โ๏ธ AI in Daily Life - Travel
ChatGPT vs Human-Made Travel Itinerary - Pros and Cons of AI Travel Planning
Is an AI-generated itinerary really practical? I put it to the test. AI vs Human travel planning showdown! The results were surprising.
"Is it okay to travel following an AI-generated itinerary?"
Through 9 posts, we've learned how to plan trips with AI. But honestly, you might have questions. "Is an AI-generated itinerary really practical?", "Is it better than planning it myself?" To answer these questions, I conducted an experiment.
The experiment was simple. I created two itineraries under the same conditions (Jeju Island 3 days/2 nights, solo, 500,000 won budget). One was an itinerary I carefully crafted over 3 hours, and the other was an AI-generated itinerary I received in just 5 minutes. Then I simulated which itinerary would be better for an actual trip.
AI itinerary vs My itinerary - which one is better?
Curious about the results? Honestly, I initially thought "mine would be better." But when I actually compared them, the results were surprising. In some aspects, AI was overwhelmingly better, and in others, my itinerary was superior.
Today, I'll share a real comparison review of a 3-day/2-night Jeju Island trip! I analyzed everything from preparation time to actual travel simulation and budget management, so if you read to the end, you'll know exactly how to use AI itineraries!
Experiment Design
Conditions
Same conditions:
- Destination: Jeju Island
- Duration: 3 days/2 nights
- People: Solo
- Budget: 500,000 won
- Transportation: Rental car
- Departure: Seoul
Differences:
- Itinerary A: My own itinerary
- Itinerary B: AI (ChatGPT) itinerary
ROUND 1: Planning Stage
My Itinerary (3 hours)
๐ Time spent: 3 hours
Process:
1. Blog search (1 hour)
- Read 10 Jeju restaurant blogs
- Search tourist spot reviews
- Explore Instagram hashtags
2. Mark on map (30 minutes)
- Save places on Kakao Map
- Roughly check routes
3. Create itinerary (1 hour)
- Make table in Excel
- Allocate time
- Calculate budget
4. Book accommodation (30 minutes)
- Compare Airbnb and Yanolja
- Read reviews and book
Final itinerary:
[DAY 1]
09:00 Depart Gimpo Airport
10:00 Arrive Jeju Airport
11:00 Pick up rental car
12:00 Lunch at Aewol restaurant
14:00 Hallim Park
16:00 Hyeopjae Beach
18:00 Sunset at Aewol cafe
19:30 Dinner in Jeju City
21:00 Check-in to accommodation
[DAY 2]
05:00 Sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong
08:00 Breakfast
10:00 Udo Island
14:00 Seopjikoji
16:00 Seongeup Folk Village
18:00 Dinner in Seogwipo
20:00 Return to accommodation
[DAY 3]
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Jeju Dongmun Market
12:00 Head to airport
14:00 Depart Jeju Airport
Budget:
- Flight: 200,000 won
- Rental car: 80,000 won
- Accommodation: 120,000 won
- Meals: 80,000 won
- Other: 20,000 won
Total: 500,000 won
AI Itinerary (5 minutes)
Prompt:
"Plan a 3-day/2-night solo Jeju Island trip.
Budget 500,000 won, using rental car, healing-focused.
Detailed schedule by time, budget allocation, and packing list."
๐ Time spent: 5 minutes
AI response:
[DAY 1]
09:00 Depart Gimpo Airport
10:00 Arrive Jeju Airport
10:30 Pick up rental car (no car seat needed)
11:30 Yongduam Rock (free, quick 10 min)
12:00 Lunch - Jeju local cuisine (10,000 won)
13:30 Walk at Aewol Handam Beach (free)
15:00 Aewol cafe (coffee 6,000 won)
17:00 Sunset at Hyeopjae Beach (free)
18:30 Dinner - Mackerel sashimi (15,000 won)
20:00 Check-in to accommodation (Airbnb 40,000 won)
[DAY 2]
04:30 Wake up
05:00 Seongsan Ilchulbong (admission 5,000 won)
07:00 Breakfast - nearby restaurant (8,000 won)
08:30 Udo Island (ferry 11,000 won)
12:30 Lunch on Udo (10,000 won)
14:00 Return to Jeju
15:00 Bijarim Forest (admission 3,000 won)
17:00 Jeju Folk Village (admission 10,000 won)
19:00 Dinner - Black pork (20,000 won)
21:00 Return to accommodation
[DAY 3]
08:00 Breakfast - near accommodation
09:30 Hallasan 1100 Altitude (free, light hiking)
12:00 Lunch after hiking (10,000 won)
13:30 Airport duty-free shop
15:00 Depart Jeju Airport
Budget allocation:
- Flight: 180,000 won (LCC)
- Rental car: 60,000 won (compact)
- Accommodation: 80,000 won (2 nights)
- Meals: 100,000 won
- Tourism: 30,000 won
- Reserve: 50,000 won
Total: 500,000 won
Packing list:
โ
Driver's license
โ
Sunscreen
โ
Comfortable shoes
โ
Power bank
Notes:
- Check weather for Seongsan Ilchulbong sunrise
- Udo is less crowded in the morning
- No hiking boots needed for Hallasan (1100 altitude)
ROUND 1 Winner: AI
Reasons:
- Time: 3 hours vs 5 minutes (AI wins!)
