Can you use chatbots to plan vacations? Yes, but there’s a catch
Organizing a vacation quickly – in winter as well as in summer – by interacting with a virtual assistant has now become an increasingly common habit, also thanks to the fact that individual language models have become more accurate and flexible; users themselves, if you pay attention, interact with chatbots more consciously than in the past. All this has made the experience of organizing a vacation by relying on tools like ChatGPT much simpler. A few years ago, getting a sensible travel itinerary from an AI could be frustrating, but today this is no longer the case, thanks also to tools specifically designed for trip planning, such as Vacay, Mindtrip, Layla or GuideGeek.
These tools are designed to adapt to the needs and preferences of users – from the duration of the trip to the available budget, among many other variables. Some people find them especially helpful when they need to plan a trip abroad, because they make it possible to obtain practical information and guidance quickly compared to doing a traditional Internet search.
The growth of AI in tourism
@raimeetravel This is my quick AI travel planning method and the prompts I use! If you want all the prompts let me know! #AMDPartner @AMD #travelplanning original sound - Raimee | Travel Tips
In recent years, interest in artificial intelligence systems has increased significantly in the tourism sector. A survey conducted by the travel search engine Omio, reported by Euronews, shows, for example, that between 2023 and 2024 the share of European and American tourists intending to use chatbots to plan their vacations grew significantly (+17%).
In Italy, too, the phenomenon is increasingly evident. According to the Travel Innovation Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano, in 2024, 15% of Italians who traveled used AI-based platforms to obtain advice or generate personalized itineraries, while almost one-third of travel agencies tested these systems, integrating them into their daily work. Very often, however, chatbots are still unable to replace the experience and evaluative skills of human tourism professionals.
The limits of travel chatbots
@mackdoesthings If AI is gonna steal my job I’m at least gonna let it work for me while I can still afford to go on vacation @chatgpt #travelplanning #travelplanner #aitools #productivityhack original sound - Mac
It should be noted that the accuracy of the responses generated by chatbots in the context of travel advice depends greatly on the complexity of the requests: simple and popular itineraries are usually handled without issues, while more specific needs or poorly documented contexts can challenge even the most up-to-date models.
One of the most frequent limitations concerns the quality and reliability of the sources consulted to generate suggestions. It may happen, for example, that among the recommended restaurants or attractions there are some that are very touristy. This is an inconvenience that can occur even when organizing a trip independently by searching for information online, but with chatbots it may emerge more easily because the system does not always have actual awareness of the data it analyzes.
A similar situation applies to booking flights. Chatbots often simply query existing portals, such as Skyscanner, and return the solution deemed most convenient. This can be useful for getting a first idea of prices, but risks missing important information that would instead be immediately visible by checking the original platforms directly. Despite these limitations, itineraries generated by systems like ChatGPT can represent a valid starting point for those deciding where to go or what to see. Essentially, many delegate to AI the task of proposing ideas, alternatives, and quick hints, then step in to verify the most relevant information and enrich the itinerary with guidance from more specialized or more up-to-date sources.
