Ready for Summer Travel?
Say Goodbye to Travel Stress: 5 Steps to Plan Your Trip with ChatGPT.
Even as I write this fun blog about travel planning with ChatGPT, there’s a travel agent somewhere with a sinking feeling…
Read full commentary at the bottom: My thoughts on AI - To see AI as a tool and not a takeover - Where do we need to be?
Here comes the summer sizzle. That means many of us are ready to pack our bags and hit the road. I always imagined that I would be more of a world traveler. Admittedly a few circumstances have kept me from it; the lack of travel funds, my introverted homebody ways, and the full tilt overwhelm that comes from planning a trip. However, this year I am determined to put a check next to something on my bucket list. Off and away - I am heading to Ireland.
The hardest part of trip planning is getting started. I just needed some inspiration to fuel a little excitement. A few weeks ago, I decided to see if I could put ChatGPT to work and come up with a reasonable itinerary. What I came up with was a full compilation of information curated to my travel likes and longings.
Next time you’re starting from scratch, give it a try. Here’s a 5 step process to plan the adventure of a lifetime in just a couple hours.
1. Create your Explorer Profile:
ChatGPT is an input vs output kind of thing. The more specific you can get about who you are and what you want, the more specific the information you will get.
Grab your travel journal. You know, the one you’re taking with you! Take a few minutes with these questions to get a general summary of your personality profile and the goal of your trip. Then chat GPT can begin to tailor its suggestions to include things more aligned with your interests and wishes.
What is my main goal for this trip? (e.g., relaxation, adventure, cultural exploration)
What time of year/season am I traveling?
How much time do I have for this trip?
What is my budget for the entire trip, including flights, accommodations, activities, and meals?
What type of accommodations do I prefer? (e.g., hotel, hostel, Airbnb, resort, budget-friendly, luxury)
What kind of neighborhood do I prefer to stay in? (trendy, walkable, quiet, touristy, art district, theater district?)
What kind of transportation will I use at my destination? (e.g., rental car, public transport, walking)
Am I more interested in exploring urban areas, rural landscapes, or a combination of both during your trip?
What type of destinations do I prefer? (Beaches, mountains, cities, countryside, etc.)
Are there any particular landmarks, attractions, or activities that I've already researched or heard about and would like to prioritize during my visit?
How do I prefer to travel and explore new destinations – independently, with guided tours, or a mix of both?
Are there any dietary preferences or restrictions that should be considered for choosing restaurants, food tours, or culinary experiences during your trip?
What are my must-see attractions or activities at this destination?
What interests or hobbies do I want to incorporate into my itinerary? (e.g., hiking, museums, food tours, history, outdoor activities, culinary experiences)
How can I incorporate some downtime into my itinerary to relax and recharge?
What cultural experiences do I want to include? (e.g. traditional music, dance performances, workshops)
Do I have any strong dislikes or aversions that I would like to avoid on this trip?
What are some keywords that could highlight the kind of adventure I want (music-lover, foodie, yoga nerd, avid-reader, history buff, outdoorsy, art historian, thrill-seeker)?
What’s my style of travel for this trip? (budget-friendly, family-friendly, solo-traveler, luxury, business, honeymoon, couples vacation)
2. Craft your introduction prompt using your answers from above:
Don’t feel like everything has to be included at once. I found the AI trip planning experience to be much more fun as I continued to refine it’s suggestions, as if it were a conversation. Chat GPT will give you a basic itinerary, it’s a great first draft to cut down on overwhelm. From there you can narrow down and get more specific.
Fill in the blanks and add your own details.
Prompt: “You are my travel agent. This is my first time travelling to ____. I am flying into ___ and staying for seven days on a ___. I am planning on going in the month of ___ . My main mode of transportation will be___. I prefer my accommodations to be ___ in a ___ neighborhood.
These are the things you should know about me to help plan the trip: I am a ___ (Insert a general description of yourself …use those keywords from above * foodie, art-lover). I like to spend my time ___. I am really looking forward to visiting ___. Please use this information to plan my itinerary."
Prompt example: “You are my travel agent. This is my first time travelling to France. I am flying into Paris and staying for seven days on a business trip. I am planning on going in the month of September . My main mode of transportation will be walking and public transportation. I prefer my accommodations to be an Air bnb in a trendy neighborhood.
These are the things you should know about me to help plan the trip: I am a vegetarian, foodie, yoga nerd. I like to spend my time shopping in vintage shops, record stores, and flea markets. I am really looking forward to visiting the Louvre. Please use this information to plan my trip."
3. Play the Rapid Fire Round - list the “Top Three”:
This is the rapid fire round. I ask GPT to bullet point “the top three ___ with a mini description.” This is where I start to get a little more specific on shops, restaurants, hikes, music venues. The good stuff.
