This app lets you avoid big roaming fees and physical SIM cards.
Artificial intelligence software and the new wave of chatbots that run on it are taking over everything from stock markets to the national news narrative. Next up: vacation planning.
There’s a new, AI-backed site called Roamaround.io that will generate a detailed itinerary for what to see and do on your next trip. It’s among the first travel-focused applications I’ve seen using the new technology. And while it’s called Roamaround, it’s actually powered by ChatGPT, the chatbot that essentially paved the way for the AI explosion. Who’s behind Roamaround? I don’t know. Internet registration records from the website who.is have been redacted for privacy; all I could tell is the site was created sometime in February, 2023.
How does it work? Just plug in your destination, when you’ll be visiting, and how long you’re staying. Fifteen seconds or so after hitting “Build Itinerary,” you’ll have a day-by-day schedule filled with places to eat, day trips, and more.
Is it any good? To put Roamaround.io to the test, I plugged in Denver, Colorado, a city I’m familiar with. The lunch and dinner recommendations were on point, as were the activities suggested for a two-day trip in October. A quick check using other cities around the world returned similar results.
The site also offers an opportunity to subscribe to “Roamaround Deals” and to connect with other members of the Roamaround community.
A few notes:
-Like other AI tools, Roamaround is a product of info already on the internet (and we all know how inaccurate that can be). Use it as a starting point, not as a tailored itinerary to be followed to a T.
-I didn’t receive any recommendations for lodging or even areas in which to stay, which is often one of the hardest parts of travel planning in an unfamiliar city.
-It’s hard to know exactly how Roamaround (or, more importantly, ChatGPT) decides what and what not to include in an itinerary. But if you’re on the hunt for a hole-in-the-wall meal or hidden gem, it seems safe to say Roamaround won’t unearth them; the most well-known spots are what I saw pop up in my Denver trial.
-Roamaround might recommend a popular restaurant, but that doesn’t mean you can get a table during your trip. The site doesn’t appear to consider how hard it can be to secure reservations.
-Be mindful of the weather at the time of your stay, because it didn’t seem as though Roamaround took that into account in coming up with its Denver recommendations.
-Every itinerary included links to Viator.com for tours. I’m guessing this is how the creators of Roamaround.io generate revenue: If you book a tour, they’ll likely get a cut.
Twist’s Take: Roamaround.io is a promising new AI tool that can construct fairly detailed itineraries useful as a starting point in your trip planning.
