The Risks of Letting AI Plan Your Next Vacation
From imaginary landmarks to dangerous routes, artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how people travel – and sometimes leading them seriously astray.
As artificial intelligence tools become more popular, many travellers now rely on them to design entire trips. From choosing destinations to mapping out hiking routes, AI travel planning feels fast, convenient and confident. But that confidence can be misleading.
In Peru, Miguel Angel Gongora Meza, founder of a trekking company, witnessed this problem up close. While preparing for a mountain trek in a remote region, he overheard two tourists discussing plans to hike to a place they called the “Sacred Canyon of Humantay”.
When they showed him their AI-generated itinerary, the description looked convincing and detailed. But there was one major problem: the place didn’t exist.
According to Gongora Meza, the name appeared to be a blend of two unrelated locations. The travellers had already spent a significant amount of money to reach a rural road near Mollepata, believing they were headed toward a real destination. Without a guide, proper planning or clear information, they were effectively stranded.
More concerning was the danger involved. Mountain regions in Peru require careful preparation due to high altitude, unpredictable weather and limited phone coverage. Gongora Meza explained that blindly trusting AI-generated plans could easily put travellers in life-threatening situations, such as reaching extreme elevations without oxygen or emergency support.
AI Travel Planning Is Growing Fast
Despite these risks, AI-powered trip planning is becoming mainstream. Recent surveys show that nearly one-third of international travellers now use generative AI tools or AI-based travel websites to help organize their vacations.
When accurate, these tools can provide helpful ideas and inspiration. But when they fail, the consequences can range from frustrating to dangerous.
Many travellers only discover the errors once they arrive.
When AI Gets the Details Wrong
Dana Yao and her husband experienced this during a trip to Japan. They used AI to plan a scenic hike to the summit of Mount Misen on Itsukushima Island. The plan seemed perfect: explore the town, hike up in the afternoon, and return using the ropeway after sunset.
However, the AI incorrectly listed the ropeway’s closing time. When they reached the top, they found it had already shut down. With daylight fading, they were stuck on the mountain with no easy way back.
Fortunately, they made it down safely, but the experience highlighted how small errors in AI-generated advice can quickly become serious problems.
AI Can Invent Places That Don’t Exist
These mistakes are not isolated. In other reported cases, AI travel tools have directed users to fictional landmarks or created unrealistic travel routes that would be impossible to complete in real life.
Surveys suggest that more than one-third of travellers using AI felt it lacked enough useful detail, while many others reported receiving inaccurate or false recommendations.
The issue lies in how AI systems generate information.
Why AI Makes These Mistakes
According to experts in machine learning, AI does not truly understand geography, safety or real-world conditions. Instead, it predicts words based on patterns from massive amounts of text.
This means it can sound convincing while being completely wrong.
Sometimes AI produces what experts call “hallucinations” — information that appears factual but is entirely invented. Since AI presents correct and incorrect information in the same confident tone, users often struggle to tell the difference.
A hiking trail, a city walk, or a mountain climb may all appear similar to an AI system, even though the risks involved are vastly different.
The Bigger Impact on Travel and Reality
The problem extends beyond travel. AI-generated images and videos are increasingly blurring the line between real and fake experiences. In some cases, travellers have attempted to visit attractions that only existed in AI-created social media videos.
As AI quietly reshapes digital content, people may form false expectations about destinations before they even arrive. This can undermine one of travel’s greatest benefits: discovering real places, cultures and people firsthand.
Mental health professionals warn that misinformation can reduce the emotional and cultural value of travel by replacing authentic experiences with inaccurate narratives.
How Travellers Can Stay Safe
AI can still be useful for trip inspiration, but experts recommend treating it as a starting point — not a final authority. Always verify routes, opening hours and locations using official tourism websites, local guides or trusted maps.
When travelling to remote or high-risk areas, professional guidance and local knowledge remain essential.
In the age of AI, curiosity and convenience should never replace caution. The world is still best explored with human insight, real-world verification and a healthy dose of common sense.