Using AI To Plan A Trip: ChatGPT Vs Layla AI Vs GuideGeek

Using AI to plan a trip or ask for itinerary questions has become very popular in the last year or so, and of course as a full-time traveler I wanted to try it out myself.

I decided to compare the results of the same question asked across three of the most popular AI websites: ChatGPT, GuideGeek by Matador, and Layla AI. I asked them to build me a 2 week trip itinerary for a specific area in England (the Devon and Cornwall area), focusing on historical and natural sites, and using public transit to get around.

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What's In This Post

What I’m Evaluating

There’s a few things I’m looking for in an AI-generated travel itinerary:

Does the AI robot understand what I’m asking for, and does the response match my prompt?
How much info do I get at the beginning, without having to refine over and over again?
If I ask a specific question, how thorough is the response?

Note that I’m not looking for which itinerary is the “best” or even necessarily the most realistic– that sort of evaluation can only be done by humans, which is why so many people post their AI-generated travel itineraries to Facebook travel groups asking for others to check it over.

Also, they’re not great at finding off-the-beaten path suggestions, or finding specific information like opening times or transit schedules. I knew that going into this, so I just wanted to see how they each built the itinerary I asked for and how they answered a pointed question about WHERE to find information.

Basically what I’m looking for is how much does the AI do FOR me versus how much is there left for me to do myself.

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The Prompt(s)

I asked all three the same questions (aka gave them the same prompts), starting with a description of what I wanted to do, what kind of traveler I was, and specific stops I wanted to visit.

I’m trying to come up with an itinerary to see the Devon and Cornwall area in England. I have about two weeks. I want to see Land’s End, Plymouth, Penzance, and Lyme Regis and am open to stopping at other places if it’s a good historical site. I’m a solo traveler who travels only by train and bus. I’m starting in Bristol and looping back to Bristol. I’m interested in history, beautiful nature views, and museums. I’ll be traveling in March. What’s an itinerary for me?

Note: I recommend using very specific prompts like this in order to get a decent output right from the start. If you just say something like “I want to visit Italy for a week” it’ll pop out a basic answer that often isn’t very good. If you specify your interests from the start, you don’t have to waste time refining over and over.

After it generated the first version of the itinerary, I asked it to add in another stop:

I’d like to go to Tintagel if I could as well

And then when after it regenerated the updated itinerary, I asked it for some clarification about transit:

do you have more info about the transit from [Plymouth] to Tintagel?

And

where can I find the schedules for the suggested buses and trains?

So at the end of the session I had an itinerary outline with transit options and suggested places to visit, plus some info about where to find MORE info about a specific aspect of that itinerary.

Here’s how each of the AI travel planners did:

Planning a Trip Itinerary with Layla AI

Website: https://layla.ai

Layla AI is a newcomer to the travel planner AI world, and it’s recently been getting a lot of buzz. The website is very slick and you can use the chat without having an account, but if you want to save your trips then you’ll need to sign up for one. It can also help with finding flights, hotels, etc.

My experience: The website looks SUPER nice and the AI chat response was super fast, but the itinerary was the most basic of all three, to the point where it was almost useless. When I asked for more details about where to find bus schedules, they just told me to check the websites (but didn’t actually give me the website link).

Here’s the itinerary Layla AI put together:

Day 1: Bristol to Plymouth

Travel: Train from Bristol to Plymouth.

Explore: Mayflower Museum and the Barbican area.

Day 2: Plymouth to Penzance

Travel: Train from Plymouth to Penzance.

Explore: Seafront stroll and Penlee House Gallery & Museum.

Day 3: Penzance to Land’s End

Travel: Bus to Land’s End.

Explore: Stunning views and coastal walks.

Day 4: Land’s End to St Ives

Travel: Bus to St Ives.

Explore: Tate St Ives and the beaches.

Day 5: St Ives to Tintagel

Travel: Bus to Tintagel (might require a change).

Explore: Visit Tintagel Castle and soak in the Arthurian legends. (Note from me: this description makes NO sense.)

Day 6: Tintagel to Bodmin

Travel: Bus to Bodmin.

