GPS Navigation Rentals?
- Thread starter earlybird
- Start date
integral9
Member
I know Enterprise offers the Garmin for a few bucks a day, I'm sure others do too. Also, if you rent the highend car like the Chrysler 300, it'll come with a Nav built in. But be warned, the Chrysler nav is crap when you're used to the Nav in a Acura or Honda (same system).
I'm not much of a fan of the Garmin either, since the night mode makes the route purple and it just happens to be one of the colors I can't see very well so it looks gray. Just like the rest of the streets on the map. Also, the screen size is small compared to the built in models.
What's your favorite Nav system? I like Garmin for the traffic updates, but the screen size and colors bump it down for me. So my fav. is the Honda system. I just wish it had traffic updates.
I'm not much of a fan of the Garmin either, since the night mode makes the route purple and it just happens to be one of the colors I can't see very well so it looks gray. Just like the rest of the streets on the map. Also, the screen size is small compared to the built in models.
What's your favorite Nav system? I like Garmin for the traffic updates, but the screen size and colors bump it down for me. So my fav. is the Honda system. I just wish it had traffic updates.
earlybird
Active Member
Thanks guys. Maybe someone can educate me here. We are going to DC for 5 days and I'd like one for our rental car. Pretty simple to use? For example if I'm at my hotel and I want to go to one of the memorials do I need to have the address? Now slightly more difficult, if I want to go at 5pm Friday during rush hour how... tell me about the traffic updates?
Thanks
Thanks
integral9
Member
I live and work in DC. You do *not* want to drive in DC. Not only are the street lights on brown poles on the side walks (they don't hang over the road) but parking is a nightmare and rediculous ($25 per day), and most of street signs are really hard to read. If you want to go to one of the main memorials (Vietnam, WWII, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc), go to the Metro station by your hotel, buy a $5 (all day pass) and get off the metro at the "Smithsonian" station. That will put you on "The Mall". Most of the memorials are on The Mall. It's about a mile from one end to the other, but walkable. If you want to see the Whitehouse or Monument, call ahead. Tours book fast.
If you want to go see Arlington Cemetery or one of the memorials that is off the Mall then get a map and figure out the closest Metro station.
Be prepared to do a lot of walking. DC is mostly a walking city. oh, watch out for the traffic along Constitution and Independance. Speed limit is 30, but people go 40-50 if they can.
If you want to go see Arlington Cemetery or one of the memorials that is off the Mall then get a map and figure out the closest Metro station.
Be prepared to do a lot of walking. DC is mostly a walking city. oh, watch out for the traffic along Constitution and Independance. Speed limit is 30, but people go 40-50 if they can.
earlybird
Active Member
Okay thanks. My wife is runnin the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. I grew up in Northern Va so I'm familar with the area but haven't been there since I was 17. We're staying in Crystal City and I don't know how far that is from the metro.
Anyway, I'm still going to need to drive to some areas. I want to get back to Vienna and check out my old "stomping grounds" and we are going to do a DC drive at night. So will I need the address of where I want to go to use the navigator?
Anyway, I'm still going to need to drive to some areas. I want to get back to Vienna and check out my old "stomping grounds" and we are going to do a DC drive at night. So will I need the address of where I want to go to use the navigator?
integral9
Member
Originally Posted by earlybird
Okay thanks. My wife is runnin the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. I grew up in Northern Va so I'm familar with the area but haven't been there since I was 17. We're staying in Crystal City and I don't know how far that is from the metro.
Anyway, I'm still going to need to drive to some areas. I want to get back to Vienna and check out my old "stomping grounds" and we are going to do a DC drive at night. So will I need the address of where I want to go to use the navigator?
Crystal City has a couple of Metro stations nearby. The Crystal City Metro, Pentagon City Metro, and the Pentagon Metro. Don't know how long it's been since you were here, but "The Underground Mall" in Crystal City has been redone recently and is quite nice from what I here. Chances are though if you are any reasonable distance from a Metro, your hotel will have a shuttle.
btw. The Metro doesn't really go to Vienna. There is a Vienna station, but the station is on I-66, not really Vienna and a long walk from downtown Vienna. Also, I-66 is HOV2 inbound in the morning and outbound in the evening. The opposite direction is not controlled, but *heavily* (parking lot mostly) used by opposite commuters.
I don't know any of the monument addresses. Most of the Nav systems I've used allow you to browse around the map an click a point. It will then tell you the address or street name. The Honda Nav allows you to click a point and "add to destination", don't know if the rest do.
Traffic report for DC:
#2 worst traffic in the country. Expect delays and grid lock everywhere you go. sorry.
