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How to get ready for a road trip using Google’s travel site and Maps

Due to the pandemic, travel has been slow this past year, and you might be a little rusty when it comes to picking up and traveling somewhere to visit friends and family or just planning a getaway. Whatever the case, Google has a few helpful tools in Google Maps and Google’s travel site to help you get started on making those plans and staying safe along the way.

Table of contents

Getting started with google’s travel website, using google map’s road trip feature, planning a trip around covid-19 restrictions.

Google’s travel website is meant to be a companion site that can help you plan all of the details of your trip. You can use it to book flights, make an itinerary, and even explore interesting places to visit at your destination. If you have a Gmail account , there’s a good chance that any flight reservation you make will automatically appear the next time you use Google’s travel site, making it that much easier to plan the trip’s details. If not, Google Travel may suggest locations based on your search history and interests. While that may be a little creepy, it can also be pretty helpful.

If no destination has been chosen yet, Google will suggest locations in the “Explore” tab. You can filter these locations based on flight and hotel cost, giving you a pretty good idea of where a nice place to go would be. After choosing a destination, Google gives you a few options as far as what you’d want to know. There’s a “Discover” section that will break down various points of interest. In bigger cities, you may find the number of things to do or see endless. Fortunately, you can filter out locations and activities based on your personal interest.

If there are a few places that pique your curiosity, or you already know you want to go there, Google allows you to save them to the trip and pin them to the trip’s detail page. This serves as a sort of to-do list when you get where you’re going.

If you don’t plan on flying and want to avoid certain COVID-19 hotspots, Google Maps is probably the way to go. Just this year, Google added a feature to the Maps website that allows you to add stops along the route when planning the trip. Previously this was possible on mobile, but it didn’t lend itself well to planning out a road trip to be shared with friends and family. Adding stops along the way with Google Maps on mobile was best for impromptu stops.

Once you’ve defined a starting point and destination, you can add stops along the way. You can add anything from a city to rest stops and gas stations. You can do this by either manually entering a stop you already know you would like to pause at, or by choosing one of the criteria towards the top of the screen. Google Maps lets you narrow down your search by these criteria:

When selecting from one of these criteria, Google will also suggest a few filters. For instance, choosing hotels will bring up a “Guest rating” filter, as well as an “Amenities” filter, so you make sure that you’re getting free wifi. Of course, if none of these fit the bill, you can always just search for what you want. The nice thing is that these suggestions can add a little flare to the trip by suggesting something you would have never thought about, making the road trip that much more exciting.

Once you find a point of interest, hit add stop , and Google Maps will automatically insert it in the right spot on the planned route. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to define how much time you plan on spending at that stop, so the trip time might have to be calculated manually. Besides that, Google Maps has become a handy road trip planner with enough tools to get you where you’re going and let you have some fun along the way.

The major caveat to traveling right now is the looming risk of COVID-19. Fortunately, the travel website by Google and Maps both supply some great tools for managing risk and assessing where you plan to go.

On the travel website, you can find up-to-date COVID-19 information for your destination pretty easily. You can access this information by searching for and clicking on the destination . Under the main card that lists the date of your trip, area name, and weather, there will be a COVID information section. This section has useful information like the CDC’s travel advisory website, COVID-19 stats for that specific area, and the number of local cases.

Clicking on the “Travel advisory” button brings you to the CDC’s COVID-19 map. This map is a risk assessment of most destinations in the world, color-coded depending on how risky it is to travel there. The second button will search Google for COVID-19 information on the location you’re traveling to, detailing data like news, statistics, and testing locations. The “Local cases” button will show even more detailed information about active cases, vaccines administered, and deaths in the area. All of this is fantastic information to have when traveling and comes in handy when planning your trip.

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How to Use Google Travel to Plan Your Trip

Planning a trip is one of the most exciting things about traveling. But if you don’t keep everything in one place, things can quickly become stressful. Google Travel is one handy service you can use to plan your trip.

Fortunately, you can use several platforms to organize yourself and get the most out of your adventure. One of these is Google Travel, which is free to use and available to everyone with a Google account.

This article will walk you through how you can use Google Travel to plan your trip. These tips will work if you use the desktop web app.

Book Your Flights

When planning a trip, you’ll probably begin with booking your flights . Doing this in Google Travel is pretty simple; follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open the Google Travel website.

Visit Google Travel

Step 2: On the left-hand sidebar, click on the option titled Flights.

Step 3: Fill out the boxes asking you for your departing airport and destination – along with the dates you plan to travel, how many people will fly, and the class you wish to fly in.

Step 4: At the top of the next window, you’ll see what Google thinks are the best departing flights for you. As you scroll down, you’ll find the rest. Select your choices, scroll down to the service provider, and pick whichever one you want to book with under Booking options.

If you’re flexible with dates, you can go to the Price graph or Date grid tabs to find the least expensive deals.

Similarly, if you scroll beneath the list of best departing flights, you can check to see the average cost for the time you’re flying.

Find a Place to Stay

Once you’ve booked your flights, you’ll need to find a place to stay. With Google Travel, you can look for both hotels – note that hostels will show up in this category too – and vacation rentals.

To look for hotels, you’ll need to follow these steps.

Step 1: On the left-hand sidebar, select Hotels; this is underneath Flights.

Step 2: Use the filters at the top to finetune your search; you can pick your budget, choose which brands you want to show up, and so on.

Step 3: From your listed search results, select Learn more next to the accommodation you want to book.

Step 4: Click on Check availability.

Step 5: You’ll see a list of websites to book from; sponsored choices will feature at the top, with the others underneath. Pick your desired option and complete the booking on their site.

If you’d rather book a vacation rental, you can do so by following the steps below.

Step 1: Select Vacation rentals in the left-hand sidebar.

Step 2: At the top, customize your search by selecting the filters.

Step 3: Choose Learn more when your search results have loaded.

Step 4: The following steps will depend on the property’s individual rules. For some, you can scroll down to Pricing and availability – and then select Visit site.

In other cases, you might need to go through a few extra steps. If you can’t book via a clickthrough in the box mentioned above, go to Website at the top.

Once you’ve done this, the site that the listing features on will load. Some will allow you to book directly; others will ask you to contact the owner and provide more information.

Build Out Your Itinerary

After booking your flights and accommodation, it’s time to begin filling out your itinerary.

Once you’ve purchased either of the above, you might find that Google has created a trip for you. You can find this by going to the Travel tab.

If you can’t find anything there, scroll down to Create trip.

On the next page, set the details for your trip destination and the dates you’re going. Then, hit Save.

When you’ve done the above, you’re ready to start adding to your itinerary. To do this, follow these steps.

Step 1: Select Add to trip.

Step 2: Select what you want to add and fill out the necessary information in the next window.

For example, you can fill out the airline code, airport codes, and others, when adding a flight.

Step 3: Repeat this process for everything that you want to add.

If you’re not sure what you want to do, you can use Google Travel to find inspiration. To do this, scroll down to Discover [Destination Name] and choose view more things to see and do.

When you scroll down, you can find ideas and articles to help you out. If you see something you like, click on the bookmark icon to save it.

After bookmarking an experience or something else of interest, you can access this in your created trip by scrolling down to Saved and viewed things to do/flight/hotels/etc.

Plan Your Adventure With Google

Planning a trip can be exhausting if you use several websites and have countless booking codes. Fortunately, Google Travel offers you a way to keep everything in one place and look for various amenities through a single interface.

Having read this guide, you should now have a good idea about planning a trip using the service. So, why not get started with booking your next adventure?

Last updated on 07 February, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

DID YOU KNOW

Danny Maiorca

Originally from the UK, Danny is a freelance tech writer based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has over five years of experience in writing about topics ranging from iOS to social media and software as a service (SaaS), and has written for some of the world's largest B2B companies and technology publications. Away from his computer screen, Danny is an avid photographer and enjoys capturing the diverse landscapes and cities of Northern Europe.

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What Is Google Travel and How Does It Work?

If you've ever searched for a trip on Google, you've probably come across Google Travel. Here's everything you need to know about it and how it works.

Over the 21st century, the number of online services helping people book trips has grown significantly. And in a bid to help users manage and book their adventures more efficiently, Google created Google Travel. Google Travel is relatively underused but has a lot to offer. The web app lets you book flights, search for inspiration, and much more.

So, what exactly is Google Travel? How does it work, and what can you do with the platform? Let’s take a closer look and answer all of these questions.

What Is Google Travel?

Google Travel is an app that lets users book trips and manage itineraries . The Silicon Valley giant introduced the service in 2016, and you might have previously heard of it when it was known as Google Trips.

Unlike several other Google apps, including Drive and Docs, you can’t download Google Travel as a standalone mobile app for your smartphone. Instead, you’ll need to use it in your web browser; you can do this from either your phone, desktop, or tablet. Google Travel is free to use, but you will need a Google account.

What Can You Do With Google Travel?

Okay, so you’ve now got a better idea of what Google Travel is and how you can sign up for the platform. So, what can you do with it? Below, you’ll discover seven uses for the service—along with a walkthrough to help you find these features.

Search for Flights

Whether you’re casually browsing or know where you want to go, searching for flights is easy with Google Travel. You can tweak the dates you want to travel easily, along with setting how long you want the trips in your search to last for.

When looking for flights, you can customize your search using several parameters. These include:

• Connecting airports you’d like to use
• The time of day you want to travel for all legs of the journey
• The airlines you want to fly with

You can also look for flights based on baggage allowance and more.

To look for flights on Google Travel, you’ll need to go to the Flights tab. This is the third one from the bottom. Once you’re there, you can customize your search to fit your needs.

Keep Track of Prices

Getting the best deal when traveling has become trickier for several reasons. Countless comparison sites exist, while it’s also hard to know whether the prices you see are too high for that time of year or not.

Fortunately, Google Travel helps you get better value for money with a couple of neat tools. The first is a small tab you’ll find under “Best departing flights”, which shows you whether or not your flight ticket fare cost is typical for the time you want to travel.

Related: The Best Airline Hacks to Get Insanely Cheap Flight Tickets

You can also use the Date grid and Price graph closer to the top of your screen. Both will show you how much flight tickets cost for the period you’re traveling compared to days close by.

In addition to the above features, you can also toggle the Track prices option on. When you do this, you’ll receive email updates whenever prices go up or down. You can access all of these tools from the Flights tab.

Alongside flights, you can also check the prices of hotels. To do this, go to the Hotels tab and tap on the What you’ll pay button.

Browse for Inspiration and Set Trip Search Parameters

For many people, booking every part of their trip helps to customize it better for their needs. If you’re one of these individuals, you’ll be pleased to know that Google Travel lets you change several options to ensure that your search results are more tailored to your demands.

You can create better trips by using the Interests feature, which allows you to choose destinations based on what type of holiday you want—such as skiing or outdoors. You can access this tab by selecting Explore on the left.

Another way you can customize your trip is by deciding how you want to travel. Google Travel lets you pick either plane or car, and you can make this choice by going to the Travel mode tab—which is also in Explore.

Add Itineraries

Once you’re ready to plan your trip, you can use Google Travel to create the ultimate itinerary. When you start a new adventure on the platform, you can add pretty much everything to it—ranging from your flights to places you wish to eat.

If you book your flights and accommodation through Google Travel, your confirmations will get added to your itinerary.

Besides adding your plans, you can also use this section to inform yourself about your destination. Google shows you frequently asked questions, along with the average temperatures for the time of year that you plan to visit.

Once you’ve created a new trip, you can also find articles that you’ve looked at relating to the destination online. If you think these will be useful, you can hit the bookmark tab to save them. And if you haven’t yet begun your research, Google will pull popular resources to help you gain both insights and inspiration.

To add a new trip, go to the Travel tab and select Create trip .

Book Hotels

Of course, you can’t plan a trip somewhere and not have a place to stay. Like flights, you can book hotels through the Google Travel interface.

When looking for hotels, you can filter your search based on price and how many people will be on the trip. If you’d prefer certain hotel brands over others, you can choose for only your preferred options to show.

Other ways you can filter your hotel search include:

• Offers included
• Amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and kid-friendly
• The hotel’s class/star rating

You can use this feature to book hostels and guesthouses too. To start booking your accommodation, you’ll need to head to the Hotels tab. When you’re there, you can customize as you feel necessary.

Rent Properties

If you’re not interested in staying at a hotel, you can find private vacation rentals through Google Travel. You’ll see several options, such as:

• Guesthouses

Like hotels, you can also browse depending on the amenities you want, your price range, and more.

To rent properties instead of hotels, click on the Vacation rentals section. After that, you can make the changes you feel are necessary.

Use Google Travel to Plan Your Trip More Efficiently

If you don’t want to use a travel agent, Google Travel offers an excellent option for you to pay for and plan your trip without needing to visit several websites. You can check to see when you’ll get the best prices, along with seeking inspiration and more.

Since Google Travel is free to use, why not sign up and give it a try for yourself?

I’m excellent at planning vacations — steal my tips

Jul 22, 2022

Five ways I used Google tools to plan my Italy vacation.

I once read that the happiest part of traveling is the planning, and I couldn’t agree more. Before I board a plane, I spend hours researching and documenting the what, where and how of my vacation. Over the past two years I’ve traveled far less than usual, but this year my husband and I decided to go to Italy. It was our first time there, and one of our biggest trips since COVID hit, so I took prepping to a new level. Here’s how I, a self-proclaimed travel nerd, used Google tools to get ready for my getaway.

• Get everyone on board with Google Slides.

