A growing number of travelers are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with holiday planning, from suggesting destinations to creating detailed itineraries. This trend is highlighted by recent reports and individual experiences, showcasing both the benefits and limitations of relying on AI for travel arrangements.
Key Takeaways
- AI adoption for holiday planning is increasing, particularly among younger demographics.
- Travelers use AI for destination ideas, route planning, and activity suggestions.
- While helpful, AI recommendations require human verification, especially for bookings and logistical details.
Travelers Embrace AI for Vacation Ideas
The travel association ABTA recently published a report indicating a rise in people utilizing AI for their holidays. This includes finding new destinations and building travel plans. The report states that 8% of the general population uses AI for travel planning. This figure is significantly higher among younger adults, with 18% of those aged 25-34 incorporating AI into their travel preparations.
One such traveler is Alan Smith, 62, from Kent. Last month, he and his wife drove their caravan to northern Spain to meet their daughter and her boyfriend. Before the trip, Alan asked ChatGPT for recommendations on places to visit in the area, specifying short driving distances between locations.
"It was the highlight of the holiday," Alan stated, referring to Castro Urdiales. "It was buzzing, like a smaller version of San Sebastián. It had all the pintxos you could want, but it's smaller and has far fewer foreign tourists."
AI's Role in Destination Discovery
Castro Urdiales, a coastal town in northern Spain with approximately 30,000 residents, was a suggestion from the AI chatbot. The town features the 700-year-old Gothic arches of Santa María de la Asunción church, overlooking a stone harbor where fishermen land sardines and anchovies. Alan had not heard of the town before ChatGPT recommended it.
AI Usage Statistics
- Overall population using AI for holiday planning: 8%
- Age group 25-34 with highest AI usage: 18%
- Age group 62+ using AI: 3%
Alan began using AI shortly after ChatGPT's release in November 2022. He frequently uses it for various tasks, including finding information about places and discovering new recipes. He often prefers AI over traditional search engines to save time, avoiding the need to read multiple web pages or travel blogs.
Verification Remains Crucial
Despite his positive experiences, Alan always verifies AI suggestions using Google. He specifically avoids using AI for bookings, citing concerns about accuracy and the financial implications involved. "I've been stunned at the results," Alan said. "It's not always right though, and can - occasionally - be spectacularly wrong."
The Need for Human Oversight
While AI can generate extensive travel information quickly, human judgment is essential for validating details, especially those involving logistics, availability, and financial transactions. AI models can sometimes provide outdated or incorrect information.
Another traveler, Hannah Read, 37, attempted to use an AI chatbot to plan a trip to Norway with her partner and three children. She wanted to drive from Flintshire, north Wales, and take a ferry across the North Sea. Hannah asked ChatGPT if a ferry route from the UK to Bergen, Norway, existed. The chatbot confirmed such a route from Newcastle.
However, further research on a ferry travel website revealed no such route currently operates. A travel blog confirmed that this route last ran in 2008. "I did feel a bit disappointed when I found out the information on ChatGPT was incorrect, as I'd got quite excited and had started planning the trip in my head," Hannah explained. Her advice is clear: "My advice is don't rely on AI 100%, it's better to still do proper research."
AI for Itinerary Optimization
David Harris, 46, had a more successful experience using AI for his family's first trip to New York. Unlike Alan, David already knew his destination and how he would travel. His challenge was maximizing activities within a four-and-a-half-day period. He used an AI tool to suggest attractions and activities, requesting they be grouped by location to allow for walking between them.
"With four of us going we kind of wanted to see everything," David said, mentioning attractions like Taylor Swift's house and the Ghostbusters museum. Having used ChatGPT extensively for work, and knowing New York attractions often have late operating hours, he felt confident in the AI's suggestions for walking directions and opening times without additional checks.
- AI for detailed itineraries: AI can group attractions by location to minimize travel time.
- Refining AI output: Multiple prompts may be needed to get desired results.
- Future AI uses: Travelers plan to ask AI for cheaper flight options.
David noted that it took a few prompts to refine the itinerary, as the initial output contained unnecessary information. However, the final list of activities proved very useful. He admitted that it had not occurred to him to ask the AI to suggest cheaper flights, but he plans to try this for a Mediterranean holiday next year. "I think AI tools would help people so much if they understood how to use them and gave it a go," David commented.
Expert Perspective on AI Travel Planning
Alistair Berry, a moderator on the UK Travel subreddit, an online forum for travel advice, acknowledges AI's potential in holiday planning but emphasizes the need for users to understand its workings and verify its recommendations. "Sometimes these chatbots provide really poor advice," Alistair noted.
He cited examples of American tourists with limited vacation days receiving AI-generated itineraries that suggest seeing London, Edinburgh, and the Cotswolds in just four days. "The reality is that they will probably spend most of the time looking out from inside a train," he explained. Alistair warns that AI programming often makes chatbots overly encouraging, affirming user requests even when they are impractical.
"It definitely has a place in travel planning but you should fact check the suggestions it makes," Alistair concluded. "After all, you don't want to be caught out when you're supposed to be having a relaxing time on holiday." The increasing adoption of AI in travel signifies a shift in how people plan their vacations, but human discernment remains an irreplaceable part of the process.