Artificially intelligent help to plan your summer vacation

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 you with your search and outline complete itineraries. Some older apps have recently been updated to suggest greener travel options. And keeping everything organized on your phone is easier than ever. Here’s an overview.

Using an AI travel agent

Search tools and general-purpose AI chatbots like Google Gemini make a vacation to-do list when prompted, but AI bots that are tuned for travel queries they tend to be more complete. These bots search for destinations, plan itineraries, search for accommodations and flights, map out road trips, and do more by getting a lot of information at once and saving you all that time-consuming web browsing.

Give the software your specifics, such as destination, length of stay, interests, and see what it suggests. Many AI helpers are free if you sign up for an account, but some charge a subscription fee for premium services; your app store has specifics.

Layla, formerly Roam Around, is one of the free holiday-focused AI helpers you can find online and has partnered with travel sites including Skyscanner, Get Your Guide and Booking.com. If you prefer car and RV trips, Roadtrippers (free trial; $60/year) includes real-time traffic and air quality information along with route planning. And old stalwarts like Tripadvisor and Expedia now use AI-generated vacation builders.

But as others have also pointed out, while AI trip planners have a lot of potential, many are still works in progress and often display disclaimers that admit it.

AI bots have been known to offer generic advice such as enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, suggesting activities that are out of season or too far away, repeatedly recommending the same restaurant, constantly targeting their advertisers, or pointing you to locations that have closed . If you ask the same question to different bots, you can get almost identical suggestions, all taken from the same travel websites.

Apples Maps app also shows public transport, walking and cycling options for getting around the city, along with easy charging routes for electric vehicles. However, your phone’s default apps aren’t the only helpers. There are third-party software for directions and sustainable travel.

For example, Citymapper, which covers most major cities in the United States, Europe and Asia, includes environmental impact statistics on some trips. Their directions often include accessibility options that avoid 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 eco-friendly vacations include Bikemap for community-sourced bike routes around the world, HappyCow for vegan and vegetarian travelers, and Tap Hydration and Water Stations for locating fountains to fill water bottles. reusable water.

Stay 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 pragmatic paper backup in your bag is insurance. Google and Apple offer to automatically add reservations and events from email and messages to your calendar.

Free services like TripIt (and its phone apps), TripCase (also with Android or iOS apps), and Wanderlog automatically put all your travel information in one place, usually by scanning information from confirmation emails. TripIt Pro, a $50-a-year subscription version, adds more features like seat trackers, fares and airline points, as well as international travel tools and regional risk alerts like extreme weather that can affect airline schedules and public safety.

AI bots and travel apps will continue to evolve and hopefully make vacation planning even easier in the future. Don’t forget to turn off your phone every once in a while and enjoy your free time once you get there.