Google Maps is an indispensable assistant on any trip. However, many people use it only for route planning and do not take into account a lot of useful features.
RBK-Ukraine (Styler project) tells about 7 practical features of Google Maps that will make your trips more comfortable and safer, with a link to the technology website MakeUseOf.
Check the weather anywhere in the world
You can use Google Maps to check the local weather. This function is already available in the iOS application and the web version of the service. According to Android Police, Google is also implementing (or testing) this feature in the Android app.
If you use iOS , open the Google Maps app and zoom out to focus on a specific city or region. A small tile will appear below the search bar at the top of the screen with the current temperature and an icon showing the weather conditions.
When moving around the map in the Google Maps application, the tile is automatically updated and shows the weather in the selected area. If this tile is not visible, click anywhere on the map and then deselect – this should return to the default weather view.
In the web version Google Maps requires you to click on a place of interest to see weather information. In this case, weather information will be displayed in the information block next to the name of the selected location.
You can also click on the weather icon to get a more detailed weather forecast for the location you are interested in.
Find out the best time to visit places
Once you've chosen a place to visit, you'll probably want to explore its attractions and entertainment. Google Maps will help you navigate busy areas and show you the busiest times to visit attractions, restaurants, and more.
When you zoom in on a city map, the busiest areas are highlighted in yellow. If you prefer to avoid crowded places, this information will help you choose the right accommodation. You can also go to these areas early in the morning to avoid crowds.
If you click on a landmark, cafe, or other place of interest, Google Maps will show peak visiting hours. With enough traffic, you'll see data on how busy the place is on different days of the week.
There's also real-time information available that shows whether more or fewer people than usual are in the place right now.
Pedestrian navigation with Live View
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With Live View in Google Maps, you can use Street View overlays for walking navigation. Your device must support ARKit (iOS) or ARCore (Android) augmented reality tools for this feature to work. You also need to be in an area with good Street View coverage.
To use Live View, follow these steps while outdoors:
- Open Google Maps and select your destination
- Scroll down the location information page to see the Live View
- Click on the Live icon View
- Point the phone camera at buildings and signs to determine your location
- Follow the red arrows , to reach the destination
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It is important to note that Live View is intended for pedestrian navigation only and is not suitable for use in moving vehicles.
In addition, this feature can be used to orient yourself in the terrain and check whether you are going in the right direction. This can help save battery life and mobile data if you have a long walk ahead of you.
Choose the most economical route before you travel
If you are planning to rent a car for your trip, choosing the most economical route will help reduce fuel costs and reduce your environmental impact. Google Maps will automatically suggest the most economical route if you have the “Prefer economical routes” option enabled in your settings.
How to enable this feature:
- Open Google Maps
- Click on your account icon in the upper right corner of the search bar
- Select “Settings”
- Scroll down and click “Navigation Settings”
- Scroll to the “Route Settings” section
- Turn on the “Prefer economical routes” option
Now, to find the most economical route for your car trip, use the “Routes” feature in Google Maps:
- Enter your destination in the search bar
- Click “Routes”
- Specify your starting point (or select “Your location”)
- Make sure the “Car” icon is selected below the search bars
Google Maps will automatically choose the most economical route for you, unless there are significant delays due to accidents or roadworks.
The economical route will be marked with a leaf icon, and additional information, such as the presence of toll roads, will also be displayed in the route parameters.
Save the route for future trips
You can save routes in Google Maps in advance to plan your trip and not waste time searching for the right path again. To do this, just click the “Pin” button on the selected route tab. After that, the button will change the inscription to “Pinned”, which will mean that the route has been saved.
You can save routes for any type of transport: walking routes, public transport, etc. This will allow you to plan your visits to attractions, interesting restaurants and other places in advance, and then quickly access your saved destinations.
How to open a saved route:
- Start the Google Maps application
- Click “On the road ” in the bottom menu of the screen
- Select the desired fixed route from list
When choosing a route, you you will receive up-to-date information about the estimated time of arrival and possible delays on the way.
Download travel maps abroad
Google Maps is a great travel assistant, but it becomes useless if you lose access to the internet. Fortunately, you can save maps in advance for offline use and continue navigating without an internet connection.
To download a map for offline use, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Maps app
- Find the location you want (e.g. Kyiv)
- Swipe up on the location tab to open it full screen
- Click on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner
- Select “Download offline map”
You can use offline maps to get driving directions if the entire route is included in the downloaded map. However, keep in mind that features like real-time traffic information, alternative routes, and the most economical routes will not be available offline.
Share your location to make solo travel safer
If you're traveling alone, it's important to share your location with someone you trust. Whether you're traveling abroad or hiking in the mountains, sharing your location can help rescuers get to the rescue faster in the event of an emergency.
To share your current location on Google Maps, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Maps application
- Click on your account icon in the upper right corner of the screen
- Select “Location Transfer”
- Click “Share Location”
- Set the data transfer period or select “Until manual shutdown”
- Select the contacts you want to share your location with
- Click “Send”
Traveling alone is a unique experience, and overcoming challenges like the language barrier can be part of the adventure. Most likely, nothing bad will happen, but in the rare case of an emergency, sharing your location could save your life.