AI travel tools promise convenience, but stumble on reliability

New platforms offer inspiration and perks, yet traditional search engines still set the standard

Artificial intelligence is powering a wave of new travel tools, from itinerary planners to loyalty point optimizers and even smart glasses. While they can make planning more engaging and sometimes more efficient, their usefulness is uneven — and traditional tools like Google Flights remain essential for reliable results.

Key takeaways

• Expedia Trip Matching: Turns Instagram Reels into itineraries but often suggests generic activities and hotels with limited availability.
• Mindtrip: Strong visuals and helpful prompts make it engaging, though its flight data is weak compared to simple internet searches.
• Layla: Focuses on emotions and tone but has a restrictive paywall and casual style that may not suit all travelers.
• Gondola: Useful for frequent travelers managing loyalty points and monitoring price drops, though it doesn’t handle flight bookings.
• Ray-Ban Meta glasses: Provide on-the-go landmark info and translations, but language coverage is limited and practicality is debatable.
• Overall value: AI tools can enrich inspiration and ideas, but they lack the accuracy, breadth, and trust of established platforms like Google Flights.

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