Google recently announced a suite of new features across its search engine, Maps, and Gemini platforms designed to help users plan their summer vacations more easily. This comes as more and more users turn to tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT for travel planning assistance.
In Google Search, the AI overview feature has been enhanced. Users now see a snapshot of information at the top of the search results page, helping them discover travel ideas for specific regions or countries. Starting this week, queries like "plan a nature-themed trip to Costa Rica" will surface relevant photos and reviews, and show locations on an expandable map. When ready to save the itinerary, users can select the "export" option to share the recommendations via Docs or Gmail, or save them as a custom list in Google Maps.
Google is also making the Gems feature on its Gemini platform free for all users. Gems is a tool that lets users create custom AI experts for any task within Gemini. This means users can now set up a travel planning assistant to help them choose destinations and suggest packing lists.
On the hotel front, Google, which has previously allowed users to track flight price drops, is now extending this to hotels. Users can select a hotel price tracking option for their chosen dates and destination, setting filters like star rating or beach access. Google will send email notifications if prices drop. This feature will roll out globally on mobile and desktop browsers this week.
For Maps, Google is introducing a new feature that lets users turn screenshots into full-fledged vacation plans. Many people save screenshots of places they want to visit while planning a trip, but these photos are easily forgotten in their photo albums. Now, users can allow Maps access to their photos, and the app will automatically identify the locations mentioned in the screenshots, allowing users to review and save places of interest. These saved locations will appear on the map, giving users a clear view of their travel plans. This feature will launch this week on iOS in the US, with an Android version coming soon.
Key Highlights:
🌍 New features help users discover travel ideas and easily plan itineraries.
✈️ Users can track hotel price changes and receive notifications of price drops.
📸 The Maps app can identify locations in user screenshots, making it easier to organize travel plans.