Adventure is a State of Mind
Did you know you can use Google Street View to virtually visit places around the world? It’s a fun way to kill time and entertain yourself, but it’s also a very handy tool when planning a trip.
Virtual Reality
I recently heard someone talking about how we soon will not have to actually travel anywhere because, with virtual and augmented reality technology, we can experience an area just like we’re really there.
I don’t agree with that statement – I think virtual and augmented reality have a very long way to go in providing a complete travel experience. For example, many of my travel memories are related to smells – both wonderful and unpleasant – as well as other physical sensations, such as the damp chill on my skin from walking through incredibly dense fog in England.
I don’t think anyone can claim to have visited an area if they’ve only done so through technology. That doesn’t mean, however, that I’m against using the available technology to enhance our real-life experiences. To the contrary, I actually think it can be an incredibly useful tool in planning our travel adventures. And with that in mind, let’s focus on how Google Street View can be one of the most useful tools in your trip-planning toolbox.
Google Maps
If you haven’t used Google Maps, you might want to take a moment to check it out before you read any further. Google Maps includes the usual map search features and directions between points using various forms of transportation, including by foot, by car, and by public transportation, such as trains and buses.
In addition to using Google Maps for directions, you can also use it to figure out how long it will take to get between locations. For example, if you are wondering how long it will take to get from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London using public transportation, Google maps will not only show you the possible routes, but it will tell you the different bus numbers as well as how long the entire journey will take, including time spent walking between bus stops. (An important note, if you need to be precise about the time, make sure to click on “leave now” near the top to put in the specific time you plan to travel. Otherwise, you might get results showing how long it would take you at 4:00 in the morning as compared to traveling during the morning rush hour, which can be significantly different!)
With Google Maps, you have access to several different types of maps, including a satellite photo. These are all great tools, but for the purposes of this blog post, we’re going to specifically talk about the Street View option.
How to Use Street View
If you want to use Street View on your computer, use your mouse to click on the little yellow man (or “Pegman”) in the lower right corner and drag him to a location on the map. The Street View photo of the street should appear once you “drop” him at the location you’re wanting to look at.
If you’re using your phone, click on the layers icon, but instead of changing between the map types, choose the Street View option. Once you’ve done that, tap where you want to look on the map to drop a “pin.” In the lower part of the screen, a photo will appear. If you touch that, you should then have the full-screen Street View perspective.
Once you’re in Street View, whether you’re on your computer or your phone, it should be about the same experience from then on. You can click on the white arrows on the road to move further in either direction. You also can hold and drag to turn yourself around and/or to look at the buildings or landscape along the side of the road. In essence, this allows you to take a virtual walking tour through the area you chose on the map!
One benefit to using Street View on your phone is you also have the option of using the tilt feature to look around. To do this, tap on the menu (three dots) in the upper right corner of your phone screen. From there you can choose “tilt to look,” which will allow you to move your phone around rather than dragging your finger on the screen, although you will still need to tap the arrow on the street to move forward or backward.
With Street View, it is also possible to split the screen so you are looking at a map as well as a view of the street. The little yellow Pegman will show you where you are on the map to help keep you oriented as you “walk” around the streets.
The Lay of the Land
When planning a travel adventure, maps are an invaluable tool. They help us figure out how to get between places and the distance between those locations. This is especially helpful when deciding where we want to stay. How far is it from the activities we plan to do? How far is it from public transportation? Is it close enough to restaurants, cafes, and bars that we can walk in the evening? All of those questions and more, a map can help answer.
Street View can give you even more nuanced and detailed answers to those questions. Is there a busy street between your hotel and the nearby restaurants? Is there a stoplight with a pedestrian crossing? Is there on-street parking and is it metered? Is there a sidewalk along the road leading to the beach or will you have to walk on the street for part of the way?
Knowing all these seemingly small details ahead of time can help you maximize your time and prepare for the literal “travel” portions of your travel adventure.
Safety
It’s important to most of us to research the safety of an area before we visit. In addition to doing your research about the safety of the area you are wanting to visit, you can use Google Street View to get an intuitive feel for an area by checking it out virtually.