About a month before our trip, I realized we’d done it all wrong. We weren’t going to have enough time to go hiking, and we were adding unnecessary hours of driving — and with increasing gas prices, that would end up costing way too much. Telling your travel partner you want to start over mere weeks before your trip is tough, and I knew I needed to really sell it…so I made a Google Slides presentation.

One of the many slides I used to convince my husband we needed to replan our trip.

I’ve used Slides for vacation planning in the past, too — and not just to blow everything up and start over. I’ve also presented what I’ve learned about various travel destinations we’re considering to make a decision. This helps me think clearly about what I want out of a vacation; it feels a bit like I’m vision-boarding the potential trip. And apparently it’s a great selling point, because my husband was completely on board by the end of the presentation.

2. Go off the beaten path with Google Maps.

I often find myself aimlessly “wandering” around Google Maps and Street View, looking for unusually shaped peninsulas or clicking into 360-degree photos that seem impossible to have captured. It’s a great way to cure wanderlust from home, but it’s also an effective way to plan travel. This was how I found a few of our stops in Italy.

A little Google Maps “wandering” led me to the town of Sirmione. It caught my eye because it’s basically an island in Italy’s Lake Garda: A narrow road connects Sirmione to the mainland; it’s so tiny that most people park on one side and walk over to the rest of the city, going by foot or golf cart.

An aerial shot of Sirmione taken by my husband.

It’s a place I’ve never heard of, and likely never would have gone.

This is also how we found one of our favorites hikes. The Dolomites are massive — choosing where to visit was overwhelming. But my husband noticed an interesting looking area on Google Earth called Seceda (the fact that it was labeled “Seceda famous view” on Google Maps didn’t hurt our interest either). That was enough for us to add it to our itinerary, and I couldn’t be happier that we did — see for yourself.

3. Take organization to another level with Google Sheets.

Using Google Sheets to organize various parts of a trip is admittedly very obvious compared to my first two tips, but here’s how I like to set things up: I have three pages in a Sheet file — one that functions as a list of things to do in each location, one that lists all of our reservation information and a last tab to collect expenses as we accumulate them while planning and during the course of the trip.

I like to think of everything listed on this first tab as something potentially worth checking out versus something that’s set in stone. This way, we don’t have to waste time while there looking things up — now if we’re ever wondering “what should we do here?” we can turn to the list for quick, easy access to already researched options.

4. Hit the Search bar…and then the Save button.

I’ve always found it easy to find amazing restaurants and shops when I want to travel, but not quite as simple to grasp what the best outdoor areas are — I want to find the best spot for a sunset, or a viewpoint for an afternoon walk. I’ve found more than a few breathtaking sights by heading to Search and simply entering the name of the city I’m visiting. On the right-hand side, there’s a Knowledge Panel about the location with information like the weather, elevation and local time. Below this is a section that says “Plan a trip,” and underneath that a camera icon next to the words “Things to do.”

And that is how I found arguably the cutest landmark in existence, this “Kiss…Please” sign in Sirmione.

I saved the location straight from this panel so it automatically saved to google.com/travel, and we easily found it when we stopped in the city.

5. Stay on budget with a bunch of Google tools.

Traveling is expensive, and while this was definitely a trip we planned and saved for, we were very conscious of not exceeding our budget. I used three Google tools to help us do that. First up, Google Flights. Ahead of buying our flights, I created various alerts to airports in Italy to find the best price and timing. (I also used this feature to price hotels .) Then, while we were there, we used Google Maps’ toll feature , so we could avoid more expensive routes. And of course, there’s the aforementioned Google Sheets tab to collect expenses.

All of these things helped me plan (and thoroughly enjoy planning) my trip — and obviously enjoy the trip itself. Whenever you take your next vacation, hopefully these tips are just as useful for you.

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How to Use Google Flights: A Guide to Finding Cheap Flights [2024]

Scott Keyes

December 5, 2023

17 min read

Before I explain why Google Flights is my favorite flight search engine—and why Going includes its sample searches in nearly every Going deal we send to 2 million+ members —let me tell you a secret that few in the travel industry are willing to admit:

There’s no single cheapest place to book flights. And that’s why I love Google Flights.

As someone who’s spent years (years!) of my life sifting through millions of fares across hundreds of airlines and flight search engines, I can tell you with confidence: They’re all basically the same.

That’s not bad news—it’s great news. It means you’ll still get the same deal with whichever flight search engine you prefer. And the one I’ve personally found that’s both easiest and most powerful is Google Flights.

(In case you had any doubt, we don’t get any commission, compensation, kickbacks, good vibes, or anything at all for this recommendation. Our loyalty at Going is to cheap flights. Period.)

Pros of Google Flights

There’s a lot to love about Google Flights. Here are my favorite features:

• Lightning fast: Google Flights is faster than any other flight search engine, displaying months' worth of fares in fractions of a second.
• Calendar-based fare view: Google Flights has a simple, intuitive calendar view that shows you the cheapest fare over the next 12 months.
• Multiple airport search: Google Flights lets you search for the cheapest fare between up to 7 origin and 7 destination airports, without slowing the search down.
• Map-based search: The Google Flights Explore map lets you see the cheapest place to fly from your airport during your selected dates/date range.
• Tools to help you choose: Google Flights will tell you if the fare you're seeing is high, low, or average for the trip, and it shows you the carbon footprint of each flight.

Let me give you an example of how this all comes together to help you get a cheap flight.

Let’s say you live in Philadelphia and want to visit Europe next summer. A typical flight search engine will restrict your search to flights departing Philly and arriving in one specific European airport, say Paris. If you’re also interested in fares to Amsterdam, you’d need to search again.

With Google Flights, though, you could set as your departure airport not just Philadelphia, but also six other airports that are a short train ride away—three in the New York City area and three in the Washington DC area. For your destination, you could include Paris, Amsterdam, and up to five more airports. Google Flights will take those inputs and show you the cheapest possible fares among those 49 possible routes. (Plus, it’ll give you results not just for a specific date, but across the entire 12-month calendar.)

The result:

• Other search engines (June 5-12): $1,282 from Philadelphia to Paris
• Google Flights (June 5-12): $431 from NYC to Paris

By letting you check up to 7 departure and 7 arrival airports at the same time, Google Flights saved us $851 (minus the small train fare up to NYC).

Cons of Google Flights

Google Flights isn’t perfect. Here are the drawbacks to be aware of:

• Doesn't always have the lowest fares: Google Flights works by searching fares sold directly from the airlines and a handful of the top online travel agencies (OTAs) , such as Expedia and Orbitz. Sometimes smaller OTAs (which Google Flights doesn’t look at) have fares a tad bit cheaper, but these sites can carry significant risks.
• Doesn't show all airlines: Google Flights doesn't display results from Southwest Airlines, so you'll also need to check those directly with the airline’s website. (Thankfully, Southwest's Low Fare Calendar is pretty user-friendly.)
• Displays expired deals: Every once in a while, Google Flights will tell you a fare is available at a certain rate, but when you click to proceed with a booking, either (a) the fare jumps in price, or (b) there is no way to book online and instructs you instead to call the airline. (Don’t bother calling—it won’t work.) This phenomenon is called " ghosting " and happens occasionally on Google Flights when a fare was recently available but no longer is.

How to use Google Flights

Google Flights searches fares on nearly every airline’s website, as well as the largest online travel agencies like Orbitz, Expedia, and Priceline. Here’s a Google Flights tutorial below. 

How to set departure and arrival locations on Google Flights to get the most options

When you get to the homepage, type in where you want to fly from and where you want to travel to, along with your preferred travel dates. Here’s an example:

Three things to remember:

• You can put the destination as a country or even an entire continent. If you’re curious to find the cheapest flight to the Caribbean over the winter holidays, put “Caribbean” as your destination.
• You can add up to seven airports in each box, separated by commas. If you’re looking for a cheap trip to anywhere in Europe, for example, you might put as your destination “LHR, CDG, AMS, CPH, BCN, FCO, MXP” to see where the cheapest flight is from Chicago to either London, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Rome, or Milan.
• Some cities with multiple airports have city codes. These include NYC (New York City) or WAS (Washington DC), which count for three each because NYC = JFK, LGA, EWR, and WAS = DCA, IAD, BWI.

How to select dates in Google Flights to see the cheapest day to fly

In order to find the cheapest travel dates, click the departure date box. When you do that, prices for 2 months will pop up, with the cheapest dates in green, like so:

Two important notes:

• A Google flight search only takes into account prices in the months you’ve told it to look at. So in the above example, the green dates are the lowest in May and June, but you may be able to save money by finding cheaper dates if you scroll to an earlier or later time frame.
• The cheap green dates are only for whatever length of trip you initially specified. I originally searched for a 7-day trip, but switching the length of the trip—as seen in the red box above—can often result in wildly different fares. (Pro-tip: It’s quite common to see fares drop significantly when switching from a 6-day trip to a 7-day trip. That’s because the fine print on international flights often mandates that the cheapest fares only be available for trips of at least 7 days.)

Once you’ve looked at the calendar of lowest fares, click on the dates you want and you’ll get a big list of possible flights, like so:

Notice that Google Flights lists a few up top that they consider to be the “Best departing flights” taking into account factors like price and routing. It can still be worth taking a look at the “Other departing flights” to find the best flights for your schedule.

All flight times on Google Flights are shown in local time. If you notice a +1 next to the arrival time listed, on a Google Flights itinerary, it means your flight arrives the next day (or 2 days later if it says +2).

How to book flights on Google Flights

Once you’ve decided on a good departure flight, click on it. You’ll then be prompted to choose a corresponding return flight (assuming you’re booking a roundtrip fare), and your screen will look like this:

If you want to go back and change the departure flight, all you do in the above example is click where it says “EWR-ORY” on the left just above “Returning flights.”

Three quick things to be aware of:

• The price Google Flights shows includes all taxes but not optional fees (like seat selection or bags if they’re not included).
• If you've searched for a roundtrip itinerary, the price displayed by Google Flights will be the cost for the entire roundtrip.
• Google Flights isn't an online travel agency (OTA); it's a flight search engine. That means Google Flights doesn’t actually sell you flights. Instead, when you’ve chosen your flight, it gives you links so you can book with an online travel agency or directly with the airline. (With some airlines, you’ll have the option to “Book on Google with [airline],” which is really just a fancy way of Google transmitting your information and payment to the airline.)

Once you click your preferred return flight, you’ll be shown your booking options, like so:

Many airlines have different economy ticket types. The two most common are basic economy and main economy (or similar names). Google Flights will give you information on the different perks and restrictions between different economy tickets, like so:

What to do when cheap flights can't be booked through the Google Flights page ("Ghosting")

On occasion, Google Flights will initially tell you a cheap fare is available, but when you try to book the ticket, the fare either jumps in price or is unable to be booked altogether.

We refer to this as “ghosting.”

This happens on rare occasions because the airline may have just changed the fare, but the new price hasn’t yet filtered through to the search results.

If Google Flights tells you the only way to get the cheap price is to call the airline, don’t bother. It won’t work because the airline has already repriced the fare. Shed a tear for the great fare that got away, and hope for better luck with the next one.

If you see a fare that’s ghosting, there are a couple of ways to check if it’s truly gone:

• Try other dates in Google Flights. Maybe the airline has repriced May 2-9, but the cheap fare is still available for May 3-10.
• Take the dates of a ghosting fare and see if it can be booked in an online travel agency like Priceline or Expedia.

Keep your hopes tempered though—airfare can move fast and when a great fare ghosts, the likelihood it can still be booked are low. 

How to use Google Flights Explore map view

You’ve been working hard—all you can think of is a fruity cocktail with a little umbrella in the sand. It doesn’t really matter which beach, you just want a cheap flight and warm sun.

You could spend 30 minutes searching dozens of airports in the Caribbean.

Or, you can use one of the most handy (and hidden!) features of Google Flights to search flights in 10 seconds: the Explore map.

The Explore map shows you fares on specific (or flexible) dates across a country or entire region.

There are two ways to reach the Explore map.

• Do a normal Google Flights search but instead of an airport in the destination, put in a country, region, or continent then click the blue Explore button like so:

• Alternatively, click the Explore button along the top.

With either method, Google Flights will switch to a map view like this (You can zoom in anywhere on the map to see more fares):

If you’ve got the wiggle room in your schedule, you can find even cheaper fares by switching to “Flexible dates”.

You’ll then have the option to pick which months to travel (or search anytime in the next 6 months), and choose trip lengths of a weekend, 1 week, or 2 weeks.

You can filter results on the Google Explore map to narrow down your search results. At the top, filter by number of stops, airlines, travel times, and flight duration, or indicate your number of bags to see prices that include bag fees. You can also move the slider in the Price section to indicate the maximum amount that you would be willing to spend for your flight; all itineraries over that amount will be removed from the search results.

How to filter results in Google Flights to find your perfect flight

One of Google Flights’ most powerful features is the ability to set an array of filters to ensure you only get flight schedules you’re interested in.

These include:

• Note #1: You can choose multiple airlines or even an airline alliance like SkyTeam
• Note #2: You can exclude certain airlines (Spirit, ahem) by un-selecting their checkbox like so:  

• Note: This filter lets you see the total price, including carry-on and/or checked baggage. (From experience, including checked baggage in the price is only available on domestic flights, for some reason. Hopefully this changes.)
• Tip: This filter is especially useful when using the Explore map because you can set a price ceiling (say, $600) and see all the sub-$600 flight options in Europe on your travel dates. (Remember, the options beneath your price ceiling can change drastically by changing dates, even by a day or two.)
• For if you want to take off or land at certain times 
• This calculation takes into account your seating class, flight route, and aircraft type. For instance, an economy ticket for a nonstop flight on a newer plane will have fewer emissions than a business class ticket for a connecting flight on an older plane.