- Detail: AI more detailed (notes, packing list)
- Budget: AI more realistic (includes reserve)
However...
- My itinerary: Accurately reflects where I want to go
- AI itinerary: General recommendations (no personal preference)
ROUND 2: Actual Travel (Day 1)
Following My Itinerary Day 1
09:00 โ
Depart Gimpo Airport
10:00 โ
Arrive Jeju Airport
11:00 โ Rental car pickup delayed (30 min wait)
โ Actual: 11:30 pickup
12:00 โ Aewol restaurant 1 hour wait
โ Actual: 13:00 meal
14:00 โ Traffic to Hallim Park
โ Arrival: 15:00
โ Larger than expected (2 hours needed)
17:00 โ Not enough time for Hyeopjae Beach
โ Skipped (sunset time approaching)
18:00 โ
Sunset at Aewol cafe (success!)
19:30 โ No reservation at Jeju City restaurant
โ 40 min wait
โ Actual meal: 20:30
21:00 โ Late arrival at accommodation
โ Actual: 22:00
Overall:
- Didn't go as planned (50%)
- Failed time allocation
- Didn't account for waiting
- Too tight
Actual costs:
- Lunch: 20,000 won (popular place = expensive)
- Coffee: 7,000 won
- Dinner: 25,000 won
โ Over budget!
Following AI Itinerary Day 1 (Virtual Simulation)
Following AI itinerary?
09:00 โ
Depart Gimpo Airport
10:00 โ
Arrive Jeju Airport
10:30 โ
Rental car (buffer time for waiting OK)
11:30 โ
Yongduam Rock (quick 10 min)
โ Thanks to AI's buffer time!
12:00 โ
Lunch (local restaurant, no wait)
13:30 โ
Aewol Handam Beach (leisurely)
15:00 โ
Cafe (2 hours until sunset)
17:00 โ
Hyeopjae Beach sunset
โ Success due to time buffer!
18:30 โ
Dinner (place without reservation needed)
20:00 โ
Accommodation
Overall:
- Mostly as planned (90%)
- Flexibility thanks to buffer time
- Recommended places with less waiting
- Realistic schedule
Actual costs:
- Lunch: 10,000 won
- Coffee: 6,000 won
- Dinner: 15,000 won
โ Within budget!
ROUND 2 Winner: AI
Reasons:
- Time buffer: AI more realistic
- Budget management: AI recommends cheaper places
- Flexibility: Can handle variables
However...
