Best GPS/ app for Hong Kong driving?

[Katecymru]

Hi,

So we finally bought a car following helpful advice on here.

I now want to be able to drive it without getting lost. I've seen some old posts on GpS/ sat nav/ apps you can get but nothing from the last couple of years. So I wondered what people were using and would recommend?

I like the idea of having a separate peice of equipment, rather than using my phone (iPhone) but only if there is a good option...

thanks,

Kate

[Titus]

Sorry not a direct answer to your question but when I first started driving in HK, the BEST thing I did to prep myself was to go out late at night or very early morning (6am on a weekend) and drive to all the places that I usually go (nearby malls, my friend's place, etc). That really helps better than relying on a GPS (back then I had a map with notes on turns in my lap LOL)

[Zero Gravitas]

Also using Sygic, I would note that your phone needs to have a decent GPS unit in it. I used to have a Galaxy Tab which would take up to 20 minutes to find satellites, now using a Tab 4 with the better GPS unit and I get location in just a few seconds.

[wtbhotia]

I have been using WAZE on my mobile phone (i have two) and have been using it for a quite a while, it has all the fixed speed cameras and starts shouting at me before I reach it if I m over the speed limit, whenever there is a traffic jam, accidents or even police road blocks (non fixed speed traps), a push of a button on your phone screen and it will let everyone else know, the more you interact with the app by notifying situations on the road the more others join in as well.

I also use it when I need to get to certain locations that I rarely have been too and it works quite well.

https://www.waze.com/

[Skyhook]

Having used all the phone based GPS systems, from Waze to Google maps etc, in the end I ditched them all out of sheer frustration and purchased a Tom Tom Go 60 and have never been happier. it really is a night and day difference, vastly superior forward warning of where to turn off, satellite signal sensitivity ( especially when its cloudy ) in heavily built up areas crowded by high rises, the dedicated Tom Tom GPS just blows all the phone based GPS systems AWAY !

Having used our Tom Tom in Europe, various parts of Asia, Australia and the USA, the extra money invested in high quality maps and such an easy intuitive GUI just makes driving so much nicer/safer.

My experienced opinion, pay the extra money and buy a dedicated GPS for the car, $1600 - $2600hkd ( with maps ) very well spent, Tom Tom really do produce an excellent product, that isn't limited by a smart phones weak GPS sensitivity and having a larger screen and much louder speaker, helps greatly...

[Lord Dashwood]

I have Sygic on my phone but I haven't used it in over 2 years! I find Google Maps to be far superior...and it's free!

Quite surprised to hear that anyone still uses any dedicated GPS apps. I assumed Google had more or less killed them off.

[Zero Gravitas]

Sygic is offline which I like. I'm using it on a tablet with no sim card. Handy in areas of poor signal and if travelling overseas.

Also Sygic uses Tom Tom maps which are easier to view at a glance than Googles I find.

[Lord Dashwood]

Sygic is offline which I like. I'm using it on a tablet with no sim card. Handy in areas of poor signal and if travelling overseas.

Also Sygic uses Tom Tom maps which are easier to view at a glance than Googles I find.

You can download any map you like from Google and use it offline.

[East_coast]

The other option is to study the road maps and then there is no need for a GPS.

[Skyhook]

The other option is to study the road maps and then there is no need for a GPS.

If only Hong Kong had exit signage spaced ahead of turn off exits, far enough distance before the double lines start,so you dont get trapped in the wrong lane and sent off on a wild goose chase because you missed your turn off.

For a newbie to Hong Kong roads, ( ESPECIALLY after dark ) GPS is a very sensible option. As you gain more experience driving around Hong Kong, the GPS becomes less and less necessary, as you get to know your new location. Memorising road maps might be fine until the turn off on your route has been diverted/blocked by road work and you have to take the next turn off which totally stuffs things up, at least with a GPS it will reroute automatically, so is no big deal, thus greatly reducing driver stress..

My opinion, GPS for the car is the best thing since sliced bread having a good quality one that has a clear easy to read screen, with a high quality speaker that you can easily hear the voice direction prompts from, greatly reduces distractions, keeping your eyes on the road.