AI for Travel Planning: Smarter Trips, With a Reality Check

AI is a great trip-planning partner as long as you verify the details that can ruin a holiday.

• Itineraries: turning "four days in Lisbon, relaxed, love food" into a day-by-day plan.
• Comparing options: neighbourhoods, transport and trade-offs.
• Packing lists tailored to weather and activities.
• Translation and phrases, including live translation.
• Budgeting: rough cost breakdowns.
• Reading the small print: summarising cancellation and baggage policies.

• Opening hours, prices and availability change. Confirm on official sites.
• Visa, health and entry rules must come from government sources.
• Invented places: AI can recommend restaurants or attractions that don't exist or have closed.
• Safety information: check official travel advice.
• Booking links: only book through sites you trust.

"Plan 4 days in [city] for two adults who like food and walking, mid-range budget, staying near [area], travelling in [month]. Group sights by area to minimise travel, include one rest block each afternoon, and list anything I should book in advance."

1. Verify every booking and opening time.
2. Save offline maps and key documents.
3. Check passport, visa and insurance.
4. Keep a plan B for bad weather.

Use AI for ideas and structure, then confirm the facts that matter with official sources.