Did you know that 62% of Britishers feel overwhelmed when planning a holiday? If you’ve ever planned a holiday on your own from start to finish, you know this feeling. Expedia, a recognised name in travel booking, has taken a new step forward. They have recently launched an AI tool called Expedia AI for conversations built on ChatGPT’s API.
This aims to change the way we approach travel planning by turning what used to be a hard task into a straightforward process. We want to find out if Expedia AI lives up to the name the company has given itself.
Key Points to Remember
- Expedia’s conversational AI tool aims to transform the traditionally cumbersome itinerary planning into a straightforward, interactive process.
- Based on ChatGPT’s API, the tool offers personalised trip suggestions in response to open-ended questions.
- Provides a one-stop solution for booking accommodation, city tours, car rentals and more.
- Offers travellers hidden gems and local experiences.
- Helps travellers manage their expenses and plan their trips according to their budget.
What Is Expedia AI?
At its core, Expedia’s AI is about using artificial intelligence to make your next travel booking a little easier. First, Expedia integrated ChatGPT’s API into its iOS app, so you feel like you have a well-informed travel mate in your pocket. Now, this AI tool is also available for Android users.
You can ask Expedia’s AI tool open-ended questions, such as “Where’s a romantic place to go in Paris?” or “Do you know any family getaways in Brighton?” and get personalised travel suggestions. Besides planning your trip, you can save the suggested activities directly into a Trip Planner.
When you talk to Expedia AI, it doesn’t just help you find destinations and places to stay. It’s like talking about hotels and seeing all your choices in the app’s “trip” section. This makes it easy to select dates, see if rooms are available, and even add flights, car hire or leisure activities.
Features and Functionalities
Have you ever wondered what Expedia’s AI tool can do? Let’s take a closer look. Here are the main features and functions that make it stand out.
Conversational Interface
Expedia AI’s conversational interface is extremely easy to use for your next trip planning. You don’t have to search through countless options. Instead, you can simply start a chat.
If you want to discover a hidden gem in Rome or a quiet café in Paris, you can simply ask the chatbot. The AI will answer your questions, understand your travel desires and make suggestions that hit the mark.
The more you talk, the more it gets to know you. It’s like having a travel buddy who remembers your favourite places and suggests new ones depending on what you like. Over time, it becomes less of an app and more of a personal travel guide.
Intelligent Trip Planner
Expedia’s AI brings you the smart trip planner to simplify your planning process. The best thing about this planner is the way it shapes your journey around you. Imagine you’re talking about a trip to Barcelona. Instead of overwhelming you with suggestions, the planner arranges them neatly.
Depending on what you tell and explore, he adjusts his suggestions. Plus, every hotel you discuss with the chatbot gets automatically saved in the trip section of your app.
Integrated Booking
You’re not alone if you’ve ever been overwhelmed with too many tabs and sites when booking your holiday. Expedia AI has developed a solution for you – the optimised integrated booking function.
With this feature, you do not have to jump between countless websites or apps. Everything is neatly arranged in one place, whether the accommodation, unique city tours or car rentals. From here, you can check available hotel dates, read their reviews and find a hotel that fits your budget.
Local Insights
With ‘Local Insights’, you get more than just a list of places to visit. The feature reveals the hidden places that are the true essence of a destination. Have you ever wondered where the locals in Barcelona drink their morning coffee? Or fancied a quiet stroll in a little-known vineyard in Bordeaux? Expedia’s AI tool guides you there.
The AI smartly combines user feedback with a huge database of local gems. Over time, as you and other travellers share experiences, the tool refines its recommendations.
Budget Planner
Managing travel finances can be a balancing act. But with Expedia’s AI ‘budget planner’ at your side, you can efficiently work your expenses. This feature creates a detailed roadmap of possible expenses for you.
Whether it’s a luxurious stay in a tropical paradise or an inexpensive trek through scenic landscapes, this tool has you covered. It goes deep into costs – from accommodation and travel fares to sightseeing and unexpected expenses.
Extend an Invitation
The invitation feature is a real bonus if you want to share your plans with your travel friends. It makes planning group trips easy and fun. Instead of sending messages and screenshots, you can share your trip with a few clicks on Expedia.
Plus, they can even get involved in the planning. They can contribute their ideas or vote on their choices. Plus, there’s no confusion. Everyone sees the exact details – where you’re staying, what you’re doing and when.
Pros and Cons of Expedia AI
| Pros | Cons |
| Tailors travel suggestions based on your preferences and past searches. | The tool is primarily available on mobile, limiting desktop users. |
| Continuously scans for price changes to provide competitive rates. | The tool’s effectiveness relies heavily on user data input, which might pose privacy concerns for some. |
| Interactively helps you draft travel plans through simple conversations. | |
| Allows multiple users to plan trips jointly. | |
| Streamlines the search and booking process within a single platform. | |
| Filters travel choices based on specified budget constraints. |
Getting Started with Expedia AI
Are you ready to upgrade your travel planning with Expedia’s AI tool? This AI tool is straightforward to use with its conversational interface. Learn how to plan your trip with this AI tool.
1. Downloading the App
First, the Expedia AI tool is only accessible via the mobile app, whether you’re an iOS or Android user. You can download the Expedia app from your device’s App Store or Play Store.
