Sat Nav Mapping Available for Chile

Last week we added Argentina to our range of products, staying in South America we have now added its westerly neighbouring country, Chile. Chile is a long slither of a country on the west coast of Southern America with the South Pacific Ocean to the west and Peru and Bolivia on it’s north borders.

As Chile stretches for 2700 miles from North to South it’s climate varies significantly. In the north there is the desert and in the extreme south it is very glacial. Central Chile has a very Mediterranean climate and the Pacific Islands such as Easter Island experience a sub tropical climate.

Tourism has grown considerably since 2005 with many people choosing to visit the extremes of the country. In the north San Pedro de Atacama is very popular with foreign tourists who arrive to admire the Incaic architecture, the altiplano lakes, and the Valley of the Moon. In Putre, also in the North, there is the Chungará Lake, as well as the Parinacota and the Pomerape volcanoes, with altitudes of 6,348 m and 6,282 m, respectively.

Throughout the central Andes there are many ski resorts such as Portillo, Valle Nevado and Termas de Chillan which provide skiing conditions when The Alps are green. In the south visitors flock to Patagonia and the Torres del Paine National Park to visit the many glaciers. On the west coast lies Easter Island which is very popular for locals to take their vacation.

Driving Advice for Chile

Roads are generally good in Chile, however there are a number of expensive toll roads
The main road which stretches from north to south, Panaamericana, has many tolls so make sure you have plenty of cash
Motorway speed limits are 120 km/h
Make sure you drive on the right!
Do not drink and drive

We also have excellent car hire deals for Chile which can be obtained by visiting the link below.

Sat Nav Hire Chile

Car Hire Comparison Chile

Note: The above information is provided as a guide for our customers. We try our best to make sure the information is as accurate as possible at time of publish. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies. If any of the above is incorrect please advise us and we will be happy to update.

New mapping available for Argentina

We have recently added new mapping for Argentina to our product range. Argentina is becoming a more popular destination for tourists from the UK who want more form a holiday than sitting on a beach drinking cocktails. Argentina has something for everyone, cosmopolitan cities with a lively culture and amazing landscape including Patagonia and the Andes mountain range. Argentina is renowned for its steaks which are considered to be the best in world. There is also a thriving nightlife in Buenos Aires which will keep you partying to the early hours. Designer clothes can also be purchased at really affordable prices.

Argentina is a very large country comparable with India. It stretches 2,400 miles from its sub-tropical north to the sub-artic south. The climate in Argentina is very diverse, the south experiences very cold and sudden change of weather especially in places such as Tierra del Fuego and the rest of Patagonia. Buenos Aires has a very temparate climate with temparatures reaching 35 degrees celcius in the summer months of December, January and February.

Speed limits in Argentina vary form 60 km/h in the city to 120 km/h on the highways. Like the UK there are many cameras and speed traps so it is best to keep to the limit at all times. It is also important to pay attention at all times and especially at night as many of the roads are not lit and other road users do not always have adequate lights. The traffic in major cities such as Buenos Aires can be extremely bad and the Argentines often can ignore traffic signals so if you are going to drive in the city stay alert.

Our sat nav mapping for Argentina also includes Uruguay. The coverage includes the following:

Countries covered: Argentina (Street level coverage for 61% of the population, including but not limited to Buenos Aires, Capital Federal, Chubut, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro and Santa Fe) and Uruguay ( Street level coverage for 48% of the population, including but not limited to Punta del Este and Montevideo)
Connector roads: 100% of connected network of major roads that allows you seamless navigation throughout Argentina and Uruguay, covering major towns and cities. All major roads connecting Argentina and Uruguay are covered.
Additional information: contains an additional 24,000km road coverage

Click here to rent a sat nav for Argentina

If you have not already hired a car for Argentina we recommend visiting our sister website which compares the lowest priced car hire in Argentina.

We have recently added Middle East mapping to our satellite navigation hire range. The Middle East is becoming a far more popular place for tourists with Dubai leading the way with spectacular hotels, buildings, shops, beaches and golf courses. The mapping includes United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. With sun all year round it is the ideal place to visit during our winter months.

TomTom state that the coverage is as follows, street network coverage Bahrain 99%, Kuwait 99%, Qatar 99%, Oman 80%, Saudi Arabia 82%, UAE 99%. There are 183,620 Kms of roads covered through the entire region with 90,794 points of interest. House number coverage in Kuwait is 99% and in UAE is 36%. As well as being able to navigate from house to house you can also travel from country to country across border.

