Google Adds New Vacation Planning Features Across All Platforms

Google is launching a number of new tools in Search, Maps, and Gemini, some of which are AI-powered, to assist users in organizing their summer getaways. The new capabilities come at a time when people are using ChatGPT from OpenAI and other similar programs to help them plan their travels.

Now, consumers may receive ideas for trips to certain nations or areas by using Google Search’s AI Overviews, which show a summary of facts at the top of the results page. Users will be able to search for phrases like “make an itinerary for Costa Rica with a focus on nature” starting this week.

On Thursday, Google declared that a number of new features will be available on all of its platforms. Regular updates and language extensions are some of these characteristics, while artificial intelligence (AI) powers others. All of these capabilities, according to the internet giant with headquarters in Mountain View, are meant to assist consumers in making better travel and holiday plans. Trip planning-focused updates are being made to AI overviews in Lens, Maps, and Search. The most significant development is that AI Overviews will soon be able to display travel suggestions and details on smaller towns, regions, even whole nations.

The software giant described the new features in detail in a blog post. Google is rolling out new AI and non-AI capabilities that help streamline and simplify travel planning as school and college summer breaks draw near.

Google Search’s AI Overviews will now include travel suggestions for both countries and regions. The AI-powered snapshot tool, for example, will display user reviews and photographs when users search for “create an itinerary for Costa Rica with a focus on nature.” Additionally, an expanding map has been included to assist users in planning their routes. After gathering sufficient data, users may export the suggestions using Gmail or Docs. In Maps, it may also be stored as a custom list.

Currently, this function is accessible on desktop and mobile devices in the United States in English. Users are not required to register on Search Labs because it is not an experimental service.

Another upgrade for Google Maps will let users search for locations using images taken with their device. According to the firm, when individuals are looking for places to visit, they take many screenshots. Now that you can easily add these images to Maps, Gemini will recognize the locations in the screenshot and display them on the map. Users may then map out an itinerary or visit other nearby locations. Only the English language is supported at this time, and it is being rolled out to iOS users in the US. It will be available soon for Android users.

In addition, the tech behemoth lets customers monitor hotel rates so they may be informed of any decreases in cost during the dates and locations they have selected. Tapping the price-tracking toggle beneath the search filters will activate the function. If any of the hotels on the list see a significant drop in price, Google will automatically send an email. This is being rolled out on desktop and mobile browsers worldwide.

Now available to all users for free are Gems, Gemini-powered small chatbots that may be tailored for particular purposes. This implies that those using Gemini’s free tier can also use Gems to build unique chatbots. According to the business, customers may utilize basic text instructions to design a bespoke travel planner chatbot and receive a personalised itinerary. On a desktop, gems are accessible through the “Gems manager” option. The Gemini mobile app does not offer it.

Lastly, several more languages will be added to Google Lens and Circle to Search’s AI Overviews function. In the nations where the AI capability is accessible, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish will soon be supported in addition to English.