Google Introduces AI-Powered Vacation Planning Features in Search, Maps, and Gemini

Google is introducing a variety of new features—some powered by artificial intelligence—across Search, Maps, and Gemini, aimed at helping users plan their summer vacations. These additions come as more people look to tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT for travel planning assistance.

With Google’s AI-powered explorers, which provide brief information at the top of search results, users can now discover travel ideas for specific regions or countries. Starting this week, those searching can enter queries such as «create an itinerary for Costa Rica focusing on nature.»

Users will have access to photos and reviews, along with locations displayed on an expandable map. When ready to save their itinerary, they can click «Export» to share the recommendations via Docs or Gmail, or save them as a custom list in Google Maps.

This new feature is available for English-language queries in the U.S. on both mobile devices and computers.

Additionally, Google has made the Gemini Gems feature available to everyone for free. Gemini is a tool that enables users to create personalized AI experts for any task. This functionality allows users to customize a trip planner to help them choose a destination and recommend what to take along.

Furthermore, Google has long allowed users to set alerts for flight price drops, and now it will extend this feature to hotel prices. Users will be able to monitor hotel rates for selected dates and destinations. They can choose filters for hotel searches, such as star ratings or beachfront locations. If prices decrease, Google will send an email notification.

The hotel price tracking feature launches globally this week on both mobile and desktop browsers.

Regarding Maps, Google is giving users the ability to turn their screenshots into actionable vacation plans. While planning a trip, people often take screenshots to bookmark places they wish to visit, but they might forget about these images in their photo gallery.

Now, users can grant Maps access to their photos, allowing the app to automatically identify locations mentioned in the screenshots, enabling them to view and save desired spots in a list. These locations will be plotted on the map, providing a comprehensive view of their plans.

This feature will be available this week in the U.S. in English on iOS and will soon roll out on Android.

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