Plan Your Holiday Getaway in 3 Minutes 🌴

Welcome, humans.

Cache Cookies delivers your weekly dose of groundbreaking tech news, cool apps, brain-boosting knowledge, the latest on AI, and the lowdown on AI's wild side. This week, we're jetting off to explore AI to help in vacation planning.

What You Need to Know About AI This Summer Week

• Maldives Gateway Planning in 3 Minutes 🌴: Quickly find sunny destinations and book your dream trip in just a few clicks with JustAskLayla.

• Creating Unforgettable Itineraries with AI 🗺️: Use JustAskLayla, Waze, and ChatGPT to craft perfect travel plans and road trips tailored to your preferences.

• Packing Without Hassle with PackPoint 🎒: Simplify your packing process with customized lists based on your trip details and planned activities.

Read Time: 4 minutes

AI & HOLIDAY PLANNING

Summer Travel Plans Still Up in the Air? AI Can Help You Land the Perfect Getaway

The summer holidays are here, and while the idea of relaxation sounds amazing, the reality of planning, packing, and booking can be overwhelming. If you're feeling the stress, especially if you're traveling with family, don't worry – AI is here to lend a helping hand.

Scenario 1: Destination Unknown, But Sun is a Must

Whether you're a spontaneous traveler or simply seeking an escape from Switzerland's unpredictable weather, AI can help.

JustAskLayla

Justasklayla.com personalizes travel itineraries based on user preferences and interests. Layla, provides tailored suggestions for destinations, accommodations, flights, and activities.

• Crafting personalized itineraries: Layla creates unique travel plans tailored to your interests, whether you're dreaming of beaches, city tours, mountain adventures, or cultural experiences.

• Taking care of the logistics: Layla partners with services like Skyscanner.net and Booking.com to offer seamless booking for flights and accommodations.

• Interactive Planning: Users can interact with Layla for instant travel advice, explore new destinations, and adjust itineraries as needed. Not sure? Explore potential destinations through Layla's curated travel videos.

• Collaborative planning: Share your itinerary with friends and family, allowing them to contribute their ideas and preferences.

Real-World Results: From "Good Weather" to Maldives Getaway

To test Layla's capabilities, we asked for a destination with "good weather next week." Layla quickly suggested the Maldives, offering links to book a flight (Skyscanner) and a Sea Bungalow (Booking.com). You can fine-tune Layla's suggestions by specifying your budget, desired location, dates, and interests. Even if you're unsure, chatting with Layla can spark inspiration.

Try these prompts:

• "Find the best flight deals from Geneva to Paris for next month."

• "Book a family-friendly hotel in Barcelona for a week-long stay."

• "Suggest a family-friendly vacation spot in Europe with lots of outdoor activities."

Scenario 2: Already Know Where You're Going but Need More Planning Help?

I've booked the hotel in Haarlem and the kids are all set for soccer camp. We're driving, but the rest of our vacation is a wide-open road. Sound familiar? We're craving spontaneity, but a little guidance wouldn't hurt. That's where AI comes in to transform our road trip into an unforgettable adventure.

Hitting the Road with AI: More Than Just Maps

Sure, Google Maps gets you from point A to point B, but … there is an option I want to try for the driving from Zurich to Haarlem: Waze.

Waze

Waze is a community-driven navigation app that provides real-time traffic updates and route suggestions.

Features:

• Real-time updates from other drivers about traffic, accidents, police traps, and road closures.

• Alternative route suggestions to avoid traffic.

• Voice-guided navigation.

• Integration with Spotify for in-app music control.

After entering my departure date and destination in Waze, I received not only the best route but also a recommended departure time to optimize travel. I'm excited to test this feature and the APP and will share my experience after the holidays!

JustAskLayla

If you're looking for more than just navigation and want to avoid those dreaded random parking stops at uninspiring rest areas, JustAskLayla is your ultimate road trip companion. This AI-powered tool crafts custom itineraries that cater to your interests and elevate your journey.