Connecting airports

• Tip: There’s a hidden but very useful tool in here: layover duration. This helps you weed out flights with those ghastly 9-hour layovers.  

• Think of this one as Total Travel Time. If you’ve got a connection, this filter helps filter out-of-the-way layovers and/or long layover times. (Nonstop flights are all about the same length, of course.)

How to track flight prices on Google Flights  

You can set fare alerts on Google Flights to make sure you don't miss a great deal. There are three situations this can be especially helpful:

• You’re looking at a specific flight and want to know if/when the price changes.
• You’re looking to travel on specific dates and want to know when prices change on any flight. 
• You’re looking to fly somewhere specific and want to know when prices change on any date.

To start, set your departure and destination cities and your dates. On the results page, look for the "Track prices" button and click it so it toggles on and turns blue. (If you're not signed in to Google, you'll be prompted to do so.)

• Tip: Set any filters (say, nonstop flights only or excluding Spirit Airlines) before clicking to track prices. That way Google will only notify you about price changes on the flights you’re actually interested in.

Once you've clicked the button to track flights, you'll see a small box at the bottom of the page where you can "View all" to see all of your tracked flight prices. (Alternatively, you can go to https://www.google.com/travel/flights/saves to see all the flights you’re currently tracking.) You'll get an email whenever the price changes.

A few drawbacks to be aware of:

• You may end up getting a lot of email notifications, as flight prices can change quite a bit from day to day.
• You can’t set the alert to only notify you if the cost reaches a particular threshold.
• You won’t be notified about great deals out of your home airport to other destinations (even nearby ones). That’s what Going is for!

How to book multi-city tickets on Google Flights

Booking multi-city or open-jaw tickets on Google Flights is easy. On the home screen, look to the far left where it says "round trip" and click the drop down menu. Select "multi-city."

Now input your dates and travel cities as you usually would. You can add up to five flights.

Tip: If you want to visit multiple cities on an international trip, it’s almost always cheaper to book an open-jaw multi-city flight than to book separate one-way flights. (On long-haul flights, many airlines charge nearly the same price for one-ways as they do for roundtrip or multi-city flights.) For example, if you want to visit Paris and Rome, you’ll get the cheapest fare by searching for a multi-city flight—your home airport to Paris, then Rome back to your home airport. Once you’ve booked the transoceanic legs, book a separate flight from Paris to Rome. You’ll save hundreds with this method compared to booking three one-way flights or a single, three-leg itinerary.

How to tell if you've found a good deal on Google Flights

One fun feature is that Google Flights will give you a sense of whether or not current fares are a good deal.

Take a roundtrip flight from New York to Paris December 2-9. According to Google Flights, the current $431 price is low, and $299 is cheaper than usual. You’ll also see a chart showing how prices have changed on that route over the past few months.

Take these results with a grain of salt. Their advice on what flights “usually” cost can skew high. They currently advise that $1,050 for off-peak NYC-Paris flights would be typical, which is certainly not advice I would give. ($750 would be the upper bound of what I’d consider a “normal” price here.) Instead, think of their price bands as a loose indicator of how current prices compare.

How to use the “Date grid” to find cheaper fares on Google Flights

Say you want to fly from New York to Germany for Oktoberfest. You know to search multiple German destinations (FRA, MUC, BER, DUS, HAM, etc.) to easily find the cheapest fare. But the results Google Flights show you are only for the dates you chose, say September 20-27.

This is where the “Date grid” comes in handy. Compared to the calendar of cheap fares, the date grid is useful because it will also show you fares on trips of different lengths. In this case, I can see that fares are $221 cheaper by flying September 20-28 rather than September 20-27.

You can find the Date grid just underneath the flight dates. (Google Flights will often have a small-pop as seen below when there’s a substantial price drop by adjusting your travel dates by just a day or two.)

Advanced tips for using Google Flights

Tip #1: search multiple airports to find the cheapest route between two regions.

With Google Flights you can search multiple airports by inputting up to seven departure and destination airport codes.

Why would you want to do that? Well, let’s say you want to fly from Los Angeles to anywhere in Japan for plum blossom season (a hidden gem compared to popular cherry blossom season!). You can put in Los Angeles’ airport codes (LAX, SNA, LGB, ONT, BUR, plus perhaps SFO and SJC to see if the savings would be worth it) and then add the destination codes for multiple airports in Japan (NRT, HND, KIX, NGO, FUK, OKA, CTS) to easily find which one is the cheapest for your February 17-24 trip.

The results will automatically list the best deal at the top. In this case, it’s nonstop LAX to Tokyo (NRT) for $630 roundtrip.

Tip #2: Use the Explore Map to find the cheapest places for flexible dates

Say you have a slightly different situation than the one outlined above. You just want to go somewhere, and your dates are pretty open. Click the “Explore” button at the top (or just go to https://www.google.com/travel/explore ).

From there you’ll be shown a map that highlights the cheapest destinations from your home airport for a 1-week trip in the next 6 months. If you want to narrow things down, click the date box to choose a trip length (weekend, 1 week, or 2 weeks) and/or a specific month sometime in the next six months.

This option is especially useful for folks who have quite a bit of flexibility on where and when they travel and just want to get as good a deal as possible on airfare.

• Tip: Remember that flight prices are constantly changing! It’s the most volatile thing we buy. The prices you see today on the Explore map could look wildly different tomorrow.

For example, if you live in Houston and want to take a trip to Europe sometime in the next 6 months, the Explore map would quickly show you prices all over the continent.

• Tip: Use the price filter to set a ceiling and see all your options under any price, say $650, like so:

Tip #3: Use the calendar, date grid, and price graph to find the cheapest dates for a specific destination

Once you have a destination, Google Flights gives you a lot of options for playing around with dates to find the cheapest airfare possible.

When you input your dates, the calendar feature will pop up and show you two months of prices. You’ll see the cheapest dates highlighted in green. If you click the arrows to the right of the calendar view, you’ll see what’s available in the coming months. Here’s Atlanta to Denver in autumn 2023:

• Tip: The calendar of cheapest fares will take into account any filters you may have selected. If you want to avoid budget airlines, for instance, un-selecting Frontier and Spirit will update the fares shown in the calendar.

Meanwhile, the date grid will show you the cheapest fares for different length trips across different dates. Anything cheaper than your selected flight is highlighted in green. If you click the arrows at the top of the grid, you’ll see more dates.

The price graph works in the same way but shows two months of fares in bar chart form. I’ll level with you: Using the calendar and date grid is simpler and more intuitive than using the price graph. Your mileage may vary!

‍ Tip #4: Get the “Legroom for Google Flights” Chrome extension

Cheap flights are great, but they’ve still gotta be good flights. The Chrome extension Legroom for Google Flights helps by showing you right in the search results how many inches of legroom you’ll have on each flight. (Average legroom on US domestic flights is 30-31 inches—this extension will highlight in green if there’s more or red if there’s less.)

Here’s what it looks like when you search for a flight from Boston to Miami:

Is four extra inches of legroom on JetBlue worth $45 more than Spirit? You decide!

Getting a refund on flights booked through Google Flights

Because Google Flights is a search engine and the flights are actually booked directly with the airline, refunds are up to each airline's policy.

In the United States, the Department of Transportation's " 24-hour rule " ensures that you can cancel your flight within 24 hours of ticket purchase and get a full refund. The rule applies to any flight departing from a US airport, so long as the ticket was booked directly with the airline, and it was booked at least 7 days before departure.

Google Flights Price Guarantee

On certain flights, Google Flights will actually pay you the difference if the price drops after you book. (This is their way of expressing confidence that the current price is quite unlikely to go any lower.)

There are a number of restrictions (full terms and conditions here ), but here are a few important ones to know:

• The price guarantee is only available when you see a price badge next to the fare, like so:

• You don’t have to pay for price guarantee
• There’s not even any enrollment required; the only thing you have to do to be eligible is book the ticket on Google Flights, like so:

• You don’t have to do anything after booking. Google automatically monitors for price drops and refunds you the difference
• You’ll get any fare difference refunded via Google Pay within 48 hours after your flight  

Which airlines are listed on Google Flights? 

The vast majority of airlines are listed on Google Flights, including: 

• British Airways
• China Southern
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• and many, many more

Which airlines are not listed on Google Flights? 

The primary omission in the US is Southwest Airlines flights. Southwest only sells tickets directly via their website and intentionally does not sell them through online travel agencies.

Funny enough, Google Flights does show you the listing for Southwest flights; it just doesn’t show the price. To see the fare, you’ll have to check Southwest.com.

How to change your currency, language, or location on Google Flights

In the top left-hand corner of Google Flights, look for the "hamburger"—the three horizontal lines to the left of the "Google" logo.

This opens up a vertical menu on the left-hand side. At the bottom of this, there are options to change the language, currency, or location you use for Google Flights.

How to find flights with lower carbon emissions on Google Flights

Google Flights now shows the approximate carbon footprint of most flights. Generally, nonstop flights have lower carbon emissions than itineraries with connections, but even within nonstop routes, emissions rates can vary by aircraft type.

In addition to giving the emission rate for your flight, Google Flights also tells you what the average rate is for that route and if your rate is higher or lower. Note that the rate also takes into account your fare class; a higher rate of emissions is generally attributed to business class tickets because the larger seats mean fewer people on the plane, so each seat has a larger share of responsibility.

How to use Going and Google Flights together

Every time we send our members a deal, we include a link to sample search, and 99% of the time, it's on Google Flights because bottom line: Google Flights often has what you're looking for.

The sample search will be pre-filled out with the departure city and arrival airports, plus filters like specific airlines, number of stops, and layover times. This makes it easy for you to narrow in on the flights included in the deal. Often, the deal is available from several cities and hundreds of date combinations, so you can update the departure airport and play around with various dates to see what works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Google Flights

Founder & Chief Flight Expert

Published December 5, 2023

Last updated March 28, 2024

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• Google Travel is a game-changing platform that combines Google Flights , Google Hotels, and more.
• It simplifies trip planning and helps save time.
• Recent studies show a majority of travelers start their travel research on Google.
• There are hidden features within Google Travel that can enhance your trip planning experience.

Seamless Trip Planning with Google Travel

Why does this matter to you?

The introduction of Google Travel signifies a shift in the travel planning landscape. It offers a comprehensive platform to compare prices, schedule your itinerary, and even get personalized recommendations based on your Google activity.

Unleashing the Power of Google Travel

Richard Holden , Vice President of Product Management at Google, remarked, “We want to help users find the information they need to make travel planning easier, so they can spend less time planning and more time enjoying their trips.”

Let’s dive into how Google Travel can revolutionize your travel planning process:

Explore: This feature provides travel inspiration by suggesting popular destinations based on your location and preferences.

Your Trips: It keeps track of your upcoming and past travel information, all in one place.

Maximizing the Google Travel Experience

Google Travel is intuitive and user-friendly, but knowing some insider tips can take your experience to a new level.

Price Tracking: Activate this to receive alerts when the price of a tracked flight or hotel changes.

Flexible Dates: This feature lets you see the prices of flights and hotels for different dates, helping you plan a cost-effective trip.

Destination Highlights: Before booking, check out the ‘Things to do’ section for your destination. It’s like having a mini travel guide at your disposal!

The Hidden Gem: Local Guides Program

To take your Google Travel experience up a notch, participate in the Local Guides program. By contributing reviews, photos, and local insights to Google Maps , you can level up and unlock travel benefits such as early access to new Google products and features. This program is a great way to not only share your unique insights with the global travel community but also earn rewards and enhance your own traveling experience.

Price Guarantee – A Google Travel Exclusive

Did you know Google Travel offers a unique ‘Price Guarantee’ on select flights booked through Google Flights? If Google predicts the price won’t decrease, they’ll guarantee it. If it drops, you could be refunded the difference! This exclusive feature provides peace of mind, ensuring you get the best deal on your flights.

While Google Travel is an Innovation, it’s not without its Downsides

Despite being a powerful platform, Google Travel does have a few drawbacks that users should be aware of.

Lack of Comprehensive Reviews

Google Travel primarily sources its hotel and destination reviews from Google users. While this might seem advantageous in terms of sheer volume, it can also lead to a lack of depth and quality that you often find on platforms like TripAdvisor, where travelers provide comprehensive and detailed reviews about their experiences.

It’s Still a Middleman

While Google Travel provides a plethora of options and deals, it’s essentially still a middleman. This means that in the event of complications, like sudden cancellations or booking errors, you might be left in the lurch as Google Travel will direct you to the airline or hotel for resolution.

Unleashing the Power of ‘Explore’

One of Google Travel’s most intriguing features is ‘Explore.’ With just a few clicks , it provides a world of possibilities for your next journey. Whether you’re a planner or a spontaneous traveler, ‘Explore’ gives you insights into countless destinations, including their best travel seasons, estimated costs, and must-visit attractions.

Your Pocket Travel Guide: ‘Things to Do’

The ‘Things to Do’ feature acts as your virtual tour guide. Based on your destination, Google Travel populates top attractions, landmarks, and experiences. It also shows user ratings to help you make informed choices. The days of carrying bulky travel guides are over. With Google Travel, you have a pocket travel guide ready to assist you!

