Google Places API types functionality..
I think the option you are looking for according to the docs is "geocode" ( http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/javascript/reference.html#AutocompleteOptions ):
var options = {
types: ["geocode"]
};
you can also use the country restriction
example:
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?libraries=places&sensor=false"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
function initialize()
{
var input = document.getElementById('searchTextField');
var options = {
types: ['(cities)'],
componentRestrictions: {country: "ca"}
};
autocomplete = new google.maps.places.Autocomplete(input, options);
}
google.maps.event.addDomListener(window, 'load', initialize);
</script>
<input id="searchTextField" type="text" size="50" placeholder="Anything you want!">
now you can easily add a dropdown with a selection of cities and re-filter the cities, when onchange of the dropdown occurs :)