We've planned trips in countless ways over the years. From scribbling ideas on a whiteboard, typing out itineraries in Word or Google Docs, organizing systematically with Excel, Google Sheets, or Notion, to using dedicated apps like Wanderlog, TripIt, or Prit—methods vary widely. Now, ChatGPT effortlessly creates seemingly impressive travel plans with just a single sentence.

But have you ever wondered how satisfying trips based on AI-generated itineraries truly are?

Asking ChatGPT and receiving a detailed response may feel incredibly convenient at first, but following such plans hasn't always led to the best experiences.

In reality, much of the joy from traveling is already generated while planning the trip itself.

We enjoy the excitement of discovering places, mapping out routes, and hunting for hidden gems. Deciding where to eat, what souvenirs to buy, and envisioning ourselves exploring new cities sparks dopamine and anticipation from the moment we start browsing the web.

Creating our own plans makes us cherish them more, an effect psychologists call the IKEA Effect. Like how we adore furniture we've assembled ourselves, personalized travel plans bring greater satisfaction and anticipation. After all, each itinerary crafted by our team feels like our own masterpiece.

But AI-generated plans lack this crucial aspect. Though the AI swiftly produces detailed itineraries, its speed means our own efforts and creativity aren’t reflected. Consequently, the plans don't resonate with us emotionally. Moreover, since AI typically generates similar itineraries regardless of who asks, they lack uniqueness and personal touch.

Even if emotional satisfaction wasn't a priority, relying solely on AI-generated plans still skips about 90% of the joy derived from travel planning. Research indicates that completing tasks based on AI-generated instructions reduces feelings of accomplishment by over 23%, and the experiences themselves fade faster from memory. Applied to travel, this means diminished pride and shorter-lived memories of your journeys.

Thus, quickly pulling travel plans from AI doesn't necessarily enhance your experience. It can, in fact, make trips seem more boring, predictable, and less memorable. Yet, why do we still reach out to AI? Mainly because, before starting, we anticipate planning to be tedious or daunting, unaware of the actual fun involved.

However, planning trips with Excel or spreadsheets can indeed feel overwhelming. Apps like TripIt and Wanderlog are useful but can't satisfy every traveler. Conversely, generating a plan in ten seconds with zero personal effort significantly decreases satisfaction.

So, what's the best approach?

If you want to enjoy the process of planning instead of outsourcing everything to AI, there's a better way.

For your next trip with friends or family, try planning with Prit—a tool built to make the process genuinely enjoyable. You can collaborate in real time, see each other’s edits instantly, and create multiple drafts within a shared workspace until you land on the perfect itinerary. Your plan is stored forever, and there's no need to sign up or commit to any monthly subscriptions. Just jump in and start planning.