Planning a vacation can be an exciting experience. However, creating a list of activities can often be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially when travelers don't know where to start.
Today, many online travel platforms such as Tripadvisor, Expedia, Booking.com... have launched AI-based vacation planning features. AI assistants can support various tasks, from creating travel schedules to searching for information, translating... so that travelers have more time to enjoy their trips.
Here are AI features that help travelers make personalized travel plans.
Zone the destination
The first thing to do before any trip is to choose a destination. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are trained on massive amounts of information from the internet, allowing them to quickly synthesize data that would take humans hours to study.
AI is therefore a great tool for generating lists of interesting destinations. The more specific the request, the more relevant the results will be. For example, you can ask the chatbot to suggest places with warm climates, kid-friendly beaches, and vibrant nightlife such as Mexico, Thailand, Australia, Spain, etc.
However, AI can sometimes provide inaccurate information, so you should double-check the location and activities suggested by the chatbot before starting your journey.
Plan your trip
When the holidays come, you can use LLMs like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to plan day trips. For example, you could ask: “Create an itinerary for a day of driving from Florence through the Chianti countryside, visiting a few medieval villages and a winery, ending with dinner at a restaurant with a beautiful view.”
As usual with LLMs, the more specific you are, the more detailed the results will be. However, you should double-check this itinerary on Google Maps or other mapping applications to make sure the suggestions are well-organized.
In addition to LLMs, there are other specialized tools that can help you understand real-world conditions, including weather and traffic. If you’re planning a trip around town, Google Maps’ Immersive View feature — which uses AI to create a 3D model of a location at a specific time in the future — can be helpful.
Check flights and accommodations
Once you’ve chosen your destination, the next step is to book flights and accommodations. Many travel booking sites have integrated AI chatbots, primarily using ChatGPT. However, if you’re not tied to a specific site, you should consider more options.
Searching for airline tickets across multiple browser tabs can be a hassle, but Google Gemini has a solution. It integrates with Google Flights and Google Hotels, providing real-time information from Google partners, making it easy to compare flight times and prices.
Fast Translation
Google has built translation technology into your phone's camera, allowing you to simply point the camera at phrases and get a translation. This is especially useful when looking up menus, signs, or store names… for travel planning.
Write online reviews and social media posts
AI can help you summarize what you like or dislike about a place or service. You can then ask the chatbot to write a review based on your experience. For example: “Write a positive review of the Old Tavern restaurant in Mykonos, Greece, noting that the fried calamari was delicious.”
Additionally, you can also use AI to generate social media photo captions about your travels.
