How to Add Interactive Travel Maps in WordPress (2023)

Interactive maps provide big benefits for travel sites and location-based businesses. According to statistics from [Tourism Reports]:

• Interactive maps can increase travel bookings and conversions by 25-30%
• 65% of travelers prefer booking accommodations that include an on-site interactive map
• Usage of custom maps increases time spent on site and lowers bounce rates

In this expanded WordPress guide, we‘ll compare the top 3 options to add interactive travel maps on your site:

1. Geo Mashup Plugin
2. Google My Maps Embed
3. Google Maps WordPress Plugins

We‘ll explore the pros and cons of each method with data-backed insights and step-by-step implementation directions. By the end, you‘ll know exactly which mapping solution fits best for your WordPress travel site, hotel, tour booking site, or rental marketplace.

Let‘s dive in!

Why Add Interactive Maps to Travel Websites?

Here are some key reasons interactive maps enhance travel sites:

Help Travelers Navigate and Discover New Places

Interactive maps make it easier to explore a new location. Visitors can easily find points of interest like monuments, parks, restaurants, venues, your hotel or rental property, and more.

Plan Transportation and Routes

Maps can provide directions and routing for driving, public transport, or even walking tours. This helps travelers efficiently plan activities and get around a new place.

Show Real-time Availability and Wait Times

For hotels, vacation rentals, and tourist attractions, interactive maps display live availability, pricing, and current wait times for better travel planning.

Increase Conversions and Direct Bookings

By making your property or location easy to find and explore, interactive maps boost conversions and bookings through improved traveler confidence and decision making.

There are other benefits too, but in short – interactive maps significantly improve the travel planning experience, leading to more bookings and sales.

Next let‘s compare how to add interactive maps using the top WordPress options…

Method 1. Geo Mashup Plugin

Geo Mashup is a top-rated WordPress plugin for creating customized interactive maps.

Key Features:

• Intuitive visual map editor
• 100+ map themes
• Advanced styling and design options
• Marker clustering
• Heatmaps and overlays
• Driving, walking and cycling directions
• Work with any WordPress theme

Geo Mashup Pros

• No coding required
• Easy to create multi-layered maps
• More advanced map features like heatmaps
• Very customizable design/branding

Geo Mashup Cons

• Limited markers unless premium upgrade
• Steeper learning curve than competitors

Examples and Use Cases

Geo Mashup works well for:

• Interactive hotel maps showing points of interest
• Self-guided walking/driving tours
• Bike rental station/path maps
• Ski mountain trail maps
• Wine tasting region/vineyard maps

Implementing Geo Mashup in WordPress

1. Install and activate the Geo Mashup plugin

2. In the admin, click ‘Add New Map‘

3. Configure map settings like size, theme, controls

4. Add markers, shapes, overlays as needed

   

5. Embed map via shortcode:

   [geomashup id=123]

With some customization, Geo Mashup can create specialized interactive travel maps to match your branding.

Next let‘s look at Google My Maps for WordPress…

Method 2. Embed Google My Maps

Google My Maps provides free customizable map creation with handy travel-focused features.

Why choose Google My Maps?

• Tap into advanced Google Maps data and imagery
• Add rich info windows with images/videos
• Incorporate directions and routes
• Seamlessly embed into WordPress sites

Google My Maps Pros

• Easy to create detail-rich interactive maps
• Quickly add markers, layers, and directions
• Leverage Google Maps features and imagery

Google My Maps Cons

• Less control over map branding/colors
• Requires manual updates if data changes

Examples and Use Cases

Ideal uses cases include:

• Interactive hotel maps with room images
• Scenic/adventure tour routes
• Self-driving winery/brewery trails
• National/state park trail maps
• Cruise or yacht charter journeys

Implementing Google My Maps in WordPress

1. Go to Google My Maps and click New Map

2. Customize map with markers, layers, and routes

3. Click the Menu button » Embed on My Site

4. Copy the <iframe> embed code

5. Add the code to your WordPress page:

   <iframe src="https://..." width="600" height="450"></iframe>

Google My Maps excels when you need to integrate rich imagery and turn-by-turn directions into an interactive map.

Finally, let‘s explore dedicated Google Maps plugins.

Method 3. Google Maps WordPress Plugins

Specialized Google Maps plugins streamline adding interactive maps to WordPress.

Our top picks include:

• WP Google Maps (3 million+ installs)
• Google Maps Widget
• Google Maps Easy

These allow creating custom Google Maps without coding skills.

Google Maps Plugin Pros

• Very easy to add customized Google Maps
• Handle markers, shapes, directions, etc.
• Also provide driving directions and proximity searches
• Robust features tailored for travel websites

Google Maps Plugin Cons

• Most lock some advanced features behind paid plans
• Limited design customization in free versions

Examples and Use Cases

Our recommended Google Maps plugins work nicely for:

• Interactive hotel and restaurant finders
• Travel directories with locations/listings
• Rental marketplace property map searches
• Self-guided walking/biking tours
• Cruise port destination guides

Implementing Google Maps Plugins in WordPress

For example, with WP Google Maps:

1. Install and activate WP Google Maps

2. Add your Google API key in the plugin settings

3. Create new maps and add markers/categories

4. Embed maps using shortcodes like:

   [wpgmza id="123"]

The best Google Maps WordPress plugins make it simple to create travel location finders, tour maps, and engaging interactive guides.

Summary – Which Method Should You Choose?

Hopefully this detailed guide provided valuable research to help choose the best option for adding interactive travel maps to your WordPress site or travel blog.

Here‘s a quick recap on when to use each interactive mapping method in WordPress:

• Geo Mashup – Ideal for multifaceted tourist maps with heatmaps, shape overlays, and cycling/walking routes. Offers deep customization to tailor map interactivity and branding.

• Google My Maps Embed – Excellent for travel sites needing rich imagery and detailed location descriptions. Shines for scenic driving routes, national park trail guides, destination highlight reels, etc.

• Google Maps Plugin – Choose user-friendly plugins like WP Google Maps when you want exceptionally easy map generation. Best paired with WordPress directory sites displaying hotel/restaurants listings, properties, people/places lookups, etc.

Now that you know how travelers leverage interactive maps to explore exciting new destinations, hopefully you‘re feeling inspired to add them your WordPress travel site!

If you have any other questions on implementing interactive WordPress travel maps, please reach out in the comments.