As you’ve probably picked up from the trips I’ve posted, I love to travel. More importantly, I love planning my travels. I haven’t used a travel agent (yet) because I like to know every single detail that goes into my trip. I tend to get uneasy if I don’t know what’s going on. This may be the control-freak, Capricorn sided of me or the overthinking side…or both.

I typically find things to do or places to eat in new destinations from Tiktok, Youtube, Instagram, TripAdvisor and other travel blogs. This helps me gather what to put into a trip itinerary.

A tool I’ve used to put the itinerary together that has helped tremendously for my last two trips is Google My Maps. Not to be confused with Google Maps (although you can link it to that). My friend shared a Tiktok with me about it. It has helped me map out (pun somewhat intended) where each thing I want to do is. That way I can see if it’s actually possible to fit into the trip based on distance.

TripAdvisor has a map feature for a trip plan. However, I like the flexibility Google My Maps offers with making notes for each place or even putting what you want to do in a specific order.  I also like that I can download the map I make to my Google Maps app.

How it Works

Now it’s time to put my day job to use. Here’s how you can use Google My Maps:

1. Type in “Google My Maps” in Google (or use the link above).
   • If you have a Google account that you’re already logged into, it will open up within that account. If not, you may have to log in.
2. Select “+ Create a New Map”.

3. It will open up to a map and legend that you can create different layers for.

4. You can set up your layers first if that’s easier. You can have a layer for:
   • FoodActivitiesHotel OptionsAirport/Train Station/Cruise Port/etc.

Or anything you’d like!

5. To name the layer and/or map, click on “Untitled Layer/Map” and it will pop-up a window to type the new title OR select the three vertical dots next to the layer name and choose “Rename this layer”.
6. If you know where you’re going on your next vacation (or just daydreaming about it), type it into the search bar at the top. I normally go by the airport. Example: Miami Airport.
   • It will start showing you different options so choose the appropriate one.
     
7. When choose the place to add, a light green icon will show up on the map.
   
   
8. Select the green icon on the map, then select “+ Add to map”. It will show in your legend.

Tip: Make sure you have the right layer selected when adding places. Example: if you found a restaurant you want to add, make sure that’s under your “Food” layer and not your “Activity” layer. You can click and drag it to the right layer but it can be annoying. The layers can’t be rearranged but the places can.

Color Coding and Icons

After you’ve added a location to your layer, you can change the colors and icons of the pins to help you easily identify them.

We’ll use the Miami Airport as an example. I label my transport destinations like airports or cruise ports dark blue and find the corresponding icons.

1. On the legend or the map, select the place you want to change the icon for.
2. On the bottom-right of the pop-up, select the “Style” icon (paint bucket icon).
   

3. Another pop-up will display with the different colors and icons to choose from. You can choose “More icons” to see the full library they have.
   

4. You can also upload custom icons (though, I’m not sure how they look on the map).

Changing Layer Style

If you don’t want to change the icon and color for each individual place, you can update your style settings by layer.

1. In the legend, click where it has the paint roller icon.
   
   
2. Select the drop-down for “Groups places by”. It will show options for:
   • Uniform style: All places will have the same color and icon. I would use this for the food/restaurants layer.
   • Sequence of numbers: All places will have the same color but will be in numerical order based on the order in the legend. I use this when figuring out what order (and day) I want to do certain activities.
   • Individual style: What the layer will automatically start off as. Each place can have its own icon and color within the layer.
   • Style by data column: I haven’t used this function (mostly because I’m not sure how). I believe this could be used for data exports.
     
   
   

Adding Notes/Descriptions

Another thing I love about using Google My Maps is most of the places you add to your map will already have a link to the business’s website. You can also see it in the regular Google Maps to see reviews.

Click on the link to get additional information like hours of operations, menus, parking details, ticket prices and so on. Because I like seeing everything in one place, I gather this information (link or no link) and put it in the description.

1. Select the place you want to add the description in the map or on the legend.
   • In the pop-up, select the “Edit” pencil icon.
     

2. The pop-up will make the Name of the place editable (so you can make it a different name if you want). You can also add details to the opened box underneath.
   

3. If you want to make different lines of text, you’ll have to hold “Shift” and then press “Enter” so it doesn’t keep saving it before you’ve added everything.
   

Additional Features

There’s more things you can do with Google My Maps like adding an image or video to the places in the legend by selecting the camera icon. You can also make directions from place to place (although it doesn’t offer public transportation directions) by selecting the arrows icon.

Adding Directions

1. Select the ending destination in the legend or map first. Then select the arrows icon in the bottom right corner of the pop-up.
2. It will automatically create a new layer for the directions.
   

3. For the starting point “A” destination, start typing in the name of where you’d be coming from. If it’s marked in your map legend already, you’ll see the color and icon you chose (if any).

4. After selecting you starting point, it will show the route on the map.
   

5. To find the written directions and how long it will take, select the three vertical dots in the layer and choose “Step-by-step directions”.
6. You can change the transportation type by selecting the “Driving” icon in the legend. It will show options for:
   • Driving: it will automatically start here.
   • Bicycling
   • Walking
   • It doesn’t not show public transportation directions. The regular Google Maps will have to be used for that.

Saving and Viewership

The maps will automatically save and you will see them in your Google Drive as well as in the Google My Maps landing page.

It will be a private map to you unless you choose to share.

When selecting the share icon, a pop-up window will display letting you adjust the privacy and/or share it with your friends or family.

Also if you make a mistake while creating your map, you can undo it by selecting the arrow underneath the search bar.

What Do You Think?

That’s the basics of how Google My Maps works and how I use some of its features. What do you think? Will you use it to plan your next trip? Let me know in the comments! Also, let me know if you have any questions.

Here is one of the maps I created for my New Orleans/Royal Caribbean cruise trip back in January 2023.