SALTZMAN: 10 free Google Maps tips and tricks to try during summer travels

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Now that we’re well into summer, millions of Canadians are traveling throughout the country, into the U.S., and across the globe.

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Whether it’s by car, RV, boat, train or plane, your smartphone will be an invaluable travel companion that can serve as your lifeline to those back at home, as well as your language translator, luggage tracker, travel journal, and currency converter. It’s your camera and camcorder, music mixer, and it holds your boarding passes, cruise ship itinerary, and payment cards.

And don’t forget about one of the best use cases for your phone: Navigation.

Whether you’re leveraging your phone to reach your destination on a road trip or as a handy guide when you reach it, Google Maps remains the de facto app for any traveler.

While you may think you know Google Maps well, the following are 10 lesser-known features you should take advantage of for a smoother travel experience – whether you’re on iPhone or Android.

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DOWNLOAD MAPS TO USE OFFLINE

Why use up precious cellular data when you don’t need to? Before you leave home, you can download maps to your device, to navigate offline.

To do so, open the Google Maps app and tap your profile picture (or initials) and then choose Offline maps. Tap “Select your own map” and adjust the map according to the area you want to download. That’s it.

REMEMBER WHERE YOU PARKED

Leaving Disneyworld and forgot where you parked? You’re not alone.

Next time, when you park your vehicle, open Google Maps and tap the blue dot on the map that represents your exact location. Now tap “Save your parking.” Later on, you can navigate back to your car as you walk around the countless rows of parked vehicles to find yours.

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USE LOCATION SHARING

Sharing your location with someone – like family members you’re meeting up with or friends back home – helps them know when to expect you to arrive somewhere or simply to share your whereabouts as a safety precaution.

Open Google Maps, tap on your profile and select “Location sharing” to choose people who should have access to your location, in real-time.

GET RECOMMENDATIONS

A new feature available in select U.S. and Canadian cities (to start), Google has curated helpful lists from top sites and the Google Maps community to recommend places to visit.

Type in the city you’re visiting (like NYC) and swipe up to see recommendations from people who know the city well. Included here is the “Trending List,” updated weekly, for places that have recently seen a spike in popularity on Maps.

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TRY “IMMERSIVE VIEW”:

Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), “Immersive View” for routes is a new way to preview every step of your journey – whether you’re driving, walking or cycling (in select cities) – and you’ll be able to see your route in a stunning, multidimensional view from start to finish. This includes real photos, aerial images, simulated traffic and weather conditions. Try it!

USE AUGMENTED REALITY

Perfect for on-foot exploration in a new city, the Google Maps app lets you navigate with “augmented reality” (AR), which is when you can see the real world around you through your phone’s camera lens, but helpful digital information is layered on top.

Live View in Maps can be used indoors (such as an airport) and outside, which lets you easily find your destination or see things that may be around you (like an ATM or nearby park).

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FIND A BIKE OR SCOOTER RENTAL

Feeling adventurous? Zoomers can zoom through a new city by bike or scooter – and Google Maps can help here, too.

Simply select your destination, tap on directions, and scroll to the cycling option. You’ll see nearby bikes and scooters, battery levels for electric options, and even if there’s a docking station for when you’re done.

LOCATE EV CHARGING STATIONS

Since electric vehicle ownership is on the rise, Google Maps can now help you find EV chargers and plan charging stops for road trips. Often there will be helpful tips along with the location, too, such as “enter around the back of this charging complex, as it will be easier to find a spot, then look to the left when you enter.”

These details are possible because of the millions of reviews posted every day in Google Maps, says the company.

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FIND MORE SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO TRAVEL

On a related note, Google Maps now lets you see more eco-friendly travel options, such as public transit, cycling or walking suggestions next to driving routes – if travel times are comparable, of course.

This is available in a few dozen popular cities, to start. Similarly, Google Maps will also show you a “fuel efficient” route, represented by a leaf icon, and tapping this will show how much fuel you’ll save (or energy, for EV drivers) by taking the eco-friendly path, and the time difference, if any, between that route and the fastest one.

FIND THE BEST TIME TO VISIT A PLACE

Finally, Google Maps offers a handy “Popular Times” feature, to give you a heads-up about what to expect at a destination.

Once you’ve searched for a place, such as a trendy cafe in Beverly Hills, scroll down to find a chart showing popular times, which shows you how busy the place typically is during different times of day.

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