The POI essentials

for me, besides Rest Areas Combined, I really want my all-USA School Zone TourGuide file on my GPS. And for both POI files, I want a custom icon and custom audio alert.

Also helpful is the file for dealers of your make of vehicle and if you buy from them, Discount Tire. Each may help me some day if I have a problem and am far from routes familiar to me.

If you favor a particular brand/chain then I would recommend the corresponding gas station, bank, and hotel POI files. They are probably going to be more extensive than the built in POIs.

I like to know where Subaru dealerships are so that I could be towed to one if I had a problem with my car.

Knowing where rest areas are is helpful.

gas stations and other chains do close down over time and new ones created. For those brands I prefer, I download the most recent locations and depend on that listing instead of Garmin's. Saved me multiple times from a time wasting mistake.

Oh! I love the idea of the dealerships! That might help me someday in the future (hopefully very distant future!)

Excellent suggestion!

Whenever the grandkids (with their parents of course) go somewhere, I look up the 24 hour pharmacies near their vacation spot - just in case one is needed. I build them into a TourGuide file so that as they see the sights, they are learning where the 24 hour pharmacies are.

For me it is McDonalds. Many of these are not in Garmin's data base.

We're retired and do a lot of travel with our cat Ray in a 24 year old VW camper - YMMV.

AAA locations and auto parts stores. Campgrounds, pet friendly motels, animal hospitals.

Tourist information/visitor centers. Offbeat tourist attractions. Thrift stores and quilt shops.

Food- we mostly prefer independent mom & pop burger joint/barbecue/family restaurants and brew pubs. A few well regarded chains are in the mix.

Credit unions in our network that don't charge ATM fees.

POIs are individual as that come. Only you know what you need or like. Gas stations, restaurants, rest areas, repair shops, those you call necessities to have a safe trip. If you like camping you need to know where campgrounds are and gas stations where you can empty your sewer, don't forget for those who need diesel.

Now is up to you to find the list here: http://www.poi-factory.com/poifiles for what you may need.

I bought a new 2595 garmin gps and I updated to the newest maps the free for life type, and what I found was that some POIs are old. Near me they still have a gas station that burned down more than 5 years ago. One pharmacy closed 2 years ago. I did not check many because I only have it a week.

Garmin should update their lists of POIs like they do for the roads.

I'm actually surprised that more companies don't maintain their own POI files. McDonalds should know where all of their stores are and I doubt it would take more than a couple hours of someone's time to put them all into a csv!

Also, what happens when you have a custom POI file with a McDonald's that's already in the Garmin. Will it show up twice?

Other than that I load and unload custom pois depending on where I am going...usually local attractions and restaurants...it's not that they are not otherwise included but I like to know where the recommended places are located.

I have a POI file that lists all the railroad grade crossings set for a proximity alarm. It has surprised me a couple of times.

Adding a Custom POI does not override any built-in POIs. Both are still searchable. You get to each be different methods.

If you start with Where To? > "Custom POIs", only the McDonalds from poi-factory will appear.

If you do Where To? > Restaurants, type in McDonalds, you will get the builtins.

Interesting. What happens if you so "Where to?" and just start typing in the search box at the top, McDonalds and don't first choose Restaurants or Custom POIs?

Does it default to search the built-ins or will it search both built-ins and custom POIs?

The searches are separate.

If you don't specifically select "Custom POIs", then the built in points of interest will be searched.

I travel a lot, not as much as I would like to. One thing I know is that custom poi's change as time goes by. I've added quite a few and removed some since my time with the POI Factory. It is by far an individual thing. I use Diesel, not gas, so guess what, I need diesel stations, not gas stations.
I pull an RV, so i need stuff for that. That's what makes this place so Great. Something for everyone........even a Hooters poi

For those with dietary restrictions such as food intolerances or food allergies: 1.Whole Earth locations become important for a meal + microwavable take out or for restocking one's travel cooler; 2. If you have vital prescriptions that can not be prefilled for more than a month & you've transferred those to Walmart because of their ubiquitous locations... I for one use a different set of POIs for day tripping & local commutes, than long hauls into unfamiliar regions.

Sure w/WiFi now common at most hotels along the way; such (POI) locations become accessible once you check in, however there are occasions when timetables can change & you might want to make those stops ahead of check in at your new destination.

Not sure what model it started with.On the 2597 once you touch where to.A search option comes up on the next screen at top of page.It will search both custom and internal.Tried it with RLC and Cracker Barrel.On the Cracker Barrel I searched for new store that has not been added to internal pois yet.It worked in both cases.Voice serach also works.

You can also do separate searches by custom or internal.