It seems to be the in thing to use AI to plan your trips: Planning Your Next Trip? Let AI Do It For You
But which AI is the best? On Thursday, January 16 we challenged the AI tools: Gemini, ChatGPT and CoPilot and some dedicated AI Travel planners with an imaginary two-week break in Italy. Here’s our prrompt:
We are a group of three retired people in our seventies. A married couple and a single lady. We would like to take a two-week holiday in Italy. We have different interests. The couple likes to hike, while the single lady is interested in art and history. Two of us are vegetarian. We don’t have money to splash around and will need to do the trip on a tight budget. We want to take this trip on May 2nd. Plan a trip for us including detailed accommodation and travel arrangements from my current location. Please show me a map of the itinerary and give some prices.
Gemini
This is still in its infancy – and it shows – All it could give us was a list of Google Hotels, which isn’t surprising since Gemini is a Google product!
Google Hotels
Gemini doesn’t always get it right. Be sure to check the following hotel details:
Hotels in Italy · 1 May – 15 May · 3 adults
I found several hotels in Italy that might be a good fit for your group of three retired people. They range from budget-friendly options to more luxurious stays, and they all offer a variety of amenities to cater to your interests.
Here are a few options to consider:
- Salice Club Resort is a 4-star hotel with a range of lodging from rooms to apartments, plus an outdoor pool, a beach, a restaurant & 4 bars. It is located in Riccione, on the Adriatic Coast of Italy. The price is €62 per night.
- Hotel Villaggio Stromboli is a 4-star hotel with a laid-back atmosphere, offering a restaurant, a bar & an outdoor pool, plus a private area on the beach. It is located in Stromboli, on the Aeolian Islands. The price is €92 per night.
- Hotel la Playa Blanca is a 4-star hotel with simple quarters and a casual atmosphere, offering a private beach & a pool, plus a restaurant with sea views. It is located in Tropea, on the Calabrian Coast. The price is €102 per night.
- Holiday Center Pra’ Delle Torri is a 4-star hotel with a seaside resort offering camping & a hotel, plus a water park, food, entertainment & golf. It is located in Cavallino-Treporti, on the Venetian Riviera. The price is €78 per night.
- Centro Vacanze Villaggio San Francesco is a 4-star hotel with a variety of amenities, including a pool, a restaurant, and a bar. It is located in San Francesco, on the Tuscan Coast. The price is €58 per night.
Chat GPT
https://chatgpt.com
Chat GPT produced a comprehensive itinerary, taking into account our group’s mixed interests and dietary requirements. However, there are no specifics about which flights to take, nor does it point out that if you drive to Valencia you’ll probably have to pay for parking. However, it provides a breakdown of costs in Euros and a grand total per person which includes entrance fees. It choked over creating a map however!
ChatGPT
Planning a two-week budget-friendly Italian holiday starting May 2nd, 2025, tailored to your group’s diverse interests and dietary preferences, involves careful consideration of travel logistics, accommodations, and activities. Here’s a detailed itinerary to guide your journey:
Travel from Jávea, Spain to Italy:
- Step 1: Jávea to Valencia
- Option 1: Bus: Companies like ALSA operate services from Jávea to Valencia. The journey typically takes around 2 hours and costs approximately €10-€15 per person.
- Option 2: Car: If you prefer driving, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive (approximately 100 km) to Valencia.
- Step 2: Valencia to Italy
- Flights: Budget airlines such as Ryanair and Vueling offer flights from Valencia Airport to major Italian cities like Rome, Milan, and Venice. Booking in advance can secure fares as low as €50-€100 per person, one-way.
Week 1: Florence and Tuscany (May 2nd – May 8th)
- Accommodation in Florence:
- Hotel Delle Tele: A budget-friendly hotel located in central Florence, offering rooms around €100 per night. For seven nights, the total cost would be approximately €700.
- Ostello Gallo d’Oro: A cozy hostel with private rooms, priced at about €70 per night. Total for seven nights: approximately €490.
- Activities:
- Art and History Enthusiast:
- Uffizi Gallery: Entrance fee is around €20.
- Accademia Gallery: Tickets approximately €16.
- Florence Cathedral (Duomo): Entry to the cathedral is free; however, access to the dome, bell tower, and other parts requires a ticket costing about €18.
- Hiking Enthusiasts:
- Fiesole: Accessible by bus (€1.50 per ticket); trails are free to access.
- Chianti Region: Public buses to towns like Greve in Chianti cost around €4-€6 one-way.
- Art and History Enthusiast:
- Vegetarian Dining:
- Il Vegano: Main courses range from €8-€12.
- Mercato Centrale: Offers various vegetarian options; meals can be enjoyed for €10-€15.
Week 2: Lake Garda and Verona (May 9th – May 15th)
- Travel from Florence to Verona:
- Train: Regional trains cost approximately €20 per person, with a journey time of about 2 hours.
- Accommodation in Verona:
- B&B Hotel Verona Sud: Rooms available at around €70 per night. Total for seven nights: approximately €490.
- Hotel Siena: Offers rooms at about €80 per night. Total for seven nights: approximately €560.
- Activities:
- Art and History Enthusiast:
- Juliet’s House: Entrance fee is around €6.
- Roman Arena: Tickets approximately €10.
- Hiking Enthusiasts:
- Monte Baldo: Cable car from Malcesine costs about €22 for a round trip.
