I'll normally use street view to familiarize myself with an area when I'm heading there for the first time, especially for something like a vacation. It can be useful to see where your hotel (or a potential hotel) might be located, get a look at the approach and the area around it, visualize how far a walk it is to the nearest bus stop or grocery store, etc.

That way when you get there, you already have a little muscle memory that helps you know where to turn, which direction to head out of the hotel, etc.