Can Really Create a Solid Travel Itinerary? The Answer is Both Yes and No.

Whether you’re eager to embrace the AI revolution or find yourself rewatching The Terminator with a sense of unease, the rapid rise of is undeniable. This popular platform, developed by the San Francisco-based research lab OpenAI, allows users to interact with an AI-driven chatbot and amassed over 100 million active users within just three months of its late 2022 launch, attracting a fair share of controversy. (Interestingly, user numbers also dipped for the first time in June 2023, suggesting that the initial excitement has waned.)

Despite this surge, 's rise has compelled society to grapple with challenging questions about whether artificial intelligence can, or should, replace human intelligence. Nevertheless, various industries have quickly adopted this emerging technology, particularly in travel and hospitality, where major players like Bing, Expedia, and Matador Network have begun incorporating AI into their travel planning resources.

As someone intrigued by advancing technology, I approach the future of artificial intelligence with both skepticism and curiosity. As a travel editor, I questioned whether could generate a detailed travel itinerary, much less orchestrate an I, Robot–like takeover of the world.

Thus, I decided to have plan a weekend getaway to a place I wasn’t very familiar with—Washington, D.C.—to see if it could meet the challenge.

I planned to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C., conveniently located just steps away from major landmarks like the National Mall, the U.S. Capitol, and the White House. (Although the White House is one of the most iconic buildings in the U.S., it was—spoiler alert—curiously missing from my itinerary.) Aside from that, my trip was completely under the control of the AI.

Here’s what I discovered about using for trip planning—and whether I’d consider it as a travel resource in the future.

If planning is your favorite aspect of traveling, using might dampen your excitement

For me, the exploration phase—that exhilarating time spent seeking inspiration—is what truly gets me excited for a journey. I love diving deep into research about a destination, checking social media for suggestions, and exploring Google Maps for hidden gems that traditional guides might overlook.

With involved, I felt like I missed out on the most enjoyable part of the trip: the preparation. Not only did I feel detached from my itinerary, but the usual thrill and satisfaction I get from visiting a new place were largely absent with “someone” else orchestrating the plans, even if I didn’t strictly adhere to the schedule.

So, if you’re like me and enjoy planning the trip just as much as actually experiencing it, you might want to avoid using during the “discovery phase” of travel planning.

However, can assist you in getting organized

That’s not to suggest there’s no place for travel planning enthusiasts. In fact, when utilized properly, AI can serve as a great planning companion.

Picture you and collaborating on a group project. One of you will take on the role of the “big picture” person, concentrating on the overarching elements: the key cities, attractions, and other notable points of interest to explore. The other will handle logistics, managing the finer details such as the day-to-day itinerary and routes. However, each of you can only occupy one role.

In D.C., acted as my big picture guide, offering suggestions for key stops in a place I wasn’t very familiar with, while I took on the details, ensuring the itinerary flowed smoothly and making adjustments as needed.

Out of curiosity, I decided to ask to devise a logical route for an upcoming trip to Iceland’s Westfjords. I had a few points of interest in mind but was struggling to figure out the best route. In this instance, successfully created a coherent itinerary based on my chosen stops and did an excellent job of helping me get organized. Here, I played the role of the big-picture planner while focused on the details.

Using requires some practice

Like any tool, mastering will take some practice, and formulating a query that addresses all your needs might require a few attempts.

Your assessment of the tool’s effectiveness will likely hinge on your level of patience. For some, like myself, it may not be a significant issue, and the novelty of the process might even feel like an enjoyable challenge. For others, it could become tedious—especially since you'll need to invest time not only in learning how to use the tool but also in fact-checking its suggestions and adjusting your plans accordingly. (More on that later.)

As a best practice, the more precise you are in your requests, the better can customize an itinerary to suit your needs. At the very least, you should provide details such as your travel dates, interests, accommodation (unless you’re also asking for suggestions), budget, group size, and whether it’s your first time visiting the destination. Don't hesitate to use bullet points to keep things concise.

