How AI made our Family Trip Planning a Breeze (And Saved My Sanity!)

Travel planning made easy with AI

Planning a family trip can feel like a full-time job—especially when trying to plan between school and sport schedules. I typically spend days (okay, maybe weeks) researching flights, picking the best VRBO or family-friendly resort and picking activities that everyone in the family will love. With each trip, I am always trying to find ways to make the research easier, faster and honestly more tailored to what I am looking for. So the question is, how can AI help? I spent some time using AI in my recent travel planning and here’s how AI helped:

1. Choosing a Destination that Works for Everyone

   I started by using AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard to brainstorm ideas based on our family’s interests. I told the AI that we wanted a destination with both relaxing and kid-friendly activities, and it came back with options that fit everyone’s vibe. Just typing in something like, “fun family destinations with outdoor activities in the spring” gave me great ideas that I hadn’t even considered—some a bit off the beaten path but still family-approved!

2. Finding Flights Without Going Over Budget

   Hunting for affordable flights can feel like gambling, but apps like Hopper and Skyscanner took the guesswork out. Hopper’s AI analyzed trends and told me when to book for the lowest rates, even sending me alerts if prices dropped. I ended up booking our flights at the right time without constantly checking, which is a big win because it gave me one less thing to obsess over. But my all-time favorite site is Google Flights. This site makes it super easy to search for flights to destinations you didn’t even know you wanted to go to! Using AI is a no-brainer these days when it comes to flight hunting.

3. Putting Together an Itinerary Everyone Likes

   Gone are the days of me manually listing activities that I hope everyone will like. Roam Around helps creates custom itinerary based on family preferences (like “scenic hikes” for us and “zoo” for the kids), then put together a daily list of activities, complete with maps and links to book tickets in advance. Plus, it adjusted for travel time between spots, so we weren’t scrambling to get from one end of town to the other—super helpful with kids in tow.

4. Language Help for Kid-Approved Adventures

   If you are heading to an international destination where maybe English isn’t widely spoken, use Google Translate. Simply point your phone at menus or signs, and it instantly translated everything on the screen. The kids will love to join in on this activity — they can help “decode” the signs, which added a bit of adventure to the experience.

5. On-the-Go Recommendations for Meals and More

   For meals and quick recommendations, apps like Tripadvisor and Yelp’s AI-powered suggestion engine. I could find kid-friendly restaurants, see the latest reviews, and check out video recommendations from other families. By searching something like “kid-friendly cafes in Rome,” we found places that worked for everyone, including picky eaters.

6. Navigating on the Fly (and Avoiding Meltdowns!)

   AI-backed navigation tools like Google Maps were super helpful for keeping our days smooth. We’d just type in where we wanted to go, and it calculated the best route, even telling us about any delays. If the kids started getting tired, the “Explore Nearby” feature helped us find a nearby park or fun activity for a quick break.

Using AI really simplifies our planning and makes the trip more enjoyable for everyone. So if you’re gearing up for a family vacation, let AI take on some of the heavy lifting—you’ll thank yourself later!