A method is provided for improved navigation guidance in a portable navigation device (104) having a first navigation operating mode (302) for requesting (318, 324) and receiving (326, 334) routelet data and navigation route data and operating in accordance with the routelet data (332) and a second operation navigation mode (304) for operating in accordance with the navigation route data (338). The method includes in the first navigation operating mode (302), the steps of transmitting a routelet request (318) comprising location data, speed data and direction data, the location, speed and direction data determined (312, 314 316) in response to a present location, a present speed and a present direction of travel, respectively, of the portable navigation device (104), receiving routelet data (326) and operating in accordance with the received routelet data (332).