GPS for world tour

Forums › GPS, maps and mapping software › GPS for world tour - map costs

LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#64509 16-Jul-2010 23:28

Hi,

we are planning our (modest) world tour at the moment.

We plan to spend 2-3 weeks in Australia, 4 months in NZ, 2 weeks in Hawaii and six weeks in West Coast USA. Then back to the UK and some European touring the following year.

New maps aren't available for our current GPS, a Mio 510E, because Mio have changed mapping suppliers.
A shame, because (having learned the interface) I would have liked to stay with it.

Anyway, we are in the market for a new GPS and maps of Australia (2 weeks so could skip), NZ, Hawaii (2 weeks so could skip), West Coast USA, and UK+Europe.

A fairly complicated requirement because we need to add on the cost of all the maps to the base unit.

Before we launch into extended research, has anyone already done a costing?

Alternatively, although allegedly not quite as good as a dedicated SatNav, would a GPS enabled phone be a viable alternative?
Not that we have one, so the cost of this would have to be factored in.
It would have to be GSM 900 & 1800 + 3G to be long term useful in the UK, plus anything extra needed for Aus, NZ, USA.

Any information gratefully received.

Oh, and I would like a rubber suction screen mount because I need to move it between a car and a campervan in the UK.

Cheers

LGC

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#352514 16-Jul-2010 23:43

LittleGreyCat: Hi,

we are planning our (modest) world tour at the moment.

We plan to spend 2-3 weeks in Australia, 4 months in NZ, 2 weeks in Hawaii and six weeks in West Coast USA. Then back to the UK and some European touring the following year.

New maps aren't available for our current GPS, a Mio 510E, because Mio have changed mapping suppliers.
A shame, because (having learned the interface) I would have liked to stay with it.

Anyway, we are in the market for a new GPS and maps of Australia (2 weeks so could skip), NZ, Hawaii (2 weeks so could skip), West Coast USA, and UK+Europe.

A fairly complicated requirement because we need to add on the cost of all the maps to the base unit.

Before we launch into extended research, has anyone already done a costing?

Alternatively, although allegedly not quite as good as a dedicated SatNav, would a GPS enabled phone be a viable alternative?
Not that we have one, so the cost of this would have to be factored in.
It would have to be GSM 900 & 1800 + 3G to be long term useful in the UK, plus anything extra needed for Aus, NZ, USA.

Any information gratefully received.

Oh, and I would like a rubber suction screen mount because I need to move it between a car and a campervan in the UK.

Cheers

LGC

Tomtom do a world GPS system with all the maps preloaded, but pretty pricey, was around $700. Tomtoms you can just download the maps you want. When I was looking last year, I was going to get a Garmin, but they had to send you the maps via mail and didn't have the time to wait, so I went for a tomtom 730 and purchased a europe map, from the UK store. Don't buy the maps from the NZ/oz store, as it cost a lot more.

LittleGreyCat

153 posts

Master Geek

#352516 17-Jul-2010 00:08

Thanks, RobbyP.

I had a quick look on the TomTom site and they are offering refurbished Go 930s complete with UK, Europe and the US for £169.99.
Assuming the US maps are as sold on the website this includes Hawaii.

All extra maps seem to be around £50 a pop, so I would not buy the Australian maps but get the NZ ones.

This sounds like a possible way to go.

All I now have to do is check out the Go 930 - it does seem cheap compared to the Go 730 at £149.99 with UK and Europe maps.

Cheers

LGC

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#352523 17-Jul-2010 00:51

LittleGreyCat: Thanks, RobbyP.

I had a quick look on the TomTom site and they are offering refurbished Go 930s complete with UK, Europe and the US for £169.99.
Assuming the US maps are as sold on the website this includes Hawaii.

All extra maps seem to be around £50 a pop, so I would not buy the Australian maps but get the NZ ones.

This sounds like a possible way to go.

All I now have to do is check out the Go 930 - it does seem cheap compared to the Go 730 at £149.99 with UK and Europe maps.

Cheers

LGC

Just checked and mine is the GO 930, not 730. The advantage of this model is that it does have motorway lane guidance, and also has bluetooth for handsfree calling and plays mp3s through your radio. I think it has been superseded by the 950. There was one called the GO 990 I think, which was the world model with all the maps of the world.