I just returned from my annual holiday on South Africa’s hot and humid eastern coastline. As much as I enjoy seeing family, eating great food, and even flying to an extent, I loathe the necessary admin that supports my festive fun. Before any holiday commences, you’ll find me face-deep in my phone, juggling multiple emails, boarding passes, restaurant reservations, and a list of attractions I’m interested in. This also includes my partner’s details in case her phone wanders off on its own adventure. This process gets really messy, but it doesn’t have to be. Google can lend a welcome hand with an all-encompassing Google travel app.
There was a time when Google had a travel app in its toolkit. In 2016, it announced Trips, a smart travel agent that managed your errant digital travel paraphernalia. It was well ahead of its time and monitored various services, including Gmail, for transport, accommodation, and restaurant bookings. Users could manually include car rental information and other notes for more personal items. Trips also stretched beyond your email by providing places of interest in the city you’re visiting without any prompts. This was particularly helpful for my first trip to Berlin many years ago when I didn’t know my brot from my brötchen.