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Say Farewell to Your Google Trips App This Summer

June 06, 2019
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3 min read
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Say Farewell to Your Google Trips App This Summer
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Google Trips — Google's travel companion app — will go offline on Aug. 5. Many of the app's most popular trip-planning features will be folded into the company's other services, such as Google Maps and Search.

Trip pages organize travelers' information and allows them to save their reservations and itineraries to their phone, all in one place.

Since launching in 2016, the app has offered users access to curated itineraries and provided recommendations for tourist destinations, activities and restaurants, along with a page containing hotel and transportation reservations culled from linked Gmail accounts. Google Trips also compiled useful, practical information about a destination, too, such as tipping customs, emergency contact numbers and currency conversion rates under the "Need to Know" page.

While living abroad for school this year, Google Trips was a life saver. The app made finding cool things to do during vacations and weekend trips a breeze, and when my schedule was too busy to plan things in advance, having recommendations for food, museums and landmarks all in the same place made me feel like a seasoned traveler even at my most unprepared. During a two-week-long, six-city itinerary I planned for spring break, I loved having my reservations organized for me, which saved me from having to search through my inbox to check departure times (and make sure I wouldn't miss my next bus). I'm not exaggerating when I say that, if not for this app, I might still be stuck in Central Europe.

The reservations page will be integrated into Google Maps in an update coming soon, according to the company.

Fans of the app may be sad to see it go — I know that I am — but its features, fortunately, aren't disappearing. A Google spokesperson told The Points Guy, "We're evolving the Google Trips experience from a standalone app to an integrated part of trip planning across Google."

Google is foregoing the app to instead allow travelers to plan trips through the company's other services, where they already turn for travel information. The app's Reservations page, which aggregates users' bookings for travel and lodging, will be replaced by a similar function in the Google Maps app, and travel recommendations will now be found under the "Explore" page on both Google Maps and on Google.com/Travel.

Even with Google Trips coming off the app store, Google has been rapidly expanding its travel services in a number of other ways. There's Google's updated hotel search platform, for example, which began allowing travelers to search for vacation rentals alongside traditional hotels and resorts this spring. Google Hotel Search and Google Flights are both now under the Google.com/Travel umbrella, which — after some anticipated updates — will offer much of the one-stop convenience I love about Google Trips.

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Photo by JESHOOTS.COM via Unsplash.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.