Traveling For The Holidays? 7 Google Maps Tips You'll Want To Use

Vacations are stressful enough without the chaos and cancellation of vacations. With winter storms hitting parts of the country before Christmas, getting home safely for the holidays can save you time, money and, most importantly, stress. Whether you're planning to catch a flight or you're only a few hours away, you can use Google Maps to get around to reduce travel stress.

There are a number of ways to make using Google Maps easier, whether it's to get around the airport quickly or to use offline maps. Check out some of the app's best features for travelers below.

For more travel tips , check out must-have gear for traveling abroad , how to travel without taking a day off , and when is the best time to buy plane tickets .

1. Go through airports and train stations

When you need to quickly find a store in a large shopping center or transit hub, Google Maps expands the search bar to all airports, malls, and transit stations. This can come in handy if you're wandering around the airport looking for a place to eat or buying a last minute souvenir before your flight.

The tabs show the opening hours of your destination and which floor it is on. You can search for restaurants, shops, salons and parking lots.

2. See how busy the attraction is

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To find out how busy a place is, check out Google Maps' crowdfunding tool . You can search for places in advance, e.g. b. To display a graph showing the availability of a trade in real time. Now, with a feature called Busy Zone, you can see an entire area of ​​the map crowded with people.

To use the new feature, open the Google Maps app on Android or iPhone (or in your computer's browser) and quickly swipe across the map to find general locations. b. Downtown, river walk or nearby scenic town. Activity information is now automatically displayed on the map, so you don't need to search for a location to find out how busy it is. Google Maps might say "busy area" and if you click for more details it might say "busy as possible".

3. Enter your route in Google Maps

Google Maps tracks your vacation travel, but it also quickly shows your flight, hotel, car rental, and restaurant reservations and saves you the trouble of searching for check-in times and confirmation numbers by email.

To view your next booking:

111 1 . In Google Maps, tap on the menu bar below.

2018-05-21 121 2 . Tap on Reservations . Here's a list of upcoming reservations that Google Maps pulls from Gmail emails.

3 . Select an item to learn more about the reservation, including date and location.

4 . You can also search for "My Reservations" in the Google Maps search box to see a list of reservations.

4. Restaurant reservation

Planning a large group holiday dinner can be a pain, especially when you don't have a busy schedule. Google Maps can help you order lunch or dinner. Here's how.

111 1 . Tap the Restaurants button at the top of the map to display a list of restaurants on the map.

2018-05-21 121 2 . Pick a good restaurant and reserve a table at the pop-up window, or join the waiting list if you have that option (not all).

Remember that you can use the aforementioned motion features to select a more crowded area. Also note that some restaurants that are closed for dine-in may still allow delivery, curbside pickup, or outdoor seating.

5. Use Google Maps offline

Traveling to a remote location where you may not have cell service? Google Maps can still provide directions when you're offline.

111 1 . Search maps to find where you want to go before you leave.

2018-05-21 121 2 . In the location window, access the menu below.

3 . Move the tabs to the right and tap Download and download again in the next window . Maps Downloads a map of the selected location to your phone.

Now, when you use Google Maps to get directions to an area where you've downloaded maps, Maps will switch to offline maps to guide you when you lose cellular connection. Note that offline maps cannot provide real-time traffic information.

6. Find electric vehicle charging stations everywhere

Whether you drive your EV shopping, dining, or outing, Google Maps can help you find EV charging stations along your route, as well as estimated wait times for charging ports. You can also filter your search by connector type - such as J1772, CCS (Combo 1 or 2). And Tesla - to show only sites that are compatible with your electric vehicle. Note that you can search for gas stations by following the same instructions. ( Here's how to save money at the gas station. )

111 1 . In Maps, scroll down the tabs at the top of the screen and click More .

2018-05-21 121 2 . Scroll down to the Services section and select Electric Vehicle Charging .

3 . The map shows the nearest charging stations and how many are available.

4 . Maps Tap a charging station on the map to add it as a stop on your journey.

You can also use this method to search for other places on your route, e.g. For coffee.

7. Share your location with others.

Is there anything more frustrating in a group activity than when the group breaks up and no one gets together? Google Maps can help you work together.

111 1 . On Google Maps, tap your profile icon at the top right and tap Share Location .

2018-05-13 121 2 . Tap Share location and choose who you want to share your location with and for how long.

3 . Tap " Share " and Google Maps will send your location to the person you selected.

4 . To see someone's location, tap the person's icon at the top of the window, then tap Ask .

In addition, there is a new deadline for applying for the original KTP for air travel . Here's what you need to know.

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