A method for navigation guidance in a distributed navigation guidance system comprising a portable navigation device having a first navigation operating mode and a second navigation operating mode, the method comprising the steps of: in the first navigation operating mode: transmitting, by the portable navigation device, a navigation route request comprising first location data and a destination location, the first location data determined in response to a present location of the portable navigation device when the navigation route request is transmitted; receiving, by the portable navigation device, navigation route data corresponding to a main route from a route start location, determined in response to the first location data, to the destination location; transmitting, by the portable navigation device, a routelet request comprising second location data, speed data and direction data, wherein the second location data and the speed data and the direction data are determined in response to a present location, a present speed and a present direction of travel, repectively, of the portable navigation device when the routelet request is transmitted; receiving routelet data, the routelet data corresponding to a supplementary route originating from the second location; if the supplementary route does not intersect the main route, repeating the steps of transmitting a routelet request and receiving routelet data until the received routelet data corresponds to a supplementary route that intersects the main route; and if the supplementary route does intersect the main route, switching operation of the portable navigation device from the first navigation operating mode to the second navigation operating mode; and in the second navigation operating mode, providing, by the portable navigation device, guidance along the supplementary route that intersects the main route to an intersection of that supplementary route and the main route, and subsequently along the main route. in the first navigation operating mode: transmitting, by the portable navigation device, a navigation route request comprising first location data and a destination location, the first location data determined in response to a present location of the portable navigation device when the navigation route request is transmitted; receiving, by the portable navigation device, navigation route data corresponding to a main route from a route start location, determined in response to the first location data, to the destination location; transmitting, by the portable navigation device, a routelet request comprising second location data, speed data and direction data, wherein the second location data and the speed data and the direction data are determined in response to a present location, a present speed and a present direction of travel, repectively, of the portable navigation device when the routelet request is transmitted; receiving routelet data, the routelet data corresponding to a supplementary route originating from the second location; if the supplementary route does not intersect the main route, repeating the steps of transmitting a routelet request and receiving routelet data until the received routelet data corresponds to a supplementary route that intersects the main route; and if the supplementary route does intersect the main route, switching operation of the portable navigation device from the first navigation operating mode to the second navigation operating mode; and transmitting, by the portable navigation device, a navigation route request comprising first location data and a destination location, the first location data determined in response to a present location of the portable navigation device when the navigation route request is transmitted; receiving, by the portable navigation device, navigation route data corresponding to a main route from a route start location, determined in response to the first location data, to the destination location; transmitting, by the portable navigation device, a routelet request comprising second location data, speed data and direction data, wherein the second location data and the speed data and the direction data are determined in response to a present location, a present speed and a present direction of travel, repectively, of the portable navigation device when the routelet request is transmitted; receiving routelet data, the routelet data corresponding to a supplementary route originating from the second location; if the supplementary route does not intersect the main route, repeating the steps of transmitting a routelet request and receiving routelet data until the received routelet data corresponds to a supplementary route that intersects the main route; and if the supplementary route does intersect the main route, switching operation of the portable navigation device from the first navigation operating mode to the second navigation operating mode; and in the second navigation operating mode, providing, by the portable navigation device, guidance along the supplementary route that intersects the main route to an intersection of that supplementary route and the main route, and subsequently along the main route.