Using Google Maps When Traveling
One of my favorite travel tips when preparing for a trip is to use Google Maps to your advantage. We probably all watch tik toks/reels, read travel blogs, or have friend recommendations of things to see, do, and eat while we are on our trip. I like to save these locations on Google Maps and access them later. This is a great way to compare your hotel’s location to the stops you want to discover that day. You can even download the map to use offline if you don’t have a wifi or cell phone signal.
To use Google Maps to save locations while traveling, you can follow these steps:
Install the Google Maps app: If you haven't already, download and install the Google Maps app on your mobile device. It's available for both iOS and Android.
Launch Google Maps: Open the Google Maps app on your device.
Search for the desired location: Use the search bar at the top of the screen to look for the location you want to save. You can enter the name of the place, address, or even specific keywords like "restaurants near me" or "hotels in [city name]."
View the location details: Once you've found the desired location, tap on it to open its details page. Here, you can see additional information such as reviews, photos, and more.
Save the location: On the location details page, you'll find a bookmark icon or the option to "Save" the place. Tap on it, and it will be saved to your Google Maps account.
Choose a list or create a new one: Google Maps allows you to create custom lists to organize your saved locations. You can create lists like "Favorites," "Must-visit places," or "Restaurants to try." When saving a location, you can choose an existing list or create a new one.
Access your saved locations: To access your saved locations, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner of the Google Maps app. Then, select "Your places" from the menu. Here, you'll find your saved locations organized by lists.
Get directions to saved locations: When you're ready to navigate to a saved location, tap on the desired place within your saved lists. Then, tap on the "Directions" button to get turn-by-turn navigation instructions to reach that location.
Download the map offline: This allows me to access the map without cell service or wifi. This is extremally helpful when trying to navigate a new area or if you want to see what saved locations you have near you while exploring. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner, “Offline Maps”, “Select your Own Map”, and zoom in the area you want to save offline.
By using these steps, you can easily save locations of interest while traveling and access them later for reference or navigation.