Although driving laws in Dubai are very similar to many other countries with so many people driving high powered cars on highways with up to 10 lanes accidents are inevitable and the statistics show Dubai to have one of the highest road death rates in the world. A few years ago traffic was unheard of in Dubai, but now growth has overtaken the development of the road network so at peak times there are jams that would not be out of place in London.

The TomTom device we will be supplying for hire in the Middle East will contain seamless mapping for the whole area. Prices for Sat Nav Hire Middle East start from £31.02 for the first week and just £63.33 for one month.

Hire a Sat Nav for The Middle East

Dubai

This time of year whilst it is cold and wet here in the UK many people are travelling to the Southern Hemisphere to enjoy some winter sun. Probably one of our most popular hire products is our TomTom South Africa sat nav. South Africa is a beautiful country and many chose to drive the full length of the country starting from Johannesburg and driving to Cape Town via the east coast and the spectacular garden route. Sat Nav Hire South Africa has many advantages. Firstly, it takes away the stress of getting lost or not being able to find you hotel. Secondly, you are able to take in the scenery rather than having to map read.

Our TomTom South Africa units contain recent mapping with 1000′s of point of interest making navigation very easy. There are a few places that are worth a visit which can often be off the beaten track with no precise address. Fortunately, this does not pose a problem when using the TomTom. There is an excellent feature when plotting your route that allows you to enter your GPS coordinates. How do I know the coordinates? you may ask. Most of the places that are in the middle of nowhere such as some game reserves and vineyards display their GPS coordinates on their website. If not, you can visit www.itouchmap.com where you can pinpoint a location on a map and it will give you the precise coordinates. Even better, if you email us your destinations after placing your order we will pre-program the places for you free of charge.

We can also provide you with car hire for South Africa and many other travel extras.

Germany’s Autobahn motorway system is a dream for driving enthusiasts. With well maintained and uncomplicated roads as well as efficient and co-operative drivers make driving in Germany a pleasure. As with any country there are simple rules and laws to follow for your safety so read on to find out more…..

The minimum age to drive in Germany is 18 and don’t forget to take your driving licence to prove it. Cars drive on the right and pass on the left and seatbelts must be worn by all passengers. Children under the age of 12 or shorter than 1.5m are not permitted to ride in the front unless they use an approved safety seat or harness but if there an active airbag in the front then safety seats are not permitted. Doors must be kept unlocked while driving to help a rescue in case of an accident, if you are hiring a car then let the rental company check this out. Many cars these days have settings where the doors automatically lock when mobile which must be switched off. Vehicles must carry a warning triangle and first aid kit.

On the spot fines are issued by the Police in Germany and if you are caught short of cash they can impound your car. If you are fined because your hire car is not supplied with the neccessary safety equipment do not worry. Pay the fine and the Police will issue a receipt and your car hire company will reimburse you. Car rental companies always try to ensure that all the relevant equipment is supplied but at busy times of the year this may not be possible.

Speed cameras are rife in Germany so be aware. If your car is supplied with a sat nav or you bring one with you then most of them come with speed camera warnings and this option must be disabled. If you are driving a rental car and are caught by a camera then the ticket will be sent to your car rental company who will notify the Police and the fine will be forwarded to you. Non EU residents regularly have their cases dropped but this isn’t to be relied upon.

Speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows:

Within urban areas -  50kph or 31mph

Outside urban areas – 100kph or 62mph

Autobahns and expressways – 130kph or 81mph. This is a recommended speed limit but there is no general speed limit for cars or motorcycles.

The penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol in Germany are harsh. Heavy penalties are given and can include a suspension of your licence. Penalties are enforced with anyone demonstrating a blood alcohol limit as low as 0.03. Considering the high alcohol content found in most German beers it is recommended that you do not drive if you have drunk any alcohol.

Further information:

The use of mobile phones whilst driving is not permitted. Mobile phones may be used only if parked with the engine turned off or if it is hands free.

If involved in an accident then you must stop immediately, this also applies to any people in a vehicle not involved in the accident but could act as a witness. If anyone is injured then the Police and Ambulance service can be contacted from a telephone or mobile by dialling 112 or on Autobahns the nearest emergency telephone may be used. It is the law that first aid is given to any of the injured persons, your First Aid Kit will come in handy.

If involved in the accident you must exchange information with the other driver/s such as your licence, passport, insurance details and if applicable your rental information. As a tourist it would be suggested that you contact the Police so they can take a report which will help protect you from any future problems.

Finally, we would recommend that a GPS or Sat Nav would help you navigate around Germany and let you concentrate on driving safely without the added worry of navigating as well. If you don’t have a Sat Nav then you can hire a Sat nav for Germany from this website. Our prices are approximately 50% cheaper than hiring one from a car rental company and a lot cheaper than buying mapping that you might not need to use again.