Explore: Bodmin Jail and the countryside.

Day 7: Bodmin to Falmouth

Travel: Bus to Falmouth.

Explore: National Maritime Museum and harbor.

Day 8: Falmouth to Truro

Travel: Bus to Truro.

Explore: Truro Cathedral and Royal Cornwall Museum.

Day 9: Truro to Lyme Regis

Travel: Train to Lyme Regis (might require a change). (Note from me: It definitely requires a change. There’s no direct train to Lyme Regis itself; you have to switch to a bus at Axminster.)

Explore: The Cobb and Lyme Regis Museum.

Day 10: Lyme Regis to Exeter

Travel: Bus to Exeter.

Explore: Exeter Cathedral and Royal Albert Memorial Museum.

Day 11: Exeter to Dartmoor National Park

Travel: Bus to Dartmoor.

Explore: Hiking and stunning views.

Day 12: Dartmoor to Bristol

Travel: Bus back to Bristol.

Explore: Relax and visit the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

Day 13: Day Trip from Bristol

Explore: Consider a day trip to Bath for its Roman history.

Day 14: Free Day in Bristol

Explore: Check out any museums or sites you missed.

Day 15: Departure

Travel: Head home or wherever your heart desires!

You can see for this one it technically added on a day so it was a 15 day trip rather than a 14 day trip I specified earlier. The first iteration, without the Tintagel stop added, was only 14 days long.

However!! It has me spending basically two days in Bristol when I just said I was starting/ending there, so really if you cut off that last “free day in Bristol” it goes back down to a 14 day trip.

Overall I’m not super impressed with this itinerary and I’d have to do a lot of extra work to get more info. The parts within a city has some sightseeing suggestions, but the nature parts where just, like, “walk around and see nature.” Not very helpful. It seemed to also take my interest in history as “she wants to see a lot of museums.”

When I asked it about going from St. Ives to Tintagel, this is the response it gave:

Bus from St Ives to Penzance:
Duration: About 30 minutes.
Frequency: Buses run regularly, so you shouldn’t have to wait long.

Train from Penzance to Bodmin Parkway:
Duration: Approximately 1 hour.
Note: Check the schedule, as trains may not run frequently.

Bus from Bodmin Parkway to Tintagel:
Duration: About 30-40 minutes.
Frequency: Buses may not be super frequent, so check the timetable ahead of time.

Total Travel Time

Estimated Total: Around 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on connections.

Tips:

Check Schedules: Make sure to check the bus and train schedules in advance, especially since you’re traveling in March when things can be a bit quieter.
Scenic Views: Enjoy the beautiful Cornish countryside during your travels!

The time estimate doesn’t seem realistic and I don’t like that it has me backtrack to Penzance to transit to Tintagel anyway.

Also, it never said specific bus companies to research. I asked it where I could find schedules for the buses, and it finally told me this:

Train Schedules:
Check out the National Rail website or use the Trainline app. They have all the train times, ticket prices, and any potential delays.

Bus Schedules:
For local buses, you can visit the First Bus website or the local transport authority’s site for Cornwall. They usually have up-to-date timetables and routes.

That sort of info could’ve been offered when I asked for schedule info the first time, to be honest. Overall, I’m not very impressed with this aspect of Layla AI.

Planning a Trip Itinerary with GuideGeek by Matador

Website: https://guidegeek.com

GuideGeek by Matador is a chat bot, which is very useful if you’re only traveling with a phone. You can message it on multiple platforms, but I used WhatsApp as it’s a part of my travel app stack. It’s free to use and you don’t need an account, just a WhatsApp number.

My experience: This is the slowest of all three AI chats, made slower because you can’t see the robot “working” like on the other websites. Still, it’s slightly more detailed than the Layla itinerary. Like Layla, when I asked for more info about the bus schedules it just told me to check the website– although it DID give me a name of one of the bus companies.

Here’s the itinerary GuideGeek by Matador put together for me:

Day 1-2: Bristol to Plymouth

Take a train from Bristol to Plymouth.
Explore the historic Barbican area and visit the Mayflower Steps.
Check out the National Marine Aquarium and the Royal Citadel.

