How to set up your satnav for international travel

Going abroad? Don’t forget your satnav! But before you go, make sure you’ve packed everything it’ll need to work overseas.

Don’t worry, there’s not too much to think about: it won’t take a suitcase of accessories to keep it happy, just a few simple steps. Let us talk you through it…

Step 1
For your satnav to work abroad you’ll need all-new maps for the country you’re visiting. If you’ve got a TomTom, grabbing new maps is easy, just download TomTom Home from the company’s website, install it on your PC or Mac, hook up your satnav and choose the option to “Add maps…” from the main menu. There’ll be an extra charge, but it’ll download up to date cartography and have you on your way in minutes.

If you don’t have a TomTom, the easiest way to grab new maps is by purchasing them on a memory card. You’ll find them for sale online, as well as in airport electronics shops, and even some book stores. Just slip them into your satnav, and it’ll be ready to go.

Step 2
If your mobile phone has GPS installed, you might be able to use that to navigate abroad. Check the manual for your make and model first, as well as checking the details of your data tariff, since some handsets download maps whenever they need them. That’s fine in the UK, but could become pricey if you try it while roaming charges apply.

If you’re using a Nokia handset, you can side-step the download process by using Nokia Map Loader. It’s some simple software that lets you download foreign maps at home, then load them onto your phone’s memory ready for use when you’re abroad. It’s fast and simple, but best of all: completely free! The latest version (2.0, which is still in Beta) even lets you buy city guides and voice guidance from your PC.

Step 3: Don’t forget, you’ll almost certainly need a travel charger for your satnav if you want to use it outside a car while abroad. You can save money by using your normal charger and a standard travel adapter though.

Must-have accessories
A foreign language
Using a satnav abroad takes all the trauma out of traveling, but you won’t get a feel for the locals. Brush up on your multilingual abilities with this digital phrase book, specifically created for Garmin satnavs.

You can get chatting about satnavs over at the PriceRunner forum

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