- Ponale Path: Free hiking trail starting from Riva del Garda.
- Art and History Enthusiast:
- Vegetarian Dining:
- Trattoria Pane e Vino: Main courses range from €10-€15.
- Local Markets: Ideal for purchasing fresh produce; prices vary.
Return Travel: Verona to Jávea (May 16th)
- Step 1: Verona to Milan
- Train: Tickets cost around €15-€25 per person, with a journey time of 1.5 hours.
- Step 2: Milan to Valencia
- Flights: Budget airlines offer fares ranging from €50-€100 per person.
- Step 3: Valencia to Jávea
- Bus: Approximately €10-€15 per person.
Estimated Total Costs per Person:
- Accommodation:
- Florence: €490 – €700
- Verona: €490 – €560
- Transportation:
- Jávea to Valencia: €10 – €15
- Flights (Valencia to Italy and return): €100 – €200
- Trains within Italy: €55 – €75
- Local transportation (buses, etc.): €50 – €70
- Activities and Dining:
- Entrance fees: €70 – €100
- Meals: €20 – €30 per day; total for 14 days: €280 – €420
Grand Total per Person: Approximately €1,545 – €2,140
Note: Prices are estimates and can vary. Booking accommodations and flights in advance can secure better rates. Additionally, consider travel insurance for unforeseen circumstances.
Map of the Itinerary:
This itinerary balances
Microsoft CoPilot (available from the Edge browser)
Copilot‘s effort is very general and light on useful details. It considers the varied interests of group members but doesn’t tell us how to travel to Italy, nor include flight costs in the budget estimate (perhaps it didn’t know where my current location was. ChatGPT knew). It says it will prepare a map .. but didn’t.
That sounds like a wonderful trip! Italy has so much to offer, and I’m sure we can plan something that caters to everyone’s interests and budget. Let’s break it down step by step:
Day 1-3: Rome
- Accommodation: Stay at a budget-friendly hostel or guesthouse like The Beehive or Yellow Hostel.
- Activities: Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican City. The couple can enjoy hiking in the Appian Way Regional Park.
- Vegetarian Restaurants: Try Il Margutta for a vegetarian meal.
Day 4-6: Florence
- Accommodation: Stay at Hostel Archi Rossi or Firenze Hostel.
- Activities: Explore the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and the Ponte Vecchio. The single lady can enjoy the rich art and history, while the couple can hike in the nearby Tuscan hills.
- Vegetarian Restaurants: Visit Il Vegetariano for a delicious meal.
Day 7-9: Cinque Terre
- Accommodation: Stay at a budget-friendly hostel like Cinque Terre Hostel.
- Activities: The couple can hike the famous trails between the five villages, while the single lady can explore the charming towns and their art and history.
- Vegetarian Restaurants: Try La Torre in Monterosso for vegetarian options.
Day 10-12: Venice
- Accommodation: Stay at Generator Venice or Camping Fusina.
- Activities: The couple can enjoy a hike in the Venetian Lagoon, while the single lady can explore St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and the art museums.
- Vegetarian Restaurants: Visit La Tecia Vegana for a great vegetarian meal.
Day 13-14: Naples
- Accommodation: Stay at Hostel of Naples or Napoli Hostel.
- Activities: Visit Pompeii and Herculaneum for a mix of history and art. The couple can hike in the nearby Vesuvius National Park.
- Vegetarian Restaurants: Try Officina Vegana for a vegan meal.
Travel Arrangements
- Flights: Look for budget flights to Rome and from Naples back home.
- Trains: Use Italy’s extensive train network to travel between cities. Book tickets in advance for the best prices.
- Public Transport: Use buses and local trains within cities.
Budget Estimate
- Accommodation: Around €50-€70 per night per person.
- Meals: Around €10-€15 per meal per person.
- Activities: Around €20-€30 per day per person.
- Transport: Around €100-€150 for train tickets and local transport.
Map of Itinerary
I’ll create a map for you with the itinerary and key points of interest.
Does this plan sound good to you? Would you like any adjustments or additional details?
Trip Planner
https://tripplanner.ai/ This was a series of checkboxes and drop-down lists. We couldn’t get it to work at all…
Wonderplan
https://wonderplan.ai/v2/trip-planner only seems to work for cities, not countries. When I typed “Italy” – it offered Italy, Texas.
However, when we chose Rome and travel dates it offered a series of check-boxes to select types of: group, activity, budget range – (low, medium, high )- all in US dollars and a map and itinerary for Italy.
Layla AI
https://layla.ai/ This is fun.
Italy, huh? Sounds like a dream! Let’s whip up a trip that balances hiking, art, history, and vegetarian delights without breaking the bank. First, I’ll need to know how long you want to stay in each place and if you have any specific cities in mind, or should I just sprinkle some Italian magic and choose for you?
We asked it to “sprinkle some Italian Magic” It produced a map and a detailed, interesting itinerary which you could download as an informative PDF. We’ve uploaded it to share – I like the idea of truffle hunting! Interestingly, it initially suggested a non-stop 4-hour flight from Ibiza to Rome . There was definitely a glitch there! This screenshot shows a more sensible flight – one stop from Alicante.
Here is the suggested itinerary from Layla
Conclusion? The best of a pretty bad bunch are ChatGPT and Layla Ai
Christine Betterton-Jones – Knowledge junkie