There must be millions of travellers worldwide that are keen on documenting their travels in some way or another. Even before the existence of online check-ins and GPS, people keep track of their travels through photographs. The concept of checking in online makes travelling even more exciting. Saving the exact location associated with photos has probably been the essential trend in Travel.

I have been an avid user of online check-ins since the evolution of smartphones. I have used different apps to record our travels. I have also made use of social media check-ins to log my whereabouts. I’m still using one of the apps I’ve had, and it somehow reminds me of where I checked in. But the fascinating way of keeping track of your travel is the timeline by Google Maps.

If you turn on location history on the Google Maps app, you will likely leave your footstep wherever you go. This has been the case with us, particularly when we’re on a road trip. I was not aware of it in the beginning. Most of the time, my husband uses Google Maps to find some roads to take. When we travel by car before the conception of handy GPS, I remember he always had a map or maps in the car. It was tedious because we had to stop several times to find our way on the road.

When I started receiving a monthly email of our timeline, I discovered how convenient it was to trace our way on the map. When we forget the name of a place or where we were on a specific date, we search on our location history and there it is. I know that some people may consider this way too public, but I think it’s the nature of being online, and it is one’s choice to take a risk. I don’t habitually post pictures along with my check-ins, though. Only when it is of any help to the general public.

Have you been making use of Google Maps Timeline with your travel or whereabouts? I would like to know how you use it and if it helps you in any way.