Last Updated on October 8, 2025 by Team Ideas24
AI trip planners are brilliant at sparking ideas, but as BBC Travel reports, they can also be confidently wrong in ways that waste time, money, and potentially put travelers at risk. The article surfaces a growing pattern: chatbots and travel AIs inventing places, misreading terrain, and serving up schedules that don’t exist.
One couple followed the advice to watch the sunset from Mount Misen in Japan, only to discover the ropeway had already closed. Another pair in Peru chased the “Sacred Canyon of Humantay,” a destination that simply doesn’t exist. And one AI travel tool even placed an Eiffel Tower in Beijing.
What makes this especially noteworthy right now is the mix of convenience and hazard. AI can help women 35+ travel smarter, suggesting routes, surfacing under-the-radar spots, and tailoring trips to your pace, but its hallucinations can introduce safety risks in unfamiliar environments (think altitude, terrain, or transit hours).
The standout takeaway is a simple, empowering practice: use AI for inspiration, then verify every detail with official sources and on-the-ground providers. It’s a small habit that keeps the magic of discovery intact while sidestepping avoidable stress.
The expert perspective is refreshingly practical. As machine learning professor Rayid Ghani notes, large language models “just know words”, they mimic confident tone, not truth. And in high-altitude Peru, trekking guide Miguel Angel Gongora Meza spells out the stakes: “This sort of misinformation is perilous in Peru… you can find yourself at an altitude of 4,000m without oxygen and [phone] signal.”
Why this matters: AI planning is here to stay, and it can absolutely enhance your travel. But today’s tools still blur the line between inspiration and information. If an itinerary sounds too perfect, or too convenient, double-check timing, distances, elevation, closures, and transit with official websites, local operators, and recent reviews. Download offline maps, screenshot hours, and keep a quick Plan B. You’ll travel with confidence, not crossed fingers.
Ready to see what to trust, what to double-check, and how to keep your next adventure smooth? Read the full BBC Travel story: The perils of letting AI plan your next trip
