Use ChatGPT for Easy Vacation Planning (Desktop and Laptop version)

Updated July 4th, 2024.

Note: this article is optimized for reading on a desktop or laptop machine. If you’re using a mobile device, click here to get a version optimized for that.

ChatGPT is incredibly useful for vacation planning. Read on as ChatGPT helps me plan a three-day weekend in Santa Barbara, offering suggestions for hotels, restaurants, and attractions– all tailored to my liking.

Note: the screenshots here are from the free ChatGPT Mac app, available from OpenAI.com for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or higher. (Get the app by clicking on your image or initials at top right of the ChatGPT.com screen, when you’re signed into your ChatGPT account in a web browser.) You don’t need the app– you can do all of this in a browser at ChatGPT.com— but it’s a little prettier to use the app. You can also use the official ChatGPT app on your iPhone or iPad– here’s the link to the right one.

All of the following can be done for free.

Trip to Santa Barbara

Who wouldn’t want to visit Santa Barbara? Here’s how I used ChatGPT to help me plan my trip.

Here’s ChatGPT’s response:

ChatGPT did a great job of this, and it did it in seconds. One small problem: ChatGPT didn’t anticipate that I would want contact information for every place suggested. So I asked for contact info. And I got it!

Notice that I don’t ask my original question again, with the contact info modification added. I just asked for something more, as I would of a person. There’s a reason they call it ChatGPT.

Here’s what came back:

Imagine trying to get that information via Google searches. You’d be at it all day.

Same thing, for Laguna Beach

I had the idea that maybe I should go South, to Laguna Beach. So I asked for a similar itinerary, with Laguna Beach as the destination. ChatGPT came through with flying colors. Notice that ChatGPT remembered that I like contact information.

Again, all of that was done in seconds. And all I did was ask “Could you give me a similar itinerary for a trip to Laguna Beach?“

Finally I thought, “Let’s get some new ideas. Santa Barbara is always great, Laguna Beach is nice too, but maybe I’m overlooking something.” So I asked ChatGPT for suggestions.

How cool is that! Great ideas, and if I picked any one of them ChatGPT would prepare an itinerary for me in an instant.

What a time-saver. Give ChatGPT a try when planning your next vacation. It’s fantastic.

More ChatGPT Tutorials by Christian Boyce

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