For instance, here’s the final query I used for my D.C. trip:

Hi ! My boyfriend and I will be visiting Washington, D.C. from July 6 to July 8. Based on the following details, could you put together a two-day itinerary for us, including places to eat, drink, and attractions we should check out while we’re in the city?

• This will be our first visit to D.C.
• We’ll be staying at the Waldorf Astoria DC.
• Our arrival is at 1 p.m. on July 6, and we’ll leave at 4 p.m. on July 8.
• We’re in our mid-20s and have interests in art, history, food, and music.

isn’t always reliable, so additional effort is needed

One of the main drawbacks of using for travel planning is that its information can be inaccurate. The latest version, -4—available for $20/month—was last updated in March 2023, while the free version hasn’t seen updates since September 2021. This means that an itinerary might look appealing on paper, but it could list businesses or attractions that are closed, along with outdated hours and admission fees.

Additionally, often overlooks travel times and fails to create a well-structured schedule unless you explicitly request it. During this trip, I found myself jumping between neighborhoods rather than visiting attractions in a sensible order. While 20 to 30 minutes on the train might not seem like much, it can accumulate quickly, not only disrupting your itinerary but also leading to fatigue.

While can provide solid recommendations, it’s essential for you to conduct your own research and verify opening hours, ticket availability, reservations, and whether local holidays or temporary closures might impact your plans. (I learned this lesson the hard way when I arrived in the sweltering summer heat of D.C. at the African American Civil War Museum, only to discover that the indoor exhibition had been closed for renovations since March.)

At the end of each itinerary it generates, advises that all plans should be fact-checked. However, if you overlook this warning or decide to take a leap of faith and trust the AI, you might end up with an itinerary that promises more than it can actually deliver.

ensures you don’t miss the must-see spots . . .

One thing reliably delivers is a focus on the essentials. Except for the White House, my itinerary included all the major attractions that any first-time visitor to the nation’s capital would want to experience, such as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Mall, the African American Civil War Memorial, the Library of Congress, and the Capitol Building. Beyond the typical tourist spots, iconic D.C. establishments like Ben’s Chili Bowl and 9:30 Club, a legendary music venue, were also on the list.

While none of these recommendations were unexpected, I felt like I was maximizing my limited time in the city. If your aim is to check off the highlights, will prioritize getting you there.

. . . but you’ll likely receive more intriguing recommendations from a real person

While the bars and restaurants suggested by were decent, they didn’t stand out as exceptional. I certainly didn’t leave convinced that AI could surpass—or even equal—the recommendations from a fellow traveler, whether through personal advice, a travel website, or a “Best things to do in ____?” thread on Reddit.

In a conversation with a friend who visits the capital multiple times a year, she remarked that ’s recommendations were quite suitable “for those visiting D.C. only once and not seeking any unique experiences,” and shared a few ideas that instantly sparked my interest.

Another friend, a current D.C. resident, pointed out that the itinerary felt overly packed for enjoyment and that the sequence of activities “was not ideal for efficient travel,” which resonated with my own observations.

Ultimately, the chances of discovering new openings, local favorites, or hidden gems appear significantly lower when soliciting advice from a robot compared to asking a trusted individual for recommendations.

can’t factor in the “human element”

To state the obvious, is not human and therefore cannot account for the “human element”—those nuances that can derail travel plans. It doesn’t anticipate how fatigued you might feel after moving from one attraction to another, or the impact of crowds, or sudden weather changes that could render an outdoor-focused itinerary impractical. Even if you’re initially pleased with the schedule, be ready to have a backup plan in case ’s itinerary doesn’t work out.

The final conclusion: Would I rely on for trip planning again?

As AI travel tools continue to advance, I’ll definitely keep an eye on future developments and experiment with new technologies. However, would I choose for planning another trip? Likely not. Beyond the lackluster recommendations and absence of the “human touch,” I realized I spent just as much time crafting queries, verifying information, and adjusting my itinerary as I would have if I’d planned everything from scratch—minus the enjoyment typically associated with personal travel planning.