Google Maps just made it a lot easier to plan holiday trips with better travel tools

Find the best way to arrive at your destination with this update

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With the holiday season just over the horizon,Google Mapsis receiving an update to make planning and traveling around these hectic times more manageable.

The patch consists ofthree new features. First, the app will gain updated “transit directions” that’ll tell you “the best route to your destination based on key factors”. This includes the overall length of the trip, estimated time of arrival, plus the number of transfers you’ll have to take in order to get there. It’ll even be possible to customize the route using filters tellingGoogle Mapsto focus on a specific type of transit, like subways, or if you want one with minimal walking.

Additionally, the app will tell where you can find the entrances and exits to stations “in over 80 cities around the world," including Boston, London, New York City, Sydney, and Toronto. It’ll point out “what side of the street they’re on” as well as if there is a “clear walking route”.

Newfound collaboration

Next, thecollaborative list toolwill allow invited users to vote on an activity via emoji reactions. You can choose between a heart, a smiley face, a flame, or a flying stack of cash if you’re interested in going. For those who aren’t, a thumbs-down icon will be available.

Speaking of which, people can also react to publicly posted photographs on Google Maps with an emoji. The company states that “in some cases” you’ll be given the opportunity to use mashup reactions viaEmoji Kitchen. The emoji mashup selections seem to depend on what the app’s AI sees in an image. For example, if it detects a bagel, the mashup will include the food item, and potentially, the yummy face. These custom-made icons will automatically be generated.

Everything you see here will be rolling out globally toAndroidandiOSdevices starting today. The rest of the announcement consists of the tech giant shouting out certain Google Maps tools that you can use to help “navigate the holidays” like finding nearbycharging stations for electric vehiclesor purchasing train tickets right on the app.

If you’re interested in what else it can do, check out TechRadar’s list of the10 things you didn’t know Google Maps could do.

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Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.

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