What many Indian travellers don't know is that Google Maps allows users to download an entire city or country's map to their phone before leaving. Once downloaded, the map works completely offline, making it a handy feature for international trips.

The feature is especially useful when travelling through areas with poor network coverage or when mobile data isn't working. Instead of relying on an internet connection, Google Maps uses your phone's GPS, which connects to satellites rather than mobile data. This means that once you know the name or address of your destination, you can still get turn-by-turn navigation without needing internet, Wi-Fi, or a roaming pack.

How to download offline maps

Before leaving India for your trip, follow these steps:

Open Google Maps.

• Search for the city or country you are travelling to.
• Tap on the location name at the bottom of the screen to open the location card.
• Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
• Select 'Download offline map'.
• Adjust the area you want to download.
• Tap 'Download'.

Once you reach your destination, simply open Google Maps as usual. Your phone's GPS will continue to provide navigation using the downloaded map, even without an internet connection.

A few things to remember

• Before leaving India, save your hotel, airport, and other important places as ‘Starred locations’ in Google Maps for quicker access.
• Offline maps expire after 30 days. Instead of downloading them weeks in advance, do so closer to your departure date to ensure they remain available throughout your trip.