TOOLS FOR TRAVELLERS

How to research and plan a vacation, right on your phone

- J.D. BIERSDORFER

Google Maps celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, but like Apple's Maps (released in 2012), it has moved far beyond basic navigation services and into travel planning. Both provide tools to bookmark your favourite places, read reviews, make reservations and see the points of interest around you.

Here's a guide to some useful tools for travellers.

KNOW YOUR PLACE(S)

When you search for and select a business in the app, both Google Maps (for Android and iOS) and Apple's Maps (for iOS) display a "place card" with the address, hours, reviews and other details about that location.

In Google Maps, tap the Explore tab at the bottom of the screen to see nearby places. On some restaurant cards, you can make reservations using the OpenTable booking service. Google usually includes an immersive Street View 360-degree photo of the area.

Apple's cards, where you can save and add your own notes, include buttons for the establishment's phone number, its website and other information. Tap the Search box and choose Find Nearby to see places around you. Apple's 360-degree view feature is called Look Around; tap the photo thumbnail on the map to open it.