19. Traveling with Maps and Other Travel Apps
In this chapter, you learn how to use your iPad when you’re traveling.
Exploring Other Travel-Related Apps
Your iPad is a handy device when you’re at home or out and about. It’s even handier when you’re traveling—you can use the Maps app to generate maps and driving directions, and there are all sorts of other fun and useful travel-related apps you can use.
Traveling with the Maps App
Apple’s Maps app can show you how to get just about anywhere from wherever you are. It displays maps of any location, as well as driving directions for how to get there.
Other Driving Apps
Apple’s Maps app isn’t the only driving/map app available. There’s also the popular Google Maps app; it offers a few more features and is sometimes more accurate than Apple’s Maps app. Waze Navigation & Live Traffic is also popular because it offers crowd-sourced live traffic info to find the fastest route to where you’re going.
Display a Map
The Maps app is, as the name implies, a maps app. Enter any location—street address, intersection, major landmark—and it will generate a map of that location.
From the iPad’s Home screen, tap Maps to open the Maps app.
Tap within the Search panel and enter the location you want mapped. You can enter a street address (accompanied by city and state, if you like), intersection (10th and Main, for example), landmark (such as Brooklyn Bridge or Wrigley Field), or business. Alternatively, you can tap to display nearby restaurants, fast food, gas stations, coffee shops, groceries, hotels, bars, or shopping centers.
As you type, the Maps app displays suggested matches. Tap the one you want to map, or continue typing and then tap Search on the onscreen keyboard.
The app maps the location you entered, which is pinpointed in the middle of the map. (If you mapped a public location, there’s also an information panel on the left.) Use your fingers to drag the map left, right, up, or down, or expand/pinch your fingers to zoom in to and out of the map.
Tap the Home (arrow) icon to return to (and map) your current location.
Generate Driving Directions
One of the most useful aspects of the Maps app is to generate driving directions to a given location. It’s good to know how to get to where you’re going before you leave home!
From within the Maps app, tap within the Search panel and enter the address or description of the destination location.
The location is mapped, and a descriptive panel appears on the left side of the screen. Tap the Directions button.
Suggested routes are displayed from your current location. (To start your journey from a different location, tap My Location and enter a different address.) Tap the route you want to take; this route is mapped onscreen in dark blue. (Alternate routes are in light blue.)
Tap the Go button for your selected route to display turn-by-turn instructions.
Walking and Mass Transit
Maps can generate directions if you’re walking or taking mass transit. Just tap the Walk or Transit icons at the bottom of the directions panel to change your mode of transport.
Swipe right to left in the instructions pane to advance to the next step. Swipe from left to right to return to the previous step.
Tap End to cancel the directions and return to the Where Do You Want to Go? panel.
Maps in Your Car
If you have an iPad with cellular connectivity, you can use the Maps app in your car to generate turn-by-turn directions while you drive. Because most iPads have only Wi-Fi connectivity, this isn’t an option for most users. Instead, use the iPad to preview your route while you’re still inside and connected to Wi-Fi.
Exploring Other Travel-Related Apps
The Maps app isn’t the only iPad app useful to travelers. This section takes a look at other travel-related apps you might want to consider.
Discover Travel Apps
Here are just a few of the many travel-related iPad apps in Apple’s App Store. You can search for specific apps by name, or search for travel to see all available apps.
Find and book hotel rooms, airline flights, rental cars, and more with the Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, HotelTonight, Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity, Trivago, and similar apps.
Use the TripAdvisor app to learn more about what’s available at a given destination—and book your travel plans, too.
Use a hotel chain’s app to book lodging directly.
Use airline apps to book flights directly.
Use the Yelp app to find and read reviews for local restaurants.
Use the OpenTable app to make a restaurant reservation online.
