BA, Bariloche, Mendoza Get Google Map ‘Directions’
Google Maps now provides its “Get Directions” feature for the City of Buenos Aires and, apparently, Bariloche and Mendoza.
The feature doesn’t appear to cover anything outside the cities and it’s not clear yet if it covers everything in each city. But in my limited tests the feature seems to work very well, at least for well known streets in well known neighborhoods in the City of Buenos Aires. Even more limited tests seemed to show it working in Bariloche and Mendoza.
For now, the feature provides mapping data and advice only in “Car” mode, meaning it doesn’t seem to prioritize distance when suggesting routes. In the above photo, for example, I mapped out a route going from the French cafe Oui Oui (Nicaragua 2161) in Palermo to the Palermo Starbucks (Malabia 1738).
Google’s first suggested route was for me to take Nicaragua and go out of my way over to Niceto Vega, then turn back on Armenia and move toward Malabia. Google says this route is 3.2 kilometers. It’s possible (but doubtful) that this route would be faster in a car than by taking a shorter, 2.6 kilometer route through Gorriti, but Google doesn’t suggest this shorter route first.
Regardless, Google does suggest two shorter, alternative routes, giving people a range of options on how to best get to the destination point. The program, in my testing of it for BA streets, works brilliantly. It may have flaws for lesser known areas but it’s still an excellent choice for both drivers and pedestrians who want to figure out how to get around this amazingly endless city.
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[...] 11 June BA, Bariloche, Mendoza Get Google Map ‘Directions’[The Argentine Post] The feature doesn’t appear to cover anything outside the cities and it’s [...]
It also works for Córdoba, and for longer distances – it gives me directions from Córdoba to Corrientes and to Salta.
Hey Joss,
Wow, that’s fantastic. Good news.
Taos
What’d be nice is if they added Street View to this. I just used it to help plan my upcoming trips to Paris and Barcelona. Very helpful for checking out the neighborhood around my hotel choices and for getting a visual idea of the routes I’m supposed to take from the train stations. It’s no comparison to simply being there, but it makes that first visit a lot less intimidating. Plus, after a long flight it’s nice to have a few landmarks to guide you in a strange city until you can put your bags down.
And heck, it’d be nice to just check out the rich BA architecture!
Hey Sam,
Good point. I know they’re working on this in Brazil but I don’t know about Argentina. I’ll look into it.
Saludos,
Taos
Great news! That is lovely!!!!!!
Unfortunately, they haven’t updated the double direction now on Pueyrredón, nor the change in direction in Azcuénaga…That could be downright dangerous in Azcuénaga, especially if you are turning from Juncal. I’m wondering if there is a way to notify Google on this.
Fred in Buenos Aires
Google still needs to work on Argentina’s maps. Buenos Aires several options, for instance has the one you can find at the Buenos Aires government web site which is excellent and I still use from time to time. Also, http://www.comoviajo.com offers trips by bus, car and walking, different combination’s, prices and the amount of blocks you are willing to walk in order to take a bus.
I know this one is new and that Google Maps won’t offer the kind of services comoviajo provides. I am a Google supporter so I’m giving them time to work this one out but they need to hurry up or else I might go back to Clarin’s application or http://mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar
According to this article http://www.fayerwayer.com/2010/01/argentina-empresas-desarrollan-aplicaciones-basados-en-google-maps/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fayerwayer+%28FayerWayer%29
Brazil and Argentina will be the next Latin American countries to get Google Maps Street View after the recent addition of imagery to Mexico. There are already two websites that already provide interactive 360 degree panoramic imagery in Argentina.
Mapplo- http://www.mapplo.com/ and Fotocalle which seems to unavaliable at this moment http://www.fotocalle.com/