✅ For Travel Companies
Routes allow your clients to reach destinations when the path is unimportant but there's certain must-see stops along the way.
In this article:
Reducing your Route's file to the 22-waypoint limit
How to add a GPX file to Vamoos
Enable Routes for specific trips
Introduction to Routes
- Routes are best suited for reaching a specific destination, or set of destinations when the path being taken is not important
- In most instances, we recommend using GPX tracks rather than Routes however, Routes offers limited turn-by-turn instructions on shorter and more simple routes (22 waypoints)
- In simple turns, waypoints are stopping points on a journey
- Using a third-party navigation system (Google Maps), your clients will be able to see the different stops you have set on the map
How to create a GPX file
- To add your routes to Vamoos, you need to create a GPX file which you can then upload onto Vamoos
- We have explained how you can do this below
Using Google Maps & MapstoGPX
- On Google Maps, insert your starting location and ending destination, with any stops on the way
- You can then choose which mode of transport it is (driving/cycling/walking) and select your desired route
- Once you have selected the route you would like to use, press the 3 dots to generate your link for sharing
- You then need to select the Copy Link button which will copy your unique directions link.
- Once you have the link copied, head to mapstogpx.com which is a free online converter
- Here, you can paste the link you have copied into the search bar
- Make sure you select Route Points to ensure you are creating a Route file
- Then select the LET'S GO button and your GPX file will then begin to download onto your device
Reducing your Route's file to the 22-waypoint limit
- If your Route is too large or has too many waypoints, you will need to reduce it to the 22 waypoint limit. To do this, in a new tab, open Kurviger.de
- Click the Import button
- Here, you can upload the GPX file you have previously created
- Make sure you insert the number of waypoints you would like to reduce it to in the Limit waypoints box (22 is the limit on Vamoos)
- Press Import
- You will then see your uploaded route displayed
- If you want to, you can click on the Magic Wand to snap all route points to the nearest road
- You can also manually remove any waypoints along the route if you feel they are unnecessary
- Click Export
- Make sure you are exporting the file in a GPX format
- Then, select Route
- Press Export to download your route file
- You now have a Route file that is ready to upload to Vamoos
- Now you have created your GPX file, you can then go ahead and upload it to Vamoos
- To add your GPX file to Vamoos, go to the Shared section in the top menu bar and select POI
- Then press the orange + CREATE POI button
- In the Type box, you can select to change it from a Point of Interest to Route
- You can then start filling in the relevant information
- GPX Routes work in the same way as Points of Interest (POIs), so you can set a Range (in km) for them. This will trigger your route to show up on your client's trip
- To upload the GPX file you have created, press the ATTACH / LINK button
- You can also choose to select existing POIs you'd like to show along the route
- This allows you to highlight key attractions or stops along the track for your clients
- You can then give your route a name using the Label box
- You may also want to give the route a description so your guests have all the information they need
- To attach an image, PDF or URL to the route for additional information or personalisation, press the ATTACH / LINK button
- Press CREATE
Enable Routes for specific trips
- Once you have successfully added your Route to Vamoos, you can turn these on or off within an individual Vamoos Trip
- Go to your Vamoos List and either create a new trip or open an existing one
- Navigate to the Locations section on the left-hand side menu and select POIs
- Here, you will be able to see the Routes visible that are within range of this trip
- You can always manually turn on/off Routes for specific bookings by scrolling to the right-hand side and using the on/off switches
Renaming the Routes icon
- You can always rename the Track icon to something that is more personalised to the way you are using the feature (e.g. Driving Routes or Cycling Routes)
- To do this, go to the Shared section in the black bar at the top of your screen and to the POI section
- Then press the MANAGE ICONS button
- You will then see the Route icon and you can rename this to whatever you would like
FAQs
- Q: Are Routes available offline?
A: Yes they are! However if your guests would like to use an external navigation app (i.e. Apple or Google maps) then they would require mobile data or wifi connection
If you have any further questions or need help with this, you can contact us at support@vamoos.com.