Google enhances trip-planning tools as travel searches boom

Google is launching new features to help consumers plan a trip – or just begin to dream about one – as searches for travel-related queries are tracking above pre-pandemic levels.

In the Q1 earnings call for Google’s parent Alphabet last week, Google chief business officer Phillip Schindler says, “People are seemingly back on the move – whether they’re searching for planes, passports, or their next vacation destination, Q1 travel searches were above Q1 ‘19 pre-pandemic levels. Query growth in categories like ‘beaches and islands’ were up 27% versus 2019, while ‘vacation rentals’ rose 37%. Compared to last year, global searches for ‘passport online’ jumped 80%, while searches for ‘travel insurance’ surged 2X.”

On Google Flights, users can now track prices between two cities for travel in the next three to six months. When the system detects a lower-than-typical fare, the alert is sent. Prior to this update, the price alerts could only be enabled for travel on specific dates.

Google is also updating its tools related to road trips. Now using the Explore tool users can click “Explore nearby” to narrow the search to places within a few hours driving distance. Clicking on a destination brings up information on things to see and do, average hotel prices and monthly weather data.

To help users narrow down where to stay in a city, Google has added “interest layers” to the map. These filters allow users to choose “dining,” “shopping” or “sightseeing” to see which parts of the city offer the most options. Hotel searches can also now be done based on proximity to a landmark or address – after entering the location users can toggle to show properties within a 15- or 30-minute trip by foot or by car. 

And to keep track of properties to consider, users can now save any hotel or vacation rental. Saved properties appear in a “Saved” tab on mobile or in the right-hand panel on desktop.

Google says flight searches by people in the United States between January and mid-April for travel between June and August show a growing interest in international travel. Five of the top 20 destinations being searched for summer vacations are European cities (London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Lisbon). That’s a stark contrast to last year when Cancun was the only international city in the top 20. 

Some other data of note – search interest in “luxury hotels near me” is more than double the 2019 level and searches for “single cruises” are up more than 250%. Searches for “passport appointments” grew by more than 300% in the first three months of this year.