Quick Answer
Do you still need a hairstylist now that YouTube exists? Technically, no. But most of us have learned that lesson the hard way, usually with scissors in hand at 11pm 馃檪
AI can be incredibly useful for planning travel. But AI and a travel advisor don’t do the same job.
AI can give you ideas, organize information, compare possibilities, and help you ask better questions. A good travel advisor brings experience, supplier knowledge, relationships, and judgment to help turn all that information into an actual trip.
So is it AI or a travel advisor? For most of my clients lately, it’s both. They use AI for inspiration and dreaming, and I help them pull it together with years of experience and relationships across the travel industry.
I’m seeing more clients come to me with ideas that started with AI. They’ve already been dreaming and researching. They want someone they trust to help turn those ideas into a trip that actually works.
AI Is Really Good at Travel Planning
Want ideas for what to do with three days in Rome? Ask AI.
Trying to understand the difference between the Rhine and the Danube? Ask AI.
Want a list of questions to consider before choosing an Alaska cruise? AI can be a great place to start.
There is an incredible amount of travel information available now, and AI makes it easier to sort through some of it. That’s a good thing.
But Information Isn’t the Same as Advice
Here’s something else to remember about AI: it really wants to be helpful.
Tell it you want to visit 10 European countries during your one-week vacation, and there’s a decent chance it’s going to enthusiastically help you figure out how to do it.
Can you do it? Maybe.
Should you do it? That’s a different question.
Sometimes my job isn’t finding a way to squeeze one more city into an itinerary. It’s telling you, “You’re going to enjoy this trip a whole lot more if we take two of these cities out.”
That’s where experience and judgment matter.
The same thing happens with cruises. Choosing a cruise isn’t just about which ship has the most restaurants or which cruise line gets the highest ratings.
Where are you going? Who is traveling? What cabin makes sense? How much time do you actually have in port? What matters most to you?
Those are the questions that turn information into a trip that actually works.
And Then Travel Happens
This is the part that’s easy to forget while you’re planning.
Flights get canceled. Cruise itineraries change. Hotels make mistakes. Transfers don’t show up. Weather happens. Sometimes plans need to change.
Having a travel advisor means having someone who already knows your trip, understands why it was planned the way it was, and can help you figure out what comes next.
I Am Often Asked If I Use AI
Yes. I use AI as one of several tools in my business.
It can help with research, organizing information, and comparing options, but I still rely on my own experience, supplier relationships, and judgment when making recommendations for clients.
Sometimes technology helps speed things up. Sometimes the best answer still comes from doing the research the old-fashioned way.
So, Do You Still Need a Travel Advisor?
Not necessarily. Some trips are simple enough to plan on your own.
But most of my clients aren’t just looking for someone to book a reservation. They’re placing their trust in me to help guide their trip from planning through travel, and that trust is what keeps this business going.
And when you’re investing thousands of dollars in a vacation, coordinating multiple destinations, planning something you’ve dreamed about for years, or staring at 37 browser tabs wondering which information you should actually trust, having a professional in your corner can be incredibly valuable.
Use the tools available to you. Do your research. Bring me your ideas.
Then let’s figure out how to turn those ideas into a trip you’ll actually enjoy.
Christine Scheeler at Adventure the World Travels specializes in destination-focused ocean, river, and expedition cruising, Alaska, and Europe, including premium and luxury sailings. Technology can make travel planning easier. Personal experience and good advice still matter.
