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Welcome to the 'How to plan a trip with Google Maps' video course. In this video, you'll learn how to plan a trip using Google Maps, and how to use the app to arrive at a specific time. To follow along, you should be signed into your Android phone and Google Maps with your Google Account. This demonstration uses the Google Maps app on an Android phone, but the steps will be similar on an iPhone, or in a browser on a computer.
To work, Google Maps needs to know your location. You can turn this on and give the app permission to access your location in the Settings menu of your device, under Location. Android phones have the Google Maps app installed. If you can't find it, you can download it from Google Play. For iPhone, download the app from the App Store and install it on your device.
To get started, find the Google Map icon on the Home screen. By default, it will be in the Google folder. Tap on it, then tap on Google Maps to open the app. A map appears, with your location marked by a blue circle in the centre of the map. Google tracks your Google Map searches and your trips, and will personalise the map for you to highlight places you often go and the roads you most often use. You might set suggestions for local businesses and attractions on the map too.
To start a trip, you need to specify a destination in the Search here bar at the top of the map. In our example, we are going to find out the best way to drive to Taronga Zoo from our location in Darlinghurst. Tap in the Search here bar and type Taronga Zoo. A list of suggestions will appear and you can tap on the one you want to open the map. For this demonstration, however, we'll tap the magnifying glass icon on the keypad in the bottom right. The map will zoom into Taronga Zoo's location, and a pop up will appear at the bottom of the screen. This pop up shows some pictures of the zoo and other information. For now, tap on the blue Directions button.
The map will zoom at again. At the top, you can see your location, and Taronga Zoo, Sydney. The map shows a dark blue line. This is the currently suggested route to get to the zoo. Somewhere on the line, you should see a dark blue box that shows the travel time and any toll costs. At the time of our example, the box shows 23 minutes and $3.31 in tolls to travel from Darlinghurst to Taronga Zoo. At the bottom of the screen, you can see a pop up with some options. By default, Google Maps gives you directions you can follow while driving. You can scroll and tap the icons in the row at the top of the pop up to see other kinds of directions. There are options for public transport, walking, and cycling.
In this demonstration, we are going to drive, so let's double-check the Drive is selected. The word at the very top of the pop up should be Drive. In the middle of the pop up, you can see how long the trip will take, the distance, and if tolls apply. In the bottom left corner of the screen is a blue Start button. You can tap this and Google Maps will begin giving you directions. Before we do this though, let's look at a couple of other options that you might find useful when planning a journey. You can see directions from a different location to where you currently are. Tap your location at the top of the screen. A blank page appears. You can search for an address here. We'll use Randwick in our example. Type Randwick and tap the magnifying glass icon on the keypad in the bottom right. The map will zoom out and show a route from the middle of Randwick to Taronga Zoo. Because we are not currently in Randwick in this example, instead of tapping the Start button, we'll scroll the pop up to see a preview of the directions. The first direction is Head west on Allison Rd towards Greenstead Lane. Scroll to see the next direction, which is Keep right to stay on Alison Rd. Previewing a journey can be a useful way to anticipate any tricky turns and exits, especially if you have to use a freeway or motorway. When you have finished previewing the journey, swipe down from the top of the pop up to collapse it and return to the route view.
If you need to be somewhere at a certain time, you can also ask Google Maps when you should leave. At the top of the screen, tap the three vertical dots. A drop-down menu with some options will appear. Tap on 'Set depart or arrive time'. A pop up will appear showing a clock that you can set. First, tap Arrive at the top of the clock. Then choose a time that you want to arrive at the zoo. For our example, we'll say we want to get to the zoo tomorrow at 11:00 AM. Set the clock to 11:00 by scrolling up or down on the hours and minutes. Then tap the right arrow below the clock to set the day to Tomorrow. When you finish setting the time and date, tap the Set button at the bottom of the pop up. The pop up disappears and the map zooms out to show the whole journey. In our example, the journey is still set from Randwick to Taronga Zoo. Now the pop up at the bottom of the screen has some new information. Instead of a definite time, it will say something like, 'Typically 22 to 45 minutes'. Under this, it says, 'Leave on Friday, 6 December, 10:15.' If you are following along on your device, the date and time will be different, and will show the best time to leave from your location, to get to the zoo by 11:00 AM. You are almost all set to start getting Google Maps directions to anywhere you need to go.
However, there is one more setting that can help save you money. At the time of our Randwick to Taronga Zoo example, there is a toll cost of $9.72. You can avoid this cost by taking a route that doesn't use any toll roads. Of course, this will take longer, but it might be worth the savings. Whenever you ask Google Maps for directions, you will get a second option that avoids tolls, if it is available. The map has a white box on it that, in our example, offers a toll-free route to the zoo, saving us nearly $10. Tap the white label to turn it dark blue. You can see the route and estimated travel time changes to avoid the toll roads. Google Maps has many other features, and it's worth spending some time tapping on the different icons to see what they do.
If you end up feeling a bit lost, just tap your phone's Back button. Keep doing this until you get back to a plain map with the Search here bar at the top. Then you can start over. To find your location on the map again, tap the compass icon on the right so that it turns blue. You've learned how to plan a trip using Google Maps, including when to leave so that you arrive at a location at a certain time, and how to avoid tolls. If you are unsure about any steps, you can rewind the video or click the chapter headings to jump to the start of a chapter. If you're ready to move on, there are many other courses to explore on Be Connected.