I gave up on it and ride the bus to work now.
Okay thanks. My wife is runnin the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday. I grew up in Northern Va so I'm familar with the area but haven't been there since I was 17. We're staying in Crystal City and I don't know how far that is from the metro.
Anyway, I'm still going to need to drive to some areas. I want to get back to Vienna and check out my old "stomping grounds" and we are going to do a DC drive at night. So will I need the address of where I want to go to use the navigator?
Crystal City has a couple of Metro stations nearby. The Crystal City Metro, Pentagon City Metro, and the Pentagon Metro. Don't know how long it's been since you were here, but "The Underground Mall" in Crystal City has been redone recently and is quite nice from what I here. Chances are though if you are any reasonable distance from a Metro, your hotel will have a shuttle.
btw. The Metro doesn't really go to Vienna. There is a Vienna station, but the station is on I-66, not really Vienna and a long walk from downtown Vienna. Also, I-66 is HOV2 inbound in the morning and outbound in the evening. The opposite direction is not controlled, but *heavily* (parking lot mostly) used by opposite commuters.
I don't know any of the monument addresses. Most of the Nav systems I've used allow you to browse around the map an click a point. It will then tell you the address or street name. The Honda Nav allows you to click a point and "add to destination", don't know if the rest do.
Traffic report for DC:
#2 worst traffic in the country. Expect delays and grid lock everywhere you go. sorry.
I gave up on it and ride the bus to work now.
kerriann
Member
The garmin is very simple to use but I'd highly reccommend running some practice routes with it to get used to it - especially if you're going to be using it in a big city like DC. Use it to get to the grocery store or what not in an area you're familiar with and make certain your comfortable with how it instructs you and being able to decipher the map in the event that it tells you to turn right and there could possibly be 2 right turns (the map will show you in red the route you should be taking). if you get one of the newer GPS's it shouldn't be a problem since they'll use street names and such.
Also, while sitting in your car play with the menu options and get used to it and how it types. There are options where you can type in just the name of where you're going in just a general search. if you go into one of the subcategories (food, shopping, etc) you can spell the name again and it will search in just that category.
You can detour routes, avoid highways/tollroads etc - just take the time to get a comfort level because the last thing you want to do is be playing with a GPS on a highway in rush hour traffic in DC! That's probably more dangerous than any cell phone use!!
And me personally, I'm a fan of Garmin but I have never used Honda's or come across it. I just have a portable GPS unit, not one installed in my car
Also, while sitting in your car play with the menu options and get used to it and how it types. There are options where you can type in just the name of where you're going in just a general search. if you go into one of the subcategories (food, shopping, etc) you can spell the name again and it will search in just that category.
You can detour routes, avoid highways/tollroads etc - just take the time to get a comfort level because the last thing you want to do is be playing with a GPS on a highway in rush hour traffic in DC! That's probably more dangerous than any cell phone use!!
And me personally, I'm a fan of Garmin but I have never used Honda's or come across it. I just have a portable GPS unit, not one installed in my car
moneyman
Member
You'll get lost even with a nav system in DC 
Address for the Crystal City Metro Station is:
1750 South Clark St., Arlington, VA 22202
Here's a map of site of the stations (google 'metrorail system map':
www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm
If you decide to park at Metro and ride, you'll need to buy a SmarTrip card for $5. This acts like a debit card. This is the only way that you can get out of their parking garages.
A lot of Metro stations participate in the Flex car sharing program. These are pay-by-the-hour car rental. It is worth while if you're only using your car just to visit your old hood.
Address for the Crystal City Metro Station is:
1750 South Clark St., Arlington, VA 22202
Here's a map of site of the stations (google 'metrorail system map':
www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm
If you decide to park at Metro and ride, you'll need to buy a SmarTrip card for $5. This acts like a debit card. This is the only way that you can get out of their parking garages.
A lot of Metro stations participate in the Flex car sharing program. These are pay-by-the-hour car rental. It is worth while if you're only using your car just to visit your old hood.
geridoc
Well-Known Member
I'm familiar with the Garmin line, and they all offer Points of Interest (POI). All you need to do is indicate that you want to go to a POI, and enter the first few letters of the name and the unit will suggest destinations that begin that way, and you just tap the one you want. It works for restaurants, hotels, hospitals and airports in addition to tourist destinations. I couldn't live without my 550.
scotts
Active Member
We visited DC a number of years ago. I think we took the metro and did not drive while we were there. The one main thing that I remember was that when we went to see the Constitution and Delcaration of Independence during the day there was a line and they kept you moving. We went back later in the evening like 7:00 or 8:00 and there was nobody there and we could just stand there and stare at those excellent documents.