Do AI Trip Planners Actually Work?
I tested the hype. Here's what AI can and can't do for your next trip.
Every other week there's a new "AI trip planner" promising to plan your entire vacation in 30 seconds. Paste a destination, get a perfect itinerary. No research needed.
I've been skeptical. So I actually tested them.
What AI Trip Planning Promises
- Instant itineraries for any destination
- Personalized recommendations based on your interests
- No hours of research
- Hidden gems and local spots
- Optimized routes so you're not zigzagging across the city
Sounds great. But does it work?
Test 1: ChatGPT
I asked ChatGPT to plan a 5-day trip to Lisbon.
The result: A generic list of tourist attractions. Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Time Out Market. Stuff you'd find on the first page of Google.
The problem: ChatGPT doesn't know what's currently open, doesn't have real-time data, and can't actually verify if these places exist or are still operating. It's synthesizing from training data, not actual trip planning.
Verdict: Fine for brainstorming. Not reliable for actual planning.
Test 2: Layla / Roam Around
Layla (formerly Roam Around) is a dedicated AI trip planner. Type a destination and constraints, get a day-by-day itinerary.
The result: More structured than ChatGPT. Actual day-by-day breakdown with estimated times. Includes restaurants and activities.
The problem: Recommendations still feel generic. I spotted a restaurant that closed in 2023. Route optimization is questionable—places in the same neighborhood split across different days.
Verdict: Better starting point, but needs manual verification.
Test 3: Polo (Our App)
Disclosure: I'm biased. But I'll be honest.
Polo works differently. Instead of generating recommendations from nothing, it takes places you've already found—TikToks you saved, Instagram posts, YouTube videos—and helps you organize them.
The result: My saved content became an actual map and itinerary. AI helped extract locations and optimize the route, but the places came from sources I trusted.
The problem: Requires input. Won't plan a trip from nothing.
Verdict: Better for people who already save travel content. Less useful for "I have no ideas."
What AI Actually Does Well
- Organizing existing ideas. AI is great at taking scattered notes and structuring them.
- Route optimization. "Visit these 10 places in the most efficient order" is a solvable problem.
- Extracting info from content. Parsing TikTok videos for location names.
- Quick starting points. Brainstorming when you have no ideas.
What AI Does Poorly
- Current, verified information. AI doesn't know what's open today.
- Actual "hidden gems." If it's in training data, it's not hidden.
- Understanding your vibe. "I want a chill trip" means different things to different people.
- Replacing local knowledge. A hostel bartender still knows more than any AI.
The Honest Answer
AI trip planners are useful tools. They're not magic.
They work best when:
- You've already done some discovery (saved content, have rough ideas)
- You use them to organize, not to generate from scratch
- You verify recommendations with real reviews and current info
- You treat the output as a starting point, not a final plan
The apps that work best combine AI with real data—actual maps, verified business info, social content you trust. Pure "generate an itinerary from nothing" tools tend to produce generic results.
How I Actually Use AI for Trips
- Save content I find naturally (TikTok, Instagram, recommendations from people)
- Use an app to organize it into a map and rough itinerary
- Check that places are actually open and have good reviews
- Leave room for spontaneity
AI handles the tedious organization. I still do the discovery and verification.
Polo uses AI to organize your saves, not generate generic lists.Paste a TikTok, get the locations. Free to try.