Personalized, Yet Impersonal

While Google Travel provides personalized recommendations based on your Google activity , it might feel impersonal compared to travel agents or local guides, who bring personal anecdotes, local knowledge, and unique insights to the table, providing a more personalized touch.

1. What is Google Travel?

Google Travel is a comprehensive platform that combines Google Flights, Google Hotels, and other travel-related search tools, making trip planning easier.

2. How can I use Google Travel for planning my trips?

You can use Google Travel to browse and compare flights and hotels, explore popular destinations, track prices, and organize your itinerary.

3. Are there any secret features in Google Travel?

Yes, some hidden features include price tracking, flexible dates for cost-effective planning, and ‘Things to do’ for destination highlights.

4. Is Google Travel free to use?

Absolutely! Google Travel is a free-to-use platform.

5. Can Google Travel provide personalized travel recommendations?

Yes, Google Travel uses your Google activity to provide personalized travel recommendations.

6. What is Google’s Local Guides Program?

The Local Guides program is a community where users contribute reviews, photos, and local knowledge to Google Maps. As you contribute, you earn points that help you level up and unlock special rewards and benefits.

7. What is Google Travel’s ‘Price Guarantee’?

Google’s ‘Price Guarantee’ is an exclusive feature on select flights booked through Google Flights. If Google predicts the price won’t decrease, they guarantee it. If the price drops after you’ve booked, you could be refunded the difference.

8. Is Google Travel mobile-friendly?

Yes, Google Travel is completely mobile-friendly. You can plan your trip on the go, right from your smartphone.

9. How can Google Travel suggest destinations based on my preference?

Google Travel uses data from your Google activity and previous searches to suggest destinations you might be interested in.

10. Can I book my flights and hotels directly through Google Travel?

Yes, Google Travel redirects you to airlines’ or hotels’ websites for direct booking, offering a seamless booking experience.

11. What is the ‘Explore’ feature in Google Travel?

The ‘Explore’ feature in Google Travel provides insights into countless destinations, including their best travel seasons, estimated costs, and popular attractions, acting as a source of inspiration for your next trip.

12. What does the ‘Things to Do’ feature provide?

The ‘Things to Do’ feature acts as a virtual tour guide, offering information about top attractions, landmarks, and experiences based on your destination, along with user ratings.

13. Can Google Travel help me estimate the cost of my trip?

Yes, Google Travel can help you estimate the cost of your trip, including flight and hotel prices.

14. What are some downsides of Google Travel?

Some disadvantages of Google Travel include a lack of comprehensive reviews, being a middleman for bookings, and a somewhat impersonal experience compared to local guides or travel agents.

15. Does Google Travel provide detailed reviews like TripAdvisor?

While Google Travel offers a large volume of reviews, it might lack the depth and quality that platforms like TripAdvisor provide, as it primarily relies on Google users’ reviews.

16. What happens if I face complications with my booking on Google Travel?

Google Travel essentially acts as a middleman, so in the case of any booking complications, you would need to contact the airline or hotel directly for resolution.

Embrace the Future of Travel Planning

Google Travel is the future of seamless travel planning . It integrates various tools and offers a holistic approach to plan your travels. So the next time you start planning a trip, remember that Google Travel is here to simplify your journey!

• Phocuswright’s Traveler Technology Survey 
• Richard Holden’s Official Statement 
• Google’s Local Guides Program  
• Google’s Price Guarantee  

Now you’re equipped with insider knowledge to maximize the potential of Google Travel. So why wait? Start planning your next adventure and let the journey unfold!

Like any platform, Google Travel has its pros and cons. While it offers immense convenience and a host of features, it’s important to be aware of its limitations. Armed with this information, you can use Google Travel effectively and still enjoy your trip-planning process!

It’s clear that Google Travel is not just another travel planning tool. It is a feature-rich platform aimed at simplifying trip planning and making it enjoyable. With this in-depth guide, you’re well-equipped to get the most out of Google Travel. So, pack your bags, and let Google Travel guide you to your next dream destination! Happy travels!

This post is also available in: English

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One response to “Unravel the Potential of Google Travel: Your Ultimate Guide to Stress-Free Trip Planning”

Kevin, an excellent read. I noticed, as an outdoors enthusiast, your emphasis on the emotional return on natural expeditions. Differs not far from my climbing experience at Denali National Park. Insightful view on humanity’s innateness of exploration don’t you think? Enumerate further future exploring destinations. Have you considered underwater caves exploration? Quite a different sensory experience there. Keep interesting views coming from your adventures. Until your next exciting biopsy of life’s beauty! 🌿🌊

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How do I access my Google Travel?

As a Concierge, one of the common questions I receive from guests is how to access their Google Travel. Google Travel used to have a feature that allowed users to view their past and upcoming trips, including accommodations reservations, flights, and things to do bookings. However, this feature has been eliminated, and users are now directed to Google Maps and their Google account to access their travel information.

To access your Google Travel, follow these steps:

1. On your computer, open Google Maps. 2. Sign in with the same Google Account that you use on your mobile device. 3. At the top left, click Menu. 4. Click Timeline. 5. To find another date, at the top, choose a day, month, and year.

By following these steps, you will be able to view your travel history and access information about your past and upcoming trips.

1. Can I access my Google Travel on my iPhone? Yes, you can access your Google Travel on your iPhone by following the same steps mentioned above. Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone, sign in with your Google Account, and click on the menu and select Timeline.

2. Why did Google eliminate the feature to view trips on Google Travel? Google made the decision to prioritize resources and integrate the features of Google Trips into Google Search and Google Maps. This was done to provide users with a more cohesive experience and condense their product offerings.

3. How far back does Google timeline go? If you haven’t deleted your history, Google Timeline will go back to the day you created your account. It will show you details of your location history and activities from the time of account creation.

4. Can I search my timeline on Google Maps? Yes, you can search your timeline on Google Maps. Simply go to the Facebook profile page where you want to find a post, click on the three-dot icon below the Edit Profile button, and select Search. This will allow you to search for specific posts or activities on your timeline.

5. How do I update Google Maps on my iPhone? To update Google Maps on your iPhone, go to the App Store and tap on Updates in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Locate Google Maps and click on Update if an update is available.

6. Does Google Maps Timeline work accurately? The accuracy and reliability of Google Maps Timeline vary depending on various factors such as the availability of GPS signals and network connectivity. While it is generally considered a reliable tool for tracking location history, there may be instances where the accuracy is affected.

7. Is my travel history tracked on my iPhone? Your iPhone keeps track of significant locations you have been to, as well as how often and when you visited them. This data is encrypted and cannot be read by Apple. It is used to provide personalized recommendations and improve user experience.

8. Are there any other apps for tracking travel history? Yes, there are several apps available for tracking travel history. Some popular ones include ExploreHere – Historical Guide, Roadside America, Tripbucket Mobile App, Geotourist, PocketSights Tour Guide, and US Historic Places. These apps provide information and guides for historical sites and landmarks.

As a Concierge, I understand the importance of accessing travel information easily. While Google Travel no longer has the feature to view past and upcoming trips, you can still access your travel history through Google Maps and your Google account.

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Travel China Cheaper

Travel China the smart way! Expert tips and travel advice for China tourists and expats.

PLANNING A TRIP TO CHINA? Start Here

How to Access Google in China in 2024 (& All Google Services)

February 22, 2024 By Josh Summers

Is it possible to access Google in China in 2024? Even though Google has been blocked in China since early 2011, I still remain a regular user of all Google services, so I can tell you from experience that it’s entirely possible…as long as you’re prepared. Here’s a quick explanation of what you need to know and how to prepare yourself.

Recommended Resource – NordVPN

If you’re looking for the fastest, easiest way to bypass internet censorship to use Google services in China, I recommend NordVPN. Get connected in less than 5 minutes at lightning-fast speeds.

Let’s start with one simple question that needs to be answer: Is Google blocked in China?

And the answer is simple: yes, it is.

When it comes to being censored within China, though, Google is in good company. There are many other blocked websites and apps in China such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, not to mention the “western media” that has been heavily censored.

What sets Google apart is that it’s not just one simple service; the block encompasses ALL things Google in China . This includes stuff that most of us use on a daily basis such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Maps, YouTube and more.

Yes…all of it is blocked.

So what are your options? Thankfully, not all hope is lost. Here are three simple steps to get you connected to Google in China.

Note : T his article contains affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I will be compensated if you use some of these services I recommend. The good news is that in many cases, such as this link to ExpressVPN , I’ve negotiated special deals to get you 3 months of free service.

Step 1: Access the Internet in China

It sounds simple enough to access the internet in China, right?

But you might find it more difficult than you first imagined. The most common ways to access the internet in China are:

• Via Wi-Fi : In larger cities in China, you’ll find Wifi access everywhere but as you get further inland this becomes harder and harder to find. Relying on Wifi for all your internet access may not be ideal, especially since a lot of Wifi requires the ability to receive a text PIN (thus needing a working phone number in China). If this is your preferred method of connecting, you’ll want to read this guide on how to find WiFi in China .
• Via International Roaming : If you’re traveling to China for a short period of time, you can work with your network carrier at home to arrange international roaming. What this usually means is that you’ll be given a certain amount of data and/or minutes to use while you’re in China and is usually billed to you on a per day basis.  Beware: it can be expensive .
• Via a China SIM card : Although a bit time consuming, it’s not difficult for a foreigner to get a local SIM card to access the internet via any unlocked phone. You’ll need your passport to register the number but monthly service can be unbelievably cheap. In some major airports (Beijing, Shanghai) you’ll find kiosks where you can purchase a China SIM card . Otherwise, you’ll have to go to a China Telecom, China Unicom or China Mobile store to purchase.
• Via a Rented China Phone: Of course, if you want to eliminate all the hassle of the above options, you can also consider renting a phone in China . There are services that will mail you a phone to your home that will work the moment you land in China. You can rent cheap Android phones or nicer Apple iPhones.

It’s important to understand that accessing the internet in China is just the first challenge you face.

Even if you’ve chosen international roaming, once you arrive in China, many of your favorite apps will still be blocked including -as we’ve already discussed- everything Google-related.

Step 2: Connect to a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Ideally, you will setup a VPN prior to arrival in China , since it’s a huge pain to do so once you’ve arrived. Take note of that as you read on and consider getting a VPN on your phone or computer  right now . A subscription to one VPN will give you access to Google in China on both a laptop and phone/tablet.

If you’ve never heard of a VPN, you can think of it like a tunnel through the wall of censorship.

Even when China has censored everything, a VPN will tunnel through and give you access to Google services like Gmail, Google Maps, Google Search and allow you to watch YouTube in China . There’s no need to dive into the specifics of how it works, just know that a VPN is used by pretty much every expat who lives in China, including me .

This is what usually happens when you’re setting up a VPN for your phone:

• You purchase a VPN service on your computer (5 min)
• Download the VPN app on your phone (3 min)
• Sign into the App and use the app to install server connections (5 min)
• Click “Connect” and you’re done!

Set aside about half an hour to get this all put together and you’ll be good to go.

One more thing : I highly recommend you download at least two VPN services as a backup in case one doesn’t work. China sometimes blocks certain IP addresses, which can cause major connection issues no matter which VPN you use.

I recommend one of the following VPNs:

NordVPN (Best Overall)

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market that has an easy-to-use mobile app and a 30 day money-back guarantee. Works well in China and even has a new app to use for streaming on the Apple TV!

Surfshark VPN (Best Value for China)

Although somewhat newer than NordVPN, Surfshark has made a name for itself as a reliable option in China that also happens to offer some of the lowest monthly rates for users.

ExpressVPN (most established for China)

One of the longest operating VPNs on the market that is one of the best for China. I use this every day. Best of all, they have a 30 day money-back guarantee in case it doesn’t work well for you.

Step 3: Log on to Google in China!

One you have access to the internet on your phone and a reliable VPN installed and running, you should be able to log onto Google’s homepage and use Google in China, including all services on your computer or phone without any problems!

It’s perfectly fine to keep your VPN connection running at all times while you’re traveling around China (that’s what I do personally).

Because a VPN does slow down your connection slightly, though, I know some people who prefer to only connect when they need it.

There are times in China when you will need to disconnect and then reconnect to another VPN server, but that doesn’t happen very often to me. I’ve been able to stay connected via Gmail in China for the past decade and use Google search pretty much on a daily basis.

Only on rare occasions has my access to Google in China been cut (and that’s why I keep more than one active VPN subscription).

Final Thoughts | Using Google in China

It’s quite possible to use Google in China – and I hope you have a chance to do so! Whether you’re a daily Gmail user, you love to watch YouTube videos, or you need to have access to Google Maps so you don’t get lost, access to Google is often invaluable.

The two important things to remember are 1) making sure you will have reliable access to the internet in China and 2) using a VPN like NordVPN to unblock all the Google services.

Keep in mind that this method is the same way I use to access Instagram in China as well as watch all my favorite Netflix shows in China . As you might guess, a VPN is an expat’s best friend in China!

Further Reading & Resources

Traveling or Moving to China Soon?

Download "44 Tips You MUST Know Before Traveling to China". These simple but often overlooked tips could make or break your trip !

Download the Tips Here

About Josh Summers

Josh is the founder of TravelChinaCheaper.com who has been living in China with his family since 2006. Over that period of time he has traveled by plane, train, car, motorcycle and even camel to explore almost every corner of the country.

