Best sat nav for driving abroad

metrostation

Will be heading over to France by ferry in a few weeks time and being its our first time driving abroad an investment in a decent sat nav is a must.So im looking for advice from fellow posters here on what sat nav works best and what may or may not have worked for people in the past. looking for something effective but not too expensive.

Thanks in advance!

BenEadir

If you have an Android phone download and install https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapfactor.navigator

You can download the map of France before you go and you won't incur any data roaming charges if you also go into settings on your phone -> Location -> Mode -> GPS Only. (The exact sequence may be different depending on the version of Android you are using)

The app is free and when you use it for the firs time it will offer you the option of using free maps from an open source/community project or paid for Tom Tom maps. the free maps are absolutely fine and what I use. The video on the link above gives you a good overview of the app.

BTW I go to France for 2-3 weeks every year on holiday so I know the importance of having access to a good sat nav!!!

Ben

readytosnap

I've never driven in france but i hear they are very strict over there about speed limits (tourists) and having a breathalyzer and some other things in the car? might be worth checking out if you haven't already.

naughtysmurf

I don't think you need to spend a huge amount, I bought a Garmin Nuvi off Amazon for about €100 about five years ago, still going strong, have used it on the continent, Ireland & the US with no issues

conor_ie

If you have an iphone, I'd also recommend the Tom Tom app, very easy to use and can be set to offline mode so you don't get stung for data charges!

coylemj

readytosnap wrote: »

I've never driven in france but i hear they are very strict over there about speed limits (tourists) and having a breathalyzer and some other things in the car? might be worth checking out if you haven't already.

Speed limits are indicated and it's up to you to observe them, no difference there that I ever detected. The breathalyzers are on sale in Halfords, beside the checkout in Carrickmines.....

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_871069_langId_-1_categoryId_291503

I believe they're much more expensive to buy on the ferries - as usual you get screwed if you leave it to the last minute. You also need to have a reflective jacket in the cab (not in the boot) in case you need to get out in the event of a breakdown.

But... I have never even been asked to show my passport or driving licence coming off the ferry in Roscoff or Cherbourg, let alone get pulled over and asked to show a reflective jacket or a breathalyzer.

naughtysmurf

AFAIK spare bulbs & a warning triangle to place on the road in the event of a breakdown are a legal requirement also, whether it's enforced or not I don't know

mistress_gi

I use route 66 android app, free for the first month ten 20 euros for a lifetime license for europe. Best 20 bucks I have ever spent!

keithclancy

BenThere wrote: »

If you have an Android phone download and install https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapfactor.navigator

You can download the map of France before you go and you won't incur any data roaming charges if you also go into settings on your phone -> Location -> Mode -> GPS Only. (The exact sequence may be different depending on the version of Android you are using)

The app is free and when you use it for the firs time it will offer you the option of using free maps from an open source/community project or paid for Tom Tom maps. the free maps are absolutely fine and what I use. The video on the link above gives you a good overview of the app.

BTW I go to France for 2-3 weeks every year on holiday so I know the importance of having access to a good sat nav!!!

Ben

This app is great, although I would recommend you mark off the places you are going to before you set off in the favorites

Can be difficult working out street numbers / crossings and so on.

BenEadir

keithclancy wrote: »

This app is great, although I would recommend you mark off the places you are going to before you set off in the favorites

Can be difficult working out street numbers / crossings and so on.

Good suggestion and actually a feature that Gmaps doesn't have i.e. the ability to easily store favourites. Before you go simply look up your port of arrival e.g. Roscoff and choose "add to my places". Do the same with your final destination/camp site and/or locations along the way you want to stop at e.g. somewhere for lunch etc. I also save the location of local beaches, supermarkets and other places we want to visit or will visit regularly when we're there.

Don't however forget to also save the alternative port you are leaving from. We arrived into Roscoff a few years ago and were scheduled to return via Cherbourg. After a really chillaxing 3 weeks and despite the fact both our phone diaries and paperwork etc clearly stated we were sailing home from Cherbourg we happily drove all the way to Roascoff and were congratulating ourselves that we were the first in the queue when we got there. the penny dropped about 20 minutes later Long story short instead of getting the Cherbourg - Rosslare ferry we ended up having to pay to get a Stenna Line Roscoff - Plymouth ferry + a mad dash 6 hour drive up through the UK to Holyhead where we got Irish Ferries sea cat to Dublin with only 30 minutes to spare. The funny thing is it didn't spoil our holiday one bit. We all burst out laughing and just got on with one final adventure to end the holiday with.

The really relevant part of that story is that I had for some reason (lot's of storage space on my phone I think) downloaded the UK map also before we went "just in case" and boy did it come in handy when we landed in Plymouth instead of Rosslare!!!!

Ben

metrostation

Thanks guys for all the helpful info!