AI Vacation Showdown ChatGPT vs Claude
When my partner and I started planning our trip to Tunisia, we decided to skip the usual travel blogs and guidebooks for a more modern approach. As someone who uses ChatGPT for everything from work to organizing personal errands, I was confident in its ability to plan our adventure.
My partner, however, preferred Claude and was curious to see how it would stack up. This sparked a friendly competition: which AI bot could plan the better vacation? What started as a tech experiment soon revealed something much more personal about how we see the world.
The author used AI bots to plan his trip to Tunisia. Courtesy of Santiago Barraza Lopez
The AI Battle Plan: A Tale of Two Itineraries
To keep things manageable, we set some ground rules. We chose our timeline and the three cities we wanted to visit: Tunis, Tozeur, and Hammamet. Then, we tasked each AI with designing one full day in each city.
The results were strikingly different.
My itinerary from ChatGPT read like a movie script. It was ambitious and packed with cinematic moments. The day in Tunis began with a sunrise walk in the stunning blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Saïd, followed by a whirlwind tour of the Medina and a dramatic afternoon exploring the ruins of Carthage. For Tozeur, it suggested an adventure to the famous "Star Wars" filming sets, complete with a sunset camel ride. Hammamet was the grand finale, focused on seaside lounging and couscous feasts. It was thrilling, but also a bit chaotic.
Claude’s plan, on the other hand, was slower and more practical. For Tunis, it suggested a guided food tour to immerse us in the local culture before a more paced visit to Carthage. It completely skipped the desert dash in Tozeur, opting instead for a relaxed exploration of the Medina and a peaceful afternoon by an oasis. Most impressively, Claude suggested two incredible cultural pit stops we hadn't even considered. Its vision for Hammamet was simple: a cultural visit to the Kasbah followed by an early dinner overlooking the sea. It was less cinematic, but far more logical.
When AI Plans Meet Reality
With two distinct itineraries in hand, we created our own hybrid schedule, cherry-picking activities from both. It didn't take long for reality to test our AI-generated plans.
ChatGPT’s ambitious day in Tozeur almost broke us. The drive was much longer than the AI implied, and our plans were completely derailed when a sandstorm blocked the highway. The "Star Wars" sets were officially out of reach—a powerful reminder that no AI can predict the weather.
However, other parts of ChatGPT's vision were spectacular. The morning in Sidi Bou Saïd was just as magical as described, with the whitewashed walls and blue shutters glowing in the sun as we sipped mint tea. It truly felt like stepping into a painting.
Claude's suggestions were consistent highlights. The food tour in Tunis was a fantastic experience, guiding us to sesame-coated pastries and hidden stalls we never would have discovered on our own. Claude also delivered with its two surprise detours: the Great Mosque of Kairouan and the magnificent El Jem amphitheater. Both were unforgettable stops filled with history and a profound sense of peace.
More Than a Contest: A Reflection on Travel Styles
As our trip continued, it became clear this experiment was about more than just comparing AI. We were watching our own travel personalities reflected in the itineraries.
ChatGPT’s high-energy, adventurous plan mirrored my own style—a willingness to risk exhaustion for an unforgettable memory. Claude’s calm, thoughtful, and practical approach was a perfect match for my partner.
In the end, neither AI really won. ChatGPT gave us some of our best memories, while Claude provided comfort, culture, and depth. What the experiment truly gave us was a new framework for traveling together. It showed us our two distinct rhythms and how they could be woven into a single, shared journey.
Our trip to Tunisia was beautiful and, yes, slightly AI-engineered. But it taught us that the best travels aren't about following the perfect itinerary. They're about learning how to move through the world together, even when you're on different paths.
