I consider myself far from tech-savvy, so when travels.edu.vn suggested I evaluate the latest artificial intelligence travel planning tools, my initial reaction was less than enthusiastic. My approach to trip research remains decidedly traditional. I delve into history books to understand a destination’s past and scour recent articles for restaurant and hotel recommendations. Local news sites provide insights into upcoming events. Primarily, I rely on personal recommendations from my network in the travel industry.
However, a recent study by the Harris Poll, commissioned by Moneylion, a personal finance app, indicates that approximately 70 percent of Americans are now using AI for travel planning. This statistic convinced me to explore AI’s potential firsthand. The prospect of saving hours of research was appealing. Could a quick exchange with an AI chatbot genuinely provide insights comparable to those from human sources and my own reporting? I decided to test these tools with an open mind.
My AI Trip-Planning Test
A rainbow above the golden sands of Maui
Maui, where I spend part of the year, became the obvious choice for this experiment due to my familiarity with the island. I focused on West Maui, curious if AI would guide users to Lahaina, the main tourist center, which is still recovering from the devastating wildfires of August 2023. Having not visited since the fires, I knew that while some parts of Lahaina are still closed, many businesses and restaurants have reopened, and the tourism board is encouraging respectful visitor returns.
In mid-August, I tested four freely available Ai Travel Planner tools. Even for someone like me, who is not technologically inclined, they were remarkably user-friendly. For most, I simply input my ideal vacation: a week-long solo adventure to West Maui in October, including ocean sports, cultural experiences, good food, and enjoyable hikes. Within moments, I typically received a comprehensive itinerary. Further refined questions, such as inquiries about the best local food trucks, allowed for more detailed adjustments.
Some AI tools initiated the process with quiz-style questions, helpful for those seeking travel inspiration. More detailed tools asked about specific destinations, dates, travel companions, budget, interests (beach, nightlife, shopping), and travel style (from adrenaline-seeking to relaxation). These detailed inquiries generally resulted in more tailored itineraries.
The results from these AI trip-planning tools varied dramatically, from laughably inaccurate to simply outdated. None perfectly planned the trip. All exhibited what AI users term “hallucinations”—fabricated details generated when the technology lacks a definitive answer. However, one tool stood out as comparatively more effective.
Here’s a ranking of the AI trip-planning tools I tested, from least to most impressive.
A Ranking of AI Trip-Planning Tools for Your Next Getaway
⭐ Layla delivered the most comical “hallucination.” This trip-planning app offered prompts like “Inspire me where to go,” “find cheap flights,” “show me amazing hotels,” and “build me an itinerary.” Selecting the itinerary option for West Maui, I received a cheerful response: “Ah, Hawaii! Aloha vibes all the way.” It then generated a seven-day itinerary—for the Caribbean. Day one, for example, suggested visiting the Blue Hole in Belize. The same afternoon, the itinerary placed me on Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands. When I contacted them about my experience, a spokesperson acknowledged that current models are prone to such inaccuracies.
⭐⭐ Wonderplan began by asking several questions to understand my preferences, but it lacked the ability to specify West Maui as my focus. Instead, it produced a generic, island-wide itinerary, highlighting major Maui tourist attractions like Haleakala National Park and Wailea Beach. While beautiful, experiencing these locations requires awareness of crowd avoidance. Day one was dedicated to Lahaina, without any mention of the recent fires. The suggested accommodations were almost an hour’s drive from the intended sites. Clicking on specific recommendations, such as Lahaina Harbor, redirected me to Viator, a tour and activity marketplace, offering island-wide tour bookings.
A crowd of people wearing jackets, some bundled in sleeping bags, watch the sunrise from atop Maui
⭐⭐⭐ Mindtrip boasts a dynamic interface allowing users to verify suggestions with maps and reviews, a feature I appreciated. The plan can be viewed as a printable itinerary or in calendar format, and is easily shareable.
It prompted me with “Where to today?” Initially, requesting a weeklong Maui vacation, I quickly received lists of attractions, activities, hotels, and restaurants—including the closed Lahaina Grill. This outdated information cost it a point. Refining my request to West Maui, I was informed: “Unfortunately, due to the heavy damage from the fire in 2023, there are currently no tourist services operating in Lahaina,” which is inaccurate. The Royal Lahaina resort is open, along with businesses like Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate.
