GPS Device question

I shall be going on a longish drive in another country fairly soon and have been thinking about getting a GPS navigation device. I was against them for a long time because I think people should use maps and the only people who really need GPS are those devoid of any geographic skills. Which is a pretty good description of me, as it turns out. Also, I need glasses to read a map, but cannot drive with reading glasses, and as this upcoming drive will be sans navigator, a GPS thing is sounding better and better. Have any of you experience with them (esp. in Europe)? Mainly for driving, but flexibility re: applications would be a plus.