10 New Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Google Maps

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10 New Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Google Maps
Me and other influencers during the Abuja Tour with Google

Over the course of two days, I explored
#AbujawithGoogleMaps. The trip was a Maps guided tour of cultural and historical landmarks in Abuja and it was memorable experience. It is aimed at demonstrating how Google Maps can be an indispensable tool to help people explore and discover the world.

During the trip I learnt many new things and realised how under untilized Google Maps is, despite all its useful functions. From helping you to explore new places, giving you a glimpse of what to expect before you visit somewhere new, to actually giving you power to help others find places and aid their experience in a new place (you have before hand experienced) through reviews, Google Maps is no doubt a tool that can make life easier, even more than many Nigerians are already aware of.

Google Maps has always helped users get where they need to go as quickly as possible, but now they can also use Maps to find things to do and places to eat based on their own unique tastes and preferences. Now, users can:

Find new things to do and see dining, event, and activity options based on their location in the newly redesigned Explore tab.
Know where the tastemakers are going: Trending lists with information from local experts, Google, and trusted publishers help users know exactly where to go in their neighborhood based on what’s popular right now.
Easily make plans as a group: Users can create a shareable shortlist within Google Maps and instantly share it with friends across any platform so they can vote on a place and decide where to go within minutes.
Make decisions about where to go quickly with “your match”, a number that suggests how likely you are to like or dislike a restaurant based on your preferences.
Stay on top of the latest and greatest with the new “For you” tab. Users can see trending places, newly opened restaurants, foodie lists, and more in the neighborhoods they care about most.

10 New Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Google Maps
Abuja With Google Maps: Nigeria Influencers pictured at the Thought Pyramid Art Center Abuja

Google Maps strives to provide people with accurate, useful and actionable info about the world around them. This includes not only showing them all available travel options, but allowing them to book a ride, reserve a table, see how busy a place is or how long the wait is, book a fitness class or beauty treatment, order delivery, and more.

Google Maps is constantly improving with more than 25 million updates made each day throughout the world — including the latest road names, business addresses, public transit schedules, Street View images and more.

Google is very keen empowering Google Maps’ users to contribute their local knowledge to the map to make the product even better for themselves and other users. This is particularly possible by becoming a Maps guide. You become a guide when you review places you visited by rating, and writing your thoughts objectively about those places. Adding pictures and videos makes it even better for people to get a clearer picture of what you mean and how you felt about the place. The more you review, the more you accrue points.

Fun fact: When you get to certain levels as a guide, you stand a chance to get invited to an all expense Google Maps Guide in San Fransisco USA.

What can you do with Google Maps:

Navigate anywhere, fast: Quickly add destinations based on recent searches without having to manually type in the location. Search for places, get alternative routes, real time information about traffic jams and delays, and an up to date ETA so you know exactly when you’ll be at your destination.

Add detours to your route: We’ve all been there – you’re on your way to a birthday party and you’ve forgotten to buy a gift. Cue panic – or not. With Google Maps you can easily search for places along your route while in navigation mode, so you can find the nearest store and get back on the road as quickly as possible.

Never miss your stop again: Use Google Maps to get transit navigation times, ETAs and a notification that tells you when to transfer or get off your bus or train, so you can stop worrying about missing your stop and start enjoying the sights.

Wheelchair accessible routes: Use Google Maps to find wheelchair accessible transit routes to make getting around easier for those with mobility needs.

Offline maps: No data? No problem. You can still find your way even if you have spotty reception or an expensive data plans. Whether you’re camping in the wilderness or traveling abroad, you can download a map of an area so you can see directions and use turn by turn navigation even when you can’t get online.

Wait time estimates and popular times: Use Google Maps to find out what the estimated wait times and popular times are at your favorite businesses so you can beat the crowds and save time.

Remember where you parked: After navigating somewhere, use Google Maps to save your parking location so you never have a “Dude where’s my car?” moment again. (This is a US-based movie reference, so feel free to localize).

Create lists so you can keep track of your favorite places and share them with friends.

Find things to do and places to eat based on your unique interests and preferences.

OK Google, what’s my ETA? Keep your focus on the road by using voice commands on Google Maps. Just say “OK Google, find gas stations” or “ Show alternate routes” to get the information you need, hands free.

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