Google Maps Review

Find your way almost anywhere in the world with Google Maps.
By: Bob Tedeschi

Category: Travel
Cost: Free
Platforms: Android only

Overall Rating:travel app rating
Multiplatform:travel app rating
Lots of function for nothing:travel app rating
Fun and easy to use:travel app rating
Solves travel need or challenge:travel app rating

Find your way almost anywhere in the world.

Why we like it -- Google Maps can be a traveler’s best friend. Thanks to a recent update, Google Maps can show you 3-D images of buildings around you -- in around 100 cities -- so you can quickly orient yourself in an unfamiliar place.

Outside of those locations, area maps load quickly and you can adjust the perspective by tilting or rotating your phone. One of the app’s best features is its newest: offline storage. Type in the location of a place you expect to visit, and the map will load even when you have no network connection.

The application offers free turn-by-turn navigation, whether you're on foot, in a car or using mass transit. And if you lose your connection while in transit, Google Maps will still re-route you if you make a wrong turn.

Note: users of other platforms can get to the basic Google Maps information by using their mobile browser.

Improvements we'd like to see -- The quality of Google's driving directions can be spotty at times.

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