Barcelona uses GoogleMaps to locate available apartments for tourists

Wednesday 30 August 2006 by Edward.

Ever wonder where all those available apartments are, close to the tourist attractions? If you go to Barcelona, Spain, you won’t have a problem. BarcelonaPoint displays a map combining “special interest points” with apartment locations.

You pick the apartment icons closest to your point of interest. If, for example, you wish to visit the Grand Theatre of Liceu, at the corner of Rambla dels Caputxins and Carrer de la Unio, you can see immediately that the two closest apartment accomodations are at Ramblas-Plaza Real (3 bedrooms, sleeps 5) and at Cardenal Casanyas-Ramblas (1bedroom, sleeps 3). Each apartment icon is linked to more information (price, customer reviews, yearly availability calendar, amenities, extras, area description, places to see, etc.) and to contact details.

I can see this type of website quickly grow in number. For the rural tourist it would be a great tool for Bed & Breakfast accommodations. Further, the next mashup level would likely be for the location-based, GPS equipped, traveller.

Roger A. Brooks Rule 7 “The Rule of Perpendicular Signs” states that ‘20/20 signage equals $$$.’ Good, clear signage attracts tourists. That’s the first thing visitors see when they enter your community, writes Brooks. For website maps, step 1 is to make sure you’re on the map. Step 2. Make sure you’re on a website map that “counts” — that is, one that shows, for example, how close you are to tourist attractions.

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