Sheila at Geeky Traveller noted the other day that “Google could put out toilet paper and I’d use it.” Because the fact is: Google rules.

Vagabondish is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read our disclosure.

But did you know the plain ol’ Google search box you use every day is good for a whole lot more than you’re likely asking of it? Forget going to ten different sites to get your travel info quickly. Just Google it!





Here are twelve essential Google travel shortcuts you might have missed:

#1: Get Local Weather

Type: “weather [city name or zip/postal code]”

Example: “weather 02818” or “weather london”

#2: Check Flight Status

Google automagically pulls flight data from FlightStats.com. All you have to do is enter the flight number.

Type: [flight name and/or number]

Example: “aa123” or “united 959”

#3: Currency Converter

Type: “[amount] [first currency] to [second currency]”

Example: “1000 usd to euro”

… or:

“500 yen to pesos”

#4: Find the Local Time Anywhere

Type: “time [city/state/province/country]”

Example: “time tokyo”

#5: Identify People, Foreign Objects, and More

A great tip from Lifehacker:

Google Image search results show you instead of tell you about a word. Don’t know what jicama looks like? Not sure if the person named “Priti” who you’re emailing with is a woman or a man? Spanish rusty and you forgot what “corazon” is? Pop your term into Google Image Search (or type image jicama into the regular search box) to see what your term’s about.

A while back, someone told me of a fruit I’d never heard of called “rambutan”. Plugging the phrase into Google image search revealed that it’s a bright red, quirky looking fruit that’s not likely indigenous to the U.S.:

#6: View Airport Conditions

Type: “[airport name/code] airport”

Example: “logan airport”

#7: Convert Temperatures

Type: “[temperature] [C/F] to [F/C]”

Example: “40 C to F”

#8: Convert Distances

Type: “[value] [first distance unit] to [second distance unit]”

Example: “400 kilometers to miles”

#9: Convert Driving Speeds

Type: “[value] [first distance unit] to [second distance unit]”

Example: “70 kph to mph”

#10: Find a Phone Number

Find a Person:

Type: “[person’s name], [city or zip/postal code]”

Example: “john smith, london”

Find a Business:

Type: “[business name or type], [city or zip/postal code]”

Example: “apple store, manhattan”

#11: Find Local Food and Restaurants

Type: “[food type], [city or zip code/postal code]”

Example: “pizza, london e1”

#12: Track Your Packages

Wondering where that extra pack of socks Mom was supposed to forward you is?

Type: [any USPS, UPS, or FedEx tracking number]

Example: 706479610009807

VoilÃ ! No longer must you login to each shipping carrier’s official website.

Bonus: Google Translator

Google’s online language translation service is fast, free and a breeze to use.

For example, asking Google to convert Vagabondish’s “What We’re About” statement:

Vagabondish is an online magazine that discusses offbeat backpacking and travel news, advice, how-to tips and tall tales from around the world.

… to Russian reveals:

Vagabondish Ð­Ñ‚Ð¾ Ð¾Ð½Ð»Ð°Ð¹Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ñ‹Ð¹ Ð¶ÑƒÑ€Ð½Ð°Ð», Ñ‡Ñ‚Ð¾ Ð¾Ð±ÑÑƒÐ¶Ð´Ð°ÐµÑ‚ offbeat backpacking Ð¸ Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð¾ÑÑ‚Ð¸, ÑÐ¾Ð²ÐµÑ‚Ñ‹, ÐºÐ°Ðº Ð½Ð° ÑÐ¾Ð²ÐµÑ‚Ñ‹ Ð¸ Ð²Ñ‹ÑÐ¾Ñ‚Ð½Ñ‹Ñ… ÑÐºÐ°Ð·ÐºÐ¸ Ð¸Ð· Ñ€Ð°Ð·Ð½Ñ‹Ñ… ÑÑ‚Ñ€Ð°Ð½ Ð¼Ð¸Ñ€Ð°.

Sure, it’s not perfect but if you’re in a pinch a thousand miles from home, it beats paying $300 for Rosetta Stone software.

What other Google shortcuts or hacks do you use in your travels? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below!