I had been contemplating the idea of going on a rather adventurous trip, and after giving it a lot of thought, I decided to take the plunge and embark on this journey. I returned to Wisconsin yesterday evening, and I wanted to share my first impressions after completing a road trip to Canada.
Tesla App Prioritizes 5% SOC for Supercharger Stops
During my trip, I noticed that the Tesla app prioritized reaching each stop with a minimum 5% SOC, regardless of your historical driving speed. The app often warned me to drive at a particular speed, sometimes below the posted speed limit, to reach the supercharger. If I ignored the warning, I was redirected to the next closest supercharger.
Challenges with Phone Service in Canada: My Experience
While traveling in Canada, the AT&T service in my Model 3 worked perfectly. However, my phone service (Visible) stopped working as soon as I entered Windsor, Ontario. I tried switching to my eSIM on my Pixel 3, but I couldn’t reactivate my Google Fi account while outside the US. This was a bummer, but a few days into the trip, I was able to overcome the issue and even wrote an article about it.
Observations on Tesla’s Software and Entertainment Options
As I left the US, the Full-Self-Driving Visualization, which had been released around Christmas time, disappeared from my car. It was interesting to see how streamlined Tesla’s software is based on the vehicle’s location.
Although I didn’t get the chance to try it out, I highly recommend checking out abettertheater if you want to access other services besides Netflix or Hulu during your camping or supercharger sessions.
I noticed some changes with the Slacker music app, as it kept playing the same playlist over and over. It also struggled to find music when I asked it to play specific songs. I suspect Tesla is pushing users to use Spotify. Thankfully, I was able to take advantage of Spotify’s 3-month free trial and expand my music selection for the rest of the 2-week trip.
After a few days into the trip, I managed to activate Google Fi successfully. Perhaps I should consider writing an article detailing how I overcame this challenge? UPDATE: I have now written the article.
Slacker Music App Glitches and Tesla’s Preference for Spotify
The Slacker music app began to repeat the same playlist multiple times, leading me to suspect whether Tesla is promoting Spotify over other music streaming services. Moreover, despite recognizing my command to play “Droeloe”, the app couldn’t seem to find the artist’s songs. Fortunately, I was able to take advantage of Spotify’s 3-month free trial to diversify my music choices for the remainder of the 2-week trip. Music is important to me!
For my accommodations during the trip, I opted for a combination of Airbnb stays and utilized Tesla’s “Camp Mode” feature along with a Coleman Self-Inflating Mattress.
My curiosity about the viability of using a combination of Airbnb stays and Tesla’s “Camp Mode” feature, along with the Coleman Self-Inflating Mattress, prompted me to try them out during my trip.
Comparing Travel Gear Options: Dreamcase vs TESMAT vs TESCAMP
As of 2023, I’ve been able to explore newer options and evaluate how they compare to my previous choices. I’m excited to see whether these new options are more viable for future travel endeavors. Specifically, I have written articles comparing the Dreamcase vs TESMAT and TESMAT vs TESCAMP to see how they stack up against each other.
Insights on Traveling from Detroit to Windsor: A Preview
As I’m in the process of reviewing my notes from each day, I’m eager to delve into more detail about this trip. However, I wanted to begin by sharing some of my initial findings from traveling from Detroit to Windsor.
If you’re planning a road trip to Canada, be sure to check out my previous post titled “Canadian Road Trip Research for 2020” for additional tips and insights on making the most of your journey.
Important Note: Affiliate Links in This Post
Just a quick heads up: This post includes some affiliate links. If you decide to try or purchase a service I’ve linked to, I may receive some compensation. But don’t worry, this won’t cost you anything extra, and you might even get a bonus for using my links. By doing so, you’ll not only help me with my travels but also support this website. Thank you!
Conclusion: Insights and Tips from My Canadian Road Trip
In conclusion, my road trip to Canada was filled with exciting experiences and challenges, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to explore a new country.
From navigating Tesla’s software and entertainment options to finding creative solutions for accommodations, I’ve gained valuable insights and knowledge that I’m excited to share with others.
And for those considering a similar trip, I hope my initial findings and tips provide some helpful context and guidance. Thank you for following along, and happy travels!