A Novice Guide to AI Travel Planning
AI is the buzzword of the moment – from writing emails to curating Spotify playlists, artificial intelligence has gone from techy to everyday in record time. And now? It’s changing how we plan travel too.
If you’ve ever been the one in charge of organising a trip with friends or family, you’ll know just how much admin, back-and-forth, and decision-making it involves. Coordinating dates, juggling different preferences and keeping everyone happy.
👉🏼 I’ve been there more times than I can count and as much as I love it, it can be overwhelming to get started.
But this year, I started using AI to help. And it has honestly changed the game.
Think of AI as your brainstorming buddy or digital assistant – it helps you gather ideas, compare options, and reduce the mental load, so planning a group trip becomes more efficient (and fun!).
✅ What You’ll Learn in this post
- How to find the perfect destination
- Create a group-friendly itinerary
- Book the right accommodation
- Discover great dining spots
- Prompt AI tools effectively – even if you’re completely new to them
🧭 1. Choosing the Right Destination
AI can help match your group’s interests with ideal destinations – whether you’re after beaches, wineries, boutique shopping, hikes, or spa towns.
🔧 How to Use AI
Ask a natural-sounding question in a tool like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Layla – just like you’re chatting with a well-travelled friend.
Example prompt:
“Can you suggest long weekend destinations within 2 hours of Melbourne for 4 women in their 40s who enjoy wine tasting, nature, and relaxing spa experiences?”
🛠 Tools to Try
- ChatGPT – Explore ideas, draft itineraries, compare destinations
- Google Gemini – Build custom trips, compare flights and hotels
- Layla – A personal AI travel planner
💡 Pro Tip: Ask AI to compare 3–5 destinations with pros and cons, then pop the summary into your group chat for a quick vote.
👉🏼 When I did this recently for a girls’ trip out of Melbourne, AI came back with Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and a Melbourne city stay. We narrowed it down in one afternoon and booked Yarra Valley that same week—what would’ve taken weeks of back and forth was decided in a day.
🗺 2. Building a Group-Friendly Itinerary
Once you’ve chosen the destination, AI can help you create a flexible itinerary that balances what everyone in the group is after.
🔧 How to Use AI
Example prompt:
“Create a 3-day itinerary in Queenstown for a group of 6. We want a mix of adventure (like jet boating), wine tasting, and relaxing evenings.”
🛠 Tools to Try
- ChatGPT – Custom day-by-day plans
- Google Gemini – Live research on activities and hours
- CoPilot – Summarises reviews, finds articles and options
💡 Idea: Ask AI to split each day into morning, afternoon, and evening blocks. It makes things easier when everyone has different interests and to help narrow down the decisions.
👉🏼 Here’s an example of a day from a Queenstown itinerary AI helped me build for a trip with three couples:
- Morning: Jet boat ride on Shotover River
- Afternoon: Wine tasting at Gibbston Valley
- Evening: Book a group dinner at a lakeside restaurant
It included options for wine tour companies, lakeside restaurants and tips like booking the Jet Boat early as it ‘sells out’ well in advance.
🏡 3. Booking the Right Accommodation
Group travel often means different sleeping preferences, shared vs. private bathrooms, budget ranges – and it can be time-consuming to sort through it all.
🔧 How to Use AI
Example prompt:
“Find accommodation in the Yarra Valley for 4 adults with separate beds, close to wineries, under $350/night AUD. Ideally cozy with a fireplace or spa.”
🛠 Tools to Try
- ChatGPT or Bing Copilot – Helps narrow options and explain why
- Airbnb – Use filters like group size, amenities, and bed count
- Booking.com + Expedia – AI-assisted results & reviews
💡 Pro Tip: Ask AI to compare options by features, price, and location, then send a shortlist to your group for quick feedback.
👉🏼 I used this method and narrowed down from 80+ listings to just 5 that ticked all our boxes. We booked a lovely cottage with a fireplace and within walking distance to town – and everyone loved it.
🍽 4. Discovering Group-Friendly Dining Options
AI can help you find restaurants that suit everyone’s tastes -and can actually accommodate your group.
🔧 How to Use AI
Example prompt:
“Recommend 3 restaurants in Rome near Trastevere that are good for groups of 8, with vegetarian options and outdoor seating.”
🛠 Tools to Try
- OpenTable – Live availability and group bookings
- ChatGPT + Google Maps – Cross-reference reviews and hours
💡 Tip: Ask about dietary options, set menus, and outdoor space – especially helpful during peak travel seasons.
⚠️ A Quick Word of Caution
AI is a fantastic planning assistant – but not a total replacement and still requires some additional researching and homework.
✅ Always double-check:
- Booking links and cancellation policies
- Opening hours and seasonal closures
- Updated reviews and travel alerts
- Call or email for group reservations if needed
📲 Bonus: Use AI On the Go
AI is just as useful while you’re travelling. Here are a few on-the-go helpers:
- TripIt – Automatically builds your itinerary from booking emails
- Google Translate / Lens – Instantly read signs and menus abroad
- ChatGPT Mobile App – Ask for last-minute suggestions on the fly
👯♀️ Group Travel Just Got Smarter
Using AI to plan your group trip won’t replace the laughs, spontaneous detours, or shared memories – but it will make the planning process faster and far less stressful.
Let AI take care of the admin. You focus on the fun. 🧳✨
💬 Have you tried using AI for travel planning?
Leave a comment below or explore more group travel tips at travel-in-groups.com.
📚 Ready to Keep Planning?
If you’re diving deeper into group travel planning, check out our other helpful guides:
The Group Travel Guide 
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