Great news for anyone who performs badly in visual-spatial reasoning tests: old-fashioned navigation is dying. Within a few years, most new cars will be fitted with GPS satellite navigation systems. Even if you don't have one, you no longer need to rely on an atlas: these sites will calculate your route online and present it in the form of a route map, a written itinerary, or both. Some even list restaurants hotels and petrol stations en route — but bear in mind that these are often commercial tie-ins rather than impartial recommendations.
All the mapping sites have their strengths and weaknesses, but Mappy.com is currently the most impressive performer. It extends to most of 'old' (pre-EU enlargement) Europe, and boasts unusually detailed maps of towns and large villages. You can also quickly reverse the itinerary for the return journey and send it to an email account or PDA. Unlike some of its rivals, Mappy will calculate point-to-point itineraries with more than one destination. It handled a complicated trip from Gothenburg to the tiny Swedish island of Flaton, which includes a ferry journey, without difficulty. The chief drawback? Airports seem to be missing from Mappy's database.
I used to rate ViaMichelin more highly, but in recent months its maps have become difficult to view properly on a Mac. It calculates itineraries quickly and can find airports, but its big innovation has been to include details of French speed radar traps. All the Michelin Red Guide's recommendations are available on the site, making it the best choice for long journeys involving an overnight stay or a meal. Drivers used to Michelin atlases will find the maps pleasingly familiar.
The RAC's site extends as far as the 'new' Europe and is strong on recognising the names of airports, railway and bus stations. Smaller towns tend to go unnoticed. The interactive map is still problematic on Macs: choose the static version instead. Rival site Theaa.co.uk produces clear written itineraries, but no maps.
By far the best option for road trips in the US, with step-by-step maps of intersections and excellent maps of US towns. It will also suggest things to do within five, 10 or 25 miles of a given location. For Canada try maps.yahoo.com.
Good directions for Australia and Brazil. For basic maps of other countries, visit Mapquest.co.uk.
