From booking flights to boarding planes, AI tools are changing the way we travel. We can organize our itineraries in an instant, translate a foreign language in real time, and plan a trip with the help of a chatbot.
Indeed, a recent TripIt survey found that 71% of travelers expect to use AI when planning a trip. More than half (54%) were interested in using AI to create personalized itineraries.
As the data suggests, travelers are dipping their toes into planning trips with AI—learning and iterating as they go. So I asked some frequent-flying friends, colleagues, and travel experts who’ve used AI to weigh in with their advice.
Here are five tips for getting started planning a trip with AI:
1. Find an AI tool that works for you
If you’re using AI to plan a trip for the first time, embrace that it will take a little trial and error. You’re learning how to use the prompts, and the AI is learning about you. Plus, some AI tools are built for general research purposes (think: ChatGPT), while others are specific to travel. As such, you might want to check out a few before you land on what works for you.
Not sure where to start? ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Perplexity are popular options for planning a trip with AI. They all offer the ability to chat back and forth to create an itinerary based on your preferences.
Want something a little more personalized or specific to travel? Craft an itinerary with Canva’s AI Trip Planner, log into your Booking.com account to chat with their AI Trip Planner, or check out MindTrip to find inspiration for your next trip.
2. Train the AI on your travel style
Like I mentioned above, there’s a getting-to-know-you period when it comes to using AI. Prefer flying out of JFK over Newark, premium economy over economy, and a window seat over the aisle? Include that in your prompt. Want to avoid tourist hotspots and discover under-the-radar destinations instead? Let AI know that, too. The more the tool understands your preferences, the better it can personalize your itinerary.
“I like to train the AI first,” said Jenna Hansen, a points-and-miles travel consultant. “I tell it what type of travel we like and what I'm going to ask it to do, then I ask the questions.”
Jen Moyse, Vice President of Product at TripIt and frequent traveler, suggests giving AI as much information as you can up front—like if you’re traveling with children or have certain dietary restrictions—so that it can incorporate those factors and preferences into its responses.
3. Be specific when planning a trip with AI
When it comes to planning a trip, you want to be as detailed as possible in your prompts to AI. Be specific about the type of accommodations you prefer (e.g., hotel versus vacation rental), price ranges you’re comfortable with, and the types of activities you like or avoid. Doing so will help streamline the back and forth, get you the answers you’re looking for faster—and confirm the plans you want to make sooner.
“I used ChatGPT to help plan a last-minute trip to Madrid that I didn't have time to research in advance,” said Mallory Johnson, Sr. Marketing Manager at TripIt and frequent traveler. “It saved me time and effort trying to work out my plans on my own, but the experience wasn’t flawless.
“It suggested some museums to visit, but I would have needed to get tickets in advance and they were already sold out. Next time, I’ll be more specific and ask which activities might require advance tickets—and if tickets are even available.”
4. Double-check AI’s recommendations before booking
Even when you’re as specific as possible, you still need to double-check the information AI provides.
For example, I recently asked ChatGPT for help finding a hotel. I gave it specific dates and asked for hotels that were around $200 per night. It gave me a list of six hotels near my destination, along with a map so I could visualize where I’d be staying. It included a short blurb about each hotel, including rates that all “started from” $200 or less per night. On the surface, this was exactly what I asked for.
However, after clicking through to each hotel’s website and manually entering my dates, none of them were in the price range I’d asked for. When I pointed this out, ChatGPT gave me some tips for saving money, such as booking ASAP and being flexible with my room type.
Other travelers I spoke with had similar experiences. The advice to double-check AI’s recommendations was a common refrain.
“I use AI as a launch point for ideas,” said Jen. “But I always cross-check with booking and review sites, maps, and other resources to ensure the accuracy and validity of the responses before making any plans.”
5. Optimize your itinerary with AI
Despite its flaws, AI shines as a brainstorming partner—helping you plan what to pack, discover underrated activities, and make the most of your time based on an existing itinerary.
A friend of mine is planning a trip to Paris this summer, so she asked ChatGPT to suggest a packing list based on the weather forecast, as well as the activities that she’d already planned (using ChatGPT). The AI created a list of outfits for each day, including links to where she could shop for them, if needed.
Other travelers told me they rely on AI to help optimize their trips.
“I ask ChatGPT for things to do—or things I should not miss—for a certain destination,” said one traveler. “I also ask about what a typical itinerary would look like for those must-do things to make the most of my time.”
Mallory was likewise enthused about the ability to optimize her time. “I appreciated that ChatGPT gave me itinerary options based on location. Rather than having me bouncing all over the place, everything [it suggested] on day one was in the same general vicinity. The same for day two, and so on.”
While imperfect, AI tools can help travelers streamline how they plan their trips. And there’s certainly an appetite for using them. The key, however, is to remember we’re all beginners right now. Embrace that you—and AI—will get it wrong from time to time. Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll learn how to avoid the pitfalls—and share your experiences so other travelers can benefit, too.