• Input Your Trip Details: Simply enter your starting point, destination, travel dates, and any specific interests or preferences. For example, we asked Layla: “shortest driving itinerary from Horgen to Haarlem with 2 short stops along the way for lunch in a nice historical city and another stop in a charming city. please no stops in Switzerland. we want to leave early morning from Horgen and arrive by 19:00 in Haarlem. Please with timestamps"

• Receive a Tailored Itinerary: Layla generated a personalized itinerary with two delightful stops:

  • Heidelberg, Germany: A charming city known for its romantic castle ruins and picturesque Old Town. Layla even recommended a few restaurants and cafés for a delicious lunch break.

  • Maastricht, Netherlands: A historic city with a vibrant atmosphere, beautiful architecture, and a delightful culinary scene. Layla provided suggestions for a quick stroll and a place to grab a coffee and pastry.

I continued chatting and asked for some extra edge. Layla goes beyond just suggesting stops. She also recommended starting our journey with a breathtaking sunrise view from Uetliberg in Zurich. Imagine kicking off your road trip with a panoramic view of the city at 5:45 AM – a truly magical way to begin your adventure.

Try these prompts:

• "Plan a road trip from San Francisco to Seattle, including interesting stops along the way."

• "Suggest a scenic driving route through the South of France."

• “Suggest a scenic driving route nearby through the Swiss Alps”.

Holiday Planning

I'm still unsure about my holiday plans except that my children will play football, and I'll have time to hang out with my husband and kids in Haarlem and around. Let's see how AI can make it exciting. I asked ChatGPT and JustAskLayla:

“I will spend 7 days in Haarlem with my family (2 adults and three children). My children will be busy playing soccer in a soccer camp during the day, but in the late afternoons (from day 2 to day 6), we will be spending time together. Except for day 4, when we will spend the entire afternoon together. During the time of their soccer camp, I will have time to enjoy art, cafés, and the beach with my husband. We will have a car if needed to drive around. Could you prepare an itinerary for these 7 days?”

7-Day Itinerary in Haarlem

• ChatGPT: Provided a full itinerary, considering drop-off and pick-up times for the kids and planning activities for me and my husband during their camp.

• JustAskLayla: Not as precise but offered nice inspirations with photos, videos, restaurants and booking links.

You could test it with prompts such as:

• "Create a 7-day itinerary for a trip to Japan, focusing on cultural and historical sites."

• "Plan a weekend getaway to the nearby mountains, including hiking and local attractions."

• "Plan a cultural trip to Italy, including museums, historical sites, and local cuisine."

• "Find the top art galleries and cultural events in Berlin for the next month."

• "Suggest the best national parks to visit in the USA for hiking and camping."

• "Find vegan-friendly restaurants and cafes in Amsterdam."

• "Suggest accessible tourist attractions in London for someone with limited mobility."

• "Find a quick getaway destination within a 4-hour drive from Zurich."

Packing: The Final Frontier (Before the Actual Frontier)

Holidays are booked, excitement is building, and then it hits you – the dreaded task of packing. But fear not! This year, I've discovered two apps to make packing easier.

PackPoint

• How it Works:

  • Input Your Details: Tell PackPoint where you're going, when, and what you plan to do.

  • Get Your List: PackPoint generates a tailored list of essentials, from clothing and toiletries to electronics and first-aid items.

  • Customize and Check Off: Adjust the list to your specific needs and mark items as you pack.

  • A Note for Families: While PackPoint doesn't have a specific "children" option, you can work around this by using the ability to customize and save lists.

ChatGPT

• How it Works:

  • Provide Trip Details: Share information about your destination, stay length, planned activities, and specific needs.

  • Ask for a Packing List: Request ChatGPT to generate a packing list based on your input. Copy and paste the list into a notes app or print it out for a checkable list.

  • ChatGPT doesn't have a built-in checklist feature, but you can easily copy and paste the generated list into a notes app or word processor to create a checkable list. You can also print out the list and manually check off items as you pack.

Example Prompt:

"I'm traveling to Haarlem for 7 days with my husband and our three boys, aged 11, 9, and 6, who will be playing soccer for 5 days at Ajax Camp. I've attached information from the camp about what they need to bring and what will be provided. We'll also be exploring the city, visiting museums, and spending some time at the beach. What should I pack?"

📜 WEEKLY QUOTE

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

That's it for now! Want more tasty AI insights? Visit our website and connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn @Mila and @Zeynep. While you're there, consider spreading the word – share Cache Cookies with all your friends and colleagues who also like to stay sharp!