Planning a Vacation? Google Just Made It Stupid Easy

Trying to plan your next vacation? You’ve probably opened 10 tabs, watched a few travel vlogs, saved some TikToks, and maybe even scribbled down a half-baked itinerary in your notes app. We’ve all been there. But what if you could do all of it—get ideas, save places, track prices, and even get a packing list—without leaving Google?

Google just added AI-powered trip planning tools right into Search, Maps, and Gemini. You don’t need to install anything new. It all works with what you already use. Here’s how to plan a trip using apps you already have on your phone.

1. Get Instant Itineraries with AI Overviews in Google Search

Instead of searching for blog posts, scrolling through Reddit threads, or watching endless YouTube videos to list down places to visit manually, you can directly ask Google to plan your trip.  Whether it’s a food tour in Japan or a beach getaway in Greece, Google’s AI Overview gives you a ready-made itinerary with real places, reviews, and maps.

1. Open Google Search on your phone or desktop.
2. Type something like “Create a 5-day itinerary for Japan focused on food and nature.” Include all the important details like the number of people traveling, number of days, what your focus is for this trip, etc. 
3. Press Enter. At the top, you’ll see an AI Overview with daily suggestions, locations, and dining spots.

Google says it suggests these places according to your preferences, reviews, and most-liked places. You can add more details to get more personalized recommendations from Google.

If you like the itinerary, you can copy the text, export it to Google Docs, or send it to your co-travelers via Gmail. You can also export the entire itinerary to Google Maps. It will be saved as a custom list. To export, just click on the Export button at the bottom and select your preferred export option.

However, this feature is only available in the U.S for now.

2. Turn Your Travel Screenshots into a Map in Google Maps

Ever taken a screenshot of cool places that you planned to visit when scrolling through Instagram or TikTok? But sometimes we completely forget about that and lose it in the camera roll. If that sounds relatable to you, this new feature on Google Maps is right for you.

When you grant Google Maps access to your screenshots, it will scan the places and names and save those screenshots separately. You can review them and add them to your list later. So those places will show up as pins on Google Maps helping you not forget when planning trips. Here’s how to grant access to your screenshots

1. Open the Google Maps app.
2. Tap your profile photo in the top-right corner.
3. Go to Saved and enable the Screenshot List.
4. Allow Maps to scan your screenshots.
5. Review and add them to a custom travel list.

Currently, this feature is only available in the U.S on iOS. Android support is on the way. Also, remember, it only works with English as of now. 

Also Read:

• How to Make a List on Google Maps on iPhone – Complete Guide
• How to Mark Saved Places With Emojis in Google Maps

3. Track Prices for Flights and Hotels — and Let Google Watch for Drops

Tracking flight prices is a very old feature on Google. Building on that, Google introduced an option to track prices for hotels.

You don’t need to manually check flight or hotel prices every day. Google can do it for you and email you if prices drop. This is especially useful if you’re planning or trying to book during sales.

1. Go to google.com/flights or google.com/hotels.
2. Enter your destination and travel dates.
3. Apply filters like hotel star rating or beach access.
4. Look for the Track prices toggle and switch it on.
5. Google will send you email alerts when prices go down significantly.

Works on both desktop and mobile globally. It’s a no-effort way to save money.

4. Build Your Own AI Trip Planner with Gemini

Instead of planning your trip step by step, you can now build a custom travel assistant inside Gemini. You just tell it your needs—budget, destination, type of trip—and it’ll suggest ideas, help with packing lists, and recommend restaurants.

1. Go to gemini.google.com.
2. Click on Gems in the sidebar.
3. Create a new Gem.
4. Type something like: Help me plan a Europe trip on a budget, with packing tips and food suggestions.
5. Use the magic wand icon to auto-fill the instructions if you’re unsure what to write.
6. Save the Gem. Now you can chat with it anytime to plan or adjust your trip.

That’s it. No need to jump between 10 travel sites or apps. Just use Google’s built-in tools — Search, Maps, Gemini, and their price tracker — to go from idea to itinerary in minutes.