Prompt: “bullet point the Top Three ___ with a mini description.”
Ex. “bullet point “the top three vegetarian restaurants”/ “easy hikes” /“art galleries for outsider art”
4. Organize Your Trip:
By now you are brimming with all kinds of information about your travel destination. The good news is it’s all information curated to your needs, likes, and desires. I had so much fun spending a couple hours getting some ideas down on paper. What I was most impressed by was that I could now prompt Chat Gpt to take all that valuable info and organize it into a chart by neighborhood!
Prompt: “Can you take all of the suggestions you made throughout this entire chat and list them in a chart by neighborhood. Make a separate column for each category; attractions, restaurants, pubs, shops, yoga studios, spas, music venues, art museums” (Adjust the column headings to your priorities.)
5. Bonus Round Up:
Now that you’ve carefully refined the trip based on your wants and needs, you can ask Chat GPT to make another itinerary including the new information.
Prompt: “You've shared so much great information as my travel agent. Now that you know more specifically my interests, can you give me another itinerary including more of the things we've talked about?”
Other Questions and tasks for Chat GPT
If you want to dig a little deeper try asking it more questions. The sky is the limit.
What is the best time to visit my chosen destination(s)? (Weather, events, peak season, etc.)
Are there any local festivals or events happening during my visit (insert time frame)?
What unique local experiences can I include? (Festivals, local cuisine, traditional crafts, etc.)
Are there any guided tours or excursions I should consider? (City tours, adventure activities, etc.)
How can I mix popular tourist spots with hidden gems? (Balance well-known attractions with off-the-beaten-path sites)
What local foods and restaurants should I try? (Street food, local delicacies, top-rated restaurants, etc.)
Are there any safety considerations I need to be aware of? (Travel advisories, health precautions, etc.)
What cultural norms and etiquette should I know? (Dress codes, tipping customs, local behaviors, etc.)
Do I need any special permits or reservations? (National parks, popular attractions, etc.)
What essential items do I need to pack for this destination?
How can I ensure I’m traveling sustainably and responsibly? (e.g., reducing waste, supporting local businesses, donating to pertinent charities)
What travel insurance do I need? (Coverage for health, cancellations, activities, etc.)
How can I stay connected and informed during my trip? (Mobile data, Wi-Fi, local SIM cards, travel apps, etc.)
Can you create a packing list for my upcoming trip?
The possibilities are somewhat limitless. You will have a solid itinerary to work from and can now research a little more in depth. Since Chat GPT is collecting data from lots of other resources, it is usually trust worthy. However, it’s always best to verify times, schedules, addresses, and important specifics based on your travel dates. And as always read some reviews on restaurants and accommodations. Now you can start to talk about your plans and get advice from people who have been there.
The most important part is that it gets you inspired and organized in the initial planning process. Remember the reason travelling is so good for us is that it puts us in an explorer’s mindset. Stretching beyond our daily routine and pushing out of comfort zone yields a different perspective. We venture out into the world for excitement and experiences. We gain a wider lens of understanding from meeting new people and seeing new things. Every picture and every story becomes a part of who we are.
Commentary: My thoughts on AI - To see AI as a tool and not a takeover - Where do we need to be?
Even as I write this fun blog about travel planning with Chat GPT, there is a travel agent somewhere with a sinking feeling. It has been predicted over 300 million jobs will be lost over AI. Artistic renderings of anyone can be generated from a photograph in minutes. Does that mean an end to portrait artists? What about writers, editors, songwriters, and researchers - can their work be replicated? Yes, that’s all happening as we speak. Chances are if you are using Chat GPT to fine tune something for your own work, you are shorting someone else's livelihood.
There are two sides of the conversation. One based on fear; “the robots will take over the world and become smarter than we are.” Another enthusiasm, “just think of what we will accomplish with this complete indulgence of information.”
Those drunk on tech power are actually scarier than the idea of robots taking over the world. It’s like the Wall Street of the 80’s. A relatively small collection of bro dudes controlling the economy because so many of us didn’t understand the delicate maneuvering of supply and demand.
The creatives and heart centered ones have the opportunity to engage with AI just as much as anyone in a business suit. There are some positive possibilities. (Think more CP30 and R2D2, less Terminator) It’s important to see the potential in order to discover ways to highlight artistic expansion and organize divergent thinking. AI needs to be a playground for creativity rather than only mimicking it.
Let’s pay attention. Let’s learn. Let’s lead. Let’s not allow innovation to fall so quickly into certain hands. We originally input everything on the internet from the very first blog post to every complicated formula. We loaded the images, collected information, and coded the programs. The data on the world wide web is us. It's not really artificial intelligence, it’s OI. It is our intelligence.
