Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I worked with Planbuddy to create this review, however, I only endorse products that I genuinely like. All opinions in this article are my own.
Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm and starting to be utilized as a tool in many different industries. One of the biggest utilizations of AI is to make time-consuming tasks much easier, and travel planning is no exception to that.
Travel planning takes time, and there are multiple different variables that go into that planning process. A trip always starts with a destination but is encompassed with a magnitude of questions. Whether that is finding activities to do, places to stay, getting from one place to another, or even coming up with ways to celebrate a special occasion (e.g., anniversary, birthday, honeymoon).
After months of diving into the AI space looking for a resource to help make my travel planning efforts easier, I think I finally found my answer. Let me introduce you to my new favorite travel planning tool: Planbuddy.
What is Planbuddy?
Planbuddy is an AI-powered travel itinerary creation tool that was created by travelers for fellow travelers. Planbuddy uses the knowledge of travel experts combined with your personal travel desires to help plan the perfect trip, no matter how long.
As a user, all you need to do is answer a set of questions for the AI to understand your wants and needs for your upcoming trip. Within a few minutes, your entire itinerary is planned – It highlights things to do, places to stay, different transportation options, and most importantly (at least in my eyes), places to eat.
How does Planbuddy Work?
Planbuddy was made to simplify the travel planning process for both experienced and inexperienced travelers. I have a trip to Paris, France coming up soon – let’s breakdown how we can create the best itinerary for my upcoming trip!
Step 1: Identify Where You Want To Go
With thousands of different locations to choose from, there is a place for everyone. All you have to do is plug in the dream destination of your choice, and Planbuddy will create an itinerary for that destination. If you want to plan a trip to multiple places, Planbuddy has an option for that as well!
Step 2: Choose The Dates Of Your Trip
Whether you are planning to travel for 3 days or 10 days, Planbuddy will help fill up your itinerary accordingly.
For this trip, I am going to lock in a 10-day trip in the middle of November.
Step 3: Pinpoint The Travel Party
Instead of just indicating a solo traveler, a couple, or a family; you can identify the travel party based on their age. This will allow the AI to offer a more intricate set of activities based on your age range and who you will be traveling with.
Step 4: Anything special in mind?
Taking trips for leisure is always a must, but sometimes you are traveling for a special occasion. Suppose you have a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, or something else you are celebrating. This is the time to make that known.
Planbuddy is creating a custom itinerary meant for YOU. By sharing these details, it can offer specific suggestions on how you can make the most of that special moment.
Step 4: Flight Information
Fill out the flight information accordingly. This will help Planbuddy determine when your activities can start! It’ll also help you navigate the best way to and from the airport.
Step 5: First Time Visitor? A Very Important Question
As an avid traveler, I find this extremely important because any city can become a bit dry over time if you keep seeing the same sights or staying in the same place.
This holds true for Paris because it is divided into different arrondissements, each offering something special and distinct. For example, if you stay in the 1st or 2nd arrondissement, you are in the heart of Paris, surrounded by the Louvre and a multitude of other travelers.
But in the 5th Arrondissement (the Latin Quarter), you can find the Pantheon, beautiful winding streets, and amazing food.
Step 6 : Choose Your Way of Getting Around
When you are visiting a new place, having a reliable way to get around is extremely important. Depending on your travel style or what you plan to visit, you should choose a form of transportation wisely.
For instance, if you plan to stay in the touristy areas near the city center, you are better off using public transportation rather than renting a car for your trip. On the contrary, if you plan to explore the backroads of a country or take a few trips outside of the main city, it might be best to rent a car while you are traveling throughout the country.
I decided to go with my usual form of transportation – public transport. For me, walking and public transportation are not only affordable but also a convenient way to get around different areas of the city and provide a sense of local life and culture.
Step 7: Show Your True Colors: Interests
Everyone travels differently and seeks something unique from their travel experiences. Some people enjoy the simplicity of discovering historical landmarks, beautiful gardens, or even just participating in a wine tasting throughout the city. This is perfectly fine and offers you a glimpse into the culture and history of any location.
On the other side of things, you have more adventurous travelers who relish in experiences and view a city through a different lens.
