Today Google released a new travel app on iOS and Android the leverages the tech titan’s vast library of data and consumer products.
Google Trips pulls flight, hotel, car rental, and restaurant reservation data from your Gmail history and stores the information on a platform with some pretty sophisticated travel planning features.
I synced Google Trips with my Gmail account, and it automatically generated my upcoming trip to New Orleans.
I decided to test “Day Plans,” a feature for planning activities based on how much time you have and what you want to see. I set my starting point — Jackson Square in the French Quarter — and Google supplied a day’s worth of activities spiraling out from there. If you don’t have a full day to spare, you can select “Morning” or “Afternoon” for an abridged itinerary.
The app also has dining, transportation, and other tools to help travelers discover new places.
It’s an impressive (and slightly frightening) sign of what can be accomplished when you’re the industry leader in satellite technology and have data on almost every business and landmark in the word.
Entire trips (including itineraries and reservation data) can be downloaded and viewed offline. That feature is particularly useful for international travelers or people visiting remote locations with poor reception.
Nothing is bookable through the app, as of now. Think of it more as an high-tech directory or guidebook with links and phone numbers to the various listings.
Google Trips is part of a larger push into travel technology by Google, including its acquisition of ITA Software six years ago. It’s possible that Google will eventually integrate its travel products, like Google Flights, into the app. In that case, the company would be competing more directly with Seattle-area travel giant Expedia.
Watch the video below to see Google Trips in action.
