Is GPS a must when driving in Ireland?

hkim · Member

Is GPS a must when driving in Ireland?

stewh · Guru

I had a GPS with me for the 1st time this Spring after a few trips without one. Definitely not a necessity, more a diversion that was sometimes helpful and other times a useless distraction - use the money for something else.
Stewart

tony2phones · Guru

A good Map is a far better option. If you are sat at the east end of our lane and put our co-ordinates into a GPS it will not send you the 1/2 mile down. It says the road is a field and sends you 5 miles round to come in from the other end.

Monty · Senior Member

If you have two people or more in the car, all you require is a good map and someone looking at that as the other is behind the wheel. No real need for a GPS, and many reasons not to have one.

You are on vacation -- relax and explore and don't let a machine tell you where to go.

You will do just fine without one!

-- Edited by Monty on Monday 13th of September 2010 09:42:02 AM

yesiree · Guru

You'll manage just fine without GPS. It can be nice, but certainly not required.

If you have a GPS device in the US, you could look into purchasing maps for Ireland to load on it.

Or if you have an iPhone or Android phone, the CoPilot app gives decent GPS directions and does not require an international data plan (info goes through the GPS signal)... just remember to pack your car charger as constantly using the GPS signal can suck up a lot of battery.

-- Edited by yesiree on Monday 13th of September 2010 02:14:06 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Susan,

You will be fine with a map and navigator. Just be sure to study it before setting off.

Michele

Rusty Stumps · Veteran Member

Well, we just got back in last evening from two weeks in Ireland. We toured a good part of the Republic from Dublin down the east coast to Dingle and up the west coast to Westport before heading back across to Dublin. I would say YES a GPS is well worth having along. But maps also help level the playing field.

As one Irish Local told me "You have to be insane in order to make any sence out of the Irish road signs." That's not me talking, but him and I found out he was right on the money.

I will post comments on "Mr. & Mrs. Toad's Wild Ride Around Ireland" a bit later once the jet lag wears off a bit. I have over 1,500 photos which I hope to post most to Flicr later on.

Walt