To take advantage of the offline feature in that scenario, you’d have to load your destination while connected. Let’s say you’re at home, ready to hit the road and reach your destination safely and on time. If you’re looking for more ways to make Google Maps more useful, here are 9 hidden Google Maps features everyone should know. The only way to use Waze directions while offline is by loading your route while you’re still able to connect to a steady network. And the whole experience seemed snappier and more accurate than any previous time I’ve tried to talk to the app. It correctly suggested I take the M6 motorway and noted there are tolls along the way. I live in the U.K and asked the Assistant to plot a navigation to the Lake District National Park along the fastest route. Because the Google Assistant is bursting with AI algorithms, you can simply tell it what kind of trip you want to have.įor example, you could specify to avoid the highway or simply take the fastest option. Last year, Google Maps changed up the way it calculates routes to take into account real-time traffic conditions as well as eco-friendly options designed to save you money on fuel. It's also worth noting that Google Maps also has a built-in suggestion carousel, which should also speed things up. This faster voice input works for getting directions but also finding places to go, such as restaurants, coffee shops and more.