GPS in Israel

[Myls311]

Thanks to Dan and the amazing ElAl deal, I will be g-d willing be going to Israel right after the Chag. I have never driven in Israel but will be renting a car this time. My plan is to rent a GPS from the cell phone rental place. Does anyone have any other suggestions? My main concern is with the English speaking GPS systems, how to know the addresses of certain areas, for example the kever of the Rashbi in Meron, Kever of Shmuel Hanavi etc. The Kotel and Kever Rachel are easy to get to but the other areas I can see myself confusing Ramla for Ramala and we all know the ending to that story.....any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Mocha]

Thanks to Dan and the amazing ElAl deal, I will be g-d willing be going to Israel right after the Chag. I have never driven in Israel but will be renting a car this time. My plan is to rent a GPS from the cell phone rental place. Does anyone have any other suggestions? My main concern is with the English speaking GPS systems, how to know the addresses of certain areas, for example the kever of the Rashbi in Meron, Kever of Shmuel Hanavi etc. The Kotel and Kever Rachel are easy to get to but the other areas I can see myself confusing Ramla for Ramala and we all know the ending to that story.....any help would be greatly appreciated.

Google maps on a smart phone works awesome.

[yhakak]

Google maps on a smart phone works awesome.

Or use the waze app, available for iphone and android, which is very popular here. Just make sure you have an unlimited cellular data plan (which you can get from one of those short-term phone places)

[Moishebatchy]

My plan is to rent a GPS from the cell phone rental place.

How much are they charging per day, for how many days? If you choose not to go the smartphone route, it may be cheaper to buy a GPS than to rent one if you're here long enough.

[L'Chaim]

How much are they charging per day, for how many days? If you choose not to go the smartphone route, it may be cheaper to buy a GPS than to rent one if you're here long enough.

Or to add the map on your gps

[Moishebatchy]

Or to add the map on your gps

...assuming that (a) you already have one, (b) it is a Garmin (or other make) that can have maps added to it, and (c) you can buy (or have access to) an Israel map pack.

[yfriedman7]

waze is the best everyone in israel is always updating it there are always traffic reports, police reports and shortcuts

[Myls311]

Thank you for all the replies. i will g-d willing be there for a week. My original plan was to rent a gps from the phone rental place for $6 a day along with a sim card with unlimited data on it. Now it seems that it is easier and better for me to just use google maps and/or download that program onto my phone. Are the data speeds in Israel fast enough to load/recalculate quickly? How do i type in certain points of interest such as kever of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, Kever of Shmuel etc?

[yhakak]

Thank you for all the replies. i will g-d willing be there for a week. My original plan was to rent a gps from the phone rental place for $6 a day along with a sim card with unlimited data on it. Now it seems that it is easier and better for me to just use google maps and/or download that program onto my phone. Are the data speeds in Israel fast enough to load/recalculate quickly? How do i type in certain points of interest such as kever of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, Kever of Shmuel etc?

Yes, you'll find in most places the data speeds here will be faster than on an American 3G network, you won't have a problem. Using waze you can input places - try it out: http://www.waze.com/livemap/
input "joseph's tomb" or קבר יוסף if you have hebrew...

what kind of phone do you have?

-yair

[yhakak]

Yes, you'll find in most places the data speeds here will be faster than on an American 3G network, you won't have a problem. Using waze you can input places - try it out: http://www.waze.com/livemap/
input "joseph's tomb" or קבר יוסף if you have hebrew...

what kind of phone do you have?

-yair

and don't go to kever yosef by yourself, it's crazy dangerous. If you want to go there find out when there's an authorized bus with army security.

[Promo_Jake]

anyone have one in Israel they would sell for short money?

[Myls311]

@yair Thank you. I have a HTC Incredible II

[yhakak]

@yair Thank you. I have a HTC Incredible II

If it's a GSM phone and unlocked then i'd suggest renting a SIM and using your  existing phone. Download waze and see if it works for you...

[moko]

i bought a used ipod touch and tons tom cradle for a grand total of $65: jail broke it and installed. igo worked great

[Moishebatchy]

anyone have one in Israel they would sell for short money?

Short money?

[Promo_Jake]

Short money?

low cost

[yhakak]

Short money?

yes, yes cousin from amerika! you come my shop, buy souvenirs, t-shirts, small money, small money...

welcome to the middle east :-)

[Moishebatchy]

yes, yes cousin from amerika! you come my shop, buy souvenirs, t-shirts, small money, small money...

welcome to the middle east :-)

Ah, SMALL money! Now we are making to talk!

[Galitzyaner]

waze is the best everyone in israel is always updating it there are always traffic reports, police reports and shortcuts

+1 Nothing beats Waze in Israel.

[Myls311]

Will my Google GPS installed on my Android phone work in Israel with a Cellcom Sim card?