Google's Unveils New Trips App for Personal Travel

By Ellen Fraser / 1474388127
(Photo : Twitter) Google Trips is now available on both Android and iOS for free.

Google has launched a new travel app called Google Trips to help users plan their itineraries and enjoy vacationing.

Google Trips serves as a trip planner and travel guide for anyone who is exploring a new place. Google Trips aims to cut the amount of time it takes to plot your activities and transportation options when traveling.

The app gathers information from a user’s Gmail account (including hotel reservations, flight bookings, travel times, addresses). It also creates personalized recommendations based on the user’s Google history. The app works offline. Users can opt to download everything to their phone, including maps and walking directions.

The app’s home screen features a search box which says “Where do you want to go?” for planning new trips. Other cards let users keep track of their current and upcoming vacations and plans, according to Tech Crunch. On the “Trip” section, users can also view each city they want to visit. All information can be downloaded for offline access. 

On each city’s screen, a wide array of colorful cards help users navigate the app; such as “Day Plans,” “Saved Places,” “Food & Drink,” “Getting around,” “Things to do,” “Reservations,” and more.

Google Trip is not only for collecting information but also for aggregating suggestions. It creates full day itineraries for the top 200 cities in the world. These suggestions can be accessed through the “Day Plan” card on each city’s page. The “Day Plan” comprises of some sightseeing activities as well as the estimated travel time between each location.

The app’s “Things to Do” card helps users to create personalized itineraries based on the number of days they are staying on vacation. Users can choose places to see according to their preference and time.

In addition, the app also shows nearby attractions to a user’s location. In addition to sightseeing, the app can also track flight, hotel, car and restaurant reservations. Trips will also offer real-time information about which destinations are open or closed on a particular day. It will make adjustments based on the time of day and weather and recommend activities.

Google Trips is set to compete with Concur’s TripIt, which offers flight information, hotel reservations, and other travel-related plans. Google Trips is now available on both Android and iOS for free, Android Police reported.