How AI is transforming the way we travel

Trip planning used to be chaotic. Now AI makes it simple, personal, and even fun.

Remember when planning a vacation used to involve opening twenty tabs on your browser, falling down rabbit holes of travel insurance and connecting flight logistics, all while in a coffee-panged state of anxiety?

That needn't be anymore, as AI has made things a lot easier over the last couple of years, as we asked one half of a Canadian travel couple, Isheeta Borkar, who runs a blog Travelicious Couple.

Isheeta claims that “We’ve been calling ChatGPT our ‘travel whisperer’ for a while,” which I can relate to, as at a basic minimum it can offer a decent framework for your plan.

AI is like a curious friend getting to know your travel personality, and doesn’t need generic lists from time immemorial. It is good when you can pinpoint your needs specifically.

“We don't need to limit our search to 'best beaches in Mexico' but can instead ask ‘what’s a beach town that feels like 1990s Goa but with good WiFi and tofu tacos?’” explained Isheeta.

The multiplicity of travel agents is the key as it can factor in variables like climate, diet, time zone, work needs.

Better than looking on Tripadvisor for “Is April a good time to visit Cairo” with 47 varying answers of "Well, it depends.”

AI is best used as part of a brainstorming session, with Booking and Skyscanner being part of the implementation stage.

It can be great for recommending off-the-grid options, if you feel spontaneous on your trip as well, as I recently found in a spa-town in Lithuania, as ChatGPT found quirkier choices off the beaten-path.

However, it’s not without its faults, as Isheeta testifies:

“We’ve seen it recommend restaurants that don’t exist anymore. It’s brilliant for ideas, but you still need to verify with a bit of old-school legwork.”

As she also mentioned, what epitomises its drawbacks are when you find a cute cafe replaced by a vape shop.

Of course, you could still close your eyes, spin a globe and pray it doesn’t land in the Pacific Ocean, but even if it does, you can be recommended to pack your digital Kindle and apply for a boat license.