Instagram update turns it into an even better holiday planner TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Instagram update turns it into an even better holiday planner By Hamish Hector published 21 July 2022 Is Insta the new Google Maps rival? (Image credit: Meta) Audio player loading… If you're looking for a new place to grab a bite to eat or get your hair done then forget turning to Google Maps – it's time to open up Instagram. The photo and short-form-video-focused social media platform just got a new update for its maps feature that makes it even easier to find popular spots, whether they're nearby or in a potential holiday destination. To open the app's updated map you can either use Explore to search for specific services or to search in a specific area, or you can tap on a location tag on a post or a story to find other nearby destinations. Once on the map, you can move around to find spots and view Instagram content that's been tagged there, or, if you're after something specific, you can use filters to find bars, hotels or salons, among other things. The map update should already be rolling out to Instagram users on Android and iPhone, so you probably have it downloaded, but to be sure we'd recommend heading to the Google Play Store (opens in new tab) or App Store (opens in new tab) to check if your app has an update waiting to install. Analysis Instagram is your new holiday planner With Instagram's focus on aesthetics, it can be a great way to search for holiday destinations – and with this new update to maps we can see it becoming an even better option, as it will let you find popular and hidden-gem cafes and restaurants to help make your trip feel that little bit more special. And it's not just holidays – these apps are becoming the perfect tools for all sorts of major events. If you need more evidence, check out our Software Editor Daryl Baxter's article on how TikTok helped him plan his wedding. Will you travel using Instagram or Google Maps? (Image credit: Shutterstock / Kite_rin) We're not the only ones starting to look beyond more traditional reviews and searches. As noted by Google's Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan during Fortune's Brainstorm Tech 2022 event (opens in new tab), more and more people are turning to lifestyle apps to find what they're looking for (via TechCrunch (opens in new tab)). Raghavan revealed that, according to Google's internal studies, "almost 40% of young people" (those between 18 and 24, in the US) don't turn to Google Search or Maps, they go to TikTok and Instagram. Given this trend, it's no surprise that Instagram would want to capitalize on this interest and improve features like maps. We'll have to wait and see what updates it rolls out next, but don't be surprised if discoverability continues to get plenty of love. Looking for reasons to stick with Google Maps? Here are five great hidden features that Google Maps can offer you. Hamish HectorHamish is a Staff Writer for TechRadar (@Hamish_Hector (opens in new tab) on Twitter) and has been writing about tech for almost five years. He now lends his experience to cover news and reviews across everything on TechRadar (from Computing to Audio to Gaming and the rest). In his free time, you'll likely find Hamish humming show tunes while building Lego or playing D&D with his mates. See more Software news TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1You may not have to sell a body part to afford the Nvidia RTX 4090 after all2PC gamers are shunning high-end GPUs – spelling trouble for the Nvidia RTX 40903Beg all you want - these beer game devs will not break the laws of physics for you 41000TB SSDs could become mainstream by 2030 as Samsung plans 1000-layer NAND5Micro-LED 4K TVs aren't trying to kill OLED, they're aiming at projectors1We finally know what 'Wi-Fi' stands for - and it's not what you think2Brave is about to solve one of the most frustrating problems with browsing the web3A whole new breed of SSDs is about to break through4Logitech's latest webcam and headset want to relieve your work day frustrations5Qualcomm explains why phones will soon kill off DSLRs – and it has a point Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)