Travelers waste time switching between multiple apps (Google Maps, Expedia, Airbnb, Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc.) to plan trips. They want personalized recommendations but often feel overwhelmed or unsure if AI suggestions are trustworthy.
Core problem
How can we design a one-stop AI travel planner that provides personalized, transparent, and trustworthy recommendations — while keeping user control?
Young professionals (22–35): Want efficient, budget-conscious, yet authentic experiences.
Solo travelers: Need safety + confidence in recommendations.
Group travelers: Struggle with coordination and itinerary alignment.
Basic Profile
Name: Maya Torres
Age: 27
Occupation: Graphic Designer at a mid-sized agency
Location: Chicago, IL
Lifestyle: Urban professional, loves weekend getaways and exploring new cities
Background
Maya works long hours during the week and values her free time. She enjoys quick weekend escapes with friends or solo trips but gets frustrated by the time and effