Google Becoming a Key Player in Travel

by Zac Hood | Dec 16, 2020 | Travel Tips
Google Becoming a Key Player in Travel

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Update 3-29-21: For a great overview and step-by-step instructions on using Google Flights, check out this Google Flights Guide over at Thrifty Traveler.

Google is starting to make a bigger splash in the travel world. For a while, they have been supplying travel sites like Kayak.com (a Travel Freely recommended flight search website) with important features like flexible date searches and best price alerts. Android users have also seen Google Trips (also available for iOS) make an impact on their smartphones with up-to-date information on travel destinations. You can even download travel guides to your phone.

 

Mobile phone displaying a travel app on a purple background. The text reads: All your travel info in one place. The app features sections for reservations, confirmation numbers, and offline information access.

 

The most convenient assistance provided by Google, although quite intrusive, has been their ability to search your Gmail and store important hotel and flight information in Google calendar. Without any extra effort, you have your flight times and hotel reservation numbers pop up at the right time. This was incredibly helpful during an epic trip to Peru, where every day was a new hotel or Airbnb. All the pertinent information for that day arrived on my phone. I didn’t need to search and find. I had my reservation numbers, receipt, and contact information for the hotel right in front of me.

 

Screenshot of a mobile app displaying information on tourist attractions. The top menu includes Top Spots, Modernista Landmarks, and Modern Art. Below is an image of La Sagrada Familia with a 4.7-star rating and over 8,700 reviews.

Google Trip features like “Things to do” will probably replace the need for a big travel guide.

 

Now, Google is ramping up their own travel booking ecosystem. With Google Flights, you can book a flight with a user-friendly interface and feel very confident about your purchase. Google will let you know if the price is higher or lower than normal or likely to stay the same. There are also price alerts now for hotel bookings too.

Maybe you have your favorite travel booking portals, but Google Flights and Hotels will start to become a free traveler’s trusty companion. I’ve always used Kayak.com to start my award flight searches because I can tell what airlines and flights I want to get. (except for Southwest because I have to go on their site to search)

 

A serene beach scene at sunset with a palm tree leaning over gentle waves. The sky transitions from purple to orange, and a tree with lush leaves frames the left side. The horizon is dotted with distant clouds.

Google might make it easier to see these sunsets with their upgraded travel tools.

 

I’ll be trying out Google Flights now. We’ll see if Google starts to dominate the travel scene like they do with everything else they do.