]

Another vote for Garmin. I did a lot of research when we bought our and we've been very happy with "her". We have used her in the UK and about 5 US states.

 

[disneyholic family]

It really depends on what you are going to use it for after the trip that will determine which to buy. If you are due for a cell phone upgrade the best turn by turn navigation you will find is an Android phone running 2.x software. Nothing beats the Google turn by turn directions. The have separate walking, biking, and in some cities public transport directions (some still in beta) and with the integration of street view it is head and shoulders ahead of anything else out there.

If you don't want to go the phone route I would choose a Garmin based on your needs. The least expensive model that has the features you want will suffice. Many of the features of the more advanced units are not really for the street as much as for advanced range finding like geo-caching.

If you don't see any reason you will need the GPS after this trip just get the directions and use the bird's eye view of Bing Maps and Google's web based street view to get directions and find landmarks. A GPS is a waste of money for a single use application.

normally i would agree with you - which is why i've never bought a GPS...i'm big on maps...
but last time i ventured out in orlando, i got lost big time..
and that was to winter garden or winter something...
a nice neighborhood so it wasn't a big deal to get lost there...(for an emergency dentist appointment)...

but orlando itself has a bad reputation....i'm not sure how easy or difficult the med center is to find...

you're right though.....$100+ is a waste of money for a single use i guess..

i could buy one here (even though they're much much much more expensive)...but they would include local maps that way....
and then i could give it to DD when i get back from the states...

the best brand here isn't sold in the states i don't think, so it's comparing apples and whatever...
maybe i'll get that....(i think it's called an igo)....but it costs a fortune...
but i'll look into it and see......


but still, if i could just get a cheapo GPS for use in the states.....

 

[02AggieGirl]

We have a Garmin and LOVE it!

 

[kevrab]

Yet another vote for Garmin. Tom Tom is a good brand also. Steer clear of Magellan. When I bought mine I researched them and most Magellans got bad reviews

Make sure you get street by street voice turn directions. Helps a whole lot.

 

[adsrtw]

Another Garmin fan checking in!

 

[parrotheadlois]

gotta get a Garmin

Just had to add, we've brought ours with us from here in NJ, had no problems with it in Florida! It immediately recognized where we were. I had added addresses (to the resort, to the Muddy Buddy location) before we left home so I didn't have to do that when we arrived. I just hit go to (the resort) and it went! Loved it!

The one I had recently bit the dust (connection thingie broke), but after daily use for two years (and it was a refurbished model), I bought another Garmin, just a little bit more money this time, not a lot, I won't spend a lot for them. My nephew-in-law works for an online gps store - I got both of mine from there. Comparable prices and good service

 

[Phoenixblue]

We got a Garmin Nuvi, after DH did a lot of research. He took it to Oregon on a business trip and we took it with us to Maui for a vacation. It did excellent at both locations. It was very easy to use.

 

[dalt01]

not only all that, Garmin has the coolest christmas commercials ever

 

[SamSam]

We love our Garmin! We've had her (Gabby) about 6 months and haven't regretted spending the money at all. I would suggest purchasing the unit before arriving in Orlando so you can become accustomed to the way your unit relays turns, etc. to you.
For instance, ours will say something like "stay left at exit. 56", what she really means is stay on the road you are on, do not exit. Once you learn your own unit's way of issuing directions, it's a breeze.

 

[safetymom]

I have a Magellan and love it.

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks for the recommendations and tips!

 

[LeesyUD]

I love my garmin! DH and I got a cheap tim tim at first and that was awful so we returned it and got a garmin.

Although you may think you are only going to use it that one time, I really believe you will find yourself using it alot more than that.

DH and I use it alot around home for finding the quickest detour route when we are stuck in traffic or a road is unexpectedly closed. We know our area very well but it depends on where we are getting held up.

There are alot of things I love about my gps, but really my point is that I think it is totally worth 100+. Renting them are expensive and a waste of money I feel.

Also I have to say last time DH and I were in Disney and we had our GPS it was wonderful! Instead of constantly looking out for all the signs on where to go we just let the gps lead us. It was great!!!

 

[TronkoMouse]

It really depends on what you are going to use it for after the trip that will determine which to buy. If you are due for a cell phone upgrade the best turn by turn navigation you will find is an Android phone running 2.x software. Nothing beats the Google turn by turn directions. The have separate walking, biking, and in some cities public transport directions (some still in beta) and with the integration of street view it is head and shoulders ahead of anything else out there.

I second the recommendation on an Android phone for navigation. We used my Droid and wife's Nexus One for navigation during our recent drip to Disneyland and SanDiego and it worked flawlessly all week. It even pointed out traffic slowdowns on the I-5 almost perfectly, updating the slowdowns and our expected arrival time due to the slowdown in real-time.

Because it was more than just a navigation device we used it to find cool places to eat using the Yelp application, and then very easily allowed us to navigate right to the restaurants showing us a street view picture of the destination as you arrived so we could easily identify the specific entrance to use.

Also being able to navigate with a satellite view rather than just the typical street map view was really handy to find hard to locate parking lots, etc.

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

Have have lived in my neighborhood for 10 years and my neighborhood has been here for 15 years.

My street is still not on a Garmen. I Bought a Tom Tom 4 years ago and my road IS on there.

Just saying.

 

[dpuck1998]

Let me throw my vote in for TomTom, LOVE IT! It has served me well for over 4 years. It was head and sholders above Garmin when I bought it. Of course Garmin has since caught up and they are very similar now. Mostly its a preference of interface currently.

That said, if you do get one, go to mousesavers website and download the POIs for Disney. They have them for Garmin and TomTom!!

 

[disneyholic family]

ok...lots to check into...
thanks for the pointer to mousesavers, i'll check it out..

and yes, i suspect that once i use it once, i'll be hooked....
i'm a big map user (AKA super geek as i sit down with a map and carefully plot out my route) and i'm sure i'll continue to obsess about knowing exactly how to get there on a map....
but having someone tell me where to go ( ) will probably be addictive...

 

[dpuck1998]

ok...lots to check into...
thanks for the pointer to mousesavers, i'll check it out..

and yes, i suspect that once i use it once, i'll be hooked....
i'm a big map user (AKA super geek as i sit down with a map and carefully plot out my route) and i'm sure i'll continue to obsess about knowing exactly how to get there on a map....
but having someone tell me where to go ( ) will probably be addictive...

I have a lot (also now as alot ) of gadgets! I mean A LOT!! My GPS is my favorite!! That is saying something.