Planbuddy offers a simple click-and-go function that caters to everyone. Whether you enjoy the excitement of experiences like bike tours, live music, or city views, there is something for you. Alternatively, if you are looking to visit historical landmarks and enjoy a nice, relaxing cruise, there is also something there for you.
It’s the best of both worlds, allowing you to showcase your true travel preferences and helping Planbuddy curate your perfect vacation.
For this example, I included a few different options to see what recommendations Planbuddy would provide in the final itinerary.
Step 8: Include Your Must Sees
A bucket list item can often make or break your trip. It’s definitely important to incorporate those “must-see” items into your schedule when planning out an itinerary.
For this example, I decided that seeing the Champs-Élysées was a “must-see” for me!
Step 9: Finding Your Home Away From Home
A comfortable bed at the end of the day is all you need to set yourself up for success.
Planbuddy takes that into consideration and can find the perfect place for you based on your wants and needs. Planbuddy asks what kind of place you want to stay at, how many people it should accommodate, and most importantly, what your budget is.
This option is so impressive to me. I usually spend hours trying to figure out where to stay based on my budget and accommodation preferences. Not having to think about this takes a lot of stress off my plate and adds more enjoyment to the planning process.
Step 10: Get Your Itinerary
The last step, and possibly the most important one in Planbuddy ‘s process, is to provide your email so that you can receive your itinerary. This is also how you will receive your itinerary for offline reading as a PDF.
2 Minutes to Save Hours
After you finish answering all of the questions that Planbuddy asks and press the submit button, the AI will take over. Within 2 minutes, you will receive a custom trip curated to your itinerary needs.
This can all be completed without the stress of finding things to do, places to eat, and the dreaded question of where to stay. Planbuddy makes it simple and does it all for you!
Works Like Magic
After those 2 minutes, you are presented with a completely custom itinerary from Planbuddy that you can use for your entire dream vacation. The 10-day breakdown goes over the different highlights of each day and gives you a basic rundown of what each day will look like, but of course, there is more.
Not only are you presented with that 10-day breakdown, but you are also given a day-by-day itinerary that is broken down nearly to the hour. This includes things to see, transportation methods, places to eat, as well as tips and tricks to save money along the way.
Planbuddy also presents you with a list of accommodation options in the city you plan to travel to, combined with the current deals that are being offered. That means within a click or two, you can have your stay booked.
What Makes Planbuddy Different?
You may be asking why Planbuddy stands out when there are other AI travel itinerary options, and that is a fair question. For me, when it comes to AI and incorporating it into my travels, I look for ways to simplify the process without taking away the entire creative aspect of travel planning.
By allowing the user to set certain parameters in the initial questionnaire, it makes you feel like you are a part of the process and design of the trip every step of the way. At the end of the day, this is your trip, and you should be the one in the driver’s seat. Oftentimes, other AI options take away the creativity and provide the same itinerary to thousands of people with the same activities and places to go.
Another significant advantage of Planbuddy is that you can immediately save your custom itinerary as a PDF for offline viewing. As a traveler, you often encounter situations where you are not always connected to the internet, and that can lead to a whole day being ruined because you are not staying on schedule.
Should You Use Planbuddy?
Whether you are new to travel planning or an experienced globetrotter, I believe that Planbuddy can be a valuable tool for both scenarios. For those new to travel planning, Planbuddy provides an opportunity to learn what a comprehensive itinerary should encompass and offers insights into unique activities that may not be entirely on the beaten path.
On the other hand, even seasoned travelers can benefit from Planbuddy as a resource. Its customizable features allow for stress-free planning, especially for special occasions, by providing resources like hotels, transportation breakdowns, and a wide array of things to do and see.
Planbuddy serves as a comprehensive travel companion that caters to all levels of travelers. It empowers you to craft your ideal trip while offering a rich selection of resources to fit your unique travel style. Whether you’re embarking on a new adventure or looking to enhance your travel planning skills, Planbuddy is here to simplify the process, adding more enjoyment and less stress to your journey. So, why not give it a try and experience the convenience of AI-powered travel planning for yourself?
Your dream vacation is just a few clicks away with Planbuddy!
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