Directions have never been my strong point. This sounds hilarious given that I was a taxi driver for several years. You would think directions would be easy for me, but they're not. I get turned around easy and maps are a mess for me. So, when I go on a trip to an unfamiliar location, I usually go armed with print outs of step by step instructions and lord forbid if I were to lose one. So, with this major road trip looming in the distance, I figured it was time for me to finally give in and enter the wonderful world of GPS ownership.

{Garmin Nuvi 40LM Portable GPS}




Staples was kind enough to send me the Garmin Nuvi 40LM Portable GPS system to review. This lightweight handheld system has everything you could ever want or need in a GPS system. Check out the included features:

• Preloaded maps for the lower 48 states plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico
• 4.3" full-color touch screen
• Look up addresses for over 8 million points of interest
• Includes FREE lifetime map updates
• Navigate right out of the box with preloaded maps
• Hear spoken street names
• Know the lane before it's too late with lane assist with junction view
• Keep out of trouble with the built-in speed limit indicator
• Where Am I? function informs you of the closest hospitals, police stations, gas stations, nearest address, intersections and coordinates
• Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery with up to 3 hours of battery life
• Automatic rerouting provides alternate travel directions in the event of a deviation from the directions given
• High-sensitivity GPS technology with HotFix for precise global positioning
• Insert a microSD card (not included) containing additional map data or regional maps to expand your navigational ability

{Our Take}

Our Spring Break trip to Orlando last week provided me with the perfect opportunity to take the Garmin Nuvi 40LM for a test spin. I had never used or even seen a GPS system up close and personal before, so I was a little worried it would be difficult. I took it out of the box, downloaded the program and hooked the GPS system up with the included USB capable so that it could download the 48 states maps. This whole process took probably 10-15 minutes and then I was ready to roll.

Of course, I wouldn't be me if I didn't poke around and find the free extras. What do I mean by that? I mean that they give you several free options for changing the icon that represents your car on the GPS screen, or the changing the voice that speaks the directions. You should have seen the look on the boy's faces when I turned the volume all the way up and used the Mr. Halloween voice. In the end, I settled on a blue car icon and the American English Samantha voice.

{Things I Personally Love}

• The current speed limit and your current rate of speed are displayed in the lower right corner of the screen to help keep you out of trouble.

• There is a loud ding that alerts you when the intersection you are approaching has a stop light camera installed. 
• Automatic rerouting is awesome! I inevitably make wrong turns and this thing just tells me how to get back on track. 
• The "Search Nearby" feature allowed us to find a restaurant that was close to our hotel one night on our vacation. I can tell this will be an invaluable feature on our summer trip! It also helped us find the park where the homeschool students were meeting on Thursday this week when I forgot the address.
• You can adjust the map to have as little or as much detail as you want. 

• As soon as you make one turn, it will automatically display the next move in the upper left corner of the screen, so you are never surprised. 

• It always tells or shows you what side of the road a turn or location will be on, so no last minute moves that could cause wrecks. 
• The Garmin Nuvi 40LM is portable, so it can be removed from the included suction cup base and used for fun activities like Geo caching, which we are huge fans of. No more lugging around my cell phone when we have this beauty!
• I don't have to use the printed out Google map instructions anymore and try to read them while driving and try to figure out which way to turn and exactly when. 
• Free lifetime maps! Need I say more? No more costly upgrades for updated maps. 

Full disclosure, Staples provided me with this Garmin Nuvi GPS. The words and opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. To see the full line of GPS Systems visit Staples.com.