A stress-free guide to the holidays with Google

The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, but they can also be a time of stress and overwhelm. Between shopping for gifts, planning gatherings, and traveling to see loved ones, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But Google offers several features that can help simplify your holidays and everyday life.

Finding the perfect gift

Gift shopping can be time-consuming and stressful, especially when you’re searching for a specific item. Google Maps can help take the guesswork out of gift shopping.

You can search for items directly in Google Maps, such as “best gingerbread” or “board games,” and the app will display nearby stores that have those items in stock. This feature reduces the need to run from store to store, saving you time and energy.

You can also use Google Lens to find product information and reviews while shopping in-store. Just take a photo of a product to find details like pricing, availability, and customer reviews. This can help you make more informed purchasing decisions and ensure you're getting the best value for your money.

Planning festive fun

If you’re looking for fun holiday activities or simply need some inspiration for things to do, Google Maps, powered by Gemini, can help. Search for something like “fun winter activities in London,” and Gemini will curate a list of options based on your query.

You can then use Maps to get additional information about each place, such as parking availability and user reviews. Google Maps can also help you preview routes using Immersive View, check traffic simulations, and even assess the parking situation before you head out.

Navigating winter travel

Winter weather can be unpredictable, making travel during the holidays even more challenging. Google Maps offers several features to help you navigate winter travel safely and efficiently.

• Immersive View: This feature allows you to preview your route, check traffic simulations, and even assess the parking situation before you leave.
• Weather disruptions: You can view and report weather-related disruptions like unplowed roads, low visibility, or flooding, helping yourself and other drivers stay informed.
• EV charging stops: If you drive an electric vehicle, you can plan your trip with charging stops in mind. Add your car’s make and model to Maps, and the app will automatically show compatible charging stations along your route. You can plan the entire trip, including charging stops, on your phone and send it straight to your car.
• Trailer-friendly routes: If you’re towing a trailer, whether for a holiday trip or other reasons, Maps offers trailer-friendly routes that avoid low bridges and tunnels. Enter your trailer dimensions into your car with Google built-in, and Maps will generate appropriate routes. This feature is available on the 2025 Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, and GMC Yukon, with more vehicles being added in the future.

Keeping track of holiday treasures

With all the gifts and online orders being shipped during the holiday season, keeping track of packages can be a hassle. Gmail offers a package tracking feature that helps you stay organized.

• Summary cards: Gmail has summary cards that appear at the top of your emails and provide real-time updates on your packages. To opt in to this feature, simply click “Allow” on the bottom of the summary card.
• Gmail settings: If you haven’t received a summary card yet, you can opt in to package tracking through your Gmail settings. Go to the Gmail mobile app, open the menu, then tap Settings. In general settings (or data privacy for iOS), you can find the option to enable or disable package tracking.

Secure and convenient checkout with Google Pay

When you’re shopping online, Google Pay can help make the checkout process smoother and more secure. Google Pay offers several buy now, pay later options through partners like Affirm, Zip, Afterpay, and Klarna. This gives you more flexibility in how you manage your holiday spending.

Google Pay also offers virtual card protection, which conceals your actual credit card number during online transactions to protect you from potential fraud. This feature is available for American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Discover cardholders.

With these Google features, you can simplify your holidays and focus on spending quality time with your loved ones. Remember to check out the “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights to find the best deals on flights this holiday season.

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