Google announced two new travel tools on Friday: a hotel price tracking feature and an AI assistant in Gemini to locate forgotten packing items. The updates build on existing services like Google Flights and AI Mode. They aim to help users save money and handle travel mishaps.
Google introduced the hotel price tracking option on its Search results page and google.com/hotels. Users can toggle tracking for specific hotels, receiving email alerts for price drops during chosen dates. This expands on last year's city-wide tracking, which covered only one preferred hotel per location. On desktop, the toggle appears after searching a hotel; on mobile, it is under the Prices tab. Google also enhanced AI Mode with a feature for finding nearby products in stock. Gemini acts as an agentic AI, calling local stores to check availability and deals for items like polarized sunglasses. Users prompt it simply, such as 'I forgot to pack polarized sunglasses. Where can I get some nearby?' The AI Mode tool first launched on Search in November and is now rolling out in the US over the coming weeks. These features join Google Flights and other tools to streamline vacation planning.
