Where to buy a TomTom GPS

I would like to buy a TomTom GPS as it would be easier to drive in and around Kowloon and HK, given the road signage is less than perfect, and one can go blind trying to read the mass of tiny English and Chinese words squashed into the road map I bought.

Can anyone advise where to get one and how much it would cost?

Thanks
Kathy

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Posted by onemorething (1640 days ago)

Don't think TomTom does Asian maps yet.

Posted by dizzyhytes (1640 days ago)

Thanks, didn't know that. Can you recommend a GPS system is the most basic but has a user friendly interface, and is in English? Is there one which is portable and doesn't have to be fixed in the car and I can carry it around with me?

Posted by macgarraidh (1639 days ago)

I have a TomTom with Hong Kong English maps on it. I bought the machine on the web from the UK and downloaded the map from TomTom Australia as they don't have a Hong Kong page - odd as they are selling maps for the place. Also I had to pay GST (VAT). I use it to get to back streets in Kowloon or Fan Ling but would not use it for everyday navigation as it is full of flaws. An example - if I want to drive from Sai Kung to Hong Kong Island unless I programme it to go via the Eastern Tunnel it will try to take me through the "Old" tunnel. On the return it tells me to take the second exit at a roundabout which would take me into Silverstrand rather than Clear Water Bay Road....!

Posted by Spider99 (1639 days ago)

all you need is a KingsMap from Hong Kong.

Posted by Mrs R (1639 days ago)

I bought our Tom Tom GPS here in Hong Kong from the web site www.expansys.com.hk then bought the Hong Kong english maps from Map King online. If I can remember right the system cost around $1500 and it works great, it does take a little getting use to though.

Posted by macgarraidh (1638 days ago)

I bought mine from expansys.com.hk too but the TomTom had to be sent from the UK with UK maps downloaded. I them bought TomTom maps on line as I did not realise that MapKing can work on my machine.Please tell me more Mrs R.

Posted by dizzyhytes (1629 days ago)

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. Mrs R, I checked with MapKing and they claim their software doesn't work on TomTom. Does yours work fine?

Posted by Mrs R (1614 days ago)

Hi dizzyhytes, my husband has reminded me that we had problems with the map king software and couldn't download it, so we then purchased a Hong Kong map from Tom Tom UK and that works fine. Sorry for the conflicting information but it was quite a while ago.

Posted by F100 (1614 days ago)

I heard that GPS is not worth buying if you are planning on using it around Hong Kong Island.
This is because you can't get a signal because of the high buildings.

Posted by dizzyhytes (1613 days ago)

Mrs R and F100, thanks a lot for your information!

Posted by frenchfries (1469 days ago)

is it not worth getting a GPS in hk still?

Posted by axptguy38 (1469 days ago)

It can be quite hard to get a signal. Also, the Island is a rather small place so you tend to learn the routes you need.

Posted by frenchfries (1469 days ago)

what about the new territories or kowloon??

Posted by gixer (1462 days ago)

Hi All, it's all not true about weak signals. I have used Tomtom and now a Garmin GPS unit and the signal has never been a problem even in Central on a rainy day.

I highly recommend it if you are driving in Hong Kong, I brought both of mine over from Australia then bought the Hong Kong maps online, both Tomtom and Garmin have maps of Hong Kong. I believe the Garmin maps are more accurate, although I haven't tried the update one from Tomtom yet, but I'm tempted because I prefer the routing on the Tomtom.

Hope this helps.

michael

Posted by Mr. H (1462 days ago)

I've bought a Tom Tom from Wan Chai computer centre a couple of month ago, it has maps from 'map king' (already installed in WC Computer Centre) and it works just fine.

I use mine to go from Sai Kung to: fang ling, Shueng Shiu, Central and Admiralty, Tai Po and Sha Tin (I'm a social service worker) and so far so good. I got it from the first guy on your left as you go up the first escalator.

It's a dashboard attachment but it works okay.

Posted by dizzyhytes (1462 days ago)

Michael and Mr H, thanks for the advice.

Mr H, will go to Wanchai CC but do you remember which model you bought, approx price etc? I have no idea how much I should expect to pay so I don't get ripped off.

Thanks

Posted by Hemmo (1461 days ago)

Has anybody found TomTom or any other solution with HKG maps that would work on mobile phone?

I used this solution (TomTom) in Europe and it was great, as the phone is always with me. Works in car, while walking, biking etc...

Posted by gixer (1461 days ago)

If you are running Windows mobile on your phone, you can buy Tom Tom navigator 7, you can download the HKG maps for that also, it works a treat. If you're on a blackberry, Garmin has an app with HKG maps, but its more expensive.

hope its helps
michael

Posted by 28cars (1165 days ago)

Hi, if you don't use a satnav you'll learn HK roads in about 3 months. If you use one you will never learn and be very frustrated when they lose signal in mid levels when you've got three minibuses/taxis/trucks beeping and you go the wrong way and have to pay a 45hkd toll because you went the wrong way!!

Posted by 28cars (1164 days ago)

Damn! I've just realised that I'm one of those annoying people who give an opinion not an answer! I hate that. Anyway, I brought my Tom Tom from England and bought the HK map from the net. It works fine on Kowloon side and NT, actually alot of HK island, but once you're downtown it gets confused. I am aprofessional driver in Hong Kong and have found that downtown it's better to print directions from Google maps. Further, most local GPS systems I looked at in HK don't have English as an option. Hope that helps.