Google’s lesser-known travel apps

The headlines are full of news about Google Glass, futuristic eyewear that has the search and alert capability of a smartphone and could revolutionise travel by providing instant, geographically relevant information about unfamiliar areas on the go. But until the expensive device hits the market at the end of 2013, Google has a few lesser-known and more affordable apps to help travellers learn about their destination. The apps are free, useful and – to be frank – far less geeky.

Alternatives to Glass
Google Now is an Android app that suggests things you might be interested in based on personal data, such as events in your calendar, your search history and your travel patterns. For instance, if it discovers an upcoming boarding pass and hotel reservation in your Gmail account, it will alert you on the day of departure to the status of your flight, provide a traffic report from your location to the airport and, after you touch down, present driving directions between the arrival airport and your hotel. Once you reach a destination, it can suggest nearby restaurants based on your past selections, and sometimes will even recommend dishes to try. The app may be iPhone-ready before summer, and the Android version only works in the US and UK so far.