Michelle Denogean, a company spokesperson, admitted this needed updating. She explained that Mindtrip’s recommendations are based on a combination of ChatGPT and their proprietary database of over 6.5 million frequently updated places. “We are continuously adding new ones, updating information like opening hours, and flagging closures,” Denogean stated.
A group gathers in front of a table showing cacao pods and various forms of cacao at Maui Ku’ia Estate
⭐⭐⭐⭐ GuideGeek, a chatbot from Matador Network, accessible via Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with over a million users, was my top pick as an AI travel planner. I appreciated the ease of messaging and the ability to request itinerary adjustments. This tool cross-references suggestions with content from Matador’s extensive online article database.
Matador founder Ross Borden mentioned that upon its spring 2023 launch, GuideGeek had about 85 percent accuracy, with inaccuracies occurring in roughly one out of six conversations. Since then, they’ve significantly reduced “hallucinations” to a claimed 98 percent accuracy through vigorous human oversight and user feedback. Errors are logged and corrected in regular updates.
Like other AI tools, GuideGeek offered a broad Maui itinerary featuring popular spots like Turtle Town for snorkeling and the Road to Hana. However, many tour operator suggestions were excellent, and it impressively mentioned newer options like the Mangolani Inn in Paia. It also provided hotel booking links and useful tips, such as “Heads up bring cash as there isn’t an ATM in this area.”
A woman swims close to a large green turtle.
However, GuideGeek’s Lahaina information was outdated. When I asked about cultural activities on West Maui, it recommended the Baldwin Home Museum and Lahaina Heritage Museum, both destroyed in the fires.
Borden acknowledged this outdated information is due to the time needed to process input and create updates. They receive regular user feedback, along with input from around 20 tourism boards and destination management companies that pay Matador for custom versions of GuideGeek.
I shared the GuideGeek itinerary with Lei-Ann Field of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, which is not partnered with GuideGeek. “Overall the itinerary is pretty good, but it misses nuances like recommending guided tours for the Road to Hana and necessary online reservations for Haleakala sunrise,” she noted.
Will I Rely on an AI Travel Planner in the Future?
My key takeaway is that AI travel planners are impressively quick and user-friendly. Remember, the more specific your questions, the better the responses. Most serve as a good starting point, offering a destination overview and a basic plan much faster than traditional research methods. This outline is useful for further refinement and research.
My concerns include the tendency of every AI tool to suggest the same Maui attractions, contributing to overtourism. The personal touch is also lacking. For instance, I would advise a friend visiting Maui to have lunch instead of dinner at Mama’s Fish House (reservations are nearly impossible for dinner), skip the downhill Haleakala sunrise bike tour (high injury risk), stay overnight in Hana to fully enjoy the drive, and engage with locals while respecting cultural and environmental sensitivities.
Aerial view of the S-shaped Road to Hana, Maui.
I consulted Jack Ezon, founder of Embark Beyond travel agency, about AI’s capacity to match a human travel agent’s accuracy. “Even in its infancy, AI can create itineraries in seconds that are about 80 percent as good as an expert,” he said. “Soon, it will suggest ideal accommodations and experiences.”
However, he doubts AI will ever fully replace human travel agents or personal recommendations. He envisions AI as a tool for agents to provide even more tailored advice. Embark Beyond recently launched an AI-powered “clienteling” tool for advisors to analyze market experiences, events, and promotions, suggesting relevant options to clients.
Will I use an AI travel planner for future trips? For first-time visits to popular destinations like Paris, London, or even Moab, Utah, seeking to see major attractions, it’s a useful starting point. However, for off-the-beaten-path travel, I’m unconvinced AI can discover hidden trails or local gems advertised only by word of mouth. For now, I’ll remain somewhat traditional, valuing personal travel recommendations.
The author in the ocean just off Maui, holding a red starfish in one hand.
Jen Murphy is travels.edu.vn’s travel advice columnist. She values disconnecting from devices during adventures and believes local bartenders often offer the best restaurant recommendations.
