To GPS or Not To GPS?

[Brandi]

On the advice of many we just rented a car from Cancun Rent a Car so we can get from the airport to Tulum and also to do some sightseeing while we are there. I noticed that they do rent GPS units too. Has anyone done this? Are they worth it or would we be better off finding maps? As always, thanks in advance!!! :)

[PhyllisB]

Depends on how far afield you might want to travel -- but I don't think you need it. The Mapchick's maps are great for getting most anywhere (http://www.cancunmap.com), and it's really a straight shot down a single highway to get from Cancun to Tulum. So it isn't very complicated. Go straight for a while, then turn towards the beach at the first stop light coming into Tulum Pueblo (gas station, San Francisco on the right...). If you miss that first light, there's a roundabout not too much further and you can turn around easily.

If you're planning on heading to Valladolid or Merida or somewhere else in addition to your Tulum stay, then maybe. But otherwise I don't think you need it. It's pretty easy to get around.

[minniemex]

If you are just driving down to Tulum from the airport and doing just a minimum of travel around Tulum, I would say no to the GPS. I haven't heard anyone who has used one yet to know how well it is with all the unnamed side roads all over.

I think you would be wasting your money.

[PhyllisB]

Great minds think alike, Minnie!

[pepper]

A map is ALWAYS better than a GPS.

[beachreader]

If you're easily lost, I think a compass and a map would be more useful than a GPS. There just aren't that many roads to take from one place to another, so if you know you're supposed to be going north and you're on a road going north, you'll probably end up where you want to be.

[beatfarmer]

I have mapchick map from 4-5 years ago, and it is wonderful! Also, I have a great map of the yucatan and area from National Geographic magazine that is very good..
They don't do the reviews, the hotels, restaurants etc. like mapchick, but for a road map---it's great for the co-pilot!

[chamba]

If you don't already have, and use, a GPS to bring then you will not want to spend your vacation learning to use one. I can not say that a map is better than a GPS because I am very GPS savvy and I do more than drive the 307.
when it comes to Garmin maps, you will be on many roads that do not exist on the GPS program, so you will only know your UTM location. but you can zoom/unzoom to have an idea of where you are in relation to the ocean and the 307.
the coastline is very accurate on my Garmin 60cs, I did not buy any special maps of Mexico either.
But, as stated by the others before, you should be OK just using the ol' common sense. If you want to go to Valladolid, just prepare by knowing more or less what to expect. If your gut says you are going the wrong way, then try asking directions. I learned more about the culture and language by just winging it around Pustunich.

[Rosie]

Hi all!

I've left the search for a road map of Mexico a little late and can't find one anywhere in town! We're borrowing a friend's GPS but, because we're neophytes, we would like a road map, too. Mapchick would have been a great resource if I'd known about her site earlier but it's too late to order from her now and get it to Canada. (We're leaving town on Dec 27th).

My questions are: Is it possible to buy a Mapchick map in Cancun and, if not, are there other good maps readily available, say, at the airport or from our car rental company? We'll be driving around a lot for a week before heading to Tulum on Jan 2.

Any help greatly appreciated :confused:

Six more sleeps!! Yay!

Rosie

[PhyllisB]

Where are you going to be driving, when you say "driving around"? You might be able to find some good maps online that you can print, although I know that's not ideal. I've never looked for a map when I'm down there, so I'm not sure about that.

[chamba]

todo tulum dot com has a map you can get that will show you around. http://blog.todotulum.com/new-tulum-tourist-map/
you should be able to get by with maps from the interent. but Phyllis is right, most of the roads are simple if you know where you want to go the Tulum.info is here to help. where are you driving around?
I can tell you some basics, like heading to Merida from Cancun, from Tulum, or going to Ticul from FC puerto. is Valladolid in your plans?

I have a map of the Yucatan at my office that I stare at so much that I have it imprinted on my brain, so let us know where you want to go.
:)

[Rosie]

"Driving around" was a bit vague...sorry! We're overnighting in Cancun on arrival, then on to Vallodolid overnight; we want to visit Ek Balam and may just skip Chichen altogether. Then on to Merida for four nights, with day trips (we hope) to Progreso and Celestun and maybe more. Then, after new year's in Merida, we are on our way to Tulum for a week, stopping at Coba en route. Likely we will want to drive into S'ian Kaan and maybe elsewhere, depending on places we learn about once we're there. Or maybe we won't want to go anywhere once we reach Tulum...

Our concerns revolve around 2 things: navigating the cities (eg. getting to the Radisson from the airport and finding our hotel in Merida) and wanting to slip off the cuota onto secondary roads while still being able to find our way back - or forward! You all know about maps printed from the internet - not really nice. A foldable AAA-type map would be lovely, but I guess I'm dreaming! Maybe the GPS will exceed my dismal expectations and a map will be redundant anyway, but I'm an old-fashioned girl and I still love paper information.

Chamba, I covet your Yucatan map!

Thanks so much for your help.

