Some of you might find it hard to believe, but there are people out there who feel anxious about going on holiday. It’s not only the total disconnecting from the things they do every day but also the road trip (which is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable) that drivers must deal with before they arrive at their holiday destination.
Google Maps is the best example of how an application can help deal with travel stress. The five features I’ll present today should help make the upcoming journey more enjoyable, but feel free to contribute with your suggestions in the comment box at the end of the article.
Plan your route on a PC.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
If you’re about to go on a road trip with your family and you intend to make more than one stop, the best way to plan your route is to use a computer.
The increased screen estate allows you to explore every region thoroughly, check out the road network, and decide how to navigate to the destination.
Google Maps is available on the web, and you can connect to the service using any browser. If you use Windows, you can stick with the default Microsoft Edge browser, while on Mac, you can use Safari. Google Chrome is often the most popular alternative to the default browsers, so you can use any app you want to load Google Maps.
When you’re done with the planning phase, you can submit the route to a mobile device using the “Send to phone” feature on Google Maps’ web-based interface. If you’re logged in with the same Google account on the web and on your mobile phone, the route should become available in Google Maps the next time you launch the app.
Preview your route before starting navigation.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
One of the most common mistakes when using Google Maps for navigation is starting navigation right after launching the app. Most people don’t even check the suggested route, as they want to arrive at the destination faster.
While this could make sense (albeit only at some level) in a city where you’re already familiar with most streets, it’s not recommended for long trips.
Google Maps allows you to preview your route and get familiar with every turn before starting navigation. More recently, Google has also introduced a more advanced route previewing option called “Immersive View for routes,” which allows you to explore the suggested route in a multi-dimensional view that closely simulates the real world.
Immersive view for routes is only available in limited regions, but the standard route previewing option can already be used by anyone worldwide.
Download offline maps.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
People leaving on road trips are prone to encountering one major problem when relying on navigation software for their journeys.
They could experience cellular signal loss or data connection problems, leaving them without turn-by-turn guidance when they need it most. You can imagine how frustrating it can be to lose navigation in an unfamiliar region, but Google Maps can alleviate this problem with support for offline maps.
The application allows users to download offline maps before they start navigation. You should do this at home using your Wi-Fi connection.
You can find options to download offline maps by tapping your profile picture in the top right corner and hitting the “Offline maps” menu section. Make sure you select all areas where you plan to travel to avoid losing navigation when you drive to the destination.
Sharing is more than caring.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
If you leave on a journey with other couples or families, you can create lists, add places of interest, and share everything with the rest of the group. They can react with emojis and post comments, so you can collaborate with everybody else directly in Google Maps to create a list of places you’ll all visit.
Google Maps also includes location-sharing support. If you’ve picked a meeting point for the group and want to be there on time, you can share your location with the others so they’ll always know where you are as you drive to the location.
Always update Google Maps before leaving on a journey.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Like any other piece of software, Google Maps can hit bugs, and nobody wants certain features to malfunction, especially when they’re not home.
The only way to make sure you get the latest fixes and improvements is to keep Google Maps up-to-date. This is not a guarantee that everything will work flawlessly, as updates sometimes introduce new glitches, but the latest build is generally considered the most stable version.
You can also update Google Maps when you’re on the road using a data connection if you encounter certain bugs, but this could come with extra costs if your plan comes with extra roaming charges.