Another Google Maps Fail: Madrid Bus Station Links to Hotel
Today I had to go to “Estación sur de autobuses” – one of the main bus stations here in Madrid. I wanted to go by bike and I didn’t know the way because I’m more used to Madrid’s great underground. So what to do? Of course, Google Maps.
The search query “estacion sur autobuses Madrid” delivered me instantly this Google Maps result:
I was satisfied with Google’s relevancy on this one until I focused on the display URL which reads www.reginahotelmadrid.com. WTF? I clicked on the link and it actually redirected me to the Hotel Regina in Madrid. The rest of the listing – meaning phone numbers and address – are the station’s and correct. Also the reviews are actually reviews of the bus station and not of the hotel.
So why did Google decide that the hotel web site is the right one to link to?
Possible reasons:
- The hotel is very close to the station? No it’s not. About 5 km away.
- There is no web site for the bus station? Yes there is an official web site. See the first organic result in the screen shot.
- The hotel is very close to the city center? Indeed it is very central.
- The hotel is very close to my location? It is just around the corner.
In the end I don’t know why this mistake occurs. Anyhow I know that this is not an isolated incidence but it seems to be a common Google Maps problem. I did another search on a Madrid train station and found another URL fail in the ten pack. Mix-ups can happen when both businesses have the same address but if this is not the case I can’t understand it.
Google, please work on that.
