I am using a jquery plug-in for Google’s API 3 called gmaps3 (http://gmap3.net). It has lots of functions from adding a simple marker to “clusters”. The examples are great and the provided documentation simplifies what would be a tedious process. However, despite the extra help, I find myself scratching my head at some of Google’s syntax.
Currently, I am going to use this for a standard “search for location” page. So far it has worked out well.