diff --git a/googleplaces/__init__.py b/googleplaces/__init__.py
index 59f0850..4760d76 100644
--- a/googleplaces/__init__.py
+++ b/googleplaces/__init__.py
@@ -161,13 +161,20 @@ def _validate_response(url, response):
                                   GooglePlaces.RESPONSE_STATUS_ZERO_RESULTS]:
         error_detail = ('Request to URL %s failed with response code: %s' %
                         (url, response['status']))
-        raise GooglePlacesError(error_detail)
+        raise GooglePlacesAPIError(url, response['status'], error_detail)
 
 
 class GooglePlacesError(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+class GooglePlacesAPIError(GooglePlacesError):
+    def __init__(self, url, status_code, *args):
+        super(GooglePlacesAPIError, self).__init__(*args)
+        self.url = url
+        self.status_code = status_code
+
+
 class GooglePlacesAttributeError(AttributeError):
     """Exception thrown when a detailed property is unavailable.