The summer travel season kicks off in just a few weeks, but if you’re looking for software that goes beyond just booking flights and hotels, you’re in luck. AI-enhanced search engines can help with your research and describe complete routes. Some older apps have recently been updated to suggest more environmentally friendly travel options. And keeping it all organized on your phone is easier than ever. Here is an overview.
Using an AI travel agent
General purpose search tools with artificial intelligence and chatbots like Google’s Gemini create a vacation to-do list when prompted, but AI bots optimized for travel queries are often more comprehensive. These bots search for destinations, plan itineraries, search for accommodation and flights, map road trips and do much more — gathering lots of information at once and saving you all that time-consuming web trawling.
Give the software your specifics — such as destination, length of stay, interests — and see what it suggests. Many AI assistants can be used for free if you sign up for an account, but some charge a subscription fee for premium services. Your app store has details.
Leilaformerly Roam Around, is one of the free AI travel assistants you can find online and has worked with travel sites including Skyscanner, Get your guide and Booking.com. If you prefer road trips and camping, Roadtrippers (free trial, $60 year) includes real-time traffic and air quality information along with route planning. And old old like Tripadvisor and Expedia they now use artificial intelligence generated holiday makers.
But as others have noted, while AI trip planners have a lot of potential, many are still in development and usually display disclaimers admitting this.
AI bots are known to offer generic advice like “enjoy lunch at a local restaurant”, recommend activities that are out of season or too far apart, recommend the same restaurant repeatedly, consistently guide you to their advertisers or point you to locations that are closed. If you ask the same question to different bots, you might get almost identical suggestions, all from the same travel sites.
Apple’s Maps app also appears mass transit, walking and cycling options to get around the city, along with charge-friendly routes for electric vehicles. However, the default apps on your phone aren’t the only aids. Third-party software for directions and sustainable travel abounds.
For example, citymapper, which covers most major cities in the United States, Europe and Asia, incl environmental impact statistics on some trips. His directions often include accessibility options that avoid the stairs, along with routes for the fastest, cheapest or easiest way to get where you’re going. Citymapper is free with in-app purchases.
Other apps available for those looking for an eco-friendly vacation include; Cycling map for community-sourced bike routes around the world; HappyCow for vegan and vegetarian travelers and Tap Hydration and Water Stations to locate sources for refilling reusable water bottles.
Keeping Organized
If you don’t already have software to consolidate your travel information, your phone’s default apps can help. Electronic boarding passes, hotel reservations and advance tickets can be quickly added to your phone’s digital wallet. a realistic backup that is in your bag is insurance. Google and Apple offer automatic addition of bookings and events from emails and messages to your calendar.
Free services like TripIt (and his phone applications), TripCase (also with Android the iOS applications) and Wanderlog Automatically put all your travel information in one place, usually by scanning the information in confirmation emails. TripIt Proa $50-a-year subscription version adds more features, such as seat, fare and flight waypoint trackers, as well as international travel tools and regional hazard alerts, such as those for extreme weather events that can affect airline routes and public safety.
AI travel bots and apps will continue to evolve and hopefully make vacation planning even easier in the future. Just remember to put the phone down occasionally and enjoy your day off once you get there.