Google Maps by Google is a web mapping service which provides satellite imagery, 360-degree panoramic view of streets, street maps, real-time traffic conditions, and more. It was October 2004, Google acquired Where 2 Technologies and Google Maps was transformed from a C++ desktop program into a web app. After adding properties of a real-time traffic analyzer & acquisitions of geospatial data visualization company, Google Maps finally got launched in 2005.
Since then, Google Maps has become a travel companion for most of us.
Google Maps’ service front end uses XML, JavaScript and Ajax. It allows an application interface which enables Maps to be inserted on 3rd party websites. It offers a locator for stores and other companies in multiple countries across the world.
Google Maps is not only to navigate to local places but can also work as a vacation planner, and this is not it!
In this post, we have listed some of the tricks and tips to get the most of Google Maps on Android as well as iOS.
1. Download Offline Maps Using Google Maps
You don’t get network connectivity everywhere you travel. Therefore, it is great to have an offline map of the area. You can download an area’s offline map using Google Maps. In this way, you can look up to hotels, popular places in the area, even when your internet connection is not working.
To get an area’s offline map, follow these steps:
- Launch Google Maps and search for the place you want to go.
- Now click on the name of the place located at the bottom of the screen.
- Click on three horizontal dots, More icon.
- Click on Download offline map.
- On the next screen, it will select the area and click on Download.
2. Lists
You can bookmark your favorite site or the destination that you visit too often. You can create
Bookmark and put them into a list. The Google Maps app provides two methods to create:
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- Click on three horizontal lines to get the menu.
- Tap on Your Places
- Now from Your Places screen, choose Saved.
- Click on three horizontal lines to get the menu.
- You will get a list of Starred Places, click on More.
- Tap on Edit Places.
- You will get another screen, tap on “+” icon to add a place.
Note: You can also search for a place, click on the information card and tap on Save to get the location saved.
3. Shortlists
Google Maps comes with Shortlists which enables to add places along with voting on subsisting ones. The interface of Shortlists resembles as a floating icon. You can see the icon whenever you share a place with anyone.
- Search for a place and long press the name of the place on the information bar.
- Click on the option Add to Shortlists.
- Once added, you will be able to see the floating icon.
- You can now share the place with friends to invite them to vote.
- Upon sharing the people in the group can see the location in their Google Maps or browser and vote with thumbs up or down.
4. Explore
With Explore page on Google Maps, it is easy to decide which place to visit or eat while in an unknown city. Explore page uses information related to the past history on your account and expert recommendations to give you suggestions. You can get Explore page by swiping up on options available on the bottom of Google Maps screen. It shows categories such as Bars, Restaurants so that you can easily choose a place which you are looking for.
5. Timeline
Google Maps comes with a feature called Your Timeline which keeps a tab on places you visit in a neat manner. In Timeline, you can make changes to the specific entries from your Location History, delete not only information from ranges in time but also all of your Location History data.
The additional information which can be viewed is how much you walked, what was your route and more. You can access the timeline by tapping on the hamburger menu, beside the search bar.
6.Detours
If you are on a road trip and looking for a restaurant, and Google Maps is your guide. You can turn off navigation to the destination and search for a place to eat or you can use Google Maps Detours. While using Google Maps for navigation, you can also search for a route for a gas station or restaurant and arrange a Detour. To follow these steps, follow these steps:
- Scroll up to the bottom row which displays the ETA remaining. Locate Search Along Route.
- Type what you are looking for and add it as a detour to your current trip.
7. Stop
You can add stops before you start on your trip. As you get Directions screen, go to three-dotted menu, choose Add stop. You can add multiple stops. You can also arrange them by dragging the hamburger icon beside each stop.
So, these are lesser known features which will help you use Google Maps to the fullest. Go ahead and plan your vacation or road with Google Maps.