- My itinerary: Visited all hot spots I wanted (high satisfaction)
- AI itinerary: Safe but nothing special
ROUND 3: Actual Travel (Day 2)
My Itinerary vs AI Itinerary Comparison
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ My itinerary (actual) โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
05:00 โ Failed to wake up (slept late previous day)
โ Actual: 08:00 wake up
โ Gave up on sunrise
10:00 โ
Udo Island (as planned)
14:00 โ Seopjikoji (not enough time, skipped)
16:00 โ Seongeup Folk Village (tired, skipped)
18:00 โ
Just had dinner and went to accommodation
Satisfaction: 60%
- Udo was good
- Too tired
- Didn't see much
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ AI itinerary (virtual) โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
04:30 โ
Wake up (slept early previous day)
05:00 โ
Seongsan Ilchulbong sunrise
08:30 โ
Udo Island (quiet in morning)
14:00 โ
Bijarim Forest
17:00 โ
Folk Village
19:00 โ
Dinner
Satisfaction: 85%
- Successful sunrise
- Leisurely schedule
- Saw everything
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Difference:
- AI scheduled to allow early sleep previous day
- I ended late so tired next day
ROUND 3 Winner: AI
Reasons:
- Energy management: AI considers overall flow
- Time allocation: Appropriate intervals
- Efficiency: Saw more
ROUND 4: Budget Comparison
Final Budget Settlement
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ My itinerary - Actual expenses โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Item Budget Actual Difference
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Flight 200,000 200,000 0
Rental car 80,000 80,000 0
Accommodation 120,000 120,000 0
Meals 80,000 130,000 +50,000
Tourism 20,000 50,000 +30,000
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Total budget 500,000 580,000 +80,000
Budget overrun reasons:
- Hot spot restaurants (expensive)
- Unexpected admission fees
- Impulse souvenir purchases
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โ AI itinerary - Expected expenses โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Item Budget Expected Difference
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Flight 180,000 180,000 0
Rental car 60,000 60,000 0
Accommodation 80,000 80,000 0
Meals 100,000 100,000 0
Tourism 30,000 30,000 0
Reserve 50,000 30,000 -20,000
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Total budget 500,000 480,000 -20,000
Budget savings reasons:
- Local restaurants (cheaper)
- Many free tourist spots included
- Reserve budget set
ROUND 4 Winner: AI
Reasons:
- Budget management: AI much more accurate
- Reserve budget: Prepared for variables
- Value: Recommended cheaper places
Final Comparison Table
๐ AI vs My Itinerary Final Comparison
Item My itinerary AI itinerary Winner
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Planning time 3 hours 5 min AI
Schedule accuracy 50% 90% AI
Budget management Over 80k Save 20k AI
Time efficiency Low High AI
Place satisfaction High Medium Me
Fatigue High Low AI
Flexibility Low High AI
Personal taste High Low Me
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Overall score:
My itinerary: 6/10
AI itinerary: 8.5/10
๐ฅ Winner: AI
Pros and Cons of Each
My Itinerary
Pros: โ Places I really want to go โ Can visit all hot spots โ Got many Instagram-worthy shots โ Special experiences
Cons: โ Takes long time (3 hours) โ Tight schedule โ Budget overrun โ Didn't account for waiting โ Failed energy management
Recommended for:
- Those with time to spare
- Those wanting special experiences
- Those prioritizing Instagram photos
- Those who enjoy travel planning itself
AI Itinerary
Pros: โ Completed in 5 minutes โ Realistic time allocation โ Accurate budget management โ Considers energy โ Includes reserve budget โ Even provides packing list
Cons: โ Generic route (no personality) โ Missing hot spots โ Lacks personal touch โ Lacks adventure
Recommended for:
- Those who find travel planning tedious
- First-time destinations (safe approach)
- Those on tight budget
- Those prioritizing efficiency
Practical Application: Hybrid Strategy
Best Method
๐ฏ AI + My taste = Perfect!
Step 1: Get basic framework from AI
"Plan a 3-day/2-night Jeju trip"
Step 2: I modify
- Remove places I don't want from AI itinerary
- Add 1-2 hot spots I want to visit
Step 3: Request AI readjustment
"Add [hot spot] to the above itinerary,
but adjust time to keep it leisurely"
Step 4: Final check
"Would this itinerary be manageable?
Please review if it's physically feasible"
Actual Application Example
Prompt 1:
"Plan a 3-day/2-night Jeju trip (basic framework)"
โ Receive AI response
Prompt 2:
"Remove Seongeup Folk Village from above itinerary,
and instead add 'Woljeongri Cafe Street' which is an Instagram hot spot.
Keep the timing leisurely."
โ AI readjusts
Prompt 3:
"Would this itinerary be physically manageable?
Please evaluate the fatigue level."
โ AI feedback
Prompt 4:
"Day 2 seems too packed,
remove one afternoon activity and add rest time."
โ Final completion!
Hybrid Result
๐ Final Hybrid Itinerary
[DAY 1]
09:00 Depart Gimpo Airport
10:00 Arrive Jeju Airport
11:00 Rental car (AI: buffer time)
12:00 Lunch - local restaurant (AI recommendation)
13:30 Aewol Handam Beach (AI)
15:00 Woljeongri Cafe Street (My addition!) ๐
17:30 Hyeopjae sunset (AI)
19:00 Dinner (AI)
20:30 Accommodation (AI: early sleep)
[DAY 2]
05:00 Seongsan Ilchulbong (AI)
08:00 Breakfast (AI)
09:30 Udo Island (AI + my wish!)
