As summer approaches, Google is rolling out a suite of innovative features across its Maps, Search, and Gemini platforms designed to enhance travel planning for users. These updates come at a time when many are looking for efficient ways to organize their vacations, especially as travel trends shift towards coastal destinations and outdoor adventures.
On March 27, 2025, Google announced that its new planning tools will leverage AI capabilities to assist users in creating detailed itineraries, tracking hotel prices, and utilizing screenshots for travel ideas. A standout feature in Google Maps will allow users to automatically identify locations mentioned in their screenshots, making it easier to compile travel plans without losing track of ideas saved in their photo library.
This new functionality, powered by Gemini, will enable users to grant Maps access to their camera rolls. Once enabled, the app will review screenshots of social media posts, travel blogs, and other sources that mention specific places. Users will be able to see a new Screenshots List that allows them to review these captures, with Gemini automatically identifying locations and prompting users to save them to a list. This feature is currently rolling out for Google Maps on iOS in the U.S. and is expected to come to Android soon.
In addition to the Maps update, Google is enhancing its Search capabilities with AI Overviews. Users can now request travel itineraries for entire countries or regions rather than just cities. For instance, a user can type, "create an itinerary for Costa Rica with a focus on nature," and receive a detailed overview that includes photos, reviews, and location maps. This feature is available for English queries on both mobile and desktop platforms in the U.S.
Moreover, Google is expanding its hotel price tracking feature, which has been successful for flight bookings, to now include accommodations. Users can specify their travel dates and preferences, such as star ratings and amenities, and Google will notify them via email if prices drop significantly for their selected hotels. This feature is also launching globally this week on mobile and desktop.
As Google continues to roll out these features, it is also making the Gemini's Gems feature available for free. This tool allows users to create custom AI assistants tailored to their travel needs, helping them select destinations and even suggesting packing lists.
Furthermore, Google Lens is set to expand its capabilities, allowing users to point their cameras at landmarks or objects and receive information in multiple languages, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. This enhancement aims to provide a more inclusive experience for users worldwide.
According to Google’s annual summer travel trends report, there is a notable increase in interest towards coastal destinations, with searches for Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico, Curacao, and St. Lucia seeing significant growth. Outdoor adventure travel is also on the rise, with cities known for their natural attractions, such as Billings, Montana, and Juneau, Alaska, experiencing higher search volumes.
The report highlights that travelers are increasingly seeking unique experiences, with searches for romantic getaways focusing on cabins and family trips looking for "dude ranch" vacations. Interestingly, queries for checked bags have surpassed those for carry-on luggage, indicating a shift in travel preferences. This trend is supported by the rising popularity of space-saving packing solutions, such as vacuum bags and compression packing cubes.
These updates are part of Google's strategy to maintain its dominance in the travel planning sector by providing comprehensive tools that reduce the need for users to visit traditional travel content sites. As the summer vacation planning season begins, the insights from the travel trends report will guide travel brands and publishers in adjusting their SEO and content strategies to better cater to changing consumer preferences.
With these enhancements, Google is positioning itself as a one-stop solution for travelers looking to simplify their planning process and maximize their vacation experiences. As users embrace these new tools, the integration of AI into travel planning is set to redefine how people approach their summer getaways.
