I'm not a student and I don't code. I am, however, on day 48 of my van tour through Europe with my wife and dog. We travel without a specific itinerary, chasing the wind and sun while working our 9 to 5 jobs. AI's mastery of travel planning has made it an unexpected but irreplaceable expert. So much so that we've grown increasingly dependent upon the free versions of Gemini and ChatGPT to help choose our next destination.
After a few seconds, what I saw surprised me -- an itinerary that looked strikingly close to what I had spent hours building last fall, including hotel recommendations. The sights included museums that I did indeed see, like The Met and the MOMA, things to do, like a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, and a handful of restaurants I couldn't miss. The number one hotel recommendation was the actual one I chose for my last trip.
Google users can now describe their next trip to its AI Mode in search and select the option to "Create with Canvas," which will build out an itinerary in a side panel complete with data on flights and hotels. The document it puts together can lay out potential plans, with suggestions based on the user's inputs, as well as photos and reviews from Google Maps.
ChatGPT, for example, came back with what felt like a movie script. Tunis started with a sunrise walk through Sidi Bou Saïd, pastries and mint tea in hand, followed by a whirlwind through the Medina and a dramatic half-day at the ruins of Carthage. Then, in Tozeur, it pulled the cinematic card with "Star Wars" filming sets in the desert, and camel rides across dunes at sunset.
Skyscanner, a leading global travel booking site, released its 2026 Travel Trends report on Thursday. And the forecast for the year ahead includes trips down the supermarket aisle, literary-inspired itineraries, in-flight beauty routines, and some surprising trending destinations (looking at you, New Haven). If travel in 2025 was about collective experiences, the new travel mindset for 2026 is clear-it's no longer solely about community connections, it's about prioritizing travelers' individual interests and passions.