Four major updates to Google Maps that address summer travel concerns

THERE are four essential Google Maps features that will help you deal with any travel woes this summer – at home and abroad.

The handy crow tracker may become a favorite of more introverted travelers.

Navigate airports and train stations

Major airports and train stations – whether they’re on your home turf or farther afield – can be a nightmare if you don’t know how to navigate.

Fortunately, if you want to quickly find a store at an airport or even a shopping mall, Google Maps can help.

The application has Informant tab for all airports, shopping malls and transit stations.

This can be really helpful when you are rushing to catch your next train but need to buy a drink or a souvenir.

The card contains information about the opening hours of each shop, restaurant and car park, as well as which floor they are located on.

Avoid crowds

Crowds can really spoil the experience of traveling to typical tourist destinations, especially if you are an introvert.

To see how busy an area is before you travel, check the Busyness tool in Google Maps.

When you search for a location – whether it’s a wild swimming spot or Big Beg – you should see a graph that shows how crowded it is in real time.

In some areas, crowd information will automatically appear on the map, so you don’t have to go looking for a spot.

Google Maps may display a message such as “Area Busy,” and when you click for more details, it may say “As busy as it gets” or “Not too busy.”

Many stops

If you’re traveling this summer, these Google Maps features are a must.

You can set multiple destination stops between your start and finish points, so you can set rest stops and gas stations along the way.

To do this, enter your final destination in Google Maps, then tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select Add a stop.

You can then add as many stops as you want and arrange their order.

Search along the route

It’s also cool Search along the route a feature in Google Maps that allows you to avoid having to turn off your navigation to find other stopping places.

This allows you to find a nearby gas station, petrol station, drive-thru restaurant while navigation is still active.

See all your bookings on Google Maps

In addition to charting your travel, Google Maps can also display all your bookings, from flights, hotels, and car rentals to restaurant reservations.

All you have to do is type My reservations in the search bar to see a list of what you have booked, where and at what time.

This only works if you are a Gmail user, as Google Maps pulls information from your Gmail inbox.