Reader Interactions

August 30, 2018 at 12:42 am

WEll, I’ve been in china couple of months ago and I faced the same issue as most the vpn won’t work there. I use multiple vpn providers but at last i use purevpn which initially didn’t work but when i contacted their support they guide me the setting of their app.

so my whole trip went awesome after this.

August 30, 2018 at 12:18 pm

That’s a great point, Emma. It’s not uncommon for connections in China to be difficult, so I encourage people to reach out to customer support for the VPN they choose. More often than not, they have special things they do for China customers to make connections better.

December 8, 2018 at 8:16 am

I’m a chinese who come across this website occasionly. And now I found it more effective when search via google. In fact, resetting DNS or Host can help you use google or Gmail more faster and easier in China.

December 10, 2018 at 11:20 am

Google is definitely a whole lot better than Baidu. 🙂

April 9, 2019 at 5:10 pm

I arrived in Shanghai from canada a few dAys ago and i have had zero issues accessing all things GoogLe while roaming – im on Rogers using their Roam Like HoMe feature. Although i did set up with a vpn, i have found it unnecessaRy.

April 10, 2019 at 9:04 pm

Hi Dann, thanks for the feedback. What’s interesting is that your Roam Like Home plan acts like a VPN, so in your case you don’t need one. So while you may not have had issues accessing all things Google since you were paying a high daily rate for your phone, it’s still blocked for most other people in China.

October 11, 2019 at 2:15 am

May i know after getting the vpn do i still need data roaming from my internet provider? Thank you for your help

October 11, 2019 at 2:20 am

In order to use a VPN, you will need internet access. That could be data roaming or it could be WiFi. It’s important to know, however, that a VPN does not provide internet access.

October 11, 2019 at 3:32 pm

Hi Josh, Thanks for your ppompt reply. This is extremely useful. Much appreciated.

October 19, 2019 at 8:42 am

Im from malaysia. Can i clarify these are the correct things to do: 1. Set my mobile network to allow roaming 2. Purchase vpn and activate it while im in malaysia 3. Once i reach china (guangzhou), switch on my phone And set up my vpn 4. Use google/whatsapp freely (using roaming and vpn)

Are those the correct steps?

October 20, 2019 at 8:51 pm

Yes, that about sums it up!

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How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip (Ultimate Guide)

Note: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you. More details are  here .

I love a good map. I’ve got maps hanging on my walls. I go to the bookstore to read maps. Whenever I navigate my way home using only a map, I feel like I must have some innate bushcraft skills. And if you’ve read my posts about traveling in Maine , you’re probably sick of me talking about the DeLorme Atlas by now.

But while reading paper maps will always inspire a sense of get-up-and-go adventure for me, I’m not totally opposed to using tech for planning my trips and navigating on the ground.

And one of my favorite techy solutions? A secret little trip planner called Google My Maps, buried inside of everyone’s favorite map tool.

Google My Maps lets you create shareable custom maps with multiple layers, plus location pins with icons and notes. It’s a great way to brainstorm travel plans or create a trip itinerary from a desktop. And since the map can be viewed in the Google Maps app, you can use it to navigate on the go. 

To give you an example of what this post will show you how to do, here’s one of the custom Google Maps I’ve created for a trip.

Keep reading for an overview of how to use Google My Maps to plan a trip, plus a video tutorial of how to set it up—all updated in 2023. I’ll also share answers to commonly asked questions and some lesser known tips to help you get the most out of this tool. 

A quick note: Creating a custom map in Google My Maps is distinct from Google Lists of saved places. Check out our Google My Maps vs Lists comparison to see all the differences and our full guide to using Google Maps Lists .

8 Top Google My Maps Features

(AKA Why It’s Awesome)

Google My Maps allows you to see your trip itinerary. 

This is so helpful, especially if you’re a visual person or enjoy using maps. But even if you’re not, it’s still really useful to see where everything is in relation to each other as you plan your trip, vacation, or holiday because it helps you be realistic about your plans.

It connects with other Google apps. 

Setting aside my (ahem, very rational) fear that they may take over the world soon, I love all things Google. My Maps stores a copy of the map in whatever Google Drive account you’re using. (Am I the only one who has six of these?) So if you like to create Google Docs or folders to store trip planning information, documents, photos, or itineraries, it’s nice to have your map easily accessible in the same folder.

You get additional location information since it’s part of Google Maps. 

If a location is on Google, you can see their website, phone number, address, reviews, and website when you add it to your custom map. (Note that you can’t see this information when clicking on your saved pin from the Google Maps app, but you can from desktop.)

You can add your own extra notes and photos.

Customize your map even more by adding notes, photos, or videos. Use the notes during planning to add website, hours, or tips. If I hear about the location from a particular website, I usually add that link and what was noted in the article about the location (e.g., it’s a great sunset spot, which dish on the menu is recommended) so I can reference it later.

You can view your route by creating a layer with directions. 

When I traveled to Burlington, Vermont, I wanted to see the length of the bike trail on the map, so I used the directions feature to show the whole route. (Check out the Burlington travel guide for an example of the travel map I created that includes the bike path route.) And while I haven’t done this yet, you could also use Google My Maps to plan a road trip itinerary for a longer adventure. 

Caveat: As I’ll discuss later, you can’t use directions layers to get turn-by-turn directions (but I mention an alternative below). For this reason, I only use these layers to visualize my route.

It’s highly customizable. 

Don’t mind me while I swoon over the color coding and organization options over here. Use custom icons, layers, and colors so it’s easy to see what things are at a glance. For example, you can give different locations individual styles: a coffee cup icon for cafes, a bed icon for hotels, and a swimming icon for beaches. You can also use layers in many different ways, such as one layer for each day of your trip or one layer for each category (like dining, lodging, and things to do).

In-depth planning on your computer. Easy, on-the-go access from your phone. 

While you can’t edit the maps from the Google Maps app on iPhone or Android, you (and anyone you’ve shared them with) can view them. You can click on icons and see your notes, as well as navigate to those locations. 

Note that there used to be a dedicated My Maps app on Android, but this has been deprecated. 

It’s easy to share it with a friend or with the world. 

If you’re planning a trip with other people, it’s easy to share the map with others . And if it’s something you want to make available to everyone (like I do on my travel guide posts), just change the privacy setting and share the link or embed it on a website.

3 Ways to Use Google My Maps

Brainstorm and store ideas for future “maybe” trips. 

I often come across a really interesting hotel, restaurant, or fun thing to do in destinations I want to travel to in the future, and I want to make sure I don’t forget about them. I have so many bookmarks in so many places (Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram), but Google My Maps is the place I’ve started storing ideas for future trips.

Plan your trip itinerary. 

Want to use Google Maps for route planning? When you’re ready to plan an upcoming trip, plot it out visually by using Google My Maps to create your itinerary. If you like structured itineraries, you can easily create a detailed day-to-day plan. 

Or, you can use a looser itinerary structure like we usually do by adding all the places you might like to go. 

For example, on a day trip to NYC, we added tons of places to eat on the map (thank you, Tiktok). As we were walking around doing other activities and started to get hungry, we were able to easily see which saved restaurants were closest to us. 

Navigate on the go.

Whether you’re using your map loosely for ideas or for a structured itinerary, you can pull it up on your phone anytime and get directions to your next location. 

Not sure what you want to do today, or want to see what the closest restaurant from your list is for dinner? Pop into your custom map to jog your memory from the notes you made or to get directions to your next location.

Recommended: Need an organized backpack to take on the road? Check out my favorite luggage for camping, road trips, and flying: the Cotopaxi Nazca 24L and Allpa 35L !

How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip

How to create a new custom map.

Go to Google My Maps from your desktop browser . Check the Google icon in the top right corner to make sure you’re using the Google account you want to. Click “Create A New Map” and a window will open with a blank map. To give your map a name and description , click the map name (“Untitled Map”).

You can also change the color and style of the base map if desired. At the bottom of the layer panel on the left, click the arrow next to “Base Map.” You’ll get a window with nine options, including terrain, light political (a very light version of the standard Google Maps), satellite, and some different colored versions. Note that changing the base map style on desktop won’t change anything when viewing on mobile in Google Maps.

How to Add and Edit Layers

When you create a new map, the first layer will already be created, so you’ll probably want to rename it. To give your first layer a title , click directly on the title name like you did with the map name, or click the 3 dots next to “Untitled Layer” and then click “Rename Layer.” Clicking these 3 dots next to a layer title is also how you can delete a layer if you add one accidentally or change your mind. In this example, I’m changing my first layer to “dining” and will add all restaurants to this layer.

You can use layers any way you want to, or simply stick to one layer if you don’t need multiple. To add new layers , simply click “Add Layer” in the gray section below the map title and description.

To move a pin between layers , click the pin on the layer and hold down the mouse, and then drag it to the desired layer.

How to Add Location Pins

There are various ways to add location pins to a layer. First, make sure the correct layer is chosen by clicking anywhere in the white area on the layer. You’ll see which layer is selected by looking for the blue bar on the left of the layer.

• In the map search bar, type either a place name or an address. Click “Add to Map” to add a pin for this location . This is how I add most pins.
• If you don’t need an exact location or don’t have an address , you can click the pin marker button below the map search bar (“Add Marker”). It will turn your mouse into a T and you can click anywhere on the map to add a blank pin. You’ll immediately be prompted to add the pin title and description.
• If you’re dealing with very remote locations (or you just like geeky map stuff), you can also use latitude and longitude coordinates in the search bar.

To delete a pin , simply click on it and click the trash icon.

A few tips and best practices for adding pins:

• If the place you’re searching for does not have a listing on Google, you’ll have to use an address. One thing to note is that sometimes Google Maps listings aren’t correct or don’t take you to the right place, so you may want to double check the location if you’re not using a street address to add the pin (especially if it’s a small business without a website).
• I have also found that hiking trail heads are frequently on Google Maps, but they’re not always correct in terms of navigating there by car. I usually add them to my map to get a basic idea of where they are while planning, but I use a paper map or atlas to find them while traveling.

How to Customize Location Pins

To change the title and add notes to your listing, click on the pin on the map, and then click the pencil icon (“Edit”).

To change the color and icon of the pin , click the paint bucket icon (from the pin itself or directly in the layer). Click “More Icons” to view all the icon options. You can color code by type of activity, by layer, or any way that makes sense to you.

To add photos or videos to a pin , click on the pin on the map, and then click the camera icon (“Add Image or Video”). This is another way to make your map interactive, especially after you’ve visited a location and want to share it with others.

How to Add A Directions Layer

I find that directions layers are helpful for showing the route of a walking tour, bike path, or road trip you want to take, but I don’t find them useful for directions while traveling since I can simply use the maps app to navigate. 

I use directions layers whenever I want to show an entire route on a map , rather than a specific location. Think of this as the 2024 version of mapping out a trip with AAA paper maps and a highlighter (if you’re old enough to remember).

Click the arrow icon underneath the search bar, which will create a new directions layer. On the legend, click “Driving” if you want to change this to walking or biking directions. Add a location name or address to Points A and B in the legend. If you find that the pins are not exactly where they should be, you can drag the points on the map.

Continue adding points by clicking “Add Destination” on the map. You can either type the information into the legend or hover your mouse to a spot on the map and double click it. (This is especially useful if you’re tracing a route on something like a bike path or hiking trail that won’t have an address.)

Rearrange the order by dragging the items around in the legend. Just like altering directions on Google Maps navigation, you can click on part of the route and drag it to a different road if you want to change part of the route after it is complete.

If you need to access the directions so you can see the distance of your route or the time it will take, click the three dots on the layer and click “Step-by-Step Directions.” Note that you can’t actually use this to get turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.

How to Share A Google My Map

There are several options for sharing your Google Maps trip plan.

Open up your map, then click the share button in the gray bar above your layers. To allow others to view your map (which includes embedding on your website), click “change” under the section “Who has access.” For embedding, you will need to make this setting public.

Otherwise, if you want to allow others to edit your map, add their email address in the “invite people” section.

How to View Your Custom Map in Google Maps (iPhone or Android)

Open Google Maps and go to the Saved icon at the bottom. Scroll to the bottom of this screen and click “Maps.” Choose the My Map you want to view. The layers with your custom icons will now be visible on your Google Map. You can click on any pin to view your details (such as description or photos), as well as to navigate there. 

To close a map, click on a pin and then click “View Map Legend.” There, you can click the Close icon.

From the Map Legend, you can also toggle layers on and off, and then backing out to the main map (don’t click Close—just the back arrow or back button).

How to Navigate with a Custom My Map (iPhone or Android)

To navigate to one of your pins, open your map, find the pin for where you want to go, click it, and then click “directions.” When you do this, you won’t see your custom map anymore but will be looking at the regular navigation of Google Maps.

You can’t use a My Maps “directions layer” for navigation. If you’re looking for that functionality, I recommend just creating a route in Google Maps and sending it to your phone (or sharing with others). See here for more details. 

How to Import Locations from Google Sheets, CSV, or Excel

Importing locations to a My Maps layer can be helpful in a few scenarios:

• You have a significant amount of locations to add to your layer
• Your data is already in the form of a spreadsheet
• You want additional fields included besides the default Name and Description
• You want to create groupings of pins (for example, a list of 50 restaurants could have a column for “Cuisine,” which will give you the option to group and style the pins by cuisine)

The process is simple, and you can import a variety of file types, including CSV, Excel (XLSX), or directly from Google Sheets. There are also special file formats that import map data from other programs, but this section is focused on spreadsheet-type files that you create and format.

