A “Friday Evening Matinee?” To quote the Gershwins, it ain’t necessarily so. But that’s how modern artificial intelligence suggested I hit Broadway.
If you want a friendly interface
I sampled several A.I.-planner sites with the same vacation request: Create an itinerary for a trip for two people to New York City from April 17 to 20 that suggests an affordable hotel (less than $250 a night) in the middle of the city, several iconic landmarks or museums, a matinee performance of an award-winning Broadway show and a great pizza stop. I asked for directions for accessible ways to get to each place from the hotel, and then made additional requests for suggestions if children were coming along.
While most of the sites offered many of the same classic New York spots, like the Museum of Modern Art, the user experience varied. (Note that all the sampled sites use OpenAI’s software in some way and The Times has an active copyright-infringement lawsuit against OpenAI.)
If you require details up front
Vacay (free; $10 a month, for premium plan) had a more text-heavy but clean interface and suggested several of the same city landmarks with relevant links. For those unsure about how to ask for information, the site has a helpful best practices guide for writing A.I. prompts to get the best results. Vacay’s premium plan, designed for frequent travelers, offers more enhanced A.I. models for more specific recommendations, tech support and advice on planning themed vacations.
If ChatGPT is used for everything
The popular and pioneering ChatGPT (free; paid plans start at $20 a month for advanced features, like the new Deep Research tool) also recommended staying at the Pod 51 hotel; the Pod people have clearly had an influence on the Bot people.
If a trusted travel site is vital
If you’d prefer to stick with a familiar brand, 25-year-old Tripadvisor is among those offering A.I.-planning help. To build a trip, you just answer a few questions about what you want to do and Tripadvisor presents a screen full of menu choices. Click the desirable options and the site builds a trip schedule.
Conclusion
Every A.I. travel-planner tested here (along with others out there, including Layla, Wonderplan and the mobile-friendly GuideGeek) warn you that the information you get from them may not be correct. Take this to heart and double-check all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best A.I. travel planner for me?
A: The best A.I. travel planner for you depends on your preferences, such as a friendly interface, detailed suggestions, or a trusted travel site.
Q: Can I trust the information provided by A.I. travel planners?
A: No, A.I. planners are not perfect, and it’s essential to double-check all information.
Q: What are some popular A.I. travel planners?
A: Some popular A.I. travel planners include Mindtrip, Vacay, ChatGPT, and Tripadvisor.
Q: How do I get the most out of an A.I. travel planner?
A: Start with a basic outline of the trip, ask for local attractions, transit directions, restaurant recommendations, and other information in subsequent requests to build out your itinerary.
