Using Google Maps to Decide Which Hotel to Pick

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In an earlier post on choosing the right hotel card, I went over how to use Google Maps to find how far a hotel is from the airport.  You can also use Google Maps to find out how far an attraction is from the hotel.

Because this is a useful tip when you’re looking for hotels, I’m posting about it separately!

How To Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right For You
Do You Know How Far the Hyatt Regency Maui Is From the Airport?

How to Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right for You Series:

How Far Is the Airport: Using Google Maps

You can use Google Maps to see how far the hotel is from the airport and sightseeing.

Step 1 –  Search for Hotel

Enter the hotel name in the Google Maps search box.  Click on 1 of the search results.

Using the Hyatt Regency Maui for my example, I entered “Hyatt Regency Maui” in the Google Maps search box.  Then I chose the Hyatt Regency Maui from the search results.

How To Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right For You
Step 1 – Search for Hotel

 Step 2 – Get Directions

Click on “Directions.”

How To Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right For You
Step 2 – Click on “Directions”

Step 3 – Enter Starting Point

Type in your starting point. In this case, I would enter Maui airport.

How To Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right For You
Step 3 – Enter Starting Point

Step 4 – Click on the “Car” Icon

Immediately after you type in a starting point, you’ll get directions.  Click on the “car” icon if you’re renting a car.

How To Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right For You
Step 4 – Click on the “Car” Icon

Step 5 – Click “List All Steps”

To see the detailed directions, click on “List all steps.”

How To Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right For You
Step 5 – Click “List all steps”

You’re given detailed directions from the Maui airport to the Hyatt Regency Maui.

How To Find Out Which Hotel Card Is Right For You
You Won’t Get Lost Using Google Maps

How Far Is a Restaurant: Using Google Maps When Driving

Step 1 – Search for Restaurant

Enter the restaurant name in the Google Maps search box.  Click on the search results.

Using Leilani’s for my example, I entered “leilanis maui” in the Google Map search box.

Step 1 - Search for Restaurant
Step 1 – Search for Restaurant

Step 2 – Get Directions

Click on “Directions.”

Step 2 - Click on "Directions"
Step 2 – Click on “Directions”

Step 3 – Enter Starting Point

Type in your starting point.  In this case, I would enter Hyatt Regency Maui.

Step 3 - Enter Starting Point
Step 3 – Enter Starting Point

Step 4 – Click on the “Car” Icon

Immediately after you type in a starting point, you’ll get directions.  Click on the “car” icon if you’re renting a car.

Step 4 - Click on the "Car" Icon
Step 4 – Click on the “Car” Icon

Step 5 – Click “List All Steps”

To see the detailed directions, click on “List all steps.”

Step 5 - Click "List all Steps"
Step 5 – Click “List all Steps”

You’ll be given detailed driving directions from the Hyatt Regency Maui to Leilani’s.

Get Something Tasty to Eat
Time to Eat

How Far Is a Restaurant: Using Google Maps When Walking

Sometimes you won’t have a rental car or a restaurant is within walking distance.  You can use Google Maps for walking directions too!

Repeat Steps 1 to 3 Above

Search for the restaurant, get directions, and enter your starting point. 

Step 4 – Click on the “Walking Person” Icon

Immediately after you type in a starting point, you’ll get directions.  Click on the “walking person” icon if you’re walking.

Step 4 - Click on the "Walking Person" Icon
Step 4 – Click on the “Walking Person” Icon

Step 5 – Click “List All Steps”

To see the detailed directions, click on “List all steps.”

Step 5 - Click "List all Steps"
Step 5 – Click “List all Steps”

You’ll be given detailed walking directions from the Hyatt Regency Maui to Leilani’s.

You Can Walk Off Those Calories
You Can Walk Off Your Meal

Using Google Maps Search Nearby Option

If you don’t know what restaurants are in the area, you can use Google Maps “Search nearby” option.

Step 1 – Search for Your Location

Using the Hyatt Regency Maui for my example, I entered “Hyatt Regency Maui” in the Google Maps search box.  Then I chose the Hyatt Regency Maui from the search results.

Step 1 - Search for Your Location
Step 1 – Search for Your Location

Step 2 – Click the Search Box

Click inside the search box once.

Step 2 - Click the Search Box
Step 2 – Click the Search Box

Step 3 – Click on the “Search Nearby” Icon

You will either get a blue “Google Search nearby” icon or a “Search nearby” box will appear below the 1st search box.

Click on “Search nearby.”

Step 3 - Click
Step 3 – Click on the “Search nearby” Icon

Step 4 – Type What You’re Looking for

I entered “restaurants near Hyatt Regency Maui.”  But got directed back to the Hyatt Regency Maui.

So I entered “restaurants near 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina, HI 96761” which is the address of the Hyatt Regency Maui.  This time, I got results.

Step 4 - Type What You're Looking For
Step 4 – Type What You’re Looking For

Step 5 – Click on “List All Results”

To see the detailed results, click on “List all results.”

2014-04-24_11-30-50 2
Step 5 – Click “List all results”

You’re given detailed results of restaurants near the Hyatt Regency Maui.

We Choose
We Chose Leilani’s.  What Would You Choose?

Bottom Line

Some folks might have a hard time choosing a hotel when they travel.  Emily and I like to use Google Maps to help make our decision.

Google Maps is a great tool to find out how far your hotel is from the airport.

Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

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