Rosie

[chamba]

You are on a good adventure, I see why you need a map. what about printing some GoogleEarth images to mark your major turns.
From Cancun, the highway to Valladolid is the overpass just south of the airport, and it is marked Merida.
Ek Balam is 15min from Valladolid, I do not remember the markings, but I didn't use a map, nor did I get lost.
Merida will be easy from Valladolid.
From Merida to Coba, WOW I know it by heart but trying to explain it is tough. I see why you need a map.
let me try to look for you. I got my last map at Borders Books, are you out of time to check the book stores?

[chamba]

I also loved the Sanborns map that they gave me when I bought insurance.

I did see some foldable laminated maps available to order online, but you are cutting it close to your departure date. I Googled "driving map of mexico"
I see a Rand Mcnally map of Canada US and Mexico on Barnes and Noble.

Forget all this....... Googlemaps!!!! Go to your route and zoom in on where you will need it. Like Valladolid for example. at first glance you get an idea of the highways but if you zoom in you will see exactly what you need to get to Ek Balam. then just print until the cows come home and staple that like a book. Since you know more or less where you are going to be, you will be able to predict the info you will need. Whadayathink?

[Rosie]

Chamba, I know! What a great adventure we'll be on!

It's too late to order anything from online bookstores and I've called every single retail bookstore in Victoria, plus the National Geographic gift shop at Imax, looking for Mexico maps. No luck! Either they were understocked to begin with or the hordes of Islanders heading south for sun have decimated their stock!

You know what, though? We have had such incredible help and cooperation whenever we've been in Mexico (except for the time at the Guadalajara bus station when our laptop was stolen:(), that I bet our hosts at the various hotels will be immensely helpful with directions and tips. I tend to get a little obsessed with details when we're this close to departure (perfectionist :rolleyes:) so maybe I just need to relax and believe.

What do you think? Or should I keep on obsessing??? Such a lovely obsession....

Smilin' :o
Rosie

[Rosie]

[Forget all this....... Googlemaps!!!! Go to your route and zoom in on where you will need it. Like Valladolid for example. at first glance you get an idea of the highways but if you zoom in you will see exactly what you need to get to Ek Balam. then just print until the cows come home and staple that like a book. Since you know more or less where you are going to be, you will be able to predict the info you will need. Whadayathink?[/QUOTE]

Brilliant! I'm gonna do that right now. Not adept at GoogleMaps, but if I can figure out how to get our HP printer to collate, I can do anything!

You're a gem - thanks for the tips! :beerchug:

[chamba]

I can't say googlemaps enough!!!
I love asking for directions in Mexico. I always end up going "todo derecho" -straight ahead.

right-derecha
left - Izquierda
straight - derecho
back - atras

hope this helps
g' luck

[PhyllisB]

WOW, what a trip! I am so jealous! Any chance you'd write up a report for us when you get back, or post some of your pictures???? :D :D :D

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:I think you need a guide!!!! jajajaaa! What a fun trip you're taking!

You should be able to find a map in Mexico when you get here, most of the major stores have them.

Finding Progresso and Celestune are easy from Merida, but driving into Merida itself can be hard, if you get lost, consider stopping and hiring a taxi to lead you to your hotel..

It gets tricky over there in Yucatan State though, and even maps don't help when you get off the main drag....

I went on a Hacienda tour with a woman that has lived in Merida for 10 years, has taken countless people on the same tour and we spend more time lost than found! We had maps and her experience! But the lost part was fun too!

On another trip from Merida to Uxmal and around to cenotes we used the map from Merida Today which is a big tourist publication and a well known map company map (I've loaned it out so can't say which it was) and it didn't make any sense at all to what we actually found on the roads. We got to our Hotel in Uxmal 4 hours later than we thought.....and not because we were daudling, but because the roads don't make sense. I was grateful to be with another easy going soul, we had a blast, but if you were on a trip like that with a control freak, it would be a tough trip indeed. And most of the time out there, there is no one to ask... It is just country side with a few very small villages every once in a while.....not much english spoken there....luckily we both speak some Spanish.

It may sound like maybe I'm just a bumbler with maps and driving, but I actually used to be a scout for a living and give me a map and a phone book and not only can I find anything, but had to communicate what I found to like 300 people in a way they could find it too!

[Rosie]

Phyllis, for sure I will do a trip report when we return. It will be fun to relive the trip through telling the story of it! And, it's a way of saying thank you to Tulum.info for all of the help I've received here.

Margo, thanks, both helpful and funny! I'm really hoping that this tool-of-the-devil (GPS!) will help us in Merida. Our friends who loaned it to us said it saved their bacon in Merida and Campeche especially, except that there were a couple of times when it directed them to turn the wrong way down one-way streets! Also, apparently there are lots of smaller roads that aren't in the sysem. Our Spanish is minimal, but gets better every year, so we could probably ask for and understand directions...though a guide would be ideal!! We'll look for a map in Cancun.

Thanks again, guys. 5 more sleeps.

Rosie

[chamba]

just googlemapped Merida and I am impressed. I think you will not have too many problems. it shows some oneways, and you can get oriented by the large scale that shows the major roads. the zoom in provided one-ways and hotels and plazas.
take pictures for the trip report.