Whether you are pro or anti-AI, the wave is coming. AI is the future, and it is taking over various spaces across the globe. Along with this rapid growth comes changes to man spaces. People are using AI for research, art generation, and now for vacation planning. While many people are still hesitant to use artificial intelligence to plan their dream trips, more and more people are jumping on board. However, experts warn that there is a right and a wrong way to use this emerging technology. Here are the best ways to use AI to plan your next vacation, according to experts.
Best Ways To Use AI To Plan Your Next Vacation
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Let me start off by saying that you do not need to be an expert to understand that you should not rely solely on AI for your trip planning. In fact, there was a couple who did just that, and they were met with an unfortunate surprise. They relied solely on ChatGPT's information for their trip, and it proved to be incorrect, resulting in ruining their dream trip. So, trust but verify — always. Beach.com released a survey that revealed how people are using AI to plan their next vacation. While the study found that "46% of the trips Americans took in the past year involved AI planning," that doesn't mean that the trust levels are insanely high. On the contrary, "while 77% trust AI for travel planning, only 32% would let AI fully plan a trip."
Honestly, this makes sense to me. You may trust the tool to search through the web and find great tours, restaurants, or photo spots for you, but you want to verify whether it is through reviews, official websites, or your own research. It is almost like you use the AI to break through the noise, and then you do the fine-tuning yourself. Managing editor at Points Path, Sarah Silbert, was inclined to agree with this sentiment. When speaking with the NY Post, she shared that she would be "wary of handing over all the travel planning to AI." However, she did argue that it is "a great first step." From there, she explained that tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini are great at "narrowing down options" such as finding a hotel that fits everyone's needs. Yet, while it is a good start to vacation planning, there are some rules of thumb to keep in mind.
Rules Of Thumb When Using AI To Plan Your Vacation
When using AI to help plan your vacation, there are some things to keep in mind. The Post shared that RVshare travel expert Fiorella Yriberry stated that "asking generic questions will lead AI to fall short." Therefore, if you plan on using it to generate recommendations for your travels, be specific. Ensure you specify your preferences and travel style so it recommends things that align with your style and wishes.
Additionally, experts warn that while AI can help with the planning of small things, such as restaurants or things to do, you should not trust it with the "big things." For example, things such as booking flights or hotels should be done manually. Basically, AI is a great tool for narrowing down options, but not for serious planning.
Silbert shared, "It's best at providing suggestions and coming up with a shortlist of options, but you shouldn't trust it to make the final call on anything, especially when it comes to timing flights and transportation, since making mistakes could be costly."