2. Signing Up
Once you have the app, you’ll be taken to the sign-up page. Here, you have a choice: either sign up quickly with Google or traditionally enter your email address. If you choose the latter, you must enter a 6-digit code to verify your email. You’ll also need to enter additional information, such as your name and set up a password.
3. Navigating the Interface
The app interface is designed to be very user-friendly. The home page is your dashboard, where you can find all the functions, including the AI tool.
4. Crafting Your Itinerary with the AI Tool
When you select the AI feature, you are greeted with a chat interface. Here, you can communicate directly with the AI and help it create your itinerary. There is also no limit to the requests you can make.
5. Reviewing Your Itinerary
After you provide your details, you’ll receive a tailor-made itinerary in seconds. The more details you enter, the more personalised it becomes. If you want to change something, just tell the Expedia AI what changes you want.
6. Exploring the ‘Trips’ Section
When you interact with the AI, you’ll see a pocket icon at the top right of your screen. This will take you to the ‘Trips’ section, where all the hotel and activity suggestions from your chat are stored. Here, you can review your selection and even book directly with Expedia.
7. Invite Friends
With the Expedia AI tool, you can invite fellow travellers to participate in the planning. This feature ensures that everyone’s preferences are considered and makes planning group travel easy.
How Does Expedia AI Enhance Your Travel Planning?
While travelling can have thrilling moments, planning each step can sometimes feel overwhelming. Luckily, in our tech-savvy era, there are plenty of tools to make this task easier for you. One of them is Expedia’s AI. Let’s find out how this advanced tool is changing how you plan your trips.
1. Personalised Recommendations
Expedia AI goes beyond typical travel planning. It evolves with your tastes and preferences, offering suggestions for destinations, accommodations and activities that are just right for you. With Expedia AI, every tip feels like it was put together just for you.
2. Streamlined Search and Booking
Gone are the days when you have to jump between different tabs and apps to find your reservations. Expedia AI combines search and booking, allowing you to find and book the best deals on a single platform.
3. Interactive Itinerary Building
You can design your itinerary per your wishes by talking to the AI. Do you fancy a historical tour of Rome or an exciting escapade in the Rocky Mountains? Just tell the AI and watch it design a trip tailored to your wishes.
4. Simple Budgeting
A key feature of Expedia AI is its ability to adapt to your budget. Specify your spending limit, and the tool narrows down the choices to be within that limit. This way, you get the best deal for your money.
5. Collaborating Planning
If you want to include the suggestions of your fellow travellers, this AI tool facilitates joint planning. It makes gathering opinions easier and choosing accommodation, restaurants and activities together.
How Does Expedia Use Artificial Intelligence in Its Tool?
The travel landscape is vast and ever-changing, and with Expedia’s use of artificial intelligence (AI), users are guaranteed a world-class experience. How does Expedia use AI in its tool? Let’s take a look.
- Understanding User Behaviour: At the heart of Expedia’s AI tool is its ability to get to know you. By analysing your search behaviour, preferences and even travel histories, the tool can predict what you’ll be looking for next.
- Dynamic Pricing Models: Everyone appreciates a good deal. Expedia’s AI constantly monitors price fluctuations, available rooms and the number of airports. Using advanced machine learning techniques, it predicts potential price changes, ensuring you always see the most attractive fares.
- Personalised Recommendations Through Machine Learning: The more you engage with Expedia, the more the AI learns about your preferences. Over time, the platform offers travel deals explicitly curated for you so you feel like you have your travel consultant.
- Forecasting Best Travel Times: Expedia’s AI evaluates extensive data and determines the best times to visit specific locations. Considering climatic conditions, local festivals, and expected tourist flows guarantees you a first-class travel experience.
Alternatives to Expedia AI
While Expedia AI is a favourite among many travellers, other travel planning tools are worth exploring. Let’s dive into some alternative options you might find interesting.
PlanTrip AI
PlanTrip AI is a smart travel tool that helps you plan your trips according to your preferences. It can tell you what to pack depending on the weather at your destination. Just like Expedia AI, it also gives you an idea of how much your trip might cost.
It can suggest places and the best time to visit if you’re unsure where to go. It also gives tips on where to eat well and how to save money. There is even a chat group on Reddit where users share their travel stories & tips.
To learn more about this tool, check out our full review of PlanTrip AI.
RoamAround
RoamAround is an AI-powered travel tool that puts together trips tailored to your interests. Just tell RoamAround your interests as if you were talking to a buddy, and it’ll create a customised itinerary for you and even suggest possible hotels to stay in.
Similar to Expedia AI, you get ideas for attractions and activities. Once your itinerary is set, you can easily customise it to your liking with the help of AI.
To learn more about this tool, check out our full review of RoamAround AI.
Takeaway
Expedia’s AI tool is changing the way you plan your travel. It uses ChatGPT’s API to put a personal travel companion in your pocket, taking the hassle out of making travel plans. Features like a conversational user interface, smart trip planner and local information ensure you get a trip that’s just right for you. While there are other AI tools you should consider, Expedia’s focus on making it as easy as possible sets it apart from the rest.
