First trip from Nice to Alicanti

[etters]

I have just completed my first trip with my new GPS system of 2469 Kms from Nice in the south of France to Alicanti in Spain and back.
Now I must first tell you that I have been driving for about 51 years and have driven in many countries in Europe for many years without to many problems, but with the wonder of technology it was a little different to say the least.
After reading the two page instruction manual, I set up my GPS with the map of France and set my first waypoint to a town called St Gilles, with my destination as the Formula 1 Hotel in Perpignon not far from the Spanish border for my first nights stay.
Off I went with great expectations with my new toy only to arrive at St Gilles and being told ( you have arrived at your destination), how could that happen when I still had 289 Kms to go, you know you cannot even argue with this woman sitting in your GPS THATS IT, not even a conversation,can I have a cup of coffee, or can you light a cigarette for me
NOTHING.
In my frustration I pulled up outside the town hall hitting the curb and bursting the tyre. After changing the wheel I then started on the GPS only to find that it had frozen up requiring a soft reset twice as it would not recognize my position, I had to drive out of town and try again, it then found me. I entered Perpignon Formula 1 hotel once again and off I went not forgetting to tell it that I did not want motorways. Not wanting to bore you with to much detail I arrived at the front door of the hotel after going through one village three times on the way only to be told that they had no rooms( I had forgotten to phone and book a room in advance) what a laugh after 11 hours driving.
I decided to make for Spain so changed maps and set it up with a blank screen and a little blue triangle to follow,crossed the border and then I got the map with my position, very clever, found a hotel and stayed the night. The following morning I set off making my destination as Alicanti Aeroport found the motorway and was told (follow the direction of the road for 424Kms) everything went well on the motorway until I was told (in one thousand metres leave the motor way) I did as I was told as we all do when a woman tells us to, it sent me God knows where only to put me back on the motorway about 10Kms further on. I was so glad that I had taken my old fashioned maps with me as the maps of Spain are Useless( Falk and Navteq please take note). Arriving near Valencia this wonderfull woman told me to keep left, now what does that me, Bear left,turn left or what, I am on a motorway. I found that I was on the way to Valencia Aeroport (why I asked this woman)when I wanted to go to Alicanti Aeroport, NO REPLY. I pulled over in a service station got out my old maps and found the right road after which the GPS found a new route for me and got me to Alicanti Aeroport at which time I switched the damn thing off and continued my journey without it.

I must say at this point that the Spanish maps are very poor and need looking into, and when you pay the same price for them as other maps in Europe it's not very good. Nobody should go to Spain without taking the old fashioned maps with them so that the little lady sitting next to you can find your way when you are lost, and at least you can talk to her even if it is to tell her that she is wrong ( don't do that for God sake) she will,always be right.
The journey back home was full of problems as well the GPS sending me down a one way road hitting a car coming the other way, after explaining that it was the fault of my GPS not knowing that it was a one way road I was told that it had been like that for 30 years ( come on Navteq do your homework)
I switched of the GPS and finished the last 800 Kms following the road signs and got home much quicker.

Don't rely on any GPS use your brain and the old paper maps as well and you may get to your destination safely and on time
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Takara GP56 igo primo 1.1
Dont rely on them use your brain as well

[ttrevor]

You should have TOMTOM :D :D
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Iphone x 64gb IOS 11.3.1 / IPhone 6 Plus 32gb IOS 12 beta /Volkswagen Scirocco R 280 bhp /Suzuki Vitara swb vvt+ /Suzuki Jimny special/running Apple Mac Mini / Apple air/ iPhone x /6 plus navigation / Apple car-play

[etters]

I understand that they are going over to Navteq as well, I hope it is a little better when they do. I think that before they start mapping all the other countries they should do something about the one's they already do map and get things right
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Takara GP56 igo primo 1.1
Dont rely on them use your brain as well

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