Road Trip Planner 4+

Good, but could be better

I have been looking for a substitute for Google Maps (Google Maps did everything that I wanted but the number of points and routes you could put on one map is very limited). The biggest problem I have with Road Trip Planner is that I can’t get routes in certain areas. I wanted to map out trips I’ve taken in Central America and West Africa. Can’t do it. If there is a way to map these trips in another program and then import them that would solve the problem. It would also be good to be able to free hand routes, then you could fill in routes where the roads aren’t in the data base or where you’re off the grid. Also I would be good to have the option of saving the actual routes rather than just the points, so you can save a map once you have it the way you want it. Thanks

Developer Response ,

Hi, and thanks for the review. The issues with not being able to route in some countries is due to Apple Maps. I suggest you contact Apple and recommend that they allow routes to be plotted in the countries you wish to plan a trip. You can save the routes when you export the data as a GPX file.

No syncing!

I just bought both the Mac and iOS apps assuming I would be able to seamlesly sync between them using iCloud. There's no mention of this NOT being the case on the web site's FAQ page. But instead of syncing, you literally have to MANUALLY transfer a file your self via iCloud every time you make a change. For example, if you just made some changes to your trip on your iOS device, you have to: 1) tap the Action button. 2) tap "Export File to iCloud". 3) Tap "iCloud Drive". 4) Tap the folder where you store your RTP files. 5) Tap the "Add" button. 6) Tap the "Replace" button. Now if you had the file open on your Mac, you get an alert asking if you want to Keep or Delete the file since it's been removed. You have to click "Delete", then go to File > Open Recent > Filename. You have to jump through similar hoops when you make a change on the Mac to see those changes on your iOS device(s). If you search for "Sync" on the web site, you get results about Sharing but not syncing. In this day and age of having an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac, not having seamless iCloud syncing is a major downside.

This Planner TOPS Everything I have tried

I don’t understand the complaints. This worked GREAT!
I have had in prior years mapping applications that cost in the neighborhood of $80 to $100 dollars - such as for mapping trails in addtion to roads.
This application was very, very complete and not too difficult to learn.
I planned a 8 day road trip with this after doing the same thing on Google Maps.
By far-and-away this application is a VAST improvement over any of the online apps.
Features I so liked were:
* I set the arrival and depart times
* Ability to add many activities to a pin and also the costs of those activities
* Ability to add URL links and additional notes to a pin - used that extensively
* Ability to drop a pin - calculate the route - then use that travel time to adjust my depart and arrivials to places I stay overnight in
* Ability to fine tune a route for sight-seeing
* Ability to export in HTML and import to anything I want
* Ability to use on my iPhone
* Ability to ask questions on the forum

So - those that don’t like this - I just do not understand.
Best investment I have made in making a trip plan with tremendous details. Usually I try to create such an itinerary on Google Docs and Google Maps.
This is “icing on the cake”.

Developer Response ,

Thank you for your review. It’s good to hear how you find Road Trip Planner useful.