Google Maps' Ask Maps Feature Turns Gemini Into a Planning Tool for Restaurants, Trips, and Errands

In March, Google rolled out what it called its biggest update to Google Maps in years. Part of it brought the app closer to Apple Maps, with clearer views of highway exits and guidance on which lane to be in. The piece that set it apart, though, was a deeper tie to Google Gemini through a feature called Ask Maps, which lets people hand the AI a range of tasks in plain language. BGR's writer has used it for the past few months and offers a practical tour of what it does.

The core idea is that you don't have to phrase a request in any particular way. Ask Maps draws on the recommendations, reviews, photos and other details users have added to the platform over the years. The writer's example: a vegetarian dinner for four at 7 p.m., somewhere between work and midtown. The old route meant searching for vegetarian restaurants, reading reviews, checking prices and photos, then confirming a table. With Ask Maps, you describe the requirements and Gemini searches Maps for places that fit. You can then pick one yourself or keep asking follow-up questions to narrow the list.

The writer says one favorite use is building saved lists. Wanting to go thrift shopping, they ask Gemini for vintage shops in an area such as Hackney, in London, have them pinned, and add them to Maps as a list. The request can be narrowed to shops open on Sundays or ones carrying particular kinds of vintage clothing. You can ask for the best-reviewed options or the ones people call hidden gems, then use Maps' label feature to save the keepers. Gemini can also be asked to explain its choices, weigh user reviews, or look beyond the usual recommendations. The writer turns to this combination when hunting for coffee shops, furniture stores and antique shops.

Trip planning is the other big use. You can work in either the Gemini app or the Maps app, but Maps is where a full trip comes together. On a long road trip, the AI can suggest lesser-known stops that meet requirements like pet-friendly policies or outdoor seating. One sample prompt asks for a highly rated local coffee spot along your route with a drive-thru, opening before 7 a.m., adding no more than 10 minutes of travel. Gemini cross-references the route with real-time traffic. On multi-stop drives it can consider scenic viewpoints, EV charging hubs and lunch stops, and it can adjust the plan if a restless child needs a playground or bad weather calls for something indoors. It pulls from data across Maps and other Google apps and services.

Maps listings for popular spots often carry a few "Know Before You Go" bullets, covering popular choices, what to avoid, when to arrive, or quirks like a hidden bar, a secret menu or the right cocktail to order. Ask Maps or Gemini goes further by summarizing the most important reviews for a handful of places you select, helping you judge which suit a night out, a full day or a special celebration. The writer notes that Amazon offers a similar review-summary feature for shoppers.

The tool also handles practical questions. Rather than guess whether "street parking" means plenty of spots or a nightmare, you can ask Gemini to check recent visitor reports, including lot size, valet requirements, garage height limits, and stroller and wheelchair accessibility. In large complexes, multi-story centers or historic districts, it can point to the best entrance or drop-off spot. For busy places, it can try to report queue conditions, counter service speed, reservation policies and standing-room limits, drawing on recent reviews, since the standard information card doesn't capture how fast a line moves.

Remote workers get a use too. You can ask for a laptop-friendly cafe nearby with details on outlet access, noise levels at certain times, and seating big enough for a working meeting.

The writer is candid that AI still has flaws and that hiccups happen. Because answers rest on user-generated reviews and other crowd-sourced information, it makes sense to verify anything important before committing to a visit.