Make summer travel plans with AI and apps

Now that the pandemic is theoretically over, many are planning trips this summer. I don’t know of any apps that can clear roads or reduce congestion at airports, but there are apps and websites that can help you plan and hopefully avoid the hassles of busy travel seasons.

In addition to the myriad of useful travel and dining apps, new this year is an easy-to-use artificial intelligence service to help you plan your trip.

AI is very useful

I can’t stress enough how useful these services can be in planning your trip. Not valid for bookings, but “Who flies non-stop between SFO and Paris?”, “What’s the best way to get from JFK Airport to Midtown Manhattan?” You can ask questions such as -Old man to do in Yosemite”

I recently drove from my home in Silicon Valley to my wife’s brother’s house near Sedona, Arizona and used ChatGPT to plan the route and find interesting stops along the way. Very helpful in pointing out interesting places to stop. I did the same thing with Google Bard and also came up with something interesting. Some of them differed from ChatGPT’s recommendations. Based on ChatGPT, but Microsoft Bing also had different recommendations. So if you want to get lots of recommendations, use all three free AI chat systems to plan your route.

I also used these services to “find sushi bars on the road between San Jose and Sedona” and was surprised to find some candidates. But while I love sushi, it’s not something I order while driving through desert. My wife and I were planning a trip to Minneapolis this summer and used all three of her services to “find rustic lakes less than an hour from Minneapolis”. One of my favorite things about Google Bard is that it gives you more detailed information about the lake along with photos of the area.

All three AI systems provide excellent information, but ChatGPT seems to be the most thorough. However, that database was last updated in September 2021. Both Bing and Bard claim to have the latest information. I haven’t done extensive testing on this, but I asked all three services, “Who is Pat Robertson?” Bing and Byrd referred to him in the past tense and reported the date of his death. A ChatGPT report suggested he was still alive, as he was alive in September 2021 when the model was last trained.

travel and food apps

There are many travel apps like Expedia, Kayak, etc. that can help you find flights, hotels, and car rentals. One thing I’ve learned is to try multiple apps and websites, including those run by airlines, hotels, and car rental companies. Sometimes I saw different prices on different apps or found special discounts only available on the hotel’s website app. One of the advantages of booking directly with the hotel or airline is that you may get better service if you need to change or upgrade. I’ve had hotels and airlines tell me they couldn’t help me because I booked through a “travel agency”, but basically these third party services are what it is. That said, I often find better hotel rates through services such as Expedia than on the hotel company’s website or app.

These apps can also be used to search and book attractions and local tours.

There are many ways to find places to eat while traveling, including OpenTable and Yelp. Both of these services offer options like al fresco dining, which might be a good idea if you’re worried about the coronavirus. Information on these services is unreliable, so call the restaurant to confirm. Yelp also has a “for kids” option.

Google Maps is an essential tool when traveling by car. If you’re looking for a scenic route, click the three vertical dots in the upper right corner,[ルートオプション]then[高速道路を避ける]Choose. However, there are some caveats. If you’ve done this, be sure to undo it if you want to find the fastest or most efficient route. It may also take you through city streets and secluded back roads.

Whether you’re exploring a destination in the city or hiking through the woods, Google Lens helps you identify buildings, plants, and other things you find. It’s far from perfect, but it does a pretty good job of doing the equivalent of an online image search to identify and describe what you’re looking at. For plants such as trees and flowers, download PlantNet Plant Identification. You can use it to take photos of plants and improve accuracy by choosing to focus on flowers, bark, fruits, leaves and other plant organs.

Finally, if you have children, ask them to help you plan a trip before you leave home. It keeps them involved, increases their odds of approving family plans, and helps build their skills and confidence. Besides, they may be better at it than you.