Travel Tip: Google Maps Edition!
Travel tip time! This is such a simple, yet super useful thing I do that I realized not everyone knows how to do! My Google Maps is literally filled with Favorites and Want to Gos, it might look overwhelming to some, but it’s so helpful for me. Instead of a Notes app list, use your Google maps to remember your favorite places and places you want to go. It makes it super easy to share your favs with friends and family and it also makes it super easy to pop over to places you want to go when you can easily see how far it is from your current location!
As an avid traveler, I've transformed how I plan and explore thanks to a simple yet incredibly powerful feature in Google Maps: saving places. Forget the endless scroll through your camera roll or trying to recall that cute restaurant name from months ago! This method has become my go-to for keeping track of every single spot I want to visit, and every gem I've already discovered. Let me walk you through how I personally use Google Maps to create an organized and shareable travel guide for myself. Whenever I stumble upon a recommendation, see a beautiful picture of a landmark like the stunning Place du Tertre in Montmartre, Paris, or hear about a cool cafe, my first move is to save it. It’s super easy: just search for the location, tap on its name to bring up its details, and then look for the 'Save' icon. From there, you can add it to your default 'Want to Go' list (which shows up as a green flag icon on your map) for future adventures, or if you've already visited and loved it, pop it into your 'Favorites' list (marked with a charming pink heart icon). What I love even more is the ability to create custom lists. Beyond just 'Favorites' and 'Want to Go,' I've made lists like 'Paris Cafes & Bakeries,' 'Montmartre Hidden Gems,' or even 'Nice France Beaches.' This truly elevates my trip planning. Before a journey, I'll group all my 'Want to Go' spots by neighborhood. So, when I'm exploring a specific area, say the artistic streets of Montmartre, I can quickly pull up my 'Montmartre Hidden Gems' list to see all the saved spots nearest to me, like Place du Tertre and surrounding viewpoints. It saves so much time and ensures I don't miss out on anything. These saved lists aren't just for personal use; they're fantastic for group travel. Sharing a list with friends or family is a breeze – just open the list, hit the share button, and send the link. No more long email threads or confusing group chats trying to consolidate everyone's ideas. Everyone can see the locations, get directions, and even add their own suggestions to a collaborative list, making trip planning so much more efficient and fun. Plus, adding personal notes to each saved location helps me remember why I saved it, whether it’s a specific dish to try or a best time to visit. In essence, using Google Maps to save and organize places has transformed my travel experience. It’s an intuitive, visual way to keep all your travel aspirations and memories in one place, making planning smoother and on-the-ground exploration effortless. Give it a try on your next trip; you'll wonder how you ever managed without it!