One of the biggest challenges in taking a trip is identifying and finding the best places and activities to enjoy in the destination, especially when you are not familiar with it. We shall demonstrate that one of the best tools to solve those problems is Google My Maps, which you can easily create for yourself.
Quick tip: you can use maps made by other people who are willingly sharing them.
With six pages of instruction here, and some computer requirements, it might seem like this is a difficult thing to do, however:
An informative digital map on your phone is like carrying an entire library of travel information with descriptions of the sights and instructions on how to find them. This is not something you can purchase, because you have your own personal interests and travel goals, which you can easily load into the map, but you have to make it yourself.
When you arrive in a new city Google My Maps will show you where to go and describe the sights all in one place on your mobile device. In that way you will not get lost upon arriving in a town for the first time, because with the map on your mobile you will know what to see, where to go, and how to get there -- just follow that dot on the map.
While it is also fun to wander around, going where impulse suggests, it is important to know something about what to see and do. You can have it both ways and double your fun: make lists to follow and do some meandering. If you get to a town and know nohing about it you are missing out on the opportunity for a rewarding visit.
These pages describe how to do the research, compile lists of places and activities, place them into a mobile interactive map, then use the digital map to help explore your destination. This makes it easy and fun to get around without getting lost or wasting time, money and energy.
Examples of Google My Maps. You can open full size by clicking the square, top-right corner of map.
Brussels, Belgium
Todi, Italy
While this series of pages is all about researching, creating and using a good map let’s recognize this in just one tool in your discovery and enjoyment of a place. Other strategies are also important, especially talking to local people when you are in a place for the pleasure of conversation as well as learning some inside information about what to see. Another essential tool is YouTube, with its unlimited amount of travel videos, such as my own. And Google Earth is super-useful in taking an informed look at a place before you go to help determine what parts of town are worth seeing and what to avoid. Talking to friends who have already been there is another opportunity. The map helps tie all this together, as that information can be included before and during your tip.
Google My Maps (GMM) was created by Google and is offered for free, based on Google Maps, but is far superior because you can add a lot of customized information which is easy to access. These descriptions act like a mini guidebook as you walk around, so you know where to go and understand what you are looking at.
The process described here might seem complicated at first, but we explain the steps clearly, and the final product of a customized informative map in your mobile device will be worth your efforts. GMM can give you total freedom along with extensive information to make your trip a total success. Now the only problem is having enough energy to walk to all these places on your digital list!
Research list of places including brief descriptions.
Organize lists into themes, e.g. shops, restaurants, historic sites. Format the plain text lists as csv, comma-separated values.
Create a new map then batch import place lists, which will show up as "pins" on the map.
Stylize the places on digital map with colors and icons. Create walking route lines on map and shapes outlining highlights.
It is surprising how most people are aware of Google Maps and use it frequently, but have never heard of Google My Maps. Here you will discover that GMM is far superior to Google Maps in planning and taking your trip.
Customization: GMM allows you to create personalized maps with custom pins, icons, and colors, making it easier to categorize locations at a glance. Google Maps only allows one emoji per map.
Multiple layers: GMM lets you add up to 10 layers per map, which can be toggled on and off to limit the view and avoid an overwhelming number of locations.
Route visualization: GMM allows you to add routes to visualize your trip for road trips or walking tours.
Importing locations: With GMM, you can import location pins and routes from spreadsheets or other Google My Maps.
Add information: With GMM you can include links, photos, videos and text description for each place.
Shareability: You can share with others by email and put it your website or social media.
Google Maps does provide more detailed information about location of businesses, helpful in looking for nearby restaurants, hotels, museums, shops. etc. It is useful to have this app open when using GMM, so you can toggle back and forth as needed. There is a link to "View in Google Maps" automatically included in most of the pins you create.
