Google Search is constantly evolving in how it presents its search results to end users. While a typical search query will generate any number of related links to various web pages, the search giant continues to develop new ways of reducing the number of clicks needed to find the information you desire. The company’s intelligent search results provide users with real-time information related to their search queries, which oftentimes eliminates the need to click on a separate web-link. Google recently expanded their mobile search functionality with the introduction of a new feature entitled “Destinations”: a search utility which helps users plan vacations or trips to various locales based on a search query.
The new feature kicks in whenever you enter a travel-related search string to a specific city or country. For instance, if you enter “New York City Vacation” or “Spain Destinations” in your search field, you’ll be presented with general information about the city or country in question (as is typical for Google searches) along with a selection of destinations relevant to that particular location. Clicking on those destinations will display a “travel guide” that provides a wealth of information for prospective visitors. The travel guides are divided into two main sections: “Explore” and “Plan A Trip”. The Explore section provides general facts and information for the selected destination, detailed itinerary suggestions for sightseers, a collection of the destination’s most popular sights and attractions, and relevant video clips. Additionally, the Explore section gives a rough estimate for how much a potential trip might cost, including factors such as the number of travelers and type of lodging. It even provides information like peak travel times, monthly weather patterns, and general climate conditions to help users in their traveling decisions.
The “Plan A Trip” tab provides potential travelers with even greater details. Not only will you find pricing estimates for the entire trip, but Google even includes a scrollable price graph to help illustrate the estimated cost for different time periods. For instance, if you’re planning a trip to Barcelona for a week in June, you can scroll to that point in the chart to see just how much the trip might cost you in terms of airfare and hotel reservations. The section even provides links and prices for various flights based on your location. Clicking on the link will generate flight data for the selected time period, including a list of different airlines and price comparisons. If you’re looking to plan your trip right away, the new features provide convenient portals to book your flight and hotel information without having to enter a separate search query.
As of now, “Destinations” is only available to mobile users. The feature offers tremendous utility for prospective travelers, and it’s definitely worth checking out when planning your next big trip or vacation.
