Maps

[jacksonjohn83]

On my recent trip from Dallas to Toronto, I had planned to use my Microsoft Streets and Trips along with USB based GPS (thingy I purchased online). However, when I got to Dallas I was surprised with a Tom Tom GPS from my family for my trip back home. So I had the good fortune to try them both on my way back home.

What I liked about Streets and Trips was that it was able to give me a big pictures whereas Tom Tom didn't. Maybe it could but not as good. Having the large state/city map would also help.

What I like about Tom Tom was that it was small and easy to operate. Streets Trips required too much stuff (laptop, inverter, etc).

Tom Tom was very handy while in downtown Dallas looking for something specific and missed the exit as I thought I new where I was headed. Immediately started my GPS and was able to re-route in the right directions.

In addition, Tom Tom works great in Canada without any modification and it shows all points of interest (even more points of interest then Streets & Trips) as it does in the US.

So, I would say 'YES' to TOM TOM in the city, but when you are on interested and ready to travel long distance, you need that big picture and need either paper map or something like the Streets & Trips.

[PNW Judy]

it shows all points of interest (even more points of interest then Streets & Trips) as it does in the US.

This surprises me. And it's a big point in Tom-Tom's favor.

How is it for hotel, restaurant recommendations? And for more natural things like parks, beaches, and even the national/state/county parks, etc.?

[UKCraig]

Interesting that you should mention Streets & Trips and Dallas in the same sentence. It was Dallas where I very nearly ended up throwing my laptop out of the car window when Streets & Trips repeatedly crashed leaving me without a clue as to where I was heading. Read my views here. I really like my TomTom so much better, I have to say. Fantastic piece of kit.

[jacksonjohn83]

How is it for hotel, restaurant recommendations? And for more natural things like parks, beaches, and even the national/state/county parks, etc.?

My personal experience with Tom Tom has been great for hotels, restaurants, and other touristy and non-touristy points of interest. I have not tested it for national parks. It can not only find the national chains for hotels, restaurants, and shops (as well) but also the mom & pop shops here in Toronto, which I haven't had much luck with MS S & T.

I have had so much luck with Tom Tom that my next visit to Dallas (over Christmas, after my drive from Dallas to Toronto), I gave my USB GPS away to my brother (from Seattle) who has a laptop and MS Streets and Trips, but no GPS thingy. I felt that I really was good with Tom Tom.

I did notice that Tom Tom seems to lose it's battery charge more often when left it in the car. But then again, it is -21C outside right now, so it could have some effect as well.

UKCraig: I feel your pain of driving with Laptop around.

[UKCraig]

Yes, it is a little worrying.

I should add to the above - S&T is a great tool for planning trips at home. But, on the road, I'd sooner take my chances with a rough sketch and directions from locals.

[RoadTripper Mike.S]

Craig,

Just to throw something into the mix. I bought a Tom Tom 910 (I think) anyway the top of the range a couple of years ago. Used it in Switzerland and it was abysmal. Kept crashing, turned me into at least 2 one way streets the wrong way so gave up and used good old paper maps. Exchanged when we returned and it did exactly the same. So ditched it. Apparently is or was a major software glitch in the programming which was known by TOM TOM at the time. Recently used a Garmin travelling from Toronto into the States down to Outer Banks etc 6,000 miles and it was faultless. Always make sure I obtain State maps before we go. In my view they are indispensible. Just my thoughts.

Mike

[Hayah]

My husband and I are planning a trip in the US and Canada this summer (we're from Israel) and most states I ordered guides and maps from (the free stuff) didn't mind sending it out to us. A few of the Southern states (NC and SC, if I remember correctly) would only send to the US, Canada and possibly Mexico. Then again, we only looked at the Eastern states/provinces, so there may be many more that wouldn't send to us.

Just a thought about the navigational system-
1. The maps we've been getting from each state/province are very detailed and very good. We also have the AAA guide books and they provide maps as well.
2. Printing out mapquest (or other sites like it) directions probably isn't a bad idea.
3. The idea of a navigational system came up when discussing our trip, but my personal opinion is that it's more fun to be "lost" sometimes. Having good, detailed maps is one thing, but a beeping device in your car that thinks they're smarter than you are.... to me a road trip is also about getting lost sometimes, interacting with locals to ask where we are and how to get to the places we want to go. I rented a car with a friend for a week in Greece (no gps device, just lonely planet and some maps) and, granted, we never made it to Delphi to see the Oracle (we still maintain that she moved. After so many years in one location, who wouldn't?!) but we traveled up the most beautiful mountain road, asked directions from a tractor filled with locals making their way up the mountain, stopped at some lovely mountain streams and saw sites that we wouldn't have seen if the gps had beeped our way to Delphi. Of course we could have persevered and found Delphi later, but we were in a rush and it was getting dark.
Obviously it depends on the type of road trip you're planning. If you need to get to your destination by a certain time or day, the gps will certainly do that for you. But if you want to see the sites, mingle with the locals and have some fun, I don't think that getting a little lost once in a while is all that bad!

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Thanks, Hayah, for your take on your experiences with both paper maps and digital systems. For further reading, may I suggest this oldie but goodie discussion of their relative merits.

AZBuck