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Map websites are a whole lot more than just online versions of paper A-Zs. They can help you find your way, provide reams of information about where you're going and what you'll be doing when you get there, and even provide local weather forecasts. In this article, we show you what you can do with maps on the internet, how to tailor your searches and how to make sure you get the most from each service.

We'll cover everything you need to know about the big and comprehensive Google Maps site. And if Google Maps doesn't provide exactly what you are looking, you can try one of the other 10 online services in our round-up.

1 - Get a Google Account

Many of the most useful features of Google Maps, such as the ability to save lists of your most recent searches and the customisable My Maps tool, are available only if you're signed into a free Google account. If you use Google Mail, you already have a Google account. You'll just need to click on the Sign In link at the top-right of any Google Maps page. To create a new account, go to the secure page at www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount and enter the requested information. Then click on the Maps link on your Google Accounts page, or go straight to http://maps.google.co.uk.

2 - Get targeted results

When you search for a map on Google Maps, give as much specific information

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as you can to get the most focused map. For example, typing 'Oxford Street, London' (without the quote marks) into the search box just shows a map of central London, while '100 Oxford Street, London W1' shows a map of Oxford Street itself. Where possible, you should enter a street number or a postcode.

3 - Faster exploration

Think of Google Maps as an enormous map of the world in which you move around. You don't have to wait for whole pages to reload if you want to view adjacent areas. To explore this vast map with the greatest ease, you should ignore the up/down and zoom icons onscreen and just use your mouse. To move around, click on the map, hold down the left button and drag your mouse. To zoom in you double-click, and to zoom out double-right-click.

You can save even more time by navigating with your keyboard. Use the arrow keys to pan left, right, up and down. To pan out even wider us the Page Up, Page Down, Home and End keys. Use the '+' key to zoom in and '-' key to zoom out.

4 - Find routes faster

Ignore the Get directions link below the Google Maps search box. There are quicker ways to discover your best route. Run a normal map search for a location and a pop-up bubble will appear. Then click on To here or From here. Type another location and click Go. The page will reload to show a map with the driving route highlighted in purple, plus step-by-step directions in a column on the left. Click on one of these steps to see more details.

Another short cut to getting directions is to use the word 'to' (without quotes) in the Google Maps search box. Simply type your start location, then 'to', and finally enter your destination - so, for example, type '100 Oxford Street London W1 to Fourth Avenue Harlow Essex' (without quotes).

You can use the 'to' several times to generate a route that includes a number of specific stops. However, to avoid confusing Google, use 'from' and colons as well. Rather than typing 'Oxford Street to Harlow to Cambridge', enter 'from: Oxford Street to: Harlow to: Cambridge'.