Yes, that is a portable GPS suctioned onto to the screen of our vehicles built in navigation system. At least we didn’t have both turned on at the same time. You can also see a paper map, which I frequently use when checking on the broader scope of things.
We certainly don’t need any of these guidance conveniences to find where we’re going this trip. We’re traveling a well know path back to where Mister was born, and an area where we visit often. We do like having the arrival time visible though when a destination is programmed.
Let me explain than why we need two systems. Okay, we don’t need two, but why we are traveling with two.
We find built in navigation is harder and more costly to keep updated than hand held units. Mister, just downloaded updates to our handheld before we left on this trip.
The portable kind is handier if the passenger has to search or program a location or address while moving. Most built in ones need the vehicle to be in park to allow this.
You can have a portable unit in your hands instead of reaching across to one built in. With sensitive touch screens, anyone who’s tried working a GPS while on a windy or bumpy highway will understand why I prefer sitting back in my seat with a portable one in hand.
You can take the portable GPS into your hotel and program addresses you may need the next day, rather than being that weird person or couple sitting in their vehicle in the parking lot.
Do you prefer GPS units or paper maps?
This is our favourite time of the year for a road trip because as the days go by our travels will be enhanced by fall colours.
Do you like fall road trips?
Definitely a GPS. I never was good at reading maps, much less folding them the right way. LOL!
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Map reading does take getting use to. People laugh at me when I sometimes turn the map to match the direction we’re heading. Why not it makes it easier, LOL. It’s only taken years of trial and error, but I can now refold a map. 😊
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Haha!!
Kudos to you for folding a map right. I say GPS has made our trips much more enjoyable and stress free for hubby isn’t having to pull over to look at the map himself since his “guide” known as me is confused. LOL!
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We use paper maps, iPhone apps, and built in GPS while on the road. I like to see the big picture and details as needed. Relying only on the GPS in the truck has led us astray a time or two.
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It is hard to see the big picture on a GPS, plus I like the feel and reliability of a paper map. Being misguided is never fun. 😊
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I like maps, bu tI prefer a GPS. Like you, I prefer a handheld one vs., the vehicle-based one or even the ones powered by my phone.
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In a strange city GPS is usually handier than maps, especially if no co-pilot. 😊
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We have many fond memories in our hearts of traveling with you and that GPS! Can’t wait for the next adventure! Safe travels!
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😊 Trying to quickly program a address in a built in one at a stop light, or when Mister has them both on and doesn’t listen to either.
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Hi, Kathy – Your double navigation system makes sense to me. My husband and I currently rely solely on Google Maps on our iPhones. I can’t begin to tell you the number of times that it has had a death-wise against us! 😦
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You would think would make no errors, but I think we all know that’s not true. Just when you start to trust them again, they send you down a wrong road. 😊
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We use both but our portable GPS is so outdated that it’s useless. We have a built in navigation system in our car but it’s pretty dumb. It’s not unusual for it to tell us to turn where there is no road. This happened on a state tollway too. My husband is old school and likes to look at a paper map first to get a gist for where he’s going.
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I don’t think I know anyone who hasn’t been given wrong directions from a GPS. Makes you think and doubt them, 😊 You can’t beat a paper map, or sometimes we’ll google search and take a screen shot.
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We are big on google too. The navigation system in our car is at least 4 or 5 years old and it wasn’t highly rated at the time. Sometimes it takes you a long way too as it keeps to the highways. That’s ok for long distance travel but not necessarily from city to city.
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When we tried to do a update in our vehicle one we found out the navigation information was even older than the van and that car manufacturers only make updates (I think at that time which was maybe three years ago) every few years. So chances are even updated it will not be current.
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Sounds about right.
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A good road atlas is worth its weight in gold. I use a GPS all the time. I don’t want to think how lost I’d be without it. It is really handy to find a specific address which the map won’t have…I’ve never owned a vehicle with a built in navigation system.
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GPS is handy, but I would never go on a road trip without paper maps. Enjoy your travels!
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I totally agree. Thanks, I’m sure we will.
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