Summer is here and many of us start thinking about traveling. Whether you’re traveling by car, on a plane or on a cruise ship, there are plenty of tech tips to consider.
My biggest tip is to use generative AI to help you plan. Services like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Meta AI, and Microsoft Copilot can help you find your destination and things to do along the way. It can also help you find local and regional transportation, including train and bus routes and companies between cities and destinations.
road trip
These services are especially helpful if you’re planning a road trip, such as an upcoming trip to Mono Lake and Mammoth Lakes. I used all of these services to suggest stops along the way and learned about places like Black Chasm Cavern National Natural Landmark near the volcano along the route. There are some tips and caveats when it comes to these services. First, they probably don’t know about road closures, such as Tioga Pass, the shortest route on my trip, being closed due to snow. I got around that by telling them I wanted to stop in Jackson, which was on my planned route.
Also, they won’t tell you everything you want to see, so ask follow-up questions like, “How about a quaint general store?” “Something fun for kids under 14.” “Something short.” Let’s start a conversation. Hike no more than 5 miles. ” Another thing to note is the definition of “in the middle.” At one point, a service suggested we visit Highway 1 along the California coast as part of our trip. I hope it doesn’t get in the way completely. A visit to Yosemite was also suggested. This is also great, but not in the middle. I was able to fix this issue by saying “Only show detours less than 32 miles.”
These services can also recommend places to stay and eat. To book, you would have to use another service like Expedia or the hotel itself, but Google Gemini makes it super easy to book by using a link to Google Travel, where Google receives a commission.
I also used these services to find EV chargers along my route, and there are dedicated apps like A Better Route Planner and ChargeHub that are optimized for that purpose. Sure, generative AI services can help you find gas stations, but if you’re looking for the best deals, we recommend GasBuddy.
If you travel by plane, don’t overlook generative AI. Whether you’re looking for day trips or excursions, you’ll find plenty of activities and places to stay in almost every corner of the world. Tell them where you’re going, ask for suggestions, and don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions, especially if you have specific interests that you might not have addressed initially. The trick to getting the most out of generative AI is knowing what questions to ask, or experimenting with lots of follow-up questions.
AAA Trip Tick
When I was a kid, my family would visit our local AAA office to get a customized TripTik for our road trips. It was a handy little booklet with all sorts of information to help with our particular route. Get TripTik online at Triptik.aaa.com, along with tour guides, road trip recommendations, and more. Honestly, it wasn’t as much fun as when I was sitting in the back seat of my parents’ Buick reading his printed TripTik, but it’s comparable to that today.
make travel arrangements
There are many apps you can use to book flights, hotels, and tourist attractions. I usually use Expedia, but sometimes I turn to Kayak and Trivago to find cheaper fares and hotel rates. For hotels, you can often find cheaper rates on third-party apps than on the hotel’s own website, but that’s not always the case. So it’s worth checking both. When it comes to airlines, you rarely get a lower price from a third party, but they can sometimes tell you about fares that you wouldn’t know if you were just using your favorite airline’s site. In some cases, you can save money by getting cheaper fares to Europe by taking what you consider to be the usual route, such as via Istanbul or Iceland. I usually prefer to book flights directly from the airline in case I need to request any exceptions or upgrades. I too have tried to resolve an issue with an airline only to be told to call my travel agent. For apps and web services, this may or may not be a big extra effort.
prepare your mobile phone
At this point, you probably know that your smartphone is the perfect tool when you’re on the go. If you might be driving or navigating in an area without cell phone service, use Google Maps’ download feature to download a map of the area before you go. Before you go, make sure you have any apps you think you’ll need installed on your phone. When you’re on the go, your connection may not be as fast as at home.
If you’re traveling by plane, make sure you have the airline app and are logged in with your account. Some airlines require an app to watch entertainment and purchase food on board.
If you’re traveling outside the United States, be sure to check with your carrier about roaming charges and international travel plans. All major carriers have deals that can significantly reduce the cost of data, texts, and calls. Roaming charges can be very high, so it’s very important to check in advance. If you don’t have an international plan, turn off your data before you leave. Otherwise, you may be charged high data charges when your phone updates automatically. When connected to Wi-Fi, you can enjoy free data, text messages, and even calls while abroad. You may want to make sure you have an account on WhatsApp, Google Voice, Skype, or any other service that allows you to make free or low-cost calls. Or make a video call to your home from anywhere you have an internet connection.
bon voyage. And if you don’t know what it means, you can easily translate it between English and French or other languages using Google Translate and other apps.
Larry Magid is a technology journalist and internet safety activist. Please contact us at larry@larrymagid.com.
