Picture this: it’s 11pm, you’ve just decided you want to book a trip to Bali, and you’re deep in 47 browser tabs trying to figure out the best time to go, where to stay, and whether you need a visa. Sound familiar? The debate between using an AI trip planner vs travel agent is one more travellers are wrestling with right now — and honestly, there’s no single right answer. It really depends on how you travel, what you value, and how complex your trip is. Let’s break it all down so you can make the call with confidence.

What Does an AI Trip Planner Actually Do?

An AI trip planner is essentially a smart assistant that uses data — lots of it — to help you build an itinerary, find flights, compare hotels, and even suggest restaurants based on your preferences. Tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and dedicated platforms like Wanderlog or TripIt can pull together a full week-long itinerary in under two minutes. That’s genuinely impressive.

The big draw is availability. AI doesn’t sleep. At 11pm when you’re suddenly inspired to book that Bali trip, it’s ready to help. You can ask it questions, refine your plans, adjust your budget, and get instant answers without waiting for a callback on Monday morning.

One thing most visitors to AI platforms miss is how good they’ve become at personalisation. You can tell an AI planner you have a $1,500 budget, two kids under ten, hate crowds, and love street food — and it will actually factor all of that in. That level of detail used to require a long phone call with a specialist.

That said, AI isn’t infallible. It can hallucinate outdated prices, suggest hotels that have closed, or miss local nuances that only someone who’s been there would know. Always double-check what it tells you before you book.

What a Travel Agent Still Does Better

Here’s the honest truth: a good travel agent is genuinely hard to beat when things go wrong. When your flight gets cancelled in Bangkok, when the hotel loses your reservation in Rome, or when a natural disaster closes your destination — a real human advocate in your corner is worth every cent of their fee.

Travel agents also have access to rates, perks, and packages that aren’t publicly available online. Many are members of consortiums like Virtuoso or Signature Travel Network, which means you might get complimentary room upgrades, resort credits, or late checkout that you simply can’t get by booking direct.

For complex, multi-destination itineraries — think a 10-day southern Africa safari combined with a beach leg in Zanzibar — an experienced agent who knows the region will save you hours of research and potentially hundreds of dollars. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.

The trade-off is time and cost. You’ll often pay a service fee (typically $50–$150 USD, or around AED 185–550), and you’re working within their business hours. If you’re a spontaneous traveller who books late at night on a whim, that model doesn’t always fit.

How to Choose: A Practical Breakdown

When AI Works Best

Solo or couple travel with flexible dates and simple logistics
Budget-conscious trips where you want to compare every option yourself
Short city breaks to well-documented destinations like Paris, Tokyo, or New York
Fast planning when you need ideas quickly and don’t want to wait
Repeat destinations where you already know the basics and just need itinerary help

When a Travel Agent is Worth It

Luxury or honeymoon travel where details really matter
Group trips with multiple passengers and rooms to coordinate
Adventure or expedition travel to remote or challenging destinations
Cruises, where agent relationships unlock serious perks
Trips involving complex visa situations or unusual routing

The Cost Comparison: What You’ll Actually Spend

AI trip planning tools are mostly free — or close to it. Platforms like Wanderlog are free to use, while premium features on some tools run $10–$15 USD per month (around AED 37–55). For the occasional traveller, that’s a very low barrier to entry.

Travel agents vary more widely. Some charge flat planning fees upfront, usually $75–$200 USD (AED 275–735). Others earn commission from hotels and tour operators, meaning their service appears “free” to you — though that commission is baked into the price somewhere. For luxury bookings, the value they add often far exceeds their fee.

A practical tip: try using AI first to build a rough itinerary and get a sense of what things should cost. Then, if the trip is complex or high-value, bring that research to a travel agent. You’ll have smarter conversations, and they’ll be able to refine your plan rather than start from scratch.

Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of Both

When using AI, always provide specific constraints — budget, travel style, dietary needs, pace preference
Cross-reference AI suggestions with recent reviews on TripAdvisor or Google before booking
Ask AI planners to generate a “what could go wrong” list for your destination — it’s surprisingly useful
When approaching a travel agent, come with a rough idea of dates and budget to make the conversation more productive
Look for agents who specialise in your destination type — a safari specialist will outperform a generalist every time
For visa-heavy itineraries, always use a human professional — the stakes are too high to rely solely on AI
Read the fine print on any AI-generated booking links — always confirm directly with the airline or hotel

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an AI trip planner accurate enough to trust for real bookings?

AI trip planners are excellent for inspiration, itinerary structure, and cost estimates, but they can occasionally provide outdated information. Always verify flight prices, hotel availability, and visa requirements directly with official sources or booking platforms before you confirm anything.

Do travel agents cost more than booking everything yourself online?

Not always. Many travel agents earn commission from suppliers, so their planning service has no direct cost to you. For luxury, cruise, or complex travel, agents can often secure rates and perks — like complimentary upgrades or resort credits — that actually make your trip cheaper or better value than a DIY booking.

Can I use both an AI trip planner and a travel agent for the same trip?

Absolutely, and it’s actually a smart approach. Use AI to research destinations, build a rough itinerary, and understand typical costs. Then hand that groundwork to a specialist travel agent to refine, book, and protect. You get the speed of AI with the expertise and security of a human professional.

Whether you’re leaning toward the convenience of AI or the expertise of a seasoned travel agent, the most important thing is that your trip gets planned — and planned well. Ready to start building your next itinerary? Head over to our AI trip planning tool at nextdestinationai.com and see just how fast your dream trip can take shape. Your next adventure is closer than you think.