TechNew Google Maps features enhance travel planning and exploration

New Google Maps features enhance travel planning and exploration

ANKARA, TURKIYE - NOVEMBER 14: A view of the Google Maps application displayed on a smartphone in Ankara, Turkiye on November 14, 2023. (Photo by Mehmet Futsi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
ANKARA, TURKIYE - NOVEMBER 14: A view of the Google Maps application displayed on a smartphone in Ankara, Turkiye on November 14, 2023. (Photo by Mehmet Futsi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Images source: © GETTY | Anadolu Agency

1:19 PM EDT, July 6, 2024

When travel time approaches, one of the first applications many reach for is Google Maps. We often associate it mainly with GPS navigation, unaware of other equally valuable features that simplify travel planning and exploring new places. Here are the most important ones.

Google Maps is a constantly evolving program. Some users, accustomed only to navigating from point A to point B, may not realize the availability of additional features that can significantly enhance travel comfort and be useful in many situations.

Immersive view at the planning stage

One of Google Maps' features is the immersive view, which includes popular landmarks around the world. It combines the benefits of satellite imagery and Street View images, utilizing artificial intelligence. This is an excellent tool for discovering new places, particularly useful when planning a trip.

The immersive mode in Google Maps allows you to view places from a bird' s-eye perspective and experiment with changing times of day and weather conditions, which helps simulate the conditions you may encounter when visiting new cities.

Find friends - send a pin

If you're having trouble finding your friends in the field, Google Maps allows you to send a pin, which helps locate yourself on the map. The recipient can map a route to the meeting place, making reaching the destination in their preferred way easier.

Measuring distance

Google Maps offers quick route planning from point A to point B using various means of transport, but an interesting feature is the ability to measure the distance in a straight line between two points.

This easy-to-use tool is useful, for example, for estimating the area of a plot or determining distances in the field.

Street view - check the route

One of Google Maps's most well-known features is Street View, which allows users to browse photos of selected locations taken by Google cars or people with backpack cameras. This feature is handy for drivers who want to see the route to their destination before they set off on their journey.

Download the map to your phone

Google Maps also allows you to save a selected section of the map for offline use on your phone, which is invaluable in areas with poor internet coverage or when you want to reduce mobile data usage. After previously browsing location information, select the area of the map to save.

New features in Google Maps and beyond

It's important to remember that new features are constantly being added to Google Maps. Be sure to keep your phone and the app updated regularly to avoid missing any of them. Before going on vacation, planning your trip with safety in mind is also essential. Other maps, including the latest one provided by the police showing fatal accidents, can also be helpful here. These places require particular caution when driving to your vacation destination.