AI drives new trend of surprise travel among younger generations

A growing trend among Millennials and Generation Z involves using artificial intelligence to plan “surprise trips,” where travelers delegate destination selection to algorithms to discover less crowded, off-the-beaten-path locations. According to data from Booking.com, 44% of Argentinians use AI for activity recommendations, and 23% allow AI to choose their destination entirely. Research from KAYAK indicates that approximately 69% of Gen Z and 66% of Millennials prefer destinations that are not overexposed on social media, with a strong preference for rural areas and small towns over major metropolises.

While AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude show potential for travel planning, experts suggest that the quality of results depends heavily on the specificity of user prompts. To avoid generic itineraries, users are encouraged to provide detailed instructions rather than broad requests. While these chatbots can offer impressive suggestions, they are currently viewed by some as supplements to, rather than replacements for, traditional planning methods like personal recommendations and printed guides.