Day 3-4: Plymouth to Penzance

Travel by train to Penzance.
Visit St Michael’s Mount and explore the charming town.
Spend time at the Penlee House Gallery & Museum.

Day 5: Day Trip to Land’s End

Take a bus to Land’s End for breathtaking coastal views.
Explore the nearby Minack Theatre and Porthcurno Beach.

Day 6-7: Penzance to St Ives

Head to St Ives by train or bus.
Visit the Tate St Ives and Barbara Hepworth Museum.
Enjoy the beautiful beaches and art galleries.

Day 8-9: St Ives to Truro

Travel to Truro, the capital of Cornwall.
Explore Truro Cathedral and the Royal Cornwall Museum.
Take a day trip to the Eden Project near St Austell.

Day 10: Truro to Tintagel

Head to Tintagel by bus, known for its Arthurian legends.
Visit Tintagel Castle and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

Day 11-12: Tintagel to Exeter

Travel to Exeter, a historic city in Devon.
Visit Exeter Cathedral and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
Explore the Underground Passages.

Day 13: Exeter to Lyme Regis

Take a bus to Lyme Regis, known for its fossil-rich beaches.
Visit the Lyme Regis Museum and enjoy a walk along the Jurassic Coast.

Day 14: Return to Bristol

Head back to Bristol by train, reflecting on your journey through the beautiful landscapes and rich history of Devon and Cornwall.

This itinerary isn’t too bad, just going by the detail it included for each stop. Same emphasis on museums but it also included a few touches like “historic Barbican area” which nods to my request for historical sites. It gave decent suggestions for what to see in each location, and the stop in Land’s End, for instance, mentioned a specific beach to visit.

When I asked about taking a bus from Truro to Tintagel, it gave me a this answer:

Traveling from Truro to Tintagel by bus involves a scenic journey through Cornwall. While there isn’t a direct bus service between the two locations, you can take a combination of buses to reach Tintagel. Here’s a general idea of how you might travel:

From Truro, take a bus to Bodmin or Wadebridge. These towns are well-connected and serve as transit points for further travel into North Cornwall.
From Bodmin or Wadebridge, you can catch a bus heading towards Tintagel. The bus services in Cornwall are operated by companies like First Kernow, so checking their schedules will help you plan your journey.
The journey will take you through some beautiful Cornish countryside, so be sure to enjoy the views along the way.

It’s always a good idea to check the latest bus schedules and routes on the First Kernow website or at local bus stations for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

This is one of the only ones that doesn’t have me backtrack somewhere to catch a bus onward to Tintagel, which I found interesting.

Also it told me a different bus company than Layla AI did– but actually it’s the SAME company, just under a slightly different name. That tells me that Layla AI and GuideGeek by Matador are pulling info from different sources.

Planning a Trip Itinerary with ChatGPT

Website: https://chatgpt.com

This is the OG AI chatbot and it’s probably still my favorite (for all of its faults). You’ll need an account to use it, and there is a paid option with extra services– but the free plan is enough for trip planning, which is what I used here. They do have a phone app version as well, which works exactly like the website version.

My experience: I liked the format of this itinerary the best, and it was the most detailed. It included estimated travel times, which is helpful, and when I asked about bus schedules it actually told me specifically the bus companies AND linked to their website(s). I also liked that it had optional half-day trips and specifically told me where to overnight.

And here’s the itinerary ChatGPT put together for me:

Day 1-2: Bristol

Start in Bristol, explore historical and cultural sites.
Overnight in Bristol.

Day 3-4: Exeter

Train to Exeter (1.5 hours). Visit Exeter Cathedral and Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
Optional half-day trip to Dartmoor National Park.
Overnight in Exeter.

Day 5-6: Plymouth

Train or bus to Plymouth (1 hour from Exeter).
Explore The Box Museum, Plymouth Hoe, and The Barbican. Optional visit to Mount Edgcumbe.
Overnight in Plymouth.

