Planning Your Vacation Made Easy with Smartphone Mapping Apps

Marking two decades since its launch, Google Maps has expanded well beyond simple navigation, much like Apple Maps since its 2012 debut. Both platforms now offer extensive travel planning features, including bookmarking favorite spots, reading user reviews, making reservations, and exploring nearby attractions.

Here is an overview of key features travelers can utilize in these mapping apps.

Selecting a business within either Google Maps (available on Android and iOS) or Apple Maps (iOS only) brings up a detailed place card. This includes essential information such as the address, operating hours, reviews, and other relevant details.

In Google Maps, the Explore tab at the bottom of the screen highlights nearby destinations. Certain restaurant listings allow users to book tables directly via the OpenTable service. Additionally, Google often provides immersive 360-degree Street View images, giving users a virtual look at the surroundings.

Apple Maps offers place cards where users can save locations and add personal notes. These cards also feature quick-access buttons for the business’s phone number, website, and more. Using the Search box’s Find Nearby option reveals places in close proximity. Apple’s 360-degree viewing experience, called Look Around, can be accessed by tapping the photo thumbnail on the map.

To save locations for future reference, tap the Save or + icon on the place card. Saved spots are organized in Google Maps under the Lists section within the You tab, which includes a default Travel Plans list. On Apple Maps, saved locations appear in the Maps Library accessible from the Search screen.