I am in the final planning stages of our trip to Ireland next month - we have our flights, rental car and all the hotels/B&Bs booked and now I'm working on our routes from place to place and what to do/see each day.
We did rent a GPS from our car rental company but I just read the March 2011 post about maps and GPS and have a question. I was planning on just using the GPS and printing the route maps from aaireland.com but it sounds like I better get some maps to help. Does everyone agree?
If so, do I need both OSI and Michelin or can do I with just Michelin?
We purchased the Ordinance Survey Map of Ireland while on our last trip about a month ago. Found it in a news agent store for 8.35 Euros. We liked the scale on the ones that divided the island into 4 areas: South, West, East, and North. The scale was 1cm=2.5 kms (1in=3.95 mi). We had 3 or 4 other brands of maps, and this was our favorite. Haven't tried the Michelin yet.
If you're printing AA Ireland maps AND have GPS AND have the basic map from the car rental company, you probably have all you'll need to get where you need to go. You can easily pick up additional maps in bookshops, petrol stations, and tourist shops if you feel you need one when you get there.
I have a feeling you're probably going to opt for one more map... "just in case." If so, just choose one. I tend to get the OSI map, but the Michelin map is very good... so you'll be fine with either... getting both would be redundant.
It depends how adventurous you want to be. Sticking to the Main routes and towns the map from your car rental will do the job. Being a little more adventurous and a map from the newsagents stand will be ok. Bit of rural exploring and the OS is the best. Trips down the odd Boreen then something more detailed and a compass. Planning things before you leave, pin the Michelin 712 on a wall (bit big for in the car and tends to get ripped and creased just in the part you want to look at).
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Two rules for Ireland, Take your time & bring a sense of humour
I bought the Michelin map and like Tony said it's big and I need a magnifying glass to read it. They should have made the print and scale bigger and sectioned the map and put half on the back. To say the least I'm disappointed in my choice and will pick up a map when I get to Ireland.
Here is a tip from one of my readers. Take your Michelin map to a copy center. Enlarge sections of it by 150%. Volia! You will have just about the right section per day and will be able to easily use and read it.