Day 7: Tintagel

Train to Bodmin Parkway (around 1.5 hours from Plymouth) and then take a bus to Tintagel (around 1 hour).
Visit Tintagel Castle and explore the legendary ruins associated with King Arthur and Merlin. Enjoy the dramatic cliffs and sea views.
Overnight in Tintagel or nearby village.

Day 8: Penzance & Land’s End

Travel to Penzance via bus to Bodmin Parkway, then train (around 2 hours).
Visit Penlee House Gallery and take a day trip to Land’s End.
Overnight in Penzance.

Day 9-10: St Ives

Short train or bus to St Ives (30 minutes).
Visit Tate St Ives, Barbara Hepworth Museum, and enjoy the coastline.
Overnight in St Ives.

Day 11: Truro

Train to Truro (30 minutes).
Visit Truro Cathedral and Royal Cornwall Museum.
Overnight in Truro.

Day 12-13: Lyme Regis

Train to Axminster (about 4 hours via Exeter) and bus to Lyme Regis.
Explore the Jurassic Coast, visit the Lyme Regis Museum.
Overnight in Lyme Regis.

Day 14: Return to Bristol

Return to Bristol (3.5 hours).
Final night in Bristol before departure.

This was the best first-run itinerary and while I’d still have to do a lot of research, it at least gave me a decent starting point. The route also made the most sense, taking into account transit from Plymouth to Tintagel.

However, some things are wacky. Like, it doesn’t make sense to me on Day 8 to travel 2 hours from Tintagel to Penzance, go to a museum and THEN GO TO LAND’S END and BACK to Penzance to spend the night. What a horribly long day that’d be!

When I asked about transit from Plymouth to Tintagel, this is what it said:

Step-by-Step Transit from Plymouth to Tintagel:

Train from Plymouth to Bodmin Parkway:
- Take a direct train from Plymouth to Bodmin Parkway. This journey takes around 1 hour.
- Train services are operated by Great Western Railway (GWR). Be sure to check timetables, as they can vary.
Bus from Bodmin Parkway to Wadebridge:
- At Bodmin Parkway station, take the 75 or 11A bus to Wadebridge. This bus journey takes about 30-40 minutes.
- The buses are operated by Go Cornwall.
Bus from Wadebridge to Tintagel:
- From Wadebridge, take the 95 bus to Tintagel, which takes around 45 minutes.
- This bus is also operated by Go Cornwall.

Total Journey Time:

The total travel time will be around 3 to 4 hours, depending on bus connections.

Notes:

Bus Schedules: Buses in rural Cornwall may not run as frequently, especially in March, so it’s essential to check the timetables ahead of time and plan your connections carefully.
Alternative: You could consider a taxi from Bodmin Parkway to Tintagel for faster travel (approximately 45 minutes by car), but this would be more expensive.

VERY comprehensive– see how it told me which bus company runs which line?– and the time estimate seems more realistic. I also like that it offered an alternative to bus and train that still wasn’t just me renting my own car.

Final Thoughts

Overall I liked ChatGPT’s output best, as it had the most detail already in there (e.g. travel lengths between stops). I’d still have to do a lot of research, but the one from ChatGPT was the most “complete” from the beginning, which means less work for me overall.

The itinerary they ALL gave me meant I needed to move extremely fast, nearly every night in a different place. AI robots are not good at pacing or suggesting a slower pace– unless you specify that in your prompt. Because I told them I had 2 weeks to travel, they just filled up those two weeks without thinking about the human cost, basically.

Honestly, if you want an itinerary that actually works 100% for humans and isn’t just the top 10 sights over and over again, you’re better off hiring a real person to put together a custom itinerary for you.

However, if you’re just looking for an overview of what’s in a specific area, or if you’re looking to build a route within a country or part of a country, and plan to research more in depth yourself (or hire someone to do it for you) then an AI-generated itinerary makes sense.

While I would never use an AI-generated travel itinerary as-is, I can definitely see myself using them as a starting point to build my own personal trip itinerary.

If and when I do, I’ll most likely use ChatGPT as it felt the most helpful right from the start. After that I’d use GuideGeek by Matador, and I don’t think I’d use Layla AI at all.