Sat Nav and internet in the USA

[suedonim]

Can anyone tell me, is it possible to hire sat nav with a hire car in the US. Also, how easy is it to find internet services? Would we be better taking a laptop with us? TIA!

You can go to a local library for internet service - but do you really want that hassle? Also, think many hotels have computer access in their business service area.

Am fairly sure you can hire a car with satnav. Check websites for hire cars (Hertz, Avis, Budget, etc) to be sure though.

yes you can hire cars with sat nav... or if you have a sat nav already you can download a map of the US.. we did even though I knew where we were going most of the time.. aside from Oakland airport and navagating San Fran in a car instead of on foot...

Dollar rental cars are pretty good and National/Alamo too

as for internet Fed-ex Kinko's a copier store are everywhere... I would say it can be handy to have a laptop with you if you have the room for it as there are alot of places that have free wi-fi connetion coffee shops and such or its at least cheaper

hope that was helpful

Perfect, just the info I was looking for. Searching websites is a bit difficult for me here in Nigeria as the internet connex is very bad. It's easier to ask on MN!

I always get a Hertz car with Neverlost, which is their satnav. It works really well, and is easy to use. Make sure you specifically mention it in the notes on your booking as they often seem to mess it up.

Definately possible to get SatNav - the last few times it's always been offered.

Most hotels seem to have wifi access - most free although some (seemingly the more expensive!) do charge.

I hate Neverlost - DH always got it on his hire cars in the US. It was totally useless in downtown LA where it lost the signal completely - we had no idea where we were and neither did the sat nav. It also lost itself the first time he was driving back to LAX from Santa Barbara. And it regularly showed us to be in the ocean! Our experiences there have put me off sat nav for life.

There are more and more wi-fi hotspots - I think Starbucks and McDonalds offer it amongst others. And one place near Universal in CA we visited the whole town centre was wi-fi enabled. We paid about $10 a day at the Hilton but I think DH gets it complimentary now because of his loyalty card status so worth checking benefits of loyalty cards/credit card benefits etc.

we took ours with us and it worked fine.
husbands idea and it was invaluable.

Ha! I am in the US right now, we hired a car from Hertz with Neverlost, and it was awful - it seemed to give the directions just that little bit too late to be helpful! Mind you, if you are used to using satnav (we're not) it might be fine.
And I am sat in my hotel room with my own laptop hooked up to their free internet - and there's wireless access in the lobby.

We've never used satnav anywhere so it'll be a whole new experience for us, lol. Ds2 used it in Paris last year and thought it was great even though he knows the city quite well anyway. From what you say it sounds like Neverlost might be one to avoid, though.

Will definitely pack a laptop now - we usually seem to travel with three of them but I shall reduce that to one for this trip.

I have used NeverLost a lot (up to 8 times a year), and have to say that it has always got me where I needed to go, and thats me driving around on my own and asking it to take me to Starbucks/Borders/Whole Foods Market, or throwing myself straight in a car after the flight.

Ok, then! I guess with these things they each have their weaknesses and strengths and it's personal preference in the end.

Feeling a little bit more positive about Sometimeslost now - she got us to the big mall and back to DC - she's been upgraded from Alwayslost!

Most Coffee shops are wireless too . Don't use SatNav never have, like to read a good map and follow my senses.