Visiting Ireland from US and driving lots of back roads - Do you recommend a GPS?

Question

Which maps are best? Which GPS is best for money (not too expensive)?

Answer 1

If you have any sense of direction, or your not in a hurry, then just get a usual map. Ireland is small and its hard to get very lost.

Answer 2

Get yourself a series of contour maps. Ideal for the small details.

Answer 3

well its irland so everything is rubish listed on gps all country roads in uk and irland are pretty rubish so you may wanna stick with a classic map and when your there the best would be AA  so go enjoy your holiday for  $5 dollers rather than $500

Answer 4

might as well throw the GPS out the car window.

with a good map and some map reading skills you can never get lost.

Its not that hard I would say rossies is right on the mitchellen map

Answer 5

tom tom is reliable and a good deal. we just got it for my dad for christmas.

Answer 6

The very best maps for driving the back roads of Ireland are the Ordinance Survey series. These will be available in any major bookshop in the country, and the maps of each area should be available in most convenience stores. I would definitely stay away from teh GPS systems, as these are great for teh bigger roads, but once you venture off a bit for an exploration, you will not be able to find yourself easily again.

The only drawback of the ordinance survey series is that to cover the whole country you will have to buy about 20 maps. Otherwise, all archaeological and historical objects tend to be marked clearly on the map, adn if you just want to explore then they are the ones for you. Michelin etc are great, if you are traveling between two places, but not for exploring small roads. Not detailed enough.

Answer 7

well you will need something, most minor roads in this country are not marked and directions between towns especially on the back country roads is a joke

Driving in Ireland can be headwreaking even for Irish born people like myself

I would recommend Michelins Irish road atlas, cannot help on the GPS thingy as i don't have one

good luck driving in ireland, once you get off the motorways (the Irish equivalent of US highways) prepare for alot of hairpulling, asking locals for directions and just hoping for plain luck to find your destination because you will need it

Answer 8

Get yourself a Michelin map and just go with the flow.  Getting lost is half the fun!   You get to see things you would never see otherwise and meet the most interesting people.  

On the other hand, if you're committed to a GPS, a friend went to Europe and took a Garmin Nuvi and said even the little backroads were on it!.