Google Maps rolling out new updates to make travelers' life easier

Google Maps rolling out new updates to make travelers’ life easier،

Let's face it: planning a vacation can be a real challenge. Where to start ? What should you see? Where are the best places to grab a bite to eat? Enough to make you want to stay at home. Well, Google Maps just stepped in with a big helping hand, and their recent updates should prove very useful the next time you want to plan a trip. Let me explain to you.

It's all about lists and recommendations

You know that feeling when you look at a map, totally overwhelmed because you don't know exactly what to look for? Google Maps now addresses the same problem. Now, when you search for a city, Maps returns with several curated lists full of recommendations from locals and top travel sites like Lonely Planet and The Infatuation. Google Maps goes even further by showing you lists you didn't even know you needed. These are based on reviews and recommendations from other Maps users and will be available this week in more than 40 cities in the United States and Canada. The lists are as follows:

The list of trends: The places that are making the buzz, updated every week. Perfect for catching the wave of current events.
The list of the best: Tried and true favorites that always hit the mark.
The list of gems: Local secrets and hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. Think cozy cafes or low-key restaurants.

However, if you're more of a DIYer, you can also create your own personalized list and share it with those traveling with you. Tap “New List” and add all the spots you want by browsing the map. You will be able to add your personalized notes, reorganize the list according to your links and even link to the content of your social media accounts. These Custom Lists updates will begin rolling out everywhere on Android and iOS later this month.

AI to the Rescue: Understanding a Place at a Glance

And since no update is complete without some AI improvements, Google Maps now uses AI to extract the key things you need to know about a place you're planning to visit. Photos, reviews, general atmosphere: they will highlight what makes a restaurant, a park or a bar worth the detour. As an added bonus, it even picks out dish names from food photos posted by the venue and tells you if they're popular with the crowd.

This summer, Maps will start getting new design changes to give the app a new look. According to Google, the new design will include a cleaner home screen, fewer tabs, and new pin colors to easily identify places you've pinned in the past. Google Maps is no longer just about directions as it has slowly evolved into an essential travel and planning tool.

Credit all images: Google