Lifestyle /
Google Your Way To A Perfect Spring Break
Sure we use Google for everything, but have you REALLY used Google for your vacation?
Google is our go-to guide to solve our daily problems. However you can also plan the perfect March Break with Google's help.
As March Break is approaches many Canadians would want to take a break from the nail-biting cold and dip to a warmer place with ample sunshine. With some great last minute deals galore, many families would hardly have any time to actually plan their trip: with such details as a proper itinerary, locate sight-seeing destinations or even explore the best cafes and restaurants around town. Google has just made life easier. With its various features, travellers can have access to any information at the tip of their fingers without any hassle of carrying hundred different maps along with them. Here is a list of features from Google that would just make your trip the perfect getaway this March Break.
*Preview your destination using Google Street View to get an idea on how great your hotel location really is. You can locate the exact street, rotate the ground level pictures to 360 degrees and check attractions near your hotel. Just type your destination on the Google bar and let the magic begin! So no more surprises on how different the neighbour looks from actually seeing it as compared to their websites.
*The whole point of going on vacation is to relax. And let's not forget, March Break gives you the best excuse to don your lovely spring dress or new skirt and get rid of those jeans and parkas. You would want the weather to be perfect and it plays a very important role in making your trip successful. Well what are yo waiting for? Google it! Type in the name of your destination spot, and find out what the hourly temperatures are so again, no surprises!
Example: Search for 'weather in Buenos Aires'
*Language can be a barrier at times when you want to visit a local shop or interact with the local community while on your holiday and Google understands that. Google can translate words and sentences from one language to another. So when you are haggling for that great deal, just keep your smartphone handy as your very own personal translator and forgot those clunky language guides. More room for trinkets! And here's a tip: you can also use this feature to translate documents and web pages to and from English.
Example: Translate 'Parlez-vous Francais?'
*Food is an essential factor while travelling as you have to always keep the energy going. When you're somewhere unfamiliar and want to quickly find something to eat, enter the type of food plus the town or postal code and Google will display the results on a useful map and give you directions for getting there.
Example: Search for 'barbecue in Memphis' on Google Maps
*Currency conversion can be a tiring and tricky task for many travellers especially when venturing in new cities and countries. And often an excuse for many local shoppers that only take cash, to take advantage of tourists. With the Google currency convertor, shopping is made much easier and safer.
Example: Convert 100 Yen into U.S. dollars.
*While being away from home, you may need to contact your family and friends to ensure everything is okay with them and your house back home. Time differences can play a huge factor in communication issues with your loved ones. With the Google World Clock, you can just type in the city's name you want to know the time for and you will have it in a matter of seconds.
Example: What time is it in Cape Town?
*Now it's time to go home. Nothing kills your vacation spirit by unexpected flight delays and cancellations. To check your flight schedule and all the required details just make sure you have your airline's information bookmarked in your smartphone. Just type in the airline name and flight number in the search box. Simply scroll and click and you've got your information without having to deal with those forever-on-hold airline's customer service telephone numbers.
Example: Check the status of United Airlines Flight 100 from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
*Still contemplating on the best hotel to stay in or the best restaurant to go to. With Google Maps, you can personalize your map. One of the handy tips is being able to add your own icons to your Map. Before your trip, you can use this tool to mark all the hotels you're considering staying at and all the sights you want to see. Then decide which is in the most convenient location. You can also share My Maps with friends and family so they can all participate in mapping out your trip. When the trip's over, use My Maps as a virtual scrapbook: add icons on the map for the great picnic spot you found in the park or for the great little gelato stand you kept revisiting. You can even add text, photos and videos within the My Map to help keep the memories alive.
Example: http://maps.google.com/help/maps/mymaps/create.html
So with these additional Google tips, you can definitely plan your Spring Break just right!
BY: PRERNA SINGH
Sources: maps.google.com, translate.google.com
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