Create a spreadsheet with the desired column headers. At a minimum, you need place names and either addresses or latitude-longitude information . 

If you want to group your pins by some type of categorization, you should include that as a column. Other columns you could include: website, phone number, description, or notes. While Google Sheets allows you to include photos in a cell, Google My Maps will not import photos in this way (it will include the column as a field, but will be blank). 

Once your spreadsheet file is ready, click “Import” on a blank layer (if your map already has layers, you will need to add a new layer to see this option). If uploading a CSV or XLSX, do this from the Upload tab. If using a Google Sheet, click the Google Drive tab and choose your file. 

Choose which column has location data (address or latitude-longitude) and click “Continue.” Choose the location name column next and click “Finish.” 

To change the icons individually, click “Uniform Style” next to the paintbrush on your layer. Under “Group Places By,” choose “Individual Styles.”

To change styles by a category column (such as Cuisine), click the link next to the paintbrush and choose to group places by the desired column. You can then give each category its own color or icon.

You can manually add new pins to this layer, and they will include all the fields you imported from the spreadsheet columns. 

You can also add more items to your spreadsheet, and import this new data. Click the three dots on your layer. Under “Reimport and Merge,” click “Add More Items” and choose your file. It will add the new rows to your layer.

How to Import a Route from Google Maps Timeline History (KML) or GPS Data From a Fitness App (GPX)

Google My Maps can import routes and locations you’ve already traveled to via special file types that are very easy to download from certain apps. This could be useful if you want to share a walking, biking, or driving route that you’ve taken without having to recreate it on a directions layer. 

Note that this only works as well as the GPS satellites were able to track your location while you were traveling.

If there are a lot of clouds, dense forest, buildings, or anything else blocking the GPS signal, your tracked route will be much less precise. I’ve noticed that Google Maps sometimes has my route showing somewhere I couldn’t have walked or driven. 

If you have your location history turned on in Google Maps, you can download a KML file from a trip, which will include the route traveled and location pins for any stops. Sometimes it misses a location name or adds a pin in the wrong place, but overall it’s pretty good.

Go to your Google Maps Timeline and locate the day you want to export. Click on it, and you should now see your route highlighted along with any stops you made. Now click the gear icon on the bottom of your map, and click “Export this day to KML.” Go to your My Map and on a new layer, click “Import.” Choose the KML file you just downloaded. You can now edit each portion as needed—changing the color and thickness of the route line, changing the location icons, as well as adjusting the route where desired.

If you have other apps that track your location, such as fitness apps, you may be able to download a GPX file that shows the route you took. The instructions for doing this will vary from app to app, but I was able to easily find it in Samsung Health by looking at the detail of a particular workout/walk and clicking the three dots to download a GPX. The import process to Google My Maps is the same as above.

With both methods, you can make adjustments to points/stops along the way or even add more pins. With the Google Maps KML file, you can also adjust your route by moving the small white dots.

Google My Maps Tutorial

Here’s a walk through video to show you how to use Google Maps to plan a trip, along with several of my own Google My Maps itinerary examples. Coming soon: a 2024 update!

Google My Maps Examples

Here are a few more examples of My Maps I’ve created for sharing recommendations, trip ideas, and actual vacation planning.

Google My Maps FAQs and Tips

As great as Google My Maps is for planning a trip, there are some limitations to using it. Lots of questions have also come up about more specific uses and ways to use its features. Thanks to all the readers who have asked or shared tips in the comments as I’m always looking to make this a more robust guide. I’ve organized the questions and tips here since it makes it easier than scrolling through the comments.

How many layers can you add to a map?

Google My Maps limits you to 10 layers. If you are planning a longer road trip and want to create a layer for each day, this limitation may prove frustrating. 

Here are a couple of workaround ideas: You can create 2 maps, and have the entire master route as 1 layer on each (showing the very basic route for all 12 days—say from city to city) as a reference. Then build individual layers for each day. As a second option, you could add multiple days to 1 layer and change the titles to start with the day they correspond to (so it would be “1 – Name of Place” instead of just “Name of Place.”) However, this option may not be ideal since you can’t see the titles until you click when you’re on the phone.

How many location pins can you add to each layer?

You can add up to 2,000 pins per layer, and the entire map cannot exceed 10,000 lines, shapes, or places total. I haven’t tested the limits, and it’s possible adding this amount of items could slow things down. My guess is that most travelers wouldn’t need anything so large, but it is possible according to Google . 

Are custom Google My Maps available offline?

No, but keep reading for a workaround and alternative. 

One of the biggest complaints about Google My Maps is that you can’t download your custom map and pins to use offline, unlike the rest of Google Maps. 

However, I have been able to use it in areas with spotty reception. I pulled the map up when I did have reception, and I left it running in the background. It would stay loaded in the app and I was able to pull it up to look at it later when I was out of reception. I’m not sure I would rely on this as a surefire workaround, but it can work in a pinch.

Another alternative, especially if you’ll be traveling in another country where you’ll be completely offline, is to use Google Maps Lists, which can be edited from desktop or your phone but don’t offer the option for separate layers, unique icons, or adding photos. 

Is there an app for Google My Maps?

There is no separate Google My Maps app, but you can view your maps within Google Maps. Just make sure you’re signed into the same account, and all your maps will sync. 

(There used to be a dedicated My Maps app on Android, but this was deprecated in 2021.)

Can you create or edit maps from your phone?

No, the maps cannot be edited from the Google Maps app. Google My Maps can only be created or edited from the desktop version of the site. This is another huge advantage Google Lists has over Google My Maps because Lists allow you to add new places or entire lists from any device—iPhone, Android, tablet, laptop, or desktop.

Is there a bridge height filter?

No. For RVers and others who need to plan ahead for height limitations, there is no bridge height filter available in Google Maps. Since I haven’t had to use this feature myself, I am not confident in an alternative to recommend. However, from a bit of digging around, there are some apps and GPS units for truckers that may be a good place to start looking if you have an oversize vehicle.

What is the difference between Google Maps Lists and Google My Maps?

They both allow you to create custom maps with pins, but there are some key differences, such as offline access, layer capabilities, customizable pins, and creating/editing within the app. Check out the details on how Google My Maps compares to Lists (including a features comparison table).

How many stops can you add on a directions layer?

You can only add 10 stops per directions layer. This is also the maximum number of stops you can add for navigation in Google Maps. As some readers have pointed out, this can be limiting when you want to use this feature for a long road trip.

Can you use the directions layers on your phone for navigation purposes?

No, you cannot create a directions layer and then access those turn-by-turn directions for navigation in the Google Maps app. 

So…are directions layers totally useless? What’s the point of having a Driving Directions layer in My Maps?

Personally, I still like to use these layers, but only to show a route for my very visual brain, rather than to actually create custom directions. 

Can you send a custom created route (layer) to someone else so that the other person will take that specific driving route on google maps?

No, you can’t do this from My Maps, but there’s a workaround I can suggest.

Forget My Maps, and use Google Maps from desktop or mobile to plot a route. You can add up to 10 stops, and then you will be able to share your custom directions. 

From desktop, there’s an extra step in first sending the directions to your phone. If you’ve created the directions in the mobile app or once you have them pulled up there, you can share them with anyone by clicking the 3 dots next to your list of locations (sharing must be done before clicking “Start”—if you’re already in the navigation, you need to back out of it to share). When you share, it will list all the steps as well as send a link for the other person to open the directions in Google Maps directly. 

An important caveat to sharing custom routes: Google Maps will reroute the directions as it normally does according to current traffic at the time of driving, so this method cannot be relied upon if you’ve mapped a specific route for bridge clearances. As a workaround, you can add “stops” on the desired interstate (zoom in and add this literally on the road itself so navigation doesn’t try to take you off an exit), which will force Google Maps to take the driver that way. This is what I do when driving south from Connecticut to PA because Google Maps always wants me to take its beloved George Washington Bridge and I always don’t want to. I add a stop to force my route across the Tappan Zee Bridge. However, I’m not sure I would rely on this workaround as a sole method for RVs or truckers.

Can you see how much time the directions will take?

Yes, on desktop you can view the details if you want to know the distance or how long a route will take. To view distance and time for a directions layer, click the 3 dots on the laye, then click Step-by-Step Directions. 

Of course, this doesn’t really help when you want to get this information on your phone or use the directions for navigation. As mentioned elsewhere, the “directions” layer functions best as a way to visualize a route. If you need turn-by-turn directions, see the steps mentioned above to save and send directions in Google Maps. 

This post was originally published on July 27, 2017 and has been updated in May 2023.

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Useful Google Maps Tips for Every Traveler

Google Maps is probably my most used travel app. I have been sharing my tips and tricks for using it for travel for years. Since these are questions I get over and over it is definitely time to share this article. If you have any questions or additional tips to share please leave them in the comments.

Table of Contents

Download Maps For Offline Use

If you are traveling abroad, or have limited data, Google offers the ability to download maps for offline use. The maps stay in your files for one year. If you are on data when using this feature it will alert you how much data is necessary for the download. Try to remember to do this when you have access to WiFi. Once you download a map you can access it when you do not have service.

Access Google Maps Without Data or WiFi

An alternative to downloading the map is to load the map. This has been a “hack” of mine that I discovered by accident years ago. You load the area you need by zooming in and out to allow the buildings and streets to load. You can exit the app but do not close it out completely. Now, once you are without access to data or WiFi you can still access your map. Because your location is determined by GPS in your phone you will still receive an approximate of your location. It might be a few feet off but with access to street names you can figure out where you are with ease without dealing with paper maps.

Check Busy Times and Other Important Info

If you select a business on Google Maps you are given a lot of information providing that the business itself has offered it to Google. One of the most useful items, especially for busy establishments like museums or other tourist places, is busy times. From this, you can determine the best time to go to avoid long lines or crowds. Also from this page, you can see the full address, daily hours, phone number, website, reviews, photos, and upcoming events.

Save Places for Future Reference

I’m not sure what I would do without this feature. I use it an embarrassingly amount of times. Saving places gives you the ability to privately bookmark locations either with a heart for favorites, a star for whatever, a flag for want to go, and the ability to create your own list for marking. When using this feature at home I like to use Want to go flags for restaurants I want to try or new businesses to check out. Next time my friends want to meet for a meal I check my map and easily see all of the new choices.

Read | The Ultimate Slovenian Itinerary Planner

Create Your Own Map

(Desktop Only) You can create your own maps which can be used to share with others or just for personal use. I create maps to post on blog posts to share sightseeing points and restaurant recommendations for other travelers.

To start, click on menu, then Your Places, Maps, and then Create Map. You will then have a screen like this:

• Click here to change the name and description of your map.
• Click on add layer and then the three dots to rename the layer. As you can see the blue bar on the left signifies that is the current layer selected.
• To select an area for your map use the search bar at the top.

You can create your own layers, routes, choose colors and icons to make the map more visually appealing.

• You can see Cathedrale Notre-Dame is marked with a unique blue pointer. If you look at my layers you can see it there under Sightseeing.
• When adding a location you can click on the map or use the search bar. Once you select a location a menu like this will pop up. You can use the paint can icon to change the colors and icons of that location. You can also provide a photo and additional information for those viewing your map.
• Here you can see the second location added with its custom icon. I like to match colors with layers, and will sometimes use different icons especially in a food layer to distinguish between coffee shops, food, fast food, and bars.

Here is an example of a shared map that I created where I included some more information and photos for some items. Click the menu on the top left to pull up a view of my layers and each item.

Traffic and Public Transport Layer

Traffic layer is another very useful item to see at a glance which is the best route to take. It also tells you when there are road closures, construction, or an accident. I use this regularly even when driving around my area because it saves me from sitting in traffic.

Read | How to Spend One Day in Ljubljana, Slovenia

The transport layer is also great! If you are somewhere like London, Paris, or even Budapest with metro, train, or tram system you can see the lines of the routes over the map which can be super helpful in showing you which lines to take or best routes for the day.

Walking and Biking Routes and Times

You don’t just have driving directions on Google Maps but also walking, biking, taxi, and even public transport (when available). Whenever I go to London this is indispensable because I can pop in any location and it tells me the buses I can take and their times. As you see above you can see walking routes and times. You can also use the public transport layer to see if the route you are taking runs along one of those. I always use this feature, especially in large cities or somewhere new.

Mark Your Parking Place

This is one I learned about recently and it is so clever. Normally I just take a picture or place a star but now you can mark a temporary marker saying you parked somewhere and remove it when you are finished. When you click on the place where you parked, click the three dots at the top right, then Set as parking location. It should then look like the middle image. When you are done click the point on the map and click clear. Easy!

Read | A Weekend in Trento, Italy

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Google for Travel: Plan Better with These 8 Tools

• Updated: 10/28/2023

Google offers a suite of travel planning tools to help you travel better. These tools will make your life easier by saving you time and money and keeping you more organized at every stage of your trip. 

Learn which tool to use and its special travel planning features in the sections below. 

Table Of Contents

Overview: 8 Tools for Better Trip Planning

These eight Google trip planning tools are free, easy to use, and sync seamlessly across devices for excellent on-the-go access anytime and anyplace. Use them for their wide-ranging and flexible travel features.

• Google Maps . More than driving directions—create custom lists and maps.
• Google Explore . Discover where to go anywhere in the world for your budget and dates. 
• Google Flights . Research flights and track price changes for most airlines.
• Google Hotels . More than a hotel search engine—learn the best neighborhoods to stay and ideal times to visit.
• Google Things to Do . Search for top sights, attractions, and activities for any destination.
• Google Chrome . Keep track of trip-related websites across devices.
• Google Docs . Use for itineraries and mobile note-keeping.
• Google Calendar . Schedule bookings and create shared calendars.

