ChatGPT For Trip Planning

How To Leverage ChatGPT To Be The Tour-Guide For Your Next Trip!

Do you love travelling but hate doing all the dirty work of planning? Or do you love travelling but get overwhelmed by all the sights-to-see, don’t know which ones to plan for and are scared of missing out? ChatGPT to the rescue my friends! 😉

Last week when I spoke about how to use ChatGPT to find the best personalized travel destination, the same parameters can be used to outline how you would like to tourist (or not) your next vacation destination.

Below is a list of actionable steps that I’ve used for myself, that you can take towards your next travel planning:

1. 1. First, specify the logistical details of your travel: Let ChatGPT know your travel dates, budget, transportation preferences (e.g., car/vespa rental, taxi, public transport, boat), accommodation type (hotel, Airbnb, couch-surfing), any physical limitations, etc.
   2. Outline Your Preferences, Interests and Personality Type: If there are things you already know that you want to do, be sure to tell ChatGPT! Then start listing your preferences, interests and what you’re not interested in (e.g. I love learning about history, I love nature, I want to spend some days at a beach, I don’t like crowds, etc.). The more specific you can be (e.g. I’m an introvert who struggles to socialize but I LOVE lively events) the better the chance ChatGPT will be able to get it right.
   3. Ask for Recommendations: Once you’ve provided your travel details and preferences, ask ChatGPT for recommendations. For example, you could say, “Can you please provide me with a list of restaurants or eating arrangements that will find into my budget of 100 euros for one week in Liguria?” or “Can you suggest a 5-day itinerary for me in Paris, focusing on art and history, with a moderate budget and using public transportation?”.
   4. Review and Refine: Once ChatGPT has generated the draft itinerary based on your inputs, you will most likely need to review the suggestions and make some tweaks or additional details to optimize the results.
   5. Get Local Insights: If you want more detailed information or local insights about specific attractions, cuisine, or hidden gems, ask ChatGPT for recommendations or tips based on your interests.
   6. Don’t forget to ask about local events and festivals that might be happening!
   7. Finalize and Organize: You can finalize you itinerary by asking ChatGPT to create a day-by-day schedule (including relevant information such as addresses, contact numbers, and reservation details) and arrange the activities in a logical order, considering factors like proximity and timing.
   8. Stay Flexible: While it’s good to have a planned itinerary, remember to stay flexible and allow room for spontaneous experiences or adjustments based on local recommendations or unforeseen circumstances.

Now, for those of you who are interested in seeing a sample of what ChatGPT can do, I warn you, there is a LOT to come, so continue reading!

For those of you who aren’t interested in the Show-and-tell and don’t want to read through a lengthy blog post, it’s going to be your loss 😉

Since Paris is my FAVOURITE city and I’ve lost count how many times I’ve visited. I decided to use it for my experiment so I could at least corroborate the results that ChatGPT spits out to me to make sure they’re good.

So, here’s what I asked ChatGPT while trying to create a hypothetical itinerary for Paris:

“I will be travelling to Paris from May 10-30th, 2024. I’m staying at a friend’s apartment in the 16th Arrondissement but I won’t have my own mode of transport and I will also need to shop for all of my own groceries or eat out at restaurants. I’m very interested in seeing Paris as a local, however I still wish to see the Eiffel Tower, l’Arc du Triumph, Montmartre, Rue des Martyrs, Sacre-a-Coeur, Opera, Notre-Dame, Marche aux Puces, Musee Rodin, Musee Picasso and any other special landmarks, and I’d like to do some vintage clothes shopping. Keep in mind that I am an INFJ who finds it difficult to be outgoing, but I love music festivals, cultural events/festivals, history, meeting locals and trying local foods (I LOVE bakeries!). My weekly budget will be 200 euros. Can you please provide me with suggestions on what to see and do?”

And here’s what ChatGPT came up with for me:

“Certainly! Paris is a wonderful city to explore, and staying in the 16th Arrondissement gives you a beautiful and relatively quiet base. Here’s a plan to help you enjoy Paris as a local, considering your interests and budget:

Getting Around

1. Public Transport: Get a weekly Navigo pass (€22.80) which will give you unlimited access to buses, trams, metro, and RER trains. This will be essential for moving around the city.

Groceries and Eating Out

2. Groceries: Shop at local markets like the Marché Président Wilson in the 16th Arrondissement. For supermarkets, try Monoprix or Franprix.

3. Bakeries: Indulge in croissants and pastries at bakeries like Boulangerie des Ternes and Boulangerie Patisserie Coudrier Geffroy.

4. Eating Out: Look for affordable options like Café Constant, Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, and various boulangeries and crêperies.

Sightseeing

5. Eiffel Tower: A must-see and it’s close to the 16th. Visit the Trocadéro Gardens for great views.

6. L’Arc de Triomphe: Walk down the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.

7. Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur: Spend a day exploring the artistic streets of Montmartre and the beautiful basilica.

