Easy Rider
Navigating uncharted territory? You've got options.
Driving an unfamiliar car in an unfamiliar city isn't much fun. Though printed directions can help, many road warriors are finding GPS devices to be a better option, and are bringing their own portable systems (such as Garmin's Nüvi 750) along when they travel.
Another option is a rental car with GPS. Most major rental car companies charge $10 to $11 a day for an in-car GPS; order it when you make a reservation.
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Hertz's NeverLost navigation system lets you plot your itinerary online, save it to a USB flash drive and plug it in to their in-car Magellan GPS receivers. Where2, offered by both Avis and Budget, is based on Garmin's StreetPilot c550 and has a hands-free calling feature that syncs with Bluetooth-enabled phones; other features include real-time traffic and construction alerts that automatically suggest alternate routes whenever there are delays. Alamo and National Car Rental offer portable Garmin StreetPilot c330s, which use a touchscreen for data entry and offer turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions. The best part? All these systems include return-to-airport functions.
Julie Moline is a freelance writer, editor and editorial consultant in New York City.