While you use a guidebook, you are limited by its contents.
The advantage of using ChatGPT is that it will possibly take you down any track you would like.
It’s even possible to uncover hidden gems – in the event you ask the precise questions.
Like finding pasta cooked by a “nonna” in an Italian restaurant frequented by locals, or getting a brunch advice to eat at E Pellicci in London — a wonderful spot that could be obscure to tourists.
I used the chatbot to make a customized trip to Tuscany. Here’s what worked — and what didn’t.
Step 1: Get the lay of the land
First, get an summary of your destination by:
- asking specific questions
- getting recommendations with links
- including where you don’t need to go
Be certain that to remain inside a single chat — the data is retained and builds up. I got one of the best results after I broke up those requests like this:
“Are you able to give me the unmissable things to do and hidden gems in Tuscany with a concentrate on being physically lively while, excluding Florence and Siena because I’ve already been there? Could you include descriptions, web sites, approximate prices and addresses?”
I also asked for historical context to round out the overview.
“Are you able to provide a historical overview of Tuscany and list top sites to go to? Again, including web sites.”
From here, I could quickly scan the suggestions and click on on web sites to search out timings, prices and pictures. I ignored activities I did during my last visit, like wine and olive oil tastings.
Lisa Lucas is an American travel author who lives in London.
Source: Lisa Lucas
ChatGPT really helpful I visit the Terme di Saturnia hot springs, kayak around Elba Island, cycle in Val d’Orcia, see the Renaissance hill town of Pienza, and go truffle-hunting and Pecorino-tasting — all activities that appeal to my interests.
I then cut and paste physical addresses right into a customized Google map to view places and see the distances between points. This made it clear that I needed to focus my trip on southern Tuscany, which helped me narrow my seek for accommodations.
Step 2: Finding a hotel
To seek out a spot to remain, write a prompt that names the kind of accommodation, amenities and price point that you simply want.
In a tourism-heavy region like Tuscany, options and costs are broad. A house will be $8,000 an evening in high season, so it’s useful to make clear rates initially.
“Are you able to discover a boutique hotel that was a former villa, with a pool, quality restaurant and good views for under $500 an evening in August?”
Of the 4 results, three were spot on.
Step 3: Finding restaurants
Tuscany is renowned for its food, but it surely has loads of restaurants that cater to tourists. To uncover a real Tuscan experience, use prompts akin to:
“Are you able to recommend authentic restaurants locals love which can be known for quality and flavor near Val d’Orcia, with web sites and reviews?”
ChatGPT understands queries about where locals prefer to eat, and being specific gets higher results.
To seek out “hidden gem” restaurants in Val d’Orcia, the more specific the query, the higher, says travel author Lisa Lucas.
Lanzellotto Antonello | Agf | Universal Images Group | Getty Images
I doublechecked ChatGPT’s recommendations with popular review sites, and I discovered three restaurants with the kind of comments that might lead me to book a table — akin to “going multiple times,” “stunning view,” and “a lot of locals.”
ChatGPT’s limitations
After all, there are limitations to using ChatGPT to plan a visit, namely:
- Content is current through September 2021, although you may pay for plug-ins which have additional information.
- It may generate inaccurate information and web sites. In France, it detected destinations reachable by boat from Nice, but really helpful boat corporations that did not depart from Nice.
- It isn’t good at sequencing an itinerary, especially inside a city. Itineraries for cities like Paris or Rome are inclined to flit around from one side to the opposite.
And key information will be not noted. For London, it really helpful I visit Columbia Road Flower Market, but didn’t state that it’s open only on Sundays.
At once, there is not any technique to book trips either. But in the longer term, who knows what’s possible?