For those who are frequently online, it seems the AI conversation is everywhere. And travel planning is no exception. Big corporations like Expedia, Booking, and Kayak are all using AI to help make recommendations that support your planning.
But there are also hundreds of travel planning tools that claim to be at your service (whether they're fully developed or not). Trying to flush out what's worth your time or not can be overwhelming. So I thought I would sift through the noise and help you narrow down a tidy little list of those I've found to be most helpful, fleshed out, and ready to serve today.
Here are the pros and cons of the tools that stood out to me.
My number one recommendation is ChatGPT. From setup to prompting I love interacting with this tool and here's why:
I can work with ChatGPT using natural and conversational language
There is no database of pre-built itineraries so every itinerary I've created has been personalized through an interactive approach to the planning process
Whether you want a deep dive into history, a restaurant recommendation for a particular city, or advice for a packing list, ChatGPT is available 24/7, with no ads, and no extra steps and you can have ChatGPT 3.5 for free or ChatGPT 4 for a monthly subscription. The conversation can be as deep or general, spontaneous or structured as you need.
As always and with any itinerary planning tool you need to back up all recommendations with your own research.
Planning with ChatGPT to design itineraries makes the process more customized, fun, and engaging than ever!
So what about all of the others? I've taken a look at each of these AI-powered sites and laid out the pros and cons for you in the list below.
- Roamaround.io certainly caught my eye with its sleek (and very purple) user interface that instantly serves up a five-day itinerary. While the free service offers options to refine the plan, these come in pre-set flavors like 'more outdoorsy' or 'family trip', which may not always hit the mark. For example, I found the Family Trip function a bit lacking in specifics - it won't ask you for your kids' ages. The platform ties in neatly with Kayak for hotels in the area. However, I noticed errors in the itinerary that had me visiting the same spot on different days for the same activity. All in all, a tool with room for improvement but it does give you a start in your planning.
- iplan.ai, this app offers a selection of cities to plan your itinerary around. Once you're past the occasional city waitlist hiccup, the customization is fairly straightforward, allowing you to tailor your travel times, companions, and interests. The budgeting options, although undefined - and possibly even offensive - with terms like "budget," "normal," and "luxury," try to cater to varying wallet sizes. However, don't expect the app to save you from potential tourist faux pas like visiting hotspots at crowded times. Your final itinerary pops up conveniently on your phone, shares easily, and links with Google Maps, but post-creation tweaks are minimal. It's free but be prepared for some ad dodging. All in all, iplan.ai is helpful, but still rough around the edges.
- Curiosio.com is truly the road less traveled. This platform uses its algorithmic horsepower to sift through the vast digital highway, picking up worldwide road trip plans in articles from the likes of Thrillist and Medium. While its scope spans just 24 countries (with Ukraine's inclusion raising an eyebrow given current events), its offering is thoughtfully divided between 'plan a road trip' and 'research before you plan'. With one-way and round-trip options this free tool is geared towards fuelling your international road trip dreams. It curates multiple trip plans at varying lengths and budgets. However, its itinerary merely lists sightseeing locations, linking to Wikipedia for details, and may leave you guessing why certain spots were flagged.
- Plantrips.net doesn't shy away from detail. This tool considers everything from packing lists to destination highlights. Every itinerary comes generously packed with hotel and restaurant options, each coupled with handy links. This, however, is where the journey gets a little bumpy: all links lead you off-site, and returning can feel like being stuck in a digital traffic jam as your entire itinerary reloads. But it was the most detailed out of all the other options.
And there you have it! The future of travel planning is shaping up and it's looking AI bright. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. As technology continues to evolve, so too will our options for easier, more personalized, and even fun-filled travel planning.
But enough from me, I'm eager to hear from you!
Have you tried using AI for your travel planning? If not, what's holding you back? Perhaps you've stumbled across another AI tool that needs to be on this list?
Please, hit reply and let's chat! The beauty of our community is in our shared experiences and collective knowledge. Your thoughts and experiences matter - to me and to all of us here in our TWI family.
Until next time fellow traveler!