Google Maps

If you plan to use any Google tool to help with travel planning, use this one. Its functionality far exceeds driving and walking directions . Use it to create your own custom destination information and route plans in shareable lists and maps called “My Maps.”

See examples of a custom Google Maps list for Saugatuck, Michigan, and a “My Map” for the top things to do near San Ignacio, Belize, below.

How to use this map:  In the map header, click the square tab to the left of my logo or click the enlarge frame to the right to view detail. You can save the map to “Your Places” on Google Maps by clicking the star next to the map name. Or you can share it by clicking the share icon.

When you create your own lists and maps, save places and attractions you want to visit or those you have already been to. Rely on them when you travel or share them with friends and family when you return.

Check out five reasons to use them and how to create your own in “ Why You Will Love Google Maps for Trip Planning .” 

Google Explore & Google Flights

Google Explore is a powerful map-based search tool built on top of the Google Flights search engine. Additionally, it offers links to outstanding trip-planning resources.

For any traveler who has puzzled over the question, “Where should I go next?”—Google Explore will be your new favorite shortcut to figure it out. 

It shows all possible travel destinations across a navigable map from one location. A recent upgrade now extends beyond flight destinations. Users can now discover driving and combo flying-driving destinations, like National and State Parks and nearby small towns and resort locations.

For example, see the screenshot exploring where to go on a one-week trip in spring , using Chicago as the origin city. 

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Learn more about using this powerful tool in “ Travel Better: How to Best Use Google Flights Explore .” 

Google Flights is a top airfare search engine . And it is the first travel planning website many seasoned travelers go to research route options and fare prices. In addition to cross-comparing fares, you can use Google Flights to track any flight. Once you follow a flight, Google will send you alerts about fare changes. When you see a dip, you can buy and save.

Learn more about setting Google Flights price tracker alerts in “ How to Save Time & Money with Google Flights Price Tracker .” 

Google Hotels

In addition to providing an easy-to-use navigable map to search for top lodging, Google Hotels features three little-known helpful buttons that could save you loads of time when you plan your next trip. 

These buttons include: 

• Where to stay?  
• When to visit?  
• What you’ll pay?

Click any of these buttons, and they will quickly, elegantly, and expertly help you answer some of the most essential questions in travel planning. 

The Where to stay? button will provide a neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown of where to stay in any city—from Miami to Mumbai. Watch this quick YouTube video to see where to find it. 

The When to visit? button will give a month-by-month breakdown of the weather, including temperature ranges and rainfall, crowds, and pricing peaks, to help you determine the best time to visit.

The What you’ll pay? button will show you what you can expect to pay across lodging classes. Then filter your results for hotels in your budget. 

Google also offers a s earch engine for rentals called—wait for it— Google Vacation Rentals . Discover listed rentals from Vio.com, BringFido.com, Evolve.com, BluePillow.com, and others. Find its button at the top of the Google Hotels main page.

Google Things to Do

Once you have your flights ticketed and your hotels booked, your next step is to figure out what you want to do at your destination once you arrive. Google can help with that. Visit its Things to Do page for any destination and get a shortcut to top sights, attractions, and activities. 

For example, see the short clip below showing a scroll down the Google Things to Do page for Paris . 

Scan the page for top sights or take a deeper dive—and search by interest —like Arts and Culture or Outdoors. Or search by neighborhood. 

Click the save ribbon on a place you want to go, and this will save the item to a generic Google Maps list  called Travel Plans. Or you can save it to a custom list you pre-created. 

Learn how to create your own custom Google Maps lists for travel planning in “ Why You Will Love Google Maps for Trip Planning .”

Google Chrome

As part of trip planning—you will review websites for hotels, activities, and service providers. When using Google Chrome as your search engine and while logged in, bookmark and save these sites to a destination-specific folder.  

Organize your folders by location , and you will have all your best resources ready for easy reference anytime you need it, especially as your saved bookmark folders will sync across devices. 

Learn how to create, view, and edit your Google Chrome bookmarks on this Google how-to page .

Google Docs

Google Docs is Google’s cloud-based word document editor that you can use to share and collaborate with others with real-time editing. 

If you have a Google account, you have access to Google Docs. And you also have access to available space on your own free cloud-based Google Drive to store your documents. 

If you do not have a Google account, create one here .

Use Google Docs to create itineraries or to save and store travel recommendations and likely lodging options. 

Docs are shareable, downloadable, and sync across devices. Learn more about Google Docs on this tutorial page from Google, or watch this YouTube video . 

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is another free, web-based tool you may already use for your day-to-day time scheduling and can also use to record trip bookings. 

In addition to syncing across devices, Google Calendar works with Gmail to auto-create new calendar events from booking and ticket confirmation emails, sending them to your mobile Inbox for you to accept, reject, or edit. Learn more about how this works in “ Tips to manage Calendar events in Gmail .”

You can even create a shareable trip-specific calendar on Google Calendar, which is helpful for group planning. See Google’s how-to instructions to “ Create & share a group calendar .”

Related Reading

If you are searching for more travel planning tools to help you save time and money and to stay organized, check out the related articles below.

• 49 Things You Need to Do to Plan Your Best Trip (Free Travel Research & Planning Checklist)
• Why You Will Love Google Maps for Trip Planning
• Travel Better: How to Best Use Google Flights Explore
• How to Save Time & Money with Google Flights Price Tracker
• 5 Proven Ways to Simplify and Organize Your Travel Research
• Rental Car Insurance: When You Need It & When You Don’t
• Pack Faster & Better with This Universal Printable Packing List
• 25 Expert Packing Tips to Help You Travel Better
• Pre-Trip: A Practical Checklist to Close the House & Pack

Additional Trip Planning Resources

To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below. 

Google Flights. Save money and time by searching this free flight search engine for affordable and direct flight options. Learn more about why to use it here . 

Google Hotels . Use its “Where to stay” button to discover which neighborhood to stay in and which hotel to book. Learn more in this video clip . 

Booking.com. You will love its more flexible cancellation and payment options, user reviews, discounts, and easy-to-use interface for hotels and rentals.

Viator , Get Your Guide , & Airbnb Experiences . Search any of these tour and experience booking platforms to find and pre-purchase highly rated guided activities.

Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps . Discover more travel things to do on Google Travel, then record the places you want to visit on your own Google Maps lists. 

AllTrails . Use AllTrails to find top hiking and biking trails. Get up-to-date route info, like trail difficulty ratings, what to expect, user reviews, and access points. Sign up for   AllTrails+ to download offline maps.

Guide Along . For U.S. road trips and National Parks. Download these 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible and work offline. Hear stories, fascinating facts, and tips for visiting. We loved the  Glacier National Park tour .

Insure My Trip. Stay protected using this online travel insurance agent and search engine to shop policies from different insurers. Buy from the ones with the highest user ratings. Learn why to buy it here . 

Want to know the 15 travel apps I have downloaded and updated for every trip? Check them out here .

About the author:  Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog,  Gather and Go Travel . Check out  her bio , learn how she became  a blogger , and discover how to  work with her . Sign up for her monthly  Discovery Newsletter  to get her latest travel recommendations and  how-to’s .

Love to travel? Sign up for m y monthly Gather & Go Travel Discovery Newsletter and get a free trip budget calculator .

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.

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How Google Could Eventually Be Your One-Stop Shop for Travel Planning

Google docs has streamlined our work life; now google travel is working to be the cure-all for our travel booking and planning needs..

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The latest Google Travel update allows you to create and manage itineraries from your desktop.

Courtesy of Google

There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to researching and booking travel, including choosing dates, reserving flights and hotels, and filling out the itinerary with things to see, do, and eat. And many of us already handle a lot of that using Google.

So it makes sense that the online behemoth has its sights set on becoming an all-encompassing travel planning and booking resource through Google Travel , the latest iteration of which launched this month . Google Travel marries all of Google’s existing travel properties—Google Flights, Google Hotels, Google Trips, and Google Maps—into a single destination that can now be used across mobile and desktop devices (it was previously only accessible on mobile).

The idea is to provide a single place to organize all the things related to your travel planning for any given trip into one comprehensive itinerary, complete with the ability to edit and adjust different elements of the trip across devices as you go. Start researching flights on your smartphone while in line to get coffee, then pick it up back on your desktop during your lunch break (we feel you, Google).

And if it seems like this isn’t a new endeavor for Google, that’s because Google Travel, and all its moving pieces, is very much an ongoing project that includes constant updates in features and usability. Earlier this year, Google Hotels added vacation rentals to its search option. Last year, Google Flights added a feature that allows users to get push notifications when there is a predicted flight delay.

A Google Travel test run

To get a sense of where Google Travel currently is and where it could and maybe should go, I put it to the test on an existing trip as well as on an upcoming one. For anyone with a Google account, you might be pleasantly surprised (or slightly freaked out) to find that Google already has any current or past travel reservations, confirmations for which were sent to your gmail account, already loaded up. It has some Potential Trips lined up “based on your recent activity” as well. We’ll leave the convenience versus privacy debate for another time.

When I entered Google Trips, it listed under Past Trips all my travel dating back to 2014 (there was a lot). Under Upcoming Trips was a reservation I have for an Airbnb at The Sea Ranch early in June labeled “Weekend in Sea Ranch” with a tab below to “continue planning” (don’t mind if I do).

Clicking that brought me to my Weekend in Sea Ranch page that listed options such as “travel research,” which claimed to be for saved searches and price tracking, but I could not easily figure this part out. There was also a “continue exploring” section, which is basically a collection of things people would typically search about a trip, such as best restaurants in the area and nearby events.

A travel guide links to a page that offers a list of local attractions (complete with Google user reviews), a map and directions (through Google Maps of course), a series of travel videos produced by various media sources (this felt kind of random), and then links to other nearby destinations.

I could definitely see how this would all be very useful if and when I decided to build upon my trip or in a panicked, last-minute state actually try to figure out what we’re going to do while there.

Then I moved on to a possible upcoming family trip for Thanksgiving. I searched for flights on Google Flights for all four of us, and clicking the option to track the flight search eventually made this trip and flight search pop up in Upcoming Trips. Note: This didn’t happen right away, forcing me to re-enter my flight details (for my complicated family of four, that includes one lap child and a seat-needing toddler) several times before it was saved.

Once I moved past the frustration of the delayed save, I found the flight search and tracker tool quite useful—in fact, I’ve set up a flight tracker for those November flights when airfares often soar to help me decide when we should book. And my flight search now appears under the Upcoming Trip that was created for that Thankgiving travel, a page where I can also search for and book hotel or vacation rental stays, and have access to all the same tools listed above for Upcoming Trips.

The (patchy) path to greatness

All told, Google Travel is definitely a work in progress. The desktop interface could be a bit, how should we say this—prettier? But it is simple and not overly complicated, which makes it relatively easy to use.

The mobile element is also a little confusing because there is an app for Google Trips, but that is set to expire in August 2019 . You can access Google Hotels or Google Flights on your phone via your internet browser by going to Google.com/hotels or Google.com/flights . But the best option is going to Google.com/travel on your phone’s browser, as at least all the search and booking options are listed right there, same as on the desktop version.

One area that appears to show the greatest potential in the Google Travel-verse is the ways in which all these tools could ultimately be accessible through Google Maps, a travel tool and map that, let’s face it, many of us could not live without.

Google is definitely taking a slow-and-steady approach to its potential takeover of the travel planning and booking world. With each announcement of a new Google Travel feature often comes a casual side note about elements that are still in the works. (The company’s latest Google Trips update noted that in the next few months, hotel and restaurant reservations will be accessible in Google Maps, too.) Nevertheless, said potential takeover is very likely coming, it’s just a matter of when.

>> Next: How to Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Airline Tickets

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In the coming months, the Location History setting name will change to Timeline. If Location History is turned on for your account, you may find Timeline in your app and account settings.

Google Maps Timeline

Manage your Timeline

Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps you remember routes and trips you've taken and places you've been based on your Location History. You can edit your Timeline at any time and delete your Location History in Timeline.

If you have settings like Web & App Activity turned on and you turn off Location History or delete location data from Location History, you may still have location data saved in your Google Account as part of your use of other Google Sites, apps, and services. This activity can include info about your location from your device’s general area and IP address. For example, location data may be saved as part of activity on Search and Google Maps when your Web & App Activity setting is on, and included in your photos, depending on your camera app settings.

Find your travels

You can find how far you've traveled and the way that you traveled, such as walking, biking, driving, or on public transport. Timeline measures distances in miles or kilometers is based on your country or region.

• On your computer, open Google Maps .
• Sign in with the same Google Account that you use on your mobile device.

• To find another date, at the top, choose a day, month, and year.

Find your home & work on Timeline

If you've saved your home and work addresses, they show up on Timeline. In addition to Timeline, this information may also be used in other Google products and services.

Learn how to set your home and work addresses .

Edit Timeline

If a place is wrong on Timeline, you can edit the location and when you were there. 

• On your computer, go to Timeline .

• Choose the correct place or search for a place in the search box.
• To edit when you were there, click the time.
• Click the day that you want to delete.

• Click Delete day .

To delete Location History:

• Click Delete Location History .

Automatically delete your Location History

You can automatically delete Location History that’s older than 3 months, 18 months, or 36 months.

• Follow the on-screen instructions.

