OK.. so I'm now driving - do i need a sat nav?

Hi,

I%26#39;m off to orlando for the first time in may and will now be hiring a car(on the advice of most posters on TA) we are staying at the Best Western Lakeside but don%26#39;t know if it is worth hiring/upgrading our sat nav or is getting around fairly easy for newbies? we don%26#39;t intend to go far but want to head out in the evenings and see all of the attractions.

Thanks :o)

OK.. so I'm now driving - do i need a sat nav?

Depends...Are you Sat Nav dependant in the UK, if so you might want to get one or take one with you (get maps first though!).

Driving on the whole is very straightforward and i don%26#39;t think you need one. Anyways, half the fun is getting lost and discovering new places!!

OK.. so I'm now driving - do i need a sat nav?

I use a map, plus a google map and my shotgun passenger if I have one.

I think you will be fine without one, if you map your trip from the airport to your hotel or ask our directions. Once you get up and running the next am after consulting your map you will be fine.

I hired a sat nat from Avis in Sept last year to get round orlando. It was a life saver. cuts out a lot of time and effort.

Im heading back at the end of may and ive booked one again, but im thinking because the dollar rate is so poor for us just now I will upgrade my own.

It is a great bit of kit to have, so yeah I would reccomend you hire one, upgrade your own or borrow one from a friend/relative thats got the maps installed

I think you are wise to rent a car, it will give you such freedom and self reliance away from those pesky shuttles.

Have you driven in the US before? I think you will be suprised at how easy it is, the roads are brilliant and all the major attractions are very well sign posted. We have managed very well without a sat nav in the past. That said, if you know someone who can lend you one with US maps pre-loaded then by all means I would borrow it. However, I don%26#39;t think it is worth the extra expense to buy one or rent one.

Hi, Jason.

I am a single mum and always hire a car, it is quite scary the first time, but read a little before you go and you will be fine.

Remember to have some dollars ready for the Tolls, and just take it slow, I promise you within a day or two you will be driving with ease.

I have only got lost once so far, and that was because I forgot to turn of and even then it only took me an extra 10 mins to get home, the road signs are huge and so easy to read. you will be fine, personally I have never bothered with a sat nav, but if you use one in the uk then go ahead, if you feel it will help ease your mind, but if I can do with with 5 kids in the car then I am sure you will be fine.

Caz

we find it useful to study google earth and maps live 3d/birds eye views and work out where we are staying and the places we are going to. (esp to find villa loction on arrival). This info along with the maps (not usualy to good) works for us. We do this for most places we visit.

As a long time trucker i put a whole post on here saying how i would never use a Sat Nav there just for lazy people, then for my birthday my family brought me the 920T GO with all the North American and European maps pre loaded and now ive eaten my words.

We used it for the first time last year and it was wonderful to miss all the hold ups and Accidents, and to be honest being the one allways looking out for signs

it made for a much more relaxed drive ,the only problem is my wife wants to know why i have a very sexy women called Sandra giving directions ,i would like to tell he but discrection is the best part of valour .

So my advice is download the maps before you go and relax :)

I say a def yes for sat nav!!

Its your first time driving out there plus as said in previous post its great cutting out traffic etc..

Ours was a god send !!

The first 3 times we went to Orlando, we didn%26#39;t use a sat nav and got around just fine. We hired one the last time we went and have booked one for our upcoming trip, but only because we are going further afield. If you are planning to just do the parks then I would say you do not need one.