Wanderlust is a beautiful thing. There is nothing like that feeling you get when exploring vibrant mercados bursting with exotic flavors. Or maybe you’re more of a hammock, beach, and cold beverage in hand kind of person.
Regardless of where you fall, planning a trip amid our busy lives can feel like a lot. Thinking of the budget and itinerary can overwhelm anyone. That’s why AI can be a valuable tool for anyone who loves to travel.
AI educator and community builder Yovana Rosales understands how beneficial leveraging AI can be for the Latino and Latine communities.
The podcaster tells Latinidad Collective, “I used AI to create my itinerary for a family reunion happening in El Salvador for a group of 20. [But,] when you use AI, you need to be specific and ask it questions that pertain to your vacation.”
AI tools can help you book flights for your trips using special plugin extensions
As fun as travel can be, preparing for it can be tedious and often stressful. Psychology Today cites planning as one of the most stressful parts of a trip anywhere. The publication quoted a 2012 study that surveyed 110 Americans “about various aspects of travel stress.”
“While the study found that, on average, travelers experienced low to moderate stress, the results show that trip planning was the most stressful aspect of the vacation, followed by travel to the destination,” Psychology Today stated.
Where can AI be used so that this portion of the trip is streamlined and less anxiety-inducing? It can help you find cheaper flights. The paid version of ChatGPT has plugins on sites like Expedia, Kayak, and Travel.com, per Yahoo Finance.
Given your trip parameters, ChatGPT’s paid version will show you flight options with corresponding links so you can book.
But what if you want to use something other than the paid version of this AI tool? According to Yahoo Finance, you can use the regular service by plugging your trip parameters. It will give you some options, but you must check online for booking and set pricing.
Rosales explains, “When I was planning the trip with my family, I had told the [AI tool], ‘I am going on a 15-day trip with 20 people. We are landing in San Salvador [on] April 15 and will be leaving from San Salvador. Create [an] itinerary that includes climbing a volcano, spa days, and days at the beach.’”
“There is no reason why I should be planning a trip for 20 people without getting paid for it, and I refuse to do all the work. Therefore, being able to leverage this technology helped [me manage] my stress,” the AI educator asserts.
The event producer added, “[It] was able to give me different suggestions of different beaches that I could visit while I was out there, as well as different spa locations. Just because we are women does not mean that we need to do everything for our families, and so I have shared the itinerary, and that was my part.”
AI can also help you plan your itinerary and help you narrow down what you need to know about your travel destination
Whether planning a solo trip or a family reunion aboard, AI can help you narrow down ideas for the itinerary. CNET notes that while creating an itinerary is more of an art, some AI tools can help you perform some basic functions that can help you create a foundation.
It can also help you find preliminary information on visa applications and currency conversion.
Something the publication urges folks to do is always verify anything the AI tool suggests.
“Real-time and even recent information are just a couple of things you shouldn’t currently expect to find on your AI travel itinerary,” CNET writes.
Rosales echoes this viewpoint.
“Use AI as a tool that is a frame of reference and a great starting point, but do not rely on the responses that AI gives you solely. The free version of ChatGPT will only give you information up to the year 2022,” she explains.
The Salvadorian-Ecuadorian Latina adds, “So if there has been a natural disaster or something political happening within that country that has been after 2022, you will not receive that information.”
“Therefore, you won’t know if it is safe to travel to that country or not. You still have to do your research and make sure that the places that AI recommends [are] safe for you and your family,” she remarks.
But why is AI particularly beneficial for Latinos and Latine travelers?
For starters, if you belong to a group who love to travel to new places where they don’t speak your language, there are conversational AI tools that can help you translate in real time.
Translation tools can aid large multigenerational groups who travel with tíos, tías, primas, and primos who may decide to participate in different activities throughout the trip.
Having a translation app on their phones can help the segmented groups communicate without one person sharing the burden of translation.
A travel writer for Business Insider cited using the Google Translate app on their phone. It helped them communicate in places like China, Singapore, and Greece.
The publication notes that the app has “features tailor-made for travelers.” It has a “camera function” that helps translate signs “instantly.” It’s “conversation mode” also “allows you to speak directly into the microphone for real-time translated conversations.”
AI can also help Latinos and Latine people narrow down points of interest for everyone participating in the trip.
Rosales tells Latinidad Collective that after creating an itinerary for her family, she handed them a list of suggestions.
“Now, if they want to create edits or if they want to move things around within the itinerary, it will be up to that family member to take over,” she adds.
Remember, AI is your travel companion, not your replacement
Latinos and Latine folks are still the captains of their travel ship. They get to steer the course and make the final decisions. AI is there to make things smoother, less stressful, and way more divertido.
It’s not about blindly following an algorithm. Using AI as your savvy travel companion can help unlock a world of unforgettable experiences. And maybe save a few pesos while you’re at it.