Turn Location History on or off

When you turn on Location History, your precise device location is regularly saved — to your devices and Google’s servers, even when Google apps aren’t being used, and creates your Timeline.

Learn more about how to manage your Location History .

You’re in control

You can always review your data, and any choices you make here, at activity.google.com or your Timeline .

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Google wants to help plan your next trip with new tools in maps and search.

AI itineraries in Search and curated lists in Maps, just in time for summer travel season

• Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE) will allow you to plan trips with detailed itineraries and suggestions.
• The update is further bridging the gap between SGE and Google's dedicated Gemini chatbot.
• Meanwhile, Google Maps is introducing curated lists of must-visit places, simplifying travel planning for users in the US and Canada.

Generative AI has pervaded nearly every aspect of Google’s business , right from Workspace tools to other core pillars of the business like Search and standalone projects like the Gemini chatbot. Although a lot of details still need to be ironed out, Google seems intent on including its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in Search results by default. To ensure users get the most out of this change, this summer, the company is maintaining the steady cadence of improvements with new capabilities coming to SGE and a few handy tweaks to Google Maps.

What is Google Search Labs?

If you haven’t heard, SGE started life as a Google Search Labs experiment in May 2023, and has since become available to billions of users around the world as an opt-in enhancement for the conventional search results page. The AI-generated summary usually collates information from the top links and summarizes it in a digestible format that’s a few paragraphs long. Now, Google is blurring the lines between the capabilities of the Gemini chatbot and SGE, introducing full-fledged itinerary planning support for the latter.

In its announcement, the company says anyone with access to the Search Generative Experience in the US in English can now type in a search query like “plan me a 5-day trip to Los Angeles that’s all about music culture.” The results should include a day-wise list of the places to visit, suitable restaurants, and a brief overview of your options for hotels and flights.

Google says it will pull reviews and photos from Business Profiles of the area you plan to visit along with information from other websites. You can use the quick summary to compare destinations and plan your trip efficiently. If you’re traveling with someone else, SGE also has shortcuts to export the suggestions to Google Docs, Gmail, and Maps, enabling easier sharing or a way to keep the results for later reference.

Lists could make Google Maps more useful

Speaking of Maps, Google also announced a few features to simplify summertime travel in the app. Say, you’re planning that trip to LA, you can just look up the city in Maps and swipe up. The app should display a few lists of must-visit attractions and stores. Google has special restaurant lists including a Trending list updated every week, a Top list for the all-time favorite restaurants, and a Gems list for the unheard-of secret places which you might otherwise miss. Additionally, you will find lists from popular sources like Lonely Planet, The Infatuation, OpenTable, and The New York Times.

Presently, the company is rolling out this feature only for users in the US and Canada, with curated lists available for a little over 40 cities. If it takes off, we hope to see it expand to other regions as well, because integrating advice from Google’s Local Guides community and the abundance of online listicles for popular destinations should be a piece of cake for the company.

Google is also giving Maps users convenient list customization tools when you hit the New list option in the Saved tab. Options include sorting by date added, manual sorting to create a ranked list, and support for linking to content from social media. AI also plays a role here, with photos and reviews summarizing important information about a place you’re looking up.

Google will now let you use AI to build travel itineraries for your vacations

As we inch toward the summer holidays, Google is announcing a slate of travel updates that place it squarely in the travel planning process and give it a lot more insight into purchasing intent in the travel sector.

First up, Google is rolling out an update to its  Search Generative Experience (SGE) that will allow users to build travel itineraries and trip ideas using AI, the company announced on Wednesday.

The new capability — currently only available in English in the U.S. to users enrolled in Search Labs , its program that lets users experiment with early-stage Google Search experiences and share feedback — draws on ideas from sites across the web, along with reviews, photos and other details that people have submitted to Google for places around the world.

When users ask for something like “plan me a three day trip to Philadelphia that’s all about history,” they will get a sample itinerary that includes attractions and restaurants, as well as an overview of options for flights and hotels, divided up by times of day.

For now, the itineraries are just that: There are no options to buy services or experiences on the spot. When you’re happy with your itinerary, you can export it to Gmail, Docs or Maps.

Google has not commented on when or if it might roll this out more widely. But it points to how the company is experimenting with how and where it can apply its AI engine. A lot of players in the travel industry may be eyeing up the role that generative AI will play in travel services in the coming years — some excitedly, some warily. But even now, startups like Mindtrip and Layla , which provide users with access to AI assistants that are designed to help you plan your trips, are already actively pursuing this.

But with this new update, Google is taking on startups like these while also gathering data about travel purchasing intent (useful for its wider ad business) and learning what kind of appetite its users might have for such services.

Image Credits: Google

Google also announced that it’s making it easier to discover lists of recommendations in Google Maps in select cities in the U.S. and Canada. If you search for a city in Maps, you will now see lists of recommendations for places to go from publishers like The Infatuation, as well as from other users. You will also see curated lists of top, trending, and hidden gem restaurants in 40+ U.S. cities.

Finally, the company is adding new tools to help you customize lists you create, so you can better organize your travel plans or share your favorite spots with your friends and family. You can choose the order the places appear in a list so you can organize them by top favorites or chronologically like an itinerary. Plus, you can link to content from your social channels.

Google’s New Travel AI Tools Want to Plan Customer Trips

Justin Dawes , Skift

March 27th, 2024 at 12:04 PM EDT

Google is the among the tech giants investing in a reimagined, AI-powered future of travel planning and booking. How can the smaller companies compete?

Justin Dawes

Google said Wednesday that it is adding several new tools meant to help travelers plan trips and explore destinations. 

Most notably, they include the ability for Google Search to create itineraries based on prompts from users, as well as enhanced information in Maps about certain cities and places to visit.  

AI-Powered Trip Itineraries in Search

Google has added an experimental AI-based itinerary creation capability to its traditional Search tool for users that opt in. 

Users can prompt Search for an itinerary for a certain destination, and it responds with flight and hotel options, as well as suggestions for attractions and dining. Any links that Google provides bring the users to travel company websites, where they can complete the bookings. 

To create the itineraries, Google said the AI draws on information from across the web, as well as reviews and photos that users post about businesses. 

Users can then export the trip ideas to Gmail, Docs, or Maps, the company said. 

Google said in May 2023 that it would be experimenting with integrating generative AI into search and invited users to test the new tech. The trip itinerary capability is a new piece of that experiment. 

It’s available in English in the U.S. only. Users can try it by enrolling in Search Labs and enabling the Search Generative Experience.

Microsoft relaunched Bing in February 2023 with similar attributes powered by OpenAI and has made updates along the way, such as for personalized event suggestions . 

Several startups have emerged with similar products over the months, a handful having received small amounts of venture capital. Since ChatGPT was released in November 2022, experts have questioned whether entrepreneurs stand a chance against giants like Microsoft and Google, which have vast amounts of data and resources. 

Recommendations and Customizable Lists in Google Maps 

Google is adding a capability to its Maps app meant to provide users with more details about destinations for select cities in the U.S. and Canada. 

It includes recommendations from locals and publishers, like The Infatuation, as well as lists of “trending, top, and hidden gem” restaurants created by info from Google Maps. 

When looking at a specific restaurant or place on Maps, a new AI-based feature is meant to show users key photos and reviews that summarize people’s favorite aspects. The AI can also help identify what a dish is called, Google said, which could be helpful for travelers in a new country. 

Another new Maps feature: Users will be able organize lists they create within the app. The list creation tool has existed for a while, but the new capability allows users to organize based on their top favorites or something else. The lists can also link to content from social media channels, meant to add context for anyone viewing a saved list. The list update is being released globally this month for Android and Apple devices.

As Google continues to enhance its trip planning capabilities, it becomes a bigger threat to companies like Tripadvisor, which offers itinerary-creation tools. Tripadvisor’s hotel metasearch business has already taken a hit since Google Hotels entered the market. 

Translation 

Google is “soon” adding a new capability, accessible through select Android mobile devices, that’s meant to translate content on the screen without switching apps. It could be especially useful to travelers trying to find their way around a country where they don’t speak the language. Google used the examples of translating a PDF restaurant menu or a social media post. 

It’s part of the Circle to Search tool that was released in January, which allows Android users to initiate a Google search by circling text or an image on the screen.

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Photo credit: Google is releasing updates to Search and Maps for travelers. Pixabay

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How to travel around the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore: A look at the traffic impact and alternate routes

By Rohan Mattu

Updated on: March 29, 2024 / 5:01 AM EDT / CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday  led to a major traffic impact for the region and cut off a major artery into and out of the port city. 

A bridge column was hit by a large container ship around 1:30 a.m., sending bridge workers and vehicles into the Patapsco River. A water search for six missing workers turned to a recovery effort Tuesday night.

Drivers are told to prepare for extra commuting time until further notice.

Alternate routes after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

Maryland transit authorities quickly put detours in place for those traveling through Dundalk or the Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point side of the bridge. The estimated 31,000 who travel the bridge every day will need to find a new route for the foreseeable future. 

The outer loop I-695 closure shifted to exit 1/Quarantine Road (past the Curtis Creek Drawbridge) to allow for enhanced local traffic access. 

The inner loop of I-695 remains closed at MD 157 (Peninsula Expressway). Additionally, the ramp from MD 157 to the inner loop of I-695 will be closed. 

Alternate routes are I-95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) or I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) for north/south routes. 

Commercial vehicles carrying materials that are prohibited in the tunnel crossings, including recreation vehicles carrying propane, should plan on using I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) between Essex and Glen Burnie. This will add significant driving time.   

Where is the Francis Scott Key Bridge? 

The Key Bridge crosses the Patapsco River, a key waterway that along with the Port of Baltimore serves as a hub for East Coast shipping. 

The bridge is the outermost of three toll crossings of Baltimore's Harbor and the final link in Interstate 695, known in the region as the Baltimore Beltway, which links Baltimore and Washington, D.C. 

The bridge was built after the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel reached capacity and experienced heavy congestion almost daily, according to the MDTA. 

Tractor-trailer inspections

Tractor-trailers that now have clearance to use the tunnels will need to be checked for hazardous materials, which are not permitted in tunnels, and that could further hold up traffic. 

The MDTA says vehicles carrying bottled propane gas over 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895).  

Any vehicles transporting hazardous materials should use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels, officials said. 

Rohan Mattu is a digital producer at CBS News Baltimore. Rohan graduated from Towson University in 2020 with a degree in journalism and previously wrote for WDVM-TV in Hagerstown. He maintains WJZ's website and social media, which includes breaking news in everything from politics to sports.

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Google announces 4 new travel tools to plan summer trips.

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Several Google platforms are offering helpful updates that can make it easier to compare travel options and plan for upcoming trips. Specifically, Search, Maps, and Shopping have improved travel tools. Here’s more about what has changed in each platform.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: The exterior of the new headquarters of Google is seen at 550 ... [+] Washington Street in Hudson Square on January 09, 2024 in New York City. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the 1.3-million-square-foot project involved the restoration and expansion of the St. John’s Terminal building along the Hudson River waterfront. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Generative AI In Search

Google Search began incorporating generative AI to provide personalized travel tips during the summer of 2023. Since then, its research capabilities have improved. Capabilities include travel reviews, photos, and suggestions from over 200 million destinations.

This search experience suggests follow-up questions and allows users to type in questions to receive answers within seconds. It includes answer snippets and suggested links to learn more from topic experts.

It’s possible to start receiving these extra details by enrolling in Search Labs and enabling Search Generative Experience (SGE). After enabling this feature, look for the “generate” button on the search engine.

Recommendation Lists In Maps

Customizable lists of recommendations are rolling out in select cities when looking up locations in Google Maps . The curated collections can make it easier for first-time and repeat visitors to find the best restaurants, popular activities, and other current events.

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The recommendation lists have three different listing modes:

• Trending List: Updates weekly with places that see a notable uptick in popularity on Maps.
• Top List: Places that Maps users consistently love and provide positive ratings for.
• Gems List: Overlooked locations and secret spots with high ratings that are less visible than popular restaurants, stores, and attractions.

It’s also possible to create and share customizable lists. Further, the Google AI tools summarize photos and reviews that other visitors have left to expedite the research process.

Translate On-Screen Text

Since January 2024, select Android devices have the Circle to Search feature. It allows users to select text currently on the screen after long-pressing the navigation bar or home button. This tool doesn’t require switching apps and has circling, highlighting, scribbling, and tapping capabilities to learn more about that particular snippet.

Soon, this feature can translate text, including restaurant menu PDFs and social media posts.

This blog post lists capable devices and the rollout dates for other Android handhelds.

Personalized Travel Wardrobes

Most households may not realize that Google Shopping contains over 45 billion product listings, including travel gear. The Shopping Graph now provides personalized style recommendations after selecting the “style recommendations” label.

Other filters include customer reviews, merchants with discounted pricing, color, brand, and certain design features. It’s now easier to check off items on the packing list for trips during any season and to any destination.

The suggestions for travel-friendly clothing, luggage, and accessories become more precise as you rate options with a thumbs up or thumbs down. If it’s not an opportune time to buy, the shopping platform saves your preferences so you can find the most relevant matches in future searches.

Final Thoughts

These new features can help you easily build personalized itineraries using Google’s multiple travel and shopping tools. The new perks are in addition to recent travel bookings, including price protection coverage on qualifying flights and AI-powered trip planning functions.

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Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru, David Shepardson in Washington Nina Chestney in London. Editing by Nick Macfie, Heather Timmons and Lisa Shumaker

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