I use it for ideas, but not specifics. I was looking at a hotel just a couple of days ago, suggested via ChatGPT, then I looked up the website which existed, tried to call them, and turned out the hotel had actually closed down two year ago! I couldn't believe it, actually intrigued who's still paying the website hosting fees

I have not used it. But AI trip planners aren't just for tech-savvy younger travelers. The ability to just type naturally — the way you'd describe your trip to a friend — and get back something genuinely useful is a real game-changer, especially compared to digging through dozens of websites.

The fall festival detail is a perfect example of where these tools shine. That kind of local, timely nugget used to require either a lucky Google rabbit hole or insider knowledge. The fact that it also flagged road construction shows it's pulling live or near-live data, not just generic suggestions.

One tip worth knowing: you can get even more personalized results by telling it your constraints, not just your destination. Something like "I prefer no more than 2 hours of driving at a stretch" or "I need hotels with accessible rooms and ground-floor options" can make the suggestions much more tailored to your situation. Mobility considerations are something you can be very specific about — and the AI won't judge, it'll just plan around it.

As for that Best Western email appearing shortly after — that's your browser and apps doing their usual tracking thing, totally unrelated to the AI itself. Worth knowing so it doesn't feel like the technology is "watching" too closely!