Without Google Maps, I would be lost – in more ways than one

For navigation, I have always preferred Google Maps over competitors like Apple Maps and Waze. However, the more I use the app, the more I find that its other features play a vital role in my lifestyle, whether at home or on the go.

1 Location sharing for security

Google Maps has proven invaluable to me in recent years as I live in a bustling city of 15 million people with a contested urban plan. Its location sharing feature also gives loved ones peace of mind when I’m out of the house, whether I’m commuting to work, on motorcycle trips, or hiking in sparsely populated areas. At the same time, my partner shares their location with me to help ensure their safety whenever they stay up late without me.

While it may seem intrusive to the uninitiated, location sharing is voluntary and can be easily turned on and off. To enable location sharing, tap your profile icon in the search bar and go to Main menuand then select Location Sharing > New Share. You can then choose a sharing time and enter the recipient’s Gmail address to activate sharing. Your profile icon will then appear on their map at your exact location.

2 Useful recommendations

Whenever I find myself in a new place, I like to get my bearings. Pull up Google Maps and I’m presented with useful information, including top local attractions, nearby hotels, the best times to go on holiday and helpful suggestions from ‘local guides’. These people have applied to join the Google Guides program, and a little local knowledge can go a long way, as they often recommend quality and affordable restaurants, little-known attractions, and cozy spots that are off the beaten track.

I find that using local recommendations takes me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to try new things. Once I see something that catches my eye, I tap it to find its location, star rating, and price range (if any) and hit Instructions button to find the best route to get there.

3 Rethinking the past

One of my favorite features of Google Maps is the timeline. To use this service, Timeline must first be activated by visiting Main Menu > Settings > Personal Content > Location Settings. Google then creates a personal history showing your movements for the day, accessible through the main menu.

My timeline documents the places I visited, the time between destinations, the duration of each visit, the photos I took along the way, and the actual route on a map. It also compiles my information into trips that can be sorted for reference by hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc. The timeline offers information that allows you to dive deeper into how I spend my time each month, and I can sort my information by places visited, cities and countries.

4 Storage of basic items

My saved items started out as a list of a few interesting places that deserved further exploration. This list has made its way into a directory of bars, restaurants, hotels and inspiring travel destinations that I hope to one day visit. Saving potential destinations to my Google Maps account has made it more likely that I’ll visit them later because I can recall my plans and easily handle logistics like travel time, meals, and transportation from the app.

I also make lists of my favorite places I visit on my travels to refresh my memory if I pass by again and forward to others as recommendations. My Home and Workplace are always marked for quick navigation and are all accessible via the “You” menu on the home screen. My Saved Items are a valuable resource for trip planning, a source of inspiration, and a catalog of favorites.

5 Sourcing services

One of the many reasons why Google Maps is more than just the best for navigation is its comprehensive list of services, restaurants, places to stay, gas stations and basically everything else at your fingertips. Many of them are categorized at the top of the home page for quick access and are presented as rating icons right on the map.

I’m now just two taps away from sourcing and navigating to any service on Google Maps, with basic information including contact numbers, addresses, hours, average prices and user reviews conveniently presented before I hit the ‘Start’ button. I’ve come to take this for granted, but it’s one of the most important features of this impressive app that has saved me a lot of hassle over the years.

6 Integration and collaboration

Google Maps has become a staple of business and commerce, and its uses go far beyond my basic tool. It can be integrated into many applications and services that help with route planning, logistics and customer service to name a few. Businesses can even integrate Google APIs into their website, increasing engagement and helping potential customers at the same time.

Google Maps’ collaboration features further amplify its benefits, whether it’s simple event planning or coordinating a large multi-user business operation. Teams can create their own maps and add their own annotations and tags to help them with their projects. More broadly, individuals can contribute by writing user reviews of businesses, places and services to further improve the user experience.

Google Maps goes beyond the basics of getting from A to B, and is constantly working behind the scenes to make our lives easier, whether it’s helping to get a package delivered on time or issuing nationwide extreme weather warnings as part of a government initiative. If you’re a casual user of this versatile app, it’s worth digging a little deeper to see how it can improve your lifestyle, just like mine.