NOSTRA Map Thailand app review: a detailed map of Thailand

Introduction

When traveling to an exotic country like Thailand, it’s important to carry a good map with you. You can always rely on Google Maps to give you a detailed idea of where you are, but there are also specialized maps per country available on the App Store. NOSTRA Map Thailand by Globetech Co., Ltd. is one of these country-specific map apps, and delivers the map in both Thai and English, which can come in really handy. This is not the only advantage it has on Google Maps, about which I will go into in-depth in the next few paragraphs.

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App Speed and Location Information

When I booted up the map app, I had to wait a long time before I got to see any map. I had to use the search function first to find a town before any tile of the map started to download. After this initial search the map downloaded rather quickly. If you have your GPS on, the app will easily find your location and show this on the map. Temples are shown on the map using a simple icon that is easily recognizable. The app also shows different icons where statues, churches, and ports can be found,  as well as schools, mosques, and other landmarks. The app also has suggestions on what to visit on each day, tying in to Thai national holidays and other festivals.

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Route Planner and Layers

The app also features a complete route planner, allowing it to calculate a route between two points. Calculating a route takes a bit of time, but the route schedule is shown to you on the map with exact distances between every checkpoint. The app also sports all kinds of different layers, such as a traffic layer, showing you which places you should avoid, and Adventure points.

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The app has a bike map layer as well, for if you like cycling around this beautiful country. All of these functions come with this free app, and there are no ads, nor is there a way to go pro. You can even share your location on Facebook and Twitter, or you can send it via email or SMS. The only downside is that the map is not available for offline use.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• A map just for Thailand
• Tons of location details and icons
• A full-fledged route planner
• Biking maps

Cons

• The map isn’t available offline
• Initial loading can take a while

Conclusion

When visiting Thailand, I can definitely recommend getting this map. Compared to Google Maps, this app has more features as it shows all kinds of landmarks and information that Google Maps doesn’t necessarily have. The inclusion of a route planner and bike maps are a godsend, and traffic information is very handy if you decide to travel the country by car. The app is compatible with both iPhone and iPad, but you will have to be online to use it. I can definitely recommend this app for anyone traveling to this amazing country.