Exploring Norway with AI Travel Assistants: A Comparative Analysis

Introduction

The task was to test the capabilities of artificial intelligence in planning a trip to Norway, a destination I had never explored. Interestingly, I refrained from my usual extensive online research and instead engaged three AI planners to craft a four-day itinerary. Surprisingly, none of the AI assistants mentioned the allure of saunas or the renowned salmon of Norway.

Interaction with AI Assistants

Two of the assistants were keen on personalization and sought to gather more information about me to customize their recommendations. Vacay, a personalized travel planning tool, prompted me with a series of questions, while Mindtrip, a novel AI travel assistant, invited me to participate in a quiz. Conversely, ChatGPT, the third assistant, did not inquire about any specific preferences.

AI-Generated Itineraries

The questions posed by Vacay and Mindtrip revolved around aspects such as solo travel, budget considerations, accommodation preferences (hotels or Airbnbs), and the inclination towards outdoor exploration or cultural immersion. Through these interactions, I received comprehensive itineraries that commenced with a day in Oslo and extended to the picturesque fjord region. Subsequently, I amalgamated the information from the assistants to curate a unique trip itinerary that transcended the conventional tourist sites.

On this occasion, the virtual trip planners exhibited a higher level of sophistication compared to my prior experience using the basic ChatGPT interface during a Milan trip. While ChatGPT provided more detailed recommendations for Norway, I opted to exclude it from the planning phase due to recurrent crashes.

AI Planning Services

Vacay’s premium service, starting at $9.99 per month, offered detailed suggestions and direct booking links. On the other hand, Mindtrip, currently available for free, furnished me with images, Google reviews, and maps. Throughout the trip, both AI assistants promptly supplied information via text and proactively sought clarifications on specific details. Regrettably, only ChatGPT provided a mobile app, but I observed that the information within the app was outdated; the more current premium version, priced at $20 per month, presented more up-to-date details.