Journey Planners - Internet Planners

July 2006

Want to know how to get from A to B? It’s easy PC if you’ve got a computer – simply load up the latest route planner. For this test, we looked at CD-ROM and Internet-based guides. The former come with pre-installed maps of either the UK or the whole of Western Europe. Price differences for these programs are small, so unless you absolutely never travel abroad, a Euro choice is often best.

A decent program will include points of interest (POI), such as hotels, restaurants, cash machines and tourist attractions, while a seven-digit postcode search is invaluable.

Web-based planners are slower to access than the CD-ROM versions and require a fairly quick Internet connection. But they are free, and if you only need to plan journeys on an occasional basis, might be a better choice.

Verdict

Microsoft’s AutoRoute Europe 2006 combines a simple user interface with a huge map database and a great price. Route 66 Europe 2005 Professional is almost as good, but is not quite as comprehensive.

The features on the four Internet sites varied, but if you need to quickly arrange a complex route, then the planners from the AA and RAC offer the best solution.

Top 3

1. AA Route Planner
2. RAC Route Planner
3. Via Michelin

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