AI usage has expanded into many corners of daily life. Many folks are using chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini to help with both complex and simple tasks, including supporting mental health conversations, brainstorming sessions for creative work, and assisting with budget and grocery planning. But what about travel planning?
It is becoming more popular for people to use chatbots to help with travel planning, it’s true. But with these services still developing and ironing out kinks, the question becomes: Can you really trust AI with travel plans?
Pros and Cons of Using AI to Plan Your Trip
Some travellers love the efficiency and novelty of collaborating with AI for planning purposes. Others may worry about accuracy and privacy. Both stances are valid, as engaging with tools like ChatGPT to assist with travel planning has various pros and cons that range from neutral to potentially deal-breaking.
Pros:
● Engaging with an AI chatbot is significantly faster and more efficient than traditional planning. LLMs can generate travel ideas almost instantly, saving hours you would otherwise spend looking through blogs, forums, and guides.
● AI chatbots can offer personalized suggestions. Suppose you introduce your specific taste and preferences to the chat. In that case, AI can adapt its suggestions based on your designated needs (or help balance the needs of a travelling couple or group).
● If you’re torn between a mountain trip, a city weekend, or a beach hang, AI chatbots can lay out the options side by side, helping you to decide faster and better. For those prone to indecision, having everything in one application can be beneficial, not to mention the capacity of some chatbots to solve problems by chatting things through with their users.
● When time is scarce, using a chatbot is extremely convenient. For busy people, skipping deep-dive research can be a huge relief.
Cons:
● The results may be inaccurate. AI chatbots often still have problems generating accurate information and fact-checking before sharing results.
● Information may be outdated. Several of the most popular chatbots still don’t have access to the latest data, meaning real-time information about flights and accommodation is rarely available.
● Results may be generic. If you’re looking for true hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path recommendations, chatbots may not be the way to go.
● Your chat information may not be private, and any data shared with a chatbot could be at risk for other uses beyond your knowledge.
Uses of AI for Trip Planning
As long as you do fact-checking and follow-up research, AI can give you a great overview/starting point for trip planning (all in one place).
Destination Recommendations
You can prompt chatbots to help you decide on a destination depending on what you’re looking for.
● By vibe. Are you more of a beach or culture person? Or maybe both. AI can suggest spots that match your mood.
● By climate. Some people can’t take the heat or cold. AI can help recommend destinations based on climate preferences.
● By budget. Chatbots can usually recommend destinations with lower costs of living for those travelling on a tight budget.
● Visa availability constraints. Some travel destinations are off limits depending on the strength of your passport. Chatbots can also help create recommendations, keeping in mind bureaucracy-based factors.
Just remember to always double-check that the place exists and is in the region you wish to travel to, that the chatbot’s recommendations fit your actual travel dates, and that any visa-requirement information is up-to-date and accurate.
Where to Eat
If you’re hoping to eat like a local, chatbots may not be the best source for finding restaurant recommendations. Most chatbot applications can, however, recommend popular places in your destination, including big names that have received Michelin stars or have won gastronomy awards.
An AI chatbot can also help you get a clear idea of what kind of food you’re likely to find in local restaurants, including traditional dishes or famous variations. You may also be able to find recommendations for local food markets if you feel like sampling local ingredients.
Restaurant recommendations should always be verified ahead of time, including whether the restaurant still exists, up-to-date opening hours, and whether the menu has undergone any larger changes.
Budgeting
Not only can your favourite chatbot make recommendations to fit your budget, but it can also help you stretch your budget to its limit and make the most of the trip.
If you’re a traveller who likes to keep daily costs down, but enjoys a splurge on special activities or meals, AI can help break down various options in each cost category so you can plan your splurging accordingly.
How to Pack
Sometimes it can be mentally taxing to determine how to pack for a trip, especially if you have limited space (or no suitcase at all if you’re taking a budget airline). AI chatbots can help. If you want a quick handle on how to best pack for the season or typical weather in your destination, you can get a great breakdown in the blink of an eye.
Take the recommendations in stride and use common sense. If the list doesn’t include “underwear”, don’t finish packing without it just because it wasn’t on the AI-generated list.
Using Chatbots Carefully for Your Travel Plans
AI chatbots can be undeniably useful for trip planning, but they must still be handled carefully. Discrepancies in accuracy pose one major shortcoming, followed closely by privacy concerns. Chatbots often collect user data, including IP addresses, location information, or browsing history.
The best way to use AI chatbots to plan your trip? Utilize it as a first draft in various areas of trip planning. Yes, it can generate a lot of great ideas about potential destinations, budget tips, and packing lists, but travellers should never fully rely on the trip advice of a chatbot. Always do additional research, especially before making any official bookings.
For privacy with your favourite chatbot, enable your VPN before your first prompt. Traveling to Canada? Opt for what’s probably the best VPN for Canada.
If you like trip planning, AI is a great tool to incorporate. If you don’t, it’s better to hire a travel agency to fully outsource travel plans because chatbots just aren’t there yet to completely and accurately take over travel planning.
