Google adds new features to travel planning tools

Google is adding tools to its travel portfolio to simplify and expedite the trip planning process.

Now when users search top worldwide travel destinations, Google will offer relevant suggestions on things to do, day plans or travel articles in Google Search.

As flight and hotel bookings are made and confirmations come into Gmail, the recommendations will become more customized in organic search results on Google.

In a post on its blog, Google includes the example of a traveler searching “Austin” who has already booked a hotel in that city – the results would then show things such as flight prices, weather and events for the specific dates of the hotel booking and restaurants near the property.

Next month Google will update its “Your Trips” tool so it consolidates prior travel research in one place. Flight price tracking, hotel searches and saved places will all be accessible in Your Trips.

Google is also expanding its Google Flights’ price trend capabilities to include travel during December holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s. The price trend service launched in August with tips for Thanksgiving travel only.

It uses historical prices and prices available so far this year to indicate if a given price is unusually low, typical or high and whether it is likely to rise or fall in the next five days.

Google says this capability will appear worldwide over the coming weeks when users search for flights on their phones.

Finally, Google is adding a “location score” for hotels that summarizes its neighborhood characteristics based on information from Google Maps. The score will include details such as distance to bars, landmarks and public transportation. It will also provide information on how to get to and from the airport.