ChatGPT vs Claude Which AI Plans Better Vacations

The AI Vacation Challenge

In a unique experiment for a special holiday, I put two major AI chatbots to the test: ChatGPT and Anthropic's powerful new Claude 4. The mission was to get their best recommendations for my Tahitian trip. I was on vacation with my wife and a group of friends in Moorea for seven days to celebrate the birthday of our dear friend, Theresa. The group consisted of four couples, with ages ranging from 50 to 60.

My request to the AI was specific. I asked for suggestions on daytime and evening activities, restaurant and bar recommendations, and a special idea for celebrating Theresa's birthday.

The Judges' Verdict: A Real-World Review

To see if the AI-generated responses were any good, I turned to the real experts: Theresa and another friend, Lisa. They had already spent a great deal of time meticulously planning this vacation, so they could instantly tell whether the chatbots delivered valuable insights or generic fluff. Here’s what they concluded.

Theresa's Take: The Birthday Girl's Review

Theresa found that both AIs offered similar core ideas, but ChatGPT's details were more practical.

Both chatbots gave similar recommendations, such as a cultural tour, 4x4 rentals, a lagoon cruise plus snorkeling, and what I hadn't even thought about: a sunset cruise on my birthday. ChatGPT recommended three restaurants that we booked: Rudy's, Moorea Beach Cafe, and the Manava Polynesian show. Claude recommended one place we booked, Cocobeach. Both recommended Holy Steak House, but it's a 40-minute taxi ride from our hotel, which seems not worth it when there are so many other restaurants nearer. I preferred the ChatGPT format of a day-by-day itinerary. Claude's seemed like it was too heavily focused on marketing from the Cook's Bay hotel.

Lisa's Analysis: A Comprehensive Comparison

Lisa provided a more detailed breakdown, ultimately favoring ChatGPT for its thoroughness despite a few stylistic critiques.

ChatGPT's answer was more comprehensive, listing a sample daily itinerary with pricing estimates and source/reference links. There was overlap, but ChatGPT offered more options and parsed its suggestions in an easy-to-read bullet format. The icons were a bit gimmicky, or maybe just overused. The response from Claude was easier to read, and I preferred its visual layout, but it proposed a smaller selection of activities, restaurants, and other things to do. Neither site mentioned scuba diving as a possibility, despite the fact that there's excellent diving around Moorea and many of us are doing this on the trip. (She gave ChatGPT 4.5 stars out of 5. Claude got 3.5 stars from her.)