Restrict google maps/use strictBounds to autocomplete by region

Question

I am using Google Maps Autocomplete and trying to restrict my results only to the Balkan region. As Google Maps currently have an option to restrict autocomplete to just 5 countries, this is not an option for me - trying to find a workaround. I found a solution for the EU, but cannot work out how to set it for the Balkan region.

function initialize() {
  var options = {
    region:'EU',
    types: ['(cities)']
   };
  new google.maps.places.Autocomplete(document.getElementById('autocomplete'), options);
}

Wondering if strictBounds can be an option?

Answer 1

For anyone coming to this question over a year later. You would need to use the bounds option for limiting to an area.

Here is my code for restricting to a rectangle area over Europe.

var defaultBounds = new google.maps.LatLngBounds(
    new google.maps.LatLng(35.929631, -25.022766),
    new google.maps.LatLng(71.344983, 49.860046)
);

autocomplete = new google.maps.places.Autocomplete(
    document.getElementById("element-id"),
    {
        bounds: defaultBounds,
        strictBounds: true,
        types: ['(regions)']
    }
);

You can use this tool to get your own rectangle area http://www.birdtheme.org/useful/v3tool.html