Best satnav for Europe?

sandspider2000

Hi all

I'm after some advice on a new satnav for use in Europe and the UK, please. After considerable research, I'm leaning towards either a Garmin or Tomtom, but am having trouble choosing specific models. I'd ideally like to spend less than £100 (as my phone navigates fine in the UK, i just wouldn't want to pay data roaming charges to use it in Europe).

The satnav models I'm currently considering are:

Tomtom XXL 5" Classic Western Europe
Tomtom Start 25 Europe

Though I understand the XXL doesn't have enough memory space to fit all the European & UK maps on at once, which would be annoying (and doesn't have an SD card slot, so you're limited to the built in 2Gb of memory). The Start has more maps (all of Europe vs Western) but costs more, and also has mixed reviews - problems when you try to update the maps.

Can anyone comment on either of the above satnavs, good or bad? Or reccomend an alternate satnav with Europe maps? I'd like speed camera warnings, but I don't want to pay any subscriptions for these. I don't mind manually updating them myself from time to time, though obviously free automatic updates would be better! Likewise for traffic information - if it's free it's good, but I don't want to have to buy accessories or pay any subscription fees for this. The accuracy of navigation in Europe is also important, and up to date maps. (Again, without additional cost - I don't mind installing free map upgrades as long as they fit on the device, and don't break the device!).

Many thanks for any info / suggestions.

Giles

wba31

you mention you use your phone..? what app on what handset?

The reason i ask is that I have tom-tom on my iPhone, and there is a setting to turn data roaming off when abroad so it can navigate you using GPS only. whether it still works properly etc I dont know, but it could be something checking out within the app you use on your respective phone...

for the record, I used to have a tom-tom XL with western europe mapping on, bought mainly for a holiday in France. I didnt update maps as nothing ever changes too drastically and it was great, just died 2 years after purchase, hence why i then paid £50 for tomtom app (there are cheaper apps).

lazer

If you are ever intending on using it in Ireland the Garmin is much better than than the tom tom - far more accurate.

Although the tom tom you get free updates (ie: people make changes to the maps to reflect the current roads and you can sync your version to these)

The Garmin you can buy maps for life when you buy the unit and that gives you free updates for as long as have the sat nav

sandspider2000

wba31 wrote: »

you mention you use your phone..? what app on what handset?

The reason i ask is that I have tom-tom on my iPhone, and there is a setting to turn data roaming off when abroad so it can navigate you using GPS only. whether it still works properly etc I dont know, but it could be something checking out within the app you use on your respective phone...

for the record, I used to have a tom-tom XL with western europe mapping on, bought mainly for a holiday in France. I didnt update maps as nothing ever changes too drastically and it was great, just died 2 years after purchase, hence why i then paid £50 for tomtom app (there are cheaper apps).

Thanks. I have an HTC desire, and use the built in navigation software (Google maps, effectively). It's good, but to download the route I think it has to use data connection, not just the GPS... And that could get expensive in Europe!

sandspider2000

lazer wrote: »

If you are ever intending on using it in Ireland the Garmin is much better than than the tom tom - far more accurate.

Although the tom tom you get free updates (ie: people make changes to the maps to reflect the current roads and you can sync your version to these)

The Garmin you can buy maps for life when you buy the unit and that gives you free updates for as long as have the sat nav

Thanks. I wasn't particularly planning on using it in Ireland, but you never know! (France will be its first outing). How do you find Garmin in countries other than Ireland?

I'd prefer free map upgrades, and I'm not sure that map upgrades for life would be worth it as none of my previous satnavs have lasted for more than a couple of years...

Peater

If you are going abroad infrequently, consider hiring units.

I have done this for several trips before where the cost of buying the map-pack for my UK Satnav was astronomic.

sandspider2000

I did look at that, but it was cheaper to buy one! The cheapest one I could find was Eur10 per day to hire, and we're going to France for two weeks to start with. I've seen both the satnavs above for less than £100, and I get to keep them!

vaio

I got an xxl (<£80 from halfords) just before Christmas....did UK to east Germany with no problems.

The lane guidance on major roads is particularly good, way better then the navigo (hacked to run tom tom) I had previously.

Gloomendoom

I've used a Garmin Nuvi in France. It does the job and I don't recall any problems.

It depends on the duration of your trip but buying may be cheaper than hiring. We take ours whenever and wherever we go abroad even if we are leaving the car behind.

john1

You can download Google maps so dont need data link from within the app


Take Maps with you, even when you're not connected

Download certain maps to use whether or not you have an internet connection. Offline Maps are especially helpful when you’re abroad or outside your network. You can browse saved areas or get your bearings by using My Location and compass mode. Only on Android

Also this app gets fair reviews and is free https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapfactor.navigator&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5tYXBmYWN0b3IubmF2aWdhdG9yIl0

pstuart

We use TomTom on our iPhone ( no data roaming required).
This has map co ordinates as well as postcodes, very usefull as a postcode can cover a very large area.
Apparently not all TomTom or Garmin models have this feature.