View Full Version : Sat Nav directions
Margaret
19-08-2012, 19:00
Hi we have hired Sat Nav, villa and car hire from this site (of course) :)
We have just had the villa information sent to us from the owners of the villa which include directions from MCO to the villa. Now my knowledge of Sat Navs is not
extensive, do I trust the Sat Nav or follow the directions I have been sent? Would the directions be the same?
Thanks
Margaret
florida4sun
19-08-2012, 19:10
Directions may wel be different but the sat nav is probably best if you are new to the area. You have hired it, so may as well use it:)
I used sat nav for the 1st time last year with my son and his family as there were so many places we wanted to go, it never let us down once. After leaving Disney World Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage quite late we thought it had got us lost as we seemed to be going through the backwoods and started to get a bit worried but it just chose a route we wouldn't have thought of so it's route might not be the obvious.
I would always rely on one again.
Regards
Keith
jimiansville
19-08-2012, 23:21
We have our own sat nav with maps of the US and Europe. We use it a lot and must admit it has taken us on lots of routes that we wouldn't normally have thought of but that have worked out great. I'd follow the route it suggests until you are familiar with the area.
Margaret - You probably need to ask this question of your villa owner. Here's why ...
If it were the directions we send, I would say use those in preference to the sat nav's directions; but have the sat nav handy at the same time.
The directions we send our guests from the airport to the villa would be different to those a sat nav would choose as they are a few miles longer. The sat nav would also predict that its route would be faster, but would lose nine time out of ten as it isn't taking account of traffic and traffic lights. Nor is it taking account of how difficult, or easy, the drive is - things like how many left turns you have to make, how many roads you'll hit that are absolutely chokka with traffic.
We took a different approach to directions for our guests. We figure that your holiday is supposed to be a really wonderful experience. This should start a long time before you travel, and it should *definitely* include the journey from the airport to the villa. We know that most of our guests flying over from the UK will be tired after a long journey so we've specifically worked out what we believe is the easiest, most pleasant drive to the villa.
If your owner has put the same care and attention into the details they send you, then IMHO you are probably better off going with the owner's local knowledge. If your owner has just pulled the directions off Google maps, you may as well use the sat nav. Only your owner can tell you this.
would be interested to know what a sat nav tells you to do from MCO to say the 192 area, we send our guests a written description with photos that uses the 417 down to celebration, I know this has toll booths but it is amuch easier route thatn using the I4.
From memory Cash I think they'll recommend 528 -> I-4 -> 192.
You couldn't choose three busier roads of you tried!
MCO South Exit to 417 would be my route of choice too; but I'd avoid recommending the Celebration exit as the tolls there are unmanned so if guests don't have a few quarters handy it could create a bit of a worry. Chances are that guests will, and it won't, but I figured with tired guests arriving after long flights, why take the chance?
Margaret
21-08-2012, 19:43
Thanks for the replies, I just worry in case the Sat Nav takes a while to "fire up" when we first get there.
I will contact our villa owner and ask him
Thanks for the replies, I just worry in case the Sat Nav takes a while to "fire up" when we first get there.
I will contact our villa owner and ask him
Margaret you could be quite right ours took a little while to kick in so have a map handy. Once we had reached the airport perimeter it was running fine. We took ours with us so it was pre-programmed.
We did find it invaluable while we were there though.
Regards
Keith
florida4sun
21-08-2012, 20:49
Sat navs Pick up within a a couple of minutes, if not instantly. You will struggle to get a signal inside the car park though.
jeansusrentals
21-08-2012, 23:15
We used to use our UK/USA one - but it took ages - and I mean years in some cases to pick up new roads! The 429 didn't appear until it had been in operation for 2 and half years! Gave up last year annd bought a new one which I leave in the Villa! very reliable too! I also tell guests to use the 417 to get to Highway 192 in my instructions, a lot quieter than trying to negotiate rush hour traffic on the I4 - even although it costs a few$$
Jean
From memory Cash I think they'll recommend 528 -> I-4 -> 192.
You couldn't choose three busier roads of you tried!
MCO South Exit to 417 would be my route of choice too; but I'd avoid recommending the Celebration exit as the tolls there are unmanned so if guests don't have a few quarters handy it could create a bit of a worry. Chances are that guests will, and it won't, but I figured with tired guests arriving after long flights, why take the chance?
I must admit I now come off at the Osceloa Parkway exut (Gaylords HoteL) as we always pop into the Publix on the corner off the 192 and South International Drive but as i have a sunpass i never notice if that toll booth is manned or not. We do advise our guests to always have some loose change with them for these un-manned toll booths.
ujpest doza
22-08-2012, 16:04
I must admit I now come off at the Osceloa Parkway exut (Gaylords HoteL) as we always pop into the Publix on the corner off the 192 and South International Drive but as i have a sunpass i never notice if that toll booth is manned or not. We do advise our guests to always have some loose change with them for these un-manned toll booths.Toll booth at Gaylord Palms isn't manned either and i've ended up a few times paying less than i'm supposed to as i either haven't had the right change or the machine hasn't registered all of my coins. I've not had a fine afterwards either.
sunseeker
27-08-2012, 11:55
I would follow thw directions given to you by the owner, the Sat-Nav should work out where you are heading and more than likely give you the same route as the villa owners directions. In the unlikely event you get lost, the Sat-Nav will be your best buddy :cool:
Dave
I am not a believer in Sat Navs but as I was arriving as a novice last time out I " drove" the route on Google Earth, route I took was very straight forward and got me to my villa at Davenport Lakes no problem, left MCO via the Sth access Rd, joined the 417 , stayed on that for a few miles before exiting at Jct 2 ( there were a few unmanned tolls, about $4 in total I think )then took a left at lights onto the 192 between mile markers 8&9, had planned to follow the 192 all the way to H27 before heading south but I knew there was a short cut but wasn't sure whether to chance finding it but as soon as I saw the sign for Bahama Bay I knew that was my road, followed that road down by few villa communities and a big new school and was at the villa no probs, and that was driving in heavy rain
Margaret
30-08-2012, 19:44
Thanks for all your kind words of wisdom :) We fly out this Saturday so are getting very excited!!
Will try and find time a write a trip report.
Margaret