There is still time to take a summer holidays before fall sets in. Let Google Maps be your co-pilot the next time you go on a road trip. Whether you're having trouble finding your hotel or you need to make a quick dinner reservation, the navigation app is ready to help you, even when you don't have internet.
Google Maps can help make your trip easier in several ways. Check out some of the app's best features for travelers below.
For more travel tipsHere is the best time to buy plane tickets. Here are also the best travel credit cards and the best airline credit cards.
1. Navigate airports and train stations with ease
Navigate airports with Maps.
If you need to quickly find a store in a large shopping mall or transit center, Google Maps has a Phone book Tab for all airports, shopping malls and transit stations. This can help you when you are running around the airport looking for a place to eat or buying a last minute souvenir before your flight.
The tab will show you a destination's opening hours and what floor it's on. You can browse restaurants, shops, lounges, and parking.
Check this out: First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Technology (in Virtual Reality!)
2. Find out how busy an attraction is before you go.
To see how busy a place is, check Google Maps Busyness Tool. You could already search for a location, like a business, to see a graph showing how busy it is in real time. A feature called Area Busyness lets you see when entire areas of the map are crowded with people.
To use this feature, open the Google Maps app on your Android or iPhone (or your computer's browser) and navigate the map to find a general area, such as the city center, a river walk, or a nearby scenic town. Crowd information will now automatically appear on the map, so you won't have to search specifically for a place to see how busy it is. Google Maps might say something like “Very busy area,” and when you click for more details, it might say something like: “As busy as possible” or “Not too busy.”
You can also search for the location you are looking for and scroll down to see peak vs. off-peak times.
3. View all your bookings on Google Maps
Google Maps can plan your trips, but it can also quickly show you your flight, hotel, car rental, and restaurant reservations, saving you the hassle of searching through your email for check-in times and confirmation numbers.
To see your upcoming reservations, simply search for “my reservations” in the Google Maps search box to see a list of what you’ve booked. Maps pulls this information from your emails in Gmail. You can also select an item to learn more about the reservation, including the date and location.
4. Make a restaurant reservation without calling
Planning a group dinner can be tricky, especially when you're going at a busy time. Google Maps can help you book a table for lunch or dinner. Here's how to do it.
1In Maps, tap the icon Restaurants button at the top of the map to see a list of places to eat.
2Select a restaurant that suits you and, in the window that opens, book a table or join a waiting list, if this option is offered to you (not all of them).
Remember that you can use the crowds feature mentioned above to choose the least crowded location. Also note that some restaurants closed to dine-in may still allow delivery, curbside pickup, or outdoor seating.
5. Use Google Maps when you don't have a cell signal
Heading to a remote location where you don't have a mobile network connection? Google Maps can still provide directions even when you're offline.
1Before you go, look in Plans for where you want directions.
2. In the location window, bring up the menu basically.
3Scroll the tabs to the right and tap Download offline mapthen in the next window press Download Again. Maps will download a map to your phone for the area you selected.
Now, when you use Google Maps to get directions in the area you downloaded a map for, when you lose your cellular connection, Maps will switch to the offline map to guide you. Note that since you are offline, Maps will not be able to provide you with real-time traffic information.
6. Find nearby electric vehicle charging stations
If you're using your electric vehicle to go shopping, dine out, or go on vacation, Google Maps can help you find Charging stations for electric vehicles on your route, as well as estimated wait times for a charging station. You can also filter your search by connector type (e.g. J1772, CCS (Combo 1 or 2), and Tesla) to see only stations that are compatible with your electric vehicle. Note that you can also search for gas stations by following these same instructions.Here's How You Can Save Money at the Pump.)
1In Maps, scroll through the tabs at the top of the screen and tap More.
2Scroll down to the Services section and select Electric vehicle charging.
3The maps will display nearby charging stations and their number available.
4Press one charging station on the map so that Maps adds it as a stopover on your trip.
You can also use this trick to find other places along your route, like a coffee shop.
7. Share your location with friends and family
Is there anything more frustrating during a group activity than seeing the group disperse and no one being able to find each other? Google Maps can help you get back together.
1In Google Maps, tap your profile icon in the upper right corner and tap Location sharing.
2. Faucet Shared location, and select who you want to share your location with and for how long you want to share it.
3. Faucet Shareand Google Maps will send your location to everyone you selected.
4If you want to see someone else's location, tap that person's icon at the top of the window, then tap Request.
8. Create, share and view organized lists
How can you make sure you don't miss any places during your vacation? By creating a list in Google Maps, you can save your upcoming destinations and have them all at your fingertips at a glance.
Just go to the Checked in tab and press the + New list button. You can give the list a name and description. Then, when you see a place on the map that you want to check out later, you can add it to your new list by swiping the tabs to the right and pressing the button To safeguard button. You can share this list with your travel companions and even invite them to collaborate.
To learn more, check out these Airports that no longer require TSA PreCheck passengers to show ID and the new self-service screening booths soon available at select airports.
