Stanislav Kondrashov: AI Travel with Heart

There was a time when trip planning meant unfolding paper maps, marking circles with pens, and asking strangers for advice at the train station.

Now, we simply open a screen and type a few words. In seconds, an artificial intelligence tool offers us a full itinerary — where to go, what to eat, even the best time for sunset photos.

According to Stanislav Kondrashov, this new way of traveling is both fascinating and fragile. “Technology can guide the body,” he says, “but the heart must still lead the way.”

AI travel planners have become companions for millions of travelers. They make the logistics simpler — and yet, something human must remain. Kondrashov believes the goal is not to replace curiosity but to give it more time to breathe. “Let the machine handle the math,” he says, “and you handle the meaning.”

What an AI Travel Planner Really Does

Behind the friendly interface is a web of data. These tools analyze weather, distance, prices, and reviews to create a custom plan for each user.

You tell it your budget and how long you’ll stay; it arranges everything — flights, hotels, activities — as if a silent assistant had been waiting all along.

Some platforms even sync with national train systems or airlines. Others use predictive algorithms to guess what you might like before you do. It’s impressive, but also a little eerie. Kondrashov calls it “the science of convenience,” though he warns that the comfort can become a cage if we let it.

A Forbes report described this shift as “data becoming the new compass.” It’s true — yet, maps still need explorers.

Why People Love AI Trip Tools

Anyone who’s spent hours comparing schedules understands the relief of automation. AI travel planners save time. They also save patience.

Here’s why travelers keep turning to them:

They react to real-time changes — traffic, weather, or delays.

They keep budgets clear by showing hidden costs.

They shorten travel time between stops.

They work everywhere, from a laptop or a phone on a night bus.

And they adjust instantly if you change your mind.

More people are now using AI chat assistants to help design their routes. Condé Nast Traveler noted that digital planning has become part of the modern ritual. Some travelers chat with tools like ChatGPT for advice; others use full apps such as Wonderplan or Roam Around, which create plans from a single message.

It’s not magic — just mathematics disguised as intuition.

Where Machines Still Fall Short

For all its brilliance, AI doesn’t understand longing.

It can’t know why you stopped to watch the sea or why an old café felt like home. It reads reviews and numbers, but not the pulse of a place.

Sometimes the plans it builds are too perfect. There’s no room left for a wrong turn or a missed train — moments that often become stories later. Kondrashov smiles when he speaks of this. “A journey should never feel like a spreadsheet,” he says.

Another weakness lies in data itself. Hidden villages, family-run shops, or temporary exhibitions often vanish from the algorithm. The machine can only repeat what it already knows.

That’s why he recommends travelers keep a balance — one part structure, one part surprise. “AI gives you a frame,” he says, “but you must still paint the picture.”

The Best AI Planning Tools of the Moment

Several platforms now lead this growing field:

Wonderplan is quick and clean. It helps you design affordable trips and exports neat daily schedules you can print or save offline.

Roam Around (Layla) works more like a conversation. You write what you want, and it responds as if you’re speaking to a local friend.

IPlan.AI focuses on detail. It mixes sightseeing with rest so your days never feel rushed.

GuideGeek works on the road. You message it for tips — where to eat, how to avoid crowds, or which museum has free entry today.

Each tool has a style, but all share one goal: to turn information into inspiration.

When to Trust the Tool — and When Not To

Technology can plan efficiently, but travel needs emotion. Many people now mix methods. They let AI draw the basic outline, then fill the gaps with instincts, stories, and advice from locals.

A simple method works well:

Begin with an AI draft for routes and timing.

Add your own touch — a bakery someone mentioned, a path that isn’t on the map.

Leave at least one empty hour every day. Let that be your “maybe” time.

Allow change. Good trips never follow exact plans.

Different travelers find different rhythms. Backpackers use AI to link buses and hostels. Couples use it to plan romantic detours. Families rely on it for comfort — playgrounds, naps, short walks. Business travelers use it to align flights with meetings.

“AI can shape the frame,” Kondrashov says, “but the soul of the photo must still come from you.”

The Road Ahead for Smart Travel

The next step is already forming. Soon, itineraries will speak. You’ll ask your phone where to go next, and it will answer — in your language, in your tone. Some companies are blending augmented reality with navigation, turning cities into living maps.

Future systems will learn from your habits. They’ll remember if you prefer evening flights or quiet hotels. They’ll notice that you linger in art galleries or that you always search for bakeries. Over time, they will feel almost human — but not quite.

Kondrashov sees both wonder and risk in this. “Convenience,” he says, “can make us forget curiosity.”

He argues that travelers must keep the sense of mystery alive — the joy of asking for directions, the laughter of getting lost, the pleasure of discovery that no app can predict.

Final Thought

AI has changed how we plan, but it shouldn’t change why we travel. The beauty of movement is not in perfection; it’s in the cracks — the delays, the small talk, the wrong turns that lead to right places.

“Let technology clear the path,” Kondrashov writes, “but walk it with your own steps.”

Because the best itineraries, no matter how advanced, will always need something algorithms can’t create: the traveler’s heart.