Consumer Reports was my prime resource for choosing the cheapest, best GPS system for my purposes. At the time, the Garmin Nuvi 260W (wide) was one of its most highly rated yet not too expensive. The only kink was that I wanted a device for use in Europe in addition to the United States. The 260 would have required a $150 expense for a map download with Europe; plus I wanted a smaller unit that would fit in my pocket for pedestrian use.
A little Internet research led me to the Nuvi 270, which is the same machine as the standard 260 (not wide and thus pocket-friendly) but already loaded with Europe. The only thing I’d be sacrificing was audio pronunciation of street names on turn-by-turn instructions. That would have come in handy but not enough to add the $150 download expense. As it was, I got the 270 online for $284; CR lists it for $400 and the 260, wide or standard, at $320 and $300, respectively.
Garmin dominates the top of the CR ratings, above TomTom and Magellan. But all in all, it’s GPS in general that proved so valuable on the trip. My wife agrees that it changed our vacation in a great way. Whether navigating in Italy or any other unfamiliar, fast-paced traffic situation, it’s a godsend.
—Ross Werland
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