8. Rue des Martyrs: A vibrant street with many shops, cafes, and patisseries.

9. Opéra Garnier: Even if you don’t go inside, the building is stunning.

10. Notre-Dame: Although the cathedral is under restoration, the surrounding area and nearby Île Saint-Louis are worth exploring.

11. Marché aux Puces: Visit the famous flea market at Saint-Ouen.

12. Musée Rodin & Musée Picasso: Both are excellent and offer different artistic experiences.

Vintage Shopping

13. Le Marais: This district is great for vintage shopping. Visit shops like Kilo Shop, Free’P’Star, and Episode.

Cultural Events and Festivals

14. Music Festivals: Check out events happening during your stay on sites like Time Out Paris or the Paris Tourist Office website.

15. Local Meetups: Use platforms like Meetup or Couchsurfing to find local events or gatherings related to your interests.

16. Cultural Festivals: May often has events like the Nuit des Musées, where museums are open late for free.

Weekly Budget Breakdown

• Transport: €22.80 for Navigo pass.

• Groceries/Eating Out: Around €30-40 per week for groceries, and the rest for eating out.

• Sightseeing: Many attractions are free or have minimal entry fees. Use the rest of your budget for museum tickets and occasional splurges.

Additional Tips

• Parks and Gardens: Enjoy the many parks like Bois de Boulogne, Jardin des Tuileries, and Luxembourg Gardens for relaxing and picnics.

• Local Cafes: Spend time at local cafes, reading or people-watching.

• Language: Learning basic French phrases will help you feel more comfortable and connect with locals.

With these suggestions, you should be able to experience Paris in a way that aligns with your interests while staying within your budget. Enjoy your trip!” – ChatGPT

Not gonna lie, this is a fantastic outline to start with. All the information it gave is accurate, I’ve previously used all resources it has suggested, I have been to Le Relais de l’Entrecôte and it is in fact quite affordable, and I have essentially lived off of crepes, baguettes and croissants as well (again, I love bakeries ?).

I can now further tweak what I’ve asked. For example, I can ask “which sights and attractions specifically are free?”, “what are the costs of the sights and attractions that I want to go to?”, “How much money should I spend each week on sights and attractions of I only have 200 euros and I will still need to pay for food and transport?” “Considering that I will be staying in the 16th, can you please create a logistically organized schedule of my itinerary?”

What did ChatGPT give this time? I won’t post it all for the sake of this already lengthy blog post, but check this out!

Free Sights and Attractions in Paris

1. Eiffel Tower (Trocadéro Gardens): Free to visit the gardens, but climbing the tower costs extra.
2. L’Arc de Triomphe: Viewing from the outside is free. Entry to the top costs €13.
3. Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur: The basilica is free to enter.
4. Notre-Dame: The cathedral is under restoration, but the grounds and nearby Île Saint-Louis are free to explore.
5. Marché aux Puces (Saint-Ouen): Free to browse.
6. Museums on the first Sunday of the month: Many museums are free (e.g., Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou).
7. Parks and Gardens: Luxembourg Gardens, Tuileries Gardens, Bois de Boulogne, etc.
8. Cultural Events: Check for free concerts and events in places like Parc de la Villette or the Seine riverside.

Costs of Popular Attractions

1. Eiffel Tower:
   • Grounds: Free
   • Elevator to 2nd floor: €17.10
   • Elevator to top: €26.80
2. L’Arc de Triomphe: €13
3. Musée Rodin: €13
4. Musée Picasso: €14
5. Opéra Garnier: €12
6. Musée d’Orsay: €16
7. Louvre Museum: €17
8. Sainte-Chapelle: €11.50
9. Versailles Palace: €20 (Day trip, not in Paris but easily accessible by RER)

Budget Breakdown for Weekly Expenditure

• Transport: €22.80 (Navigo Pass)
• Food: Approximately €70 (groceries and occasional eating out)
• Attractions: Approximately €30 per week

This leaves you with around €77.20 per week for other expenses, including attractions.

Suggested Itinerary

Week 1

Friday, May 10: Arrival

• Settle in, explore the neighborhood.

Saturday, May 11: Trocadéro and Eiffel Tower

• Morning: Trocadéro Gardens.
• Afternoon: Eiffel Tower visit.

Sunday, May 12: Free Museums

• Visit museums like Musée d’Orsay and Centre Pompidou (first Sunday of the month, free entry).

Amazing! Keeping in mind that I’ve been to Paris and know the city like the back of my hand, I do know that there are some interesting things ChatGPT left out such as, La Petite Ceinture, which is an old abandoned railway laden in graffiti (it’s really cool), but perhaps the AI didn’t get the right kind of cue from me to suggest that? Perhaps I should have asked it for an off-the-beaten-path non touristic experience or an example of “urban life”? The point is that if you don’t know where to start, ChatGPT is a massive time saver and organizer that you can leverage and then build from or add to.

Here’s hoping to simplify your travel plans, and if you have any questions, want advice, want to let me know what you think of my post, or simply feel like a chat, feel free to send me a message and/or leave a comment below!

Thank for reading!

Jen