It can do a lot. The trick is knowing where to stop.
By Elizabeth Ndungu | Founder, Ndungu Consulting | Tech Coach for Adults 50+
Ask an AI tool to plan a five-day trip to the Algarve. Within a minute, you can have a day-by-day outline, restaurant ideas, hotels in your price range, and a packing list for the time of year.
A year ago, most people over 50 who came to work with me had never tried that. Most are surprised by how useful it is, and a little unsure about how much to trust what it says.
That uncertainty is healthy. AI tools are genuinely useful for travel planning. They are also capable of getting things wrong, sometimes confidently, and without any sign that they are doing so.
This piece covers what AI does well when you are planning a trip, where it falls short, and how to use it in a way that saves time without creating problems later.
What the New Data Shows
In March 2026, AARP published its annual travel trends report for older Americans. Two figures stood out.
Nearly two thirds of adults over 50, 64 percent, expect to travel in 2026. And the share using AI tools to find travel deals has doubled in a single year, from 8 percent to 16 percent.
That is a real shift. Two years ago, AI travel planning was a niche activity. It is now part of how a growing number of older adults approach a holiday, mostly to compare prices and stretch a budget further.
What AI Does Well for Travel
AI tools are good at generating structure. Ask for a week in Rome and you get a day-by-day plan with sensible routing, so you are not crossing the city unnecessarily. Ask it to adjust for someone with mobility limitations travelling solo, and a good tool will change what it suggests.
They are useful for specific questions too.
Which neighborhoods in Lisbon are easiest for someone who wants to avoid lots of stairs?
What is the simplest way from Edinburgh airport to the city center with a heavy case?
Questions that would take several websites to answer, you can ask in plain English.
And they are good for drafting. An AI tool can help you write an email to a hotel requesting a ground-floor room, draw up questions to ask a tour company, or build a packing checklist for your destination and season.
A general AI tool can also compare options quickly and surface combinations a rushed search might miss. One caution: some AI tools now have booking partnerships built in, so they are not always neutral. Treat suggestions as a starting point, not a verdict.
Where AI Gets It Wrong
AI tools make mistakes with travel details, and people often find out only after they have relied on something.
Opening hours, admission prices, and restaurant details are often out of date. Some AI tools work only from training data with a cutoff date, so they may not know a museum closed for renovation six months ago. Others can search the web for current information, but even then they can misread or misreport what they find. Either way, check anything time-sensitive yourself.
They can also describe things that do not quite exist as presented. A hotel that is a blend of two real ones. A route that is not currently running. A local favorite that appears nowhere online because it was generated from patterns rather than a real listing.
The rule is simple: use AI to build the framework and generate ideas, then confirm the specific details through official websites, recent reviews, or a quick phone call.
How to Start Planning With an AI Tool
You do not need a specialist travel app. A general-purpose tool works well.
- Start with a specific prompt: “I am planning a trip to Seville in September for eight days. I am travelling with my partner. We like walking, history, and good food. We do not want a packed schedule. Can you suggest a rough day-by-day outline?”
- Then ask follow-up questions. “Which day would work best for a day trip to Cordoba?”, “Are there any days where the order of the activities does not make practical sense?”.
- Then verify. Check opening times for any specific sites on their official websites. Look up recent reviews for hotels or restaurants mentioned. And book directly with the provider.
What a Good Planning Session Looks Like
Here is how the process tends to go when it works well. Think of it as a worked example, not a finished answer.
Say you want to plan a family holiday for three generations. Two adult children, several grandchildren, a first trip all together. The logistics feel overwhelming before you have even started.
A vague request produces a vague result. Type “plan a family holiday” and you get something generic that could apply to anyone.
The difference comes from specifics. Tell the tool who is travelling, what everyone enjoys, and the constraints. A coastal destination. Five nights. One grandchild with a nut allergy. One who does not manage long car journeys well. A budget. A relaxed pace.
Then ask it to work in stages rather than all at once. A rough outline first. Then one day at a time. Then adjustments.
What you end up with is a working framework built around real needs, not a template. From there you check the details yourself. Call the hotel to confirm the accessibility and the allergy arrangements. Read recent reviews. Book directly.
The tool organized the first draft. You kept control of the decisions. That is the balance worth aiming for.
Is Using AI for Travel Planning Safe for Adults Over 50?
Yes, with one clear boundary. Use AI to plan and research. Do your booking somewhere you already trust.
Book through official airline or hotel websites, or an established platform you know. Be very wary if a planning conversation suddenly asks for your card number. Handing payment details to a tool you have just started using is where trouble starts, so keep the planning and the paying separate.
A note on AI accuracy
AI tools can state incorrect information confidently, without flagging it as uncertain. Verify anything important, especially anything medical, legal, financial, or safety-related, through a qualified professional or an official source.
I write regularly about technology safety and digital literacy for adults over 50. Following me here on Medium is the best way to see the next piece when it comes out.
How to Use AI: A Guide for 50+, a practical guide to getting started with AI tools for everyday tasks including travel, writing, and research, is available here: https://elizabethw2.gumroad.com/l/howtouseai50plus
For calm, one-on-one technology help with no pressure, no jargon, and no embarrassment, visit ndunguconsulting.com.
About the Author
Elizabeth Ndungu is the founder of Ndungu Consulting, a technology coaching and digital literacy practice that helps adults over 50 build confidence with everyday technology. Computers, phones, AI tools, email, Microsoft Office, online safety, and digital skills in plain English. She provides patient, practical support for people who want to learn without jargon, pressure, or embarrassment.
Sources
AARP, “Older Americans Plan More Travel in 2026 as They Embrace AI and Deal Hunting,” March 2026: https://www.aarp.org/press/releases/2026-03-10-aarp-travel-trends-2026.html
AARP, “2026 Travel Trends: A Survey of U.S. Adults Age 50-Plus”: https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/travel-trends-survey-2026/
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