Can ChatGPT Help You Travel Cheaper? Here’s What to Know

Artificial intelligence is already changing the way we work, so it's no surprise that it's also changing our vacations. Many people use tools like ChatGPT to find events and plan their schedules. You can also use it to help plan your next trip.

ChatGPT is a “generative” form of AI that can help with complicated research and online searches. With a bit of careful prompting, you can use it to find the most attractive destinations, the best places to stay, and the most affordable flights. You might still want to touch base with a human travel expert, but starting with ChatGPT can help simplify the process.

Key Takeaways

ChatGPT is based on a process that’s referred to as “deep learning," which produces words collected from its extensive database of information after you've asked it a question.
Your success when using it can come down to asking the right questions and providing as much detail as possible.
You can still find the cheapest airfares and accommodations over the internet if you're willing to put in the time and effort yourself.
Touch base with a travel expert for some insider money-saving strategies you may not have thought of.

What Is ChatGPT?

The “GPT” in the name stands for “generative pretrained transformer.” That effectively translates to “chatbot.” ChatGPT reportedly had 122.58 million daily users as of July 2025, and nearly 800 million who used it every week.

ChatGPT works through a process referred to as “deep learning.” It produces words your computer can understand, collected from ChatGPT’s extensive database of information after you've asked it a question.

This only works, however, if you provide it with sufficient information so it knows what to look for in its database and send it to your device. You have to know what to ask and how to phrase your questions.

How to Plan Your Vacation With ChatGPT

While ChatGPT can make researching easier, you still have to know what to ask for. Here are some tips to get the best results:

Be Specific

The most important rule is to tell the AI exactly what you want. Don’t just ask, “I need to go to Chicago for a wedding in June. Where can I stay that won’t cost me a fortune?”

Instead, be specific about your trip requirements. Try something like: “I’m traveling to Chicago in June 2026 for a three-day event that will take place in Wicker Park. Tell me about some accommodations in this location for two adults for less than $100 a night."

Picking Your Destination With Chat GPT

If you're not sure where to go on your next trip, ChatGPT can help with that as well. Whether you're looking for a beach getaway or a city with lots of cultural attractions, the AI can help find places that meet your criteria. You can also use it to find less well-known destinations or the best dates to visit to avoid the busy season.

Important

An effective chatbot will analyze your queries, dig into its stores of data, and give you conversational recommendations.

Creating Your Itinerary

Now it’s time to tell ChatGPT what you want to do after you get to your destination. Let it know about any prescheduled time commitments, like that wedding.

Time magazine suggests giving the chatbot the duration of your trip and the exact dates if you know them. In addition, tell it the number of travelers, their ages, and the type of activities that you're interested in. You can also ask ChatGPT to search for popular excursions or tour operators.

To save money, ask for free or inexpensive options. Put an exact price tag on how much you’re willing to spend. ChatGPT can even provide you with a daily, detailed calendar scheduling everything for you, although you'll have to make any required reservations yourself.

Limitations of ChatGPT

It might feel like you’re talking to a knowledgeable fellow human being when you engage with ChatGPT, but that’s unfortunately not the case. The response to your query can be inaccurate or based on outdated information.

Travel Weekly reported the story of one traveler who was stranded at a Japanese bus station because ChatGPT got the schedule wrong. Others have found that the prices reported by the AI did not reflect the actual prices of their accommodations. While the AI can help you sketch out your trip, it's important to verify the details in person before you leave.

Some Saving Strategies From Experts

You don’t necessarily have to consult AI to have a fun and thrifty vacation, according to David Ciccarelli, founder and CEO of the outdoor travel platform Lake.com. “Travelers don’t need a chatbot to uncover better deals,” Ciccarelli says. “They need a little curiosity, a few tools, and a willingness to zig when everyone else zags.”

Timing Your Trip

You may not have a lot of options if you’re traveling on a specific date, but that changes if you just want to spend a long, relaxing weekend sometime in the future. Try to avoid traveling during months when the rest of the world has the same plan, such as during the summer or over the holidays. Airfare and accommodations will be less expensive in March or October than in July, particularly if you travel on or around Independence Day.

“A quick internet search will tell you when high season is for your destination,” says Jeff Powell, creator and CEO of National Park Ventures and Smoky Mountains Ventures Custom Travel Planning. “If you have the flexibility, consider choosing the low season to save money.”

This tactic goes further than choosing the month of your getaway. If you're travelling for a weekend wedding, try to avoid flying on a Friday or Sunday, when prices ratchet upward.

Choosing Accommodations

You’re not necessarily limited to hotels or resorts, but your options can depend on the duration of your trip.

Hotels near airports are usually less expensive than those downtown, according to Fidelity Investments, although you’ll have to put up with some flight noise. Fidelity has another somewhat off-the-wall suggestion as well: If you’re away for an extended time, try to rent out your house or apartment while you’re gone. You can do an online search for companies in your area that manage these types of rentals.

Where to Eat?

You don't need to pay top dollar for meals when you’re traveling, particularly when you’re in the process of getting where you want to go. Before you fly, grab an extra-large purse or bag and stash some snacks in there so you can avoid those sky-high airport prices. If you're driving, pack a cooler and skip the restaurants along the road.

You may be entitled to additional perks that you don’t know about. “Most people walk past lounges thinking they’re only for business-class travelers,” Ciccarelli says. “But if you have a premium credit card like the Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X, odds are that you already have access—you just don’t know it.” Check into it before you head out to wait for and board the plane.

And when you reach your destination? “Eat the complimentary breakfast most hotels serve,” Powell recommends. "Stay in a cabin or Airbnb and prepare your own meals. You'll be surprised at how much you save. Dine at restaurants where your kids eat free.”

How to Get There?

Fidelity Investments recommends booking your flight at least a month in advance if you’re going to fly to your destination. Three months is even better. Check prices online on an ongoing basis, and be prepared to jump on it when you come across a nicely affordable quote.

“Set price alerts on flight aggregators such as Google Flights, Cheapo Flights, or Daily Drop,” Powell suggests. “Fly directly out of hubs – Atlanta, for example. Regional airports almost always take you to the hub first, and they charge you more for it.”

Driving to your destination might not save you as much as you’d expect, and fuel prices can eat into your savings. Fidelity recommends figuring out how many miles your car gets per gallon, then multiplying that by how far you’ll have to drive to reach your goal location. Multiply that by the current cost of fuel, and you might find that you don’t save enough money to make the drive worth it, especially when you factor in the time and stress of driving.

Take Advantage of Discounts

Many businesses offer discounts and bonuses when you hit the road. Look into what they’re offering to entice you to give them your money rather than another company.

Several credit cards offer travel rewards points. Use them to accumulate rather than paying cash or using another card if you know a trip is on your horizon. You can collect and use those rewards when travel time comes. Powell says you can use them to pay for lodging at Hilton, Marriott, or Hyatt.

And don’t overlook those travel discounts that are intended for select demographics. If you're a senior citizen or a student, they can make your next trip more affordable.

The Bottom Line

Do you need ChatGPT to help you plan your next vacation or even that business trip? It depends a lot on how much work and investigation you’re willing to do yourself. ChatGPT can’t give you any information you can't find on your own, but it can simplify the research process.