AI as Your Travel Co-Pilot: Helpful Guide or Risky Shortcut?
Comments by Sara Boisvert, Director of Marketing, InsureMyTrip
From mapping multi-country routes to recommending hotels, flights, and dining, 66% of Americans have used AI tools to plan at least part of a trip. But when travelers begin treating AI as a co-pilot rather than a suggestion engine, how reliable is the advice?
To explore this, researchers at InsureMyTrip asked several AI tools to plan a luxury seven-day trip to Switzerland for four adults, two of whom were age 60+. Each itinerary was assessed on accuracy, pacing, pricing realism, sourcing, and total travel time.
Switzerland was an ideal place to test the theory. It saw the highest number of U.S. visitors in 30 years in 2025. With pristine lakes, snow-capped peaks, and one of the world’s most efficient rail systems, it is both a dream destination and a logistical challenge.
Every tool produced a well-structured itinerary. But closer inspection revealed cracks that travelers should understand before relying on AI for high-stakes planning.
How We Tested AI Trip Planning
We provided the same prompt to three AI tools and reviewed each response for:
- Accuracy of hotel, restaurant, and activity recommendations
- Realism of pricing and whether it could be verified
- Pacing, mobility considerations, and recovery time for a mixed-age group
- Clarity of routing, transfers, and day-to-day logistics
- Use of sources to support recommendations
Prompt used: Plan a 7-day luxury vacation from the 11th to the 18th of July across Switzerland for two adults and two elderly travelers, including a breakdown of timings per day which includes places to stay, to eat, and any popular activities. Please provide multiple options along with pricing.
What the AI Tools Got Right
Across the board, the itineraries were organized and easy to follow. Most tools built sensible routes across major Swiss destinations, leaned into rail travel, and offered a strong starting framework travelers could refine.
Where the tools struggled was in the “last mile” details: accuracy, verification, and practicality.
Where AI Travel Planning Fell Short
Accuracy and Verifiability
Several recommendations were incorrect or difficult to verify, including restaurants that did not exist as described and ratings that were misrepresented. When sources were limited or missing, it became harder to validate what was suggested.
Pricing Realism
Major experiences were sometimes underestimated. Even small pricing gaps can throw off a luxury budget, especially for four travelers and premium transportation or ticket classes.
Pacing for a Mixed-Age Group
Walking-heavy days were often stacked back-to-back, and high-altitude excursions lacked consistent health considerations. Total travel time across itineraries was frequently high, with limited guidance on fatigue, recovery, or jet lag.
Logistics and Transfers
Some itineraries included unclear routing references or incomplete “what happens after” steps following major excursions. That can matter in Switzerland, where connections, timing, and reservations impact how smooth a day actually feels.
Takeaway: Use AI as a Draft, Not a Decision
AI can be a powerful brainstorming tool for trip planning, especially for structure and routing. But travelers should treat AI itineraries as drafts—not final plans—before booking anything nonrefundable.
For mixed-age trips, in particular, validate walking intensity, accessibility, altitude impacts, and recovery time. Confirm prices and availability directly with hotels, restaurants, and official operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AI reliable for travel planning?
AI can be useful for drafting an itinerary and generating ideas, but travelers should verify pricing, availability, accessibility, and key requirements using official sources before booking.
What are common mistakes in AI-generated travel itineraries?
Common issues include restaurants or hotels that don’t match the description, misrepresented ratings, underestimated costs, incomplete logistics, limited sourcing, and unrealistic pacing or travel time.
Can AI plan a trip well for older travelers?
AI tools may suggest senior-friendly options, but they don’t always account for mobility needs, altitude impacts, recovery time, or walking intensity. Travelers should adjust pacing and confirm accessibility details.
What should travelers verify before booking an AI-built itinerary?
Confirm hotel and restaurant availability, double-check prices with official sources, review transportation and transfer times, and make sure the day-to-day pacing is realistic for your group.
Why can AI pricing for activities be inaccurate?
Prices can change frequently and vary by season, ticket class, bundles, or availability. AI may also rely on incomplete sources or outdated examples, so travelers should validate costs directly with operators.
Should travelers treat AI as a final trip plan?
No. AI itineraries are best used as a starting draft. Travelers should verify details and adjust for personal preferences, mobility needs, and real-world logistics.
Note to Editors
Methodology
Three AI tools received the same prompt and the responses were manually reviewed across hotel, restaurant, and activity recommendations, with added focus on whether the itinerary accounted for both adults and travelers age 60+.
