Maps are a big part of travel – without them you have no clue where you’re going. So it is no surprise that visitors want to see maps on travel websites. Recent research by PhocusRight shows that US travellers prefer to see pictures, videos and maps on travel websites, and they value the information from these more than recommendations by friends. More and more travel websites are incorporating photos and video, but the quality of maps tends to lag behind. Good thematic maps (showing things like timezones, distances between cities etc) and topographic maps (Google maps has set a new standard here) go a long way in teaching visitors about a new destination.