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Best navigation options for driving

Iagirlinsomd1Iagirlinsomd1 Member ✭✭
in Planning and Practicalities
I am looking for some reliable options for navigation while driving around Scotland. We have rented a car for our 2 week trip and wonder if we should purchase the UK maps for our Garmin GPS or is there a better option. I think the rental company offers a GPS, but not sure the price. And when we're in Glasgow and Edinburgh how reliable are the downloadable maps for our smartphones?

Comments

  • VisitScotlandLiamVisitScotlandLiam Member, Administrator, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✪
    @Iagirlinsomd1!!  Before you buy any updates for your Garmin, you should liaise with your mobile phone operator to see if they incur any roaming charges, if not you will be able to use Google Maps or iPhone Maps at no extra cost (although it will use up your data allowance).  They are usually quite reliable but there tends to be roadworks throughout Edinburgh that the system doesn't register, and if you're driving to Glasgow from Edinburgh, the iPhone Maps don't really know where they are going because of the new road - I know from personal experience.  I don't know about Google Maps as I don't use that service, personally, but i would imagine it would be similar.

    If you do have to pay roaming charges, however, i would recommend pricing up the options between the Garmin update and the system at the rental vehicle place.

    Do you know what rental company you are going with and I could have a look to see what the prices are?

    Hope this has helped!
    Lead vocalist & rhythm guitarist for The Bright Skies.  Spotify, Twitter, Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube.
  • Iagirlinsomd1Iagirlinsomd1 Member ✭✭
    Thank you. That is very helpful. We booked our car through AutoEurop. I can look up their prices as well. Appreciate the advice.
  • MoFMoF Member ✭✭
    I'm going to toss a little bit into the fray here just a bit of the research I've done in that regard.  I'm getting my old iPhone unlocked and planning on getting a sim and a pay as you go plan from three (per a couple articles online they have the best cell coverage in Scotland) I'm planning on using google maps and data to get around with.  That is a viable option from the research I've done.
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