Google's Gemini AI assistant can significantly simplify travel planning by replacing the usual sprawl of browser tabs, blog posts and video reviews with a single conversational tool. Its advantage over rivals such as ChatGPT and Claude lies in its deep integration with other Google services, including Maps, YouTube, Gmail and Google Flights, allowing it to draw on a much wider pool of contextual information when making recommendations.

Practical uses include tracking flight prices and finding deals via the Google Flights integration, suggesting budget or upmarket accommodation, and drawing on Gmail history to recommend lesser-known attractions in places a user has previously visited. Gemini can also generate pre-trip checklists, book rental cars or train tickets, and produce printable itineraries, while its camera feature can identify landmarks and explain their history during the trip itself. Users are advised to be as specific as possible in their prompts, and to double-check any bookings or documents Gemini handles, since AI recommendations can occasionally be inaccurate.