Washington DC – Driving Tour for Android

While the app functioned as advertised, there were a number of issues that made it frustrating to use: 1. As the driver, every time the map was hidden/replaced because the building image was displayed instead caused me to miss a number of turns. It’s also disconcerting when it happens and I’m coming up to an intersection then lose the map. 2. There really should be an option to turn off/select satellite imagery versus the vector street map. The photo map being overlaid by a dark blue/purple 2px thick line that blends easily into the image makes following it frustrating. 3. I’m very used to driving with Google Maps app showing the turns in an isometric view and not top down. Additionally the map does not reorient based on the direction I’m facing, so it was difficult to try and navigate off of that if I got off the planned course. 4. The app really needs a filter to allow the user to select what they want to see. Being forced to go through 171 POIs where many were not the focus of our interest/trip, nor what we had allocated time for, was frustrating. It would be great if there were multiple pre-mapped tour routes based on interests, or level of fame that the user could filter the list to. The most desirable option would be being able to choose multiple POIs you’re interested in, and have a tour route generated from the selection. Being able to focus on only 30-40 POIs instead of 171 is way more digestible. Overall it’s decent, while my family got more out of the app, as the driver it wasn’t great to use.

We were excited to use the app despite mixed reviews. Really loved the history facts with the sites and sprinkles of humor. It can be a little confusing getting started but once you get close to a site and click the site in the app, the story telling starts. However, I wish there was a refund policy but since there isn’t here’s a few tips for anyone considering downloading. It would be best to drive the city late at night when there’s hardly any traffic. That way you can enjoy the sites and stories better without worrying about delaying or navigating through traffic. If you get thrown off course at night it would be easier to course correct. At certain sites the app and/or GPS kept messing up and throwing us off course. We were driving 10-15 mph and there were multiple times when the app gave the history lesson AFTER the site had been passed. There were times we were driving in the correct direction and the app said the location was on the opposite side of the street. There were times when the app would say stay or get in the right lane and then immediately after that say get in the left lane and turn left. Crossing several lanes of DC traffic makes this difficult, and then you get thrown off course. You definitely cannot use this app as a solo traveler. You need someone to look at the map and help the driver navigate, it is a necessity. A couple of times the map re-oriented itself in the app throwing us off too. Sometimes the narration was way too fast and you couldn’t understand what they were saying, or gave late narration. Sometimes the narration repeated the history lesson on its own after it had already told the story. We tried to make the app work for the trip because when it worked it was good but eventually gave up and stopped using it out of frustration from how it kept messing up.

Extremely discouraged that the map wouldn’t allow you to zoom out…it would automatically zoom back in…making it difficult to plan for sites ahead. The dialogue kept getting interrupted by driving directions. Felt very disjointed. Would not recommend to others.

5/22/22 Horrible! Not worth it AT ALL! I wish I could get my money back. Not updated, doesn’t recognize your location well. I don’t know DC well and their traffic patterns. The directions would just start playing and you would do what was told and you end up way off coarse and couldn’t get back.

We took full advantage of this app when my son was exhausted and wanted to nap in the car. It was amazing and full of history and detail. Washington DC‘s road plan is incredibly confusing and the app did a great job of telling you which way to go. It’s best to use if you have a co- navigator to read the GPS map. However even if you’re on your own, it’s a great way to find all kinds of secret hidden places amongst the city full of history. Well done!