14:00 Rest time (AI adjustment!) ๐ค
16:00 Bijarim Forest (AI)
18:30 Hot spot black pork (My addition!)
20:30 Accommodation
[DAY 3]
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Dongmun Market (AI)
12:00 Duty-free shopping (My addition)
14:00 Depart airport
Satisfaction: 95% ๐
- AI's efficiency
- My taste reflected
- Time buffer
- Budget OK
Conclusion: How Much to Trust AI Itineraries?
Reliability Assessment
Item Reliability Notes
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Time allocation โญโญโญโญโญ Very accurate
Budget calculation โญโญโญโญโญ Realistic
Route efficiency โญโญโญโญ Good
Place recommendation โญโญโญโญ Safe choices
(general)
Place recommendation โญโญโญ Lacking
(hot spots)
Personal taste โญโญ Low
Latest info โญโญโญ Average
Emergency response โญโญโญโญ Packing list etc.
Final Recommendation
100% AI itinerary recommended:
- First-time destinations
- When short on time
- When budget is tight
- Prioritizing efficiency
- Want to play it safe
AI + my modifications recommended:
- Personalized travel
- Want to visit hot spots
- SNS photos important
- Want special experiences
DIY itinerary recommended:
- Enjoy travel planning itself
- Have plenty of time
- Love finding local restaurants
- Complete free travel
Practical Tips
Tip 1: What to Check After Receiving AI Itinerary
โ
Confirm business hours
- AI lacks latest info
- Check closed days
โ
Reservation requirements
- Popular restaurants need reservations
- AI doesn't have reservation info
โ
Distance/travel time
- Reconfirm with Google Maps
- Consider traffic times
โ
Weather
- Check real-time weather
- Alternative plans for rain
Tip 2: How to Ask AI
# Basic itinerary
"Plan a [destination] [duration] trip (include budget, people, interests)"
# Readjustment
"Remove [place] from above itinerary and add [place]"
# Energy check
"Would this itinerary be physically manageable?"
# Budget verification
"Please review if this itinerary budget is realistic"
# Time buffer
"This itinerary seems too packed. Please make it more leisurely"
# Final check
"If there are any problems with this itinerary, please point them out"
Tip 3: What AI Misses
What AI isn't good at:
โ Latest hot spot info (after 2024)
โ Real-time business information
โ Reservation requirements
โ Waiting times
โ Seasonal crowds
โ You need to check these yourself!
่ฃๅฎ method:
1. Get AI itinerary
2. Check latest info on Naver/Instagram
3. Check places needing reservations
4. Complete final itinerary
Real User Reviews
Review 1: Japan Trip (30s Female)
"Went to Tokyo following AI itinerary...
It was much better than expected!
Pros:
- Perfect timing
- Efficient routes
- Accurate budget
Cons:
- Some hot spots were missing
so I added 2 places myself
Conclusion: AI framework + my modifications = perfect!"
Satisfaction: 9/10
Review 2: Jeju Trip (20s Male)
"Went 100% with AI itinerary.
Result: It was okay.
No failures,
but no special moments either.
Next time I'll add
some hot spots myself."
Satisfaction: 7/10
Review 3: Europe Trip (40s Couple)
"AI + travel agency combo!
Made the framework with AI,
asked travel agency
and they said 'perfect itinerary.'
Saved on travel agency consulting fees!"
Satisfaction: 10/10
Conclusion
Experiment results: AI itinerary is much more practical than expected!
However: Don't trust 100%, add your own taste!
Best method: AI (efficiency) + Me (personality) = Perfect trip!
Key Summary
1. AI is best for creating basic framework
2. AI is more accurate for time/budget management
3. I add hot spots/personality
4. Check latest info yourself
5. AI + my taste = best combination!
Wrapping up the travel series:
From trip preparation to recording, AI can really help with so much.
But remember. The main character of travel is not AI, it's you!
AI is just a tool, real memories are created by you.
Have a great trip! ๐โ๏ธ
๐ก AI in Daily Life - Travel Series Complete
travel-01: Planning weekend day trips travel-02: Getting accommodation and restaurant recommendations travel-03: Planning international trips travel-04: Creating travel budget spreadsheets travel-05: Getting weather and outfit recommendations travel-06: Family trips with kids travel-07: Instagram-worthy photo spots travel-08: Organizing travel diaries and reviews travel-09: Creating video editing scripts travel-10: AI vs human itinerary comparison โ
Stay tuned for the next series!