"Planning a family vacation is not for the faint of heart. From navigating extracurricular activities (do the kids have swim lessons?) to sleep schedules (is a 7 a.m. flight too early for the kids to wake up for?) to figuring out activities to combat all declarations of “I’m bored!” it can be enough to make anyone give up entirely. So, what’s the solution? For most, hiring a travel agent is a no-brainer. “I love using a travel agent for all of our family trips,” shares mother-of-four Adrienne White. “I just provide our budget and available dates, and the rest is taken care of for me!” But what if you don’t have the time to research the best travel agent or don’t want to cough up associated fees? That’s where the magic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in.
What Inspired My AI Travel Planning Journey
After spending countless hours planning previous family trips—jumping between dozens of browser tabs, comparing hotel reviews, and trying to coordinate activities that wouldn’t bore my tweens—I knew there had to be a better way. Actually, my husband knew there was a better way (he’s always armed with solutions!). He suggested we use ChatGPT for trip planning, just like I usually do when creating shopping lists and recipes. I was intrigued but skeptical. Could AI understand the nuanced needs of family travel?
The AI Tools I Used to Plan Travel
My journey into AI-assisted travel planning began with general-purpose AI assistants like ChatGPT (as my husband suggested). Still, I quickly discovered that combining multiple AI tools created the most comprehensive planning experience. I primarily used:
- ChatGPT for initial brainstorming
- Hopper for tracking flight prices and predicting the best time to book
- Google Maps’ AI features for optimizing daily routes and finding family-friendly restaurants
- Mindtrip for finalizing and customizing our itinerary
How to Use AI for Travel Planning
To put these AI tools to the test, I used them to plan an end-of-summer trip to Toronto for my family of four. Here’s how the process unfolded step by step:
Researching Destinations
While we had already chosen Toronto, I asked ChatGPT about the best areas to stay with children aged 10 and 12. It analyzed factors like proximity to attractions, safety, and public transportation access, ultimately recommending Nathan Phillips Square, between Old Toronto and downtown, for its family-friendly amenities.
Building the Itinerary
I used Mindtrip (which I love!) to create a schedule that worked for our family. It suggested dining out at Le Petite Chef for our first night, which was a hit with my kids. The next day, we took a tour of the water on a pirate ship and timed our visit to the CN Tower for sunset, having dinner at its famous 360 restaurant. What impressed me most was how it considered factors like post-flight fatigue and optimal times for activities.
Finding Deals
We saved nearly $400 on our trip by combining recommendations from Hopper and Kayak. ChatGPT suggested money-saving strategies like the CityPASS and identified restaurants where kids under 13 eat for free.
What Worked and What Didn’t
Most of the AI recommendations proved spot-on. The suggested hotel was perfect for our needs; however, across the street, there was a large two-day festival (with loud music) that went on well past midnight. Additionally, Mindtrip recommended an outdoor food market tour that would have been perfect, except for the unexpected summer heat wave that made it impractical for kids. Also, some restaurant recommendations were outdated or closed.
For our first time visiting Toronto, I would have appreciated human insight, like a travel agent. “What sets travel agents apart from plugging your dates into a search engine or even an AI platform is our human experience at the places we recommend. My firsthand experience with the food, the staff, and the destination proves valuable to my clients,” shares Carita Coughlin, owner and travel advisor at Charmed Compass Travel. “Sure, a place might be listed as ‘kid-friendly,’ but how was the splash pad area for a 3-year-old? What about the food selection for a picky eater or those with dietary restrictions? Will my 14-year-old get bored after two days? These are things my clients come to rely on me for.”
How to Get the Most Out of AI When Planning a Trip
Based on our experience, here’s what I would recommend:
- Be extremely specific in your prompts, including ages, interests, and any special needs
- Cross-reference recommendations between different AI tools and recent human reviews
- Use AI for the heavy lifting of research and initial planning, but trust your instincts for final decisions
- Keep an offline copy of important information in case of technology issues
Would I Use AI Again?
For small family trips, I would use AI again. While it isn’t perfect, it can be an invaluable tool when used thoughtfully. The key is finding the right balance between AI efficiency and human judgment. However, I will use a travel agent’s insight, personalization, and human touch for more extensive international trips. As Coughlin explains, “I have actual connections with hoteliers, managers, and staff at the places I am recommending. So, if there is an issue or something we want to bring to the attention of the hotel prior to arrival, I know who to contact and can advocate for my clients way better than a computer can.”
But the bottom line is this: It isn’t about choosing between AI or traditional methods—it’s about leveraging both to create the best possible vacation experience for your family.
Gabriela Garcia, Contributing Writer
Gabriela is a former Senior Commerce Editor at Well+Good, where she oversaw content strategy across all platforms. Previously, she was the Senior Beauty Editor at Editorialist, leading the vertical through expansive growth. Her work can be seen in Bustle, Fashionista, Glamour, InStyle, Remezcla, The Pioneer Woman, and more. Gabriela is the founder of ModernBrownGirl.com and is most passionate about product discovery, reporting on trends, and conducting interviews with industry leaders.