The gothic arches of Santa María de la Asunción stand prominently atop the hill overlooking the stone harbor, where local fishermen bring in their daily catches of sardines and anchovies.
This historic church, located in Castro Urdiales, a quaint coastal town of approximately 30,000 residents in northern Spain, dates back over 700 years.
It became the ideal vacation spot for Alan Smith and his family, a destination previously unknown to him until he consulted ChatGPT.
According to a recent report by the travel association ABTA, an increasing number of travelers are leveraging AI for holiday planning, ranging from destination suggestions to crafting detailed itineraries.
Alan and his wife journeyed from their home in Kent to northern Spain with their caravan last month, where they reunited with their daughter and her partner.
Alan utilized ChatGPT to identify recommended places to visit within the region, stipulating that the driving distances between locations should be reasonable.
Castro Urdiales emerged as one of the suggested destinations from the AI chatbot.
“It was undoubtedly the highlight of our holiday,” Alan remarked, “a vibrant town, reminiscent of a smaller San Sebastián.”
“It offered a plethora of pintxos, with the added benefit of being less crowded and having fewer foreign tourists.”
Alan, 62, is part of a growing demographic. The ABTA report indicates that 3% of tourists in his age group are using AI to assist with their holiday arrangements. The average across all age groups is 8%, with the highest adoption rate among 25-34 year olds, at 18%.
After receiving recommendations from the AI chatbot, Alan cross-referenced them on Google to ensure their validity.
However, he personally managed all bookings, expressing reservations about ChatGPT’s capabilities in handling financial transactions of that magnitude.
Alan began utilizing the AI-powered tool shortly after its release in November 2022 and has since integrated it into various aspects of his life, from researching travel destinations to finding culinary recipes.
He often prefers it over traditional search engines to save time, avoiding the need to sift through multiple web pages, such as travel blogs, for information about noteworthy places in northern Spain.
“I’ve been consistently impressed with the results,” Alan stated. “However, it’s not always accurate and can, on occasion, be spectacularly wrong.”
Hannah Read, 37, encountered challenges when attempting to plan a trip to Norway with her partner and three children using an AI chatbot.
She envisioned driving from her home in Flintshire, North Wales, and crossing the North Sea by ferry.
“I thought it would be a pleasant journey,” Hannah explained. “I asked ChatGPT if there was a ferry route from the UK to Norway, and it indicated that there was one operating from Newcastle to Bergen.”
Upon verifying the information on a ferry travel website, she discovered that no such route existed.
According to a travel blog detailing travel options to Norway from the UK, the Newcastle to Bergen ferry route ceased operations in 2008.
“I was disappointed to learn that the information provided by ChatGPT was inaccurate, as I had become quite enthusiastic and had started mentally planning the trip,” Hannah added.
“My advice would be not to rely on AI entirely; it’s always best to conduct thorough research.”
ChatGPT’s search section includes a reminder for users to verify critical information, as the tool is prone to errors.
David Harris, 46, utilized AI to assist in planning the itinerary for his family’s first trip to New York, exhibiting a higher level of trust in its recommendations.
Unlike Alan, David had a clear destination in mind and a predetermined mode of transportation, unlike Hannah.
However, he sought assistance from an AI-powered tool to optimize their limited four-and-a-half-day itinerary.
David requested suggestions for attractions and activities that could be grouped by location, allowing for convenient walking distances between them for himself and his young family.
“With four of us traveling, we were keen to see as much as possible,” David explained, “from Taylor Swift’s house to the Ghostbusters museum.”
Having extensively used ChatGPT for work and being aware of the late operating hours of New York attractions, he did not feel the need to verify the opening times and walking directions provided by the AI chatbot.
“It took a few prompts to refine the itinerary, as it initially provided excessive information, but ultimately, it generated a comprehensive list of activities.”
David admitted that it did not occur to him to ask the tool to identify potential flights with lower prices, but he intends to explore this option for an upcoming holiday to the Mediterranean next year.
He added, “I believe AI tools could greatly benefit people if they understood how to use them effectively and were willing to give them a try.”
Alistair Berry, a moderator on the UK Travel subreddit, an online forum for travel advice in the UK, emphasizes that while AI tools have a place in holiday planning, users should understand their functionalities and verify their recommendations.
“These chatbots sometimes provide inadequate advice,” Alistair stated. “We often encounter Americans, who have limited vacation days, seeking itineraries created by AI.”
“ChatGPT has led them to believe that they can adequately experience London, Edinburgh, and the Cotswolds in just four days. In reality, they will likely spend most of their time traveling between locations.”
He suggests that individuals planning holidays with AI tools should be aware that their programming often encourages and affirms user demands and requests.
“It certainly has a role in travel planning, but it’s crucial to fact-check the suggestions it provides,” says Alistair.
“After all, you want to avoid any surprises that might disrupt your relaxing holiday.”
Drivers had to find alternative routes after a crash on the A133 Colchester Road in Wivenhoe.
The EU’s much-delayed Entry/Exit System will change the way UK passengers travel to 29 countries.
Islanders do not need to take action ahead of new rules, its governments have said.
Some are worried that the rapid rise in the value of AI tech companies may be a bubble waiting to burst.
The popular AI tool generates ten second long realistic-looking videos from simple text prompts.