5 ways this Google Maps AI feature helps avoid tourist traps

Google Maps’ new AI chat tool came out just in time for my trip to Mumbai. I had to plan long trips from the North, where I stayed, to the South and explore all the must-see places in between. This was the perfect opportunity to test Ask Maps to its limits – because Mumbai does the same to you. I’m proud that I made the best of this useful AI feature, and I found some amazing ways to make it more difficult for me.

The map operates on the basis of mechanical numbers – distance and time – without evaluating the hours you spend stuck in traffic or in the sun. But AI understands those nuances. With access to huge amounts of data (from maps and beyond), it can plan according to your weather or trip, or any other preferences.

You can ask it to plan a half-day in Udaipur with minimal walking in the hot sun, and it will suggest locations close to each other or commuting options that avoid the heat. In my case, I asked her to plan a slow evening at Marine Drive with a late night stay where on the way back home there were some eateries serving local cuisine that were open even after midnight.

This way, the itinerary became more suited to how I wanted to spend my time, rather than having to match their needs.

Google Maps already shows how crowded a place is throughout the day. When planning an entire day or weekend itinerary using AI, you can tell it to avoid peak hours, especially at city hotspots. This trick works perfectly for the busiest cafes in Mumbai, where there are usually long queues and no pre-booking option. We arrived at a spot just before the crowds and immediately got a table.

I had used this trick manually before when my family went to visit the Taj Mahal, but it required a lot of coordination on my part. Now that the AI ​​is generating the perfect itinerary, it would be better to ask it to avoid rush hours for more enjoyable trips and photo sessions.

Ask Maps is essentially a Gemini built on the vast data collected by Google Maps through street photography and user reviews. This makes it easy to ask for restaurant and other recommendations, and you can narrow your search as much as you want – from an old-school café serving vegetarian food in South Bombay to one that’s on the way to your next stop. I certainly couldn’t do this before AI, at least not within a few seconds.

When it gives you options, ask it to explain why it suggested those places and in that order. This forces the AI ​​to compare options instead of just listing them. This inquiry mode helps you filter out generic suggestions that are popular but not worth it and find really interesting and underrated places. This is a way to make AI work smarter instead of lazier.

Finding a restaurant is all about the cuisine you’re in the mood for, but tourist destinations rarely have that ambiance. It usually becomes “what’s convenient right now” and turns into a checklist rather than something you fully experience.

You can combat this by asking AI to organize your day to suit your vibe. For example, one weekend we started very early and wanted the first few hours to feel quiet and slow. After a hearty breakfast, we wanted something more lively, say, exploring a bustling local market. Then we wanted to end the day on the same peaceful note that we started it with, so we planned a quiet evening by the sea.

This gave Maps a rigid structure to work from, so its suggestions were completely in line with what we wanted. They just clicked back and forth a bit and almost instantly.

The AI ​​in Google Maps has access to a ton of quality data from user reviews – information you won’t find on listings. Such as if the road outside a store is paved, if there is adequate parking, or if the toilets are clean.

Shifting the focus from what works well to what doesn’t really work for people, especially at popular tourist destinations, gives you a better picture of what to avoid or what is acceptable. I don’t mind visiting on a hot morning, but if a place smells bad or the staff are rude, I want to know in advance and, in most cases, skip it.

It’s almost like reading balanced three-star reviews on Amazon; They give you a true picture of what to expect without leaning on either side.

These have proven to be my most useful Google Maps tips. They not only make searches faster but also smarter and more personalized to my needs at that time. Ask Maps is something I can’t imagine living without anymore – as soon as I open Maps, my thumb automatically reaches for it.

Do you have any tricks of your own? Let us know in the comments below.