Even although journey is genuinely one in all my favourite issues to do (and my favourite factor to spend cash on), it could possibly nonetheless be overwhelming to plan a dream journey. I’ve dozens and dozens of journeys — home and worldwide — underneath my belt and but, I nonetheless discover the method of planning and reserving aggravating.
According to a March 2025 survey, almost half of all Americans (44%) plan to make a journey that requires a flight or lodge this summer time. That means hundreds of thousands of Americans are gathering their passports, creating itineraries and gearing as much as journey over the summer time. If you are a type of folks, chances are you’ll be on the lookout for assist planning your journey.
That’s the place AI might help. You can use quite a few different AI instruments for journey planning, from a general-purpose chatbot like ChatGPT that may reply your whole travel-related queries to Booking.com’s AI Trip Planner, which could possibly be your AI-powered journey agent. Usually, although, I take advantage of Google instruments. Specifically, there are key Google AI and Google Lens options that may help you with your whole summer time journey prep.
I’ve used these instruments completely over my many travels. Here is my go-to portfolio of Google apps and companies that assist me e-book and navigate my trip.
For extra journey recommendation, see the greatest time to buy airline tickets and the best way to discover low-cost flights. I additionally clarify how I take advantage of Google Maps for stress-free journey.
Let AI make customized journey itineraries
Google’s AI Overviews in Search could make planning your subsequent journey easier. This instrument was initially introduced in March 2024, and I’ve been utilizing it for greater than a 12 months now to generate personalised journey itineraries for the cities I’m visiting. For occasion, I requested Google to plan a bookstore-focused tour of Edinburgh after I was there for 3 days in May.
Now the function is increasing. Google stated final week that it plans to broaden the capabilities of AI Overviews in Search so now you can make day-by-day itineraries for extra than simply cities however for distinct areas or complete nations. Just kind in a fast command like “create an itinerary for England with a deal with historical past” or “create an itinerary for New Zealand with a deal with nature.”
The AI attracts on knowledge from a spread of sources, equivalent to evaluations, images and enterprise profiles submitted to Google by folks over time. From there, you may export your itinerary to Gmail, Docs or Maps.
It’s all the time vital to recollect to not take AI-generated solutions at face worth because it makes errors and even makes issues up. You ought to diligently fact-check the knowledge with skilled sources in case the AI instrument is hallucinating, pulling outcomes from doubtful sources or producing false info. If you want a case examine, discover this piece by CNET’s Katie Collins, who examined the accuracy of a number of AI instruments relating to a metropolis she is aware of inside and outside.
Get journey inspiration from Gemini
Travel planning could be overwhelming, particularly in a brand new metropolis. When that occurs, I flip to Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot. Since the autumn 2024 replace to Google Maps, Gemini can counsel actions and eating choices on your travels.
You also can ask it to seek out budget-friendly actions in a metropolis or issues to do in a rustic you are visiting when it is raining. Gemini makes use of Google evaluations to curate personalised strategies and exhibits them as pins on the map. This function makes planning simpler, serving to you uncover tailor-made choices and lowering stress.
For comparability, I generally give different chatbots, like ChatGPT and Claude, the identical travel-related queries and I get comparable solutions. Did I point out that you need to you should definitely fact-check what an AI chatbot tells you?
Create an AI journey agent
You also can strive Gemini’s Gems function, which helps you to customise Gemini to create your individual private AI skilled. Gems are custom-made variations of Gemini that allow you to sort out repetitive duties or perception when researching. That means you may arrange a journey planner Gem that can assist you select a journey vacation spot, discover eating places in a brand new metropolis or what to pack for a given trip.
Google is now providing Gems with out a subscription. To use this function, you should be signed in to Gemini Apps, after which you may create a customized Gem by the “Gems supervisor” on the desktop.
When I experimented with this function, I created a “journey agent” Gem and wrote down directions for the Gem’s primary goals and capabilities and the type and tone of response I needed from it.
I requested my Gem to create a 10-day itinerary for island-hopping across the Caribbean with the question, “I’ve all the time needed to island-hop across the Caribbean islands. Please create an itinerary (for about 10 days), hitting the most important islands and largest sights.” My Gem responded by asking me what time of 12 months I want to journey, my price range and my superb touring tempo. From my responses, Travel Agent Gem deliberate a 10-day journey round Puerto Rico, St. Lucia and Barbados, mixing my pursuits in seashores, nature and historical past.
You can use Gem free to design your final dream trip, with out reserving an costly journey agent. Even although these AI instruments could be useful, they can not exchange the recommendation and perception of an actual skilled.
Allow AI to prepare screenshots of journey concepts
If you are something like me, your Photos app is crammed with hundreds of photos from social media, Pinterest, TikTookay and journey blogs. When journey planning, I prefer to screenshot images of eating places, museums, parks and different sights I’m simply dying to go to. By the top, I’ve seemingly limitless screenshots to sift by.
In March, Google introduced it is rolling out a function to the Maps app that may establish places in your screenshots and save them to a listing, making it simpler to prepare your journey plans. The function scans screenshots for textual content mentioning particular locations, shows these places on the map and allows you to assessment, save or share them.
This screenshot listing function is now out there for iOS customers within the US, with Android assist coming quickly.
Find the most affordable lodges out there
I’ve no downside reserving flights — actually. No matter what the sticker worth is. But reserving lodges? Whew, that is an expense that hurts. Especially as a result of lodging is often the most important charge of any journey.
I take advantage of Google Flights every single day to seek out the most affordable flights potential. (No, I actually test it each day and have electronic mail notifications set for 15-plus locations when costs dip.) And now, Google is bringing that magic to reserving lodges.
At google.com/lodges, you will see a brand new possibility to trace costs on your chosen dates and vacation spot. Just like on Google Flights, you may merely toggle the price-tracking possibility beneath the search filters and you may obtain an electronic mail notification if costs drop considerably for any lodges in your search outcomes. You may even set filters, equivalent to star score or seashore entry, in addition to the realm you are viewing on the map.
I’ve notifications set for lodge costs in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in early May.
Choose an AI-driven tour information
Easily translate menus or indicators with Lens.
OK, this is not a brand new journey function coming to Google nevertheless it’s nonetheless a superb one that may make journey a lot simpler. One of my greatest considerations when touring to a overseas county is the language barrier. The concept of turning into misplaced in an odd metropolis and being unable to ask for assistance is my nightmare. Google’s Lens function can ease these fears.
Lens makes it simple to study extra in regards to the metropolis you are visiting, your environment and the native language. It can shortly and precisely translate avenue indicators, maps and menus that can assist you navigate a overseas language. Just level your digicam, faucet the translate filter and watch the phrases translate in your display.
Lens can decipher extra than simply textual content — it could possibly additionally shortly establish objects or buildings. Suppose you see a crowd of individuals hovering round a statue or a set of doorways. In that case, you may merely level your digicam and ask one thing alongside the strains of “What are these for?” and Lens will generate an AI Overview with info and hyperlinks to extra assets.
AI Overviews in Lens (and Circle to Search) at the moment are out there in additional than 200 nations and territories, and in additional than 40 languages.
For extra, see our traveler’s prep guidelines and the best way to enhance your odds of not having your flight canceled or delayed.
