The Human Touch: Why a Travel Agent is Your Best Bet Over AI for Planning Adventures

In the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) is weaving its way into almost every aspect of our lives. From smart home devices to tailored shopping suggestions, it’s clear that technology can be convenient. However, when it comes to planning your precious getaways, you might want to think twice before entrusting the entire process to AI.

Recently, the topic of AI’s role in travel planning came to my attention, raising questions about whether it could replace travel agents. To clarify, similar predictions have surfaced since the advent of the internet, yet we travel agents are thriving, offering personalized services that can’t be outsourced to algorithms. Curiosity got the better of me, though, so I decided to test a few AI travel planning sites myself.

I decided to evaluate five AI trip planning websites to see what they’d propose for a five-day trip to Rome—a city I know intimately. I aimed to input the same vacation parameters into each site and repeated the process several times per site. I decided to keep the names of the sites anonymous because my goal is not to blast them, just to share what I found. 

Each site required my travel dates or preferred month. Some inquired about the travelers (solo, couple, family) and budget (budget-friendly, moderate, luxury), albeit without explanation of those categories. A couple of platforms allowed options like history, food, culture, and nightlife, which I answered consistently across the sites. 


Here’s a rundown of my AI adventure: 
 

  • Site #1: This site tied my interests to my budget but repeatedly suggested identical locations. Accommodations and restaurants varied somewhat, but the itinerary lacked smart geography, sending me crisscrossing Rome wasting my time. Plus, booking options were limited. 

 

  • Site #2: I could choose among staple attractions like the Vatican, Colosseum, and Cooking Class, dictating an enigmatic “midrange” budget. Unbelievably, the Colosseum never made the cut even when I asked for it, while the Vatican appeared twice. Enough said? 

 

  • Site #3: Presented me with incorrect descriptions and images, it humorously mislocated Milan in Rome. An itinerary was proposed with over 11 hours in 1 day of sightseeing (excluding travel time)—hardly enjoyable! 

 

  • Site #4: Rather than crafting an itinerary, this site redirected me to an online booking page. Not very helpful in my opinion. 

 

  • Site #5: Offered many options with no free time and links to book tours, but many of the links did not match up with the recommendations which was confusing. They did not offer hotel recommendations, but did offer restaurant options, but once again they were not close to the attractions they recommended before and after them. 

My Conclusions 

All claimed to offer personalized itineraries but barely scratched the surface when it came to understanding my interests—focusing instead on booking link pushes. Based on my experience visiting Rome, some schedules were impractical or unappealing. As my research suggests, AI’s planning accuracy hovers around the 80-85% mark—yet none of these platforms produced itineraries I’d recommend to clients.

As a travel agent, I engage in meaningful conversations, learning my clients’ interests, itinerary dreams, and budget constraints. Besides tailoring trips to their preferences, I consciously include free moments for exploring or indulging in a leisurely drink at a local cafe.

My support extends during travel, too. Just this past summer, clients faced a hotel check-in ordeal, yet within 15 minutes (pre-dawn!), reservations were resolved—a feat AI is far from achieving.

While AI might provide travel ideas, it’s unreliable as a sole source for trip planning. In my short time using it, I saw many instances of inaccuracies. When you choose my services, I meticulously manage details, saving you time and delivering seamless experiences. 

Sara is the owner of Platinum Travel and specializes in creating luxury, customized, stress free vacations for people who want to see the world and all things Disney.You can reach her at 414-377-8611 or Sara@PlatinumTravelWI.com to start planning your vacation today.


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