When my husband, Greg, and I are traveling to an area where we have never been and are considering where we want to stay, Greg is quick to hop onto Street View. (I’m more the type that likes to read about an area first.) He types in the address and takes a virtual walk down the street.
Now, obviously, this is not going to show how many pickpockets might be in the vicinity of the apartment we are considering renting, but it can give us a feel for how far we would be from a metro stop and whether there are a number of stores and restaurants that are likely to be open in the evening. It also gives a sense of whether the neighborhood is mostly made up of residences or industrial warehouses or exotic dance clubs. Each of these, of course, would create a different vibe that we may or may not be seeking in a neighborhood.
The power of imagination makes us infinite.
John Muir
Tie Breaker
I’m a big believer that if you are trying to make a decision and get stuck between two choices, such a “tie” usually means that the choices are virtually equal in your mind, and you will ultimately be happy with either one. But people still often need something to break the tie.
Google Street View can be just the tiebreaker you need. For example, let’s say you have a trip planned to London but you’re trying to decide where to stay. If you’ve looked at the pros and cons but just can’t decide between two options – Covent Garden or Shoreditch – you can use Street View to walk around the neighborhoods. Take a virtual walk from the hotels you’re considering to the nearest public transportation or a nearby park. Maybe as you’re virtually walking down the street, you’ll come across a restaurant or pub. You can get online and check out their menu to see whether it’s someplace you think you’d enjoy.
As I said before, it’s not the same as actually being there, but it’s often close enough to give you an intuitive feel for how comfortable you’d feel there. And that intuitive feeling can often be enough to break the tie and help you decide where you want to stay.
Verification
Street View and the satellite view on Google Maps can help to verify that what you are looking for actually exists. Thankfully, making reservations someplace that doesn’t exist isn’t something we often have to worry about, but if it is a problem you encounter, it’s likely to have a big impact on your plans.
This problem can develop in two different ways. The first is making a reservation someplace that used to exist but no longer does. For example, if you are traveling to someplace that has been impacted by a natural disaster, such as a wildfire or a hurricane. The hotel or Airbnb where you made reservations might no longer exist, and if you are booking through a large company, such as Hotels.com, there may have been a delay in updating their information. If the photos on Google Maps and Street View are current, you will be able to see that the building no longer exists.
This problem can also occur in the other direction. One of my cousins was traveling in Europe years ago before the internet, and when she and her traveling companion weren’t able to find the hotel they had booked, they eventually realized that the building under construction they kept passing was their not-yet-completed hotel.
When using Street View, it will tell you on the screen how long ago the photos were taken. You usually can tap next to it to see photos taken on other dates. This can show you how the area has changed over the years or even how it looks different during different seasons of the year. It’s a little bit like a time machine!
Preparing for Your Visit
I have a terrible sense of direction and tend to get as lost in virtual worlds as in the real one, but Greg insists that his virtual tours have helped him to more quickly know his way around an area when we arrive. I have to admit, since we began using Street View, there have been times when we have visited a place neither of us has ever been, and without using a map, Greg almost immediately is able to tell me which direction to head from our hotel to get to the museum or restaurant we want to visit. It’s almost like magic!
The Usual Precautions
As with all technology, keep in mind that sometimes information is out of date. Google is constantly updating Street View, but it’s a big world! The section of the map you’re exploring might have photos that are several years old. A lot can happen over that period of time, so there’s no guarantee that everything you saw will still be there when you visit the area in reality.
Also, keep in mind that the photos in Street View are just a snapshot in time. On the computer, you might be looking at a street with trees in bright autumn colors and lots of people hanging out in a city square. If you visit in the winter, however, the trees will be bare and the city square might be empty. Additionally, some neighborhoods can be very different during the day as compared to at night. For example, if you are considering a hotel located in a business district, Google Street View might have had pictures with sidewalks crowded with pedestrians. At night, however, the neighborhood might have a much more lonely and isolated feel to it. This could be a significant concern for someone traveling alone.
Have you used Google Street View before? How can you use it to help you plan your next travel adventure? Or can you use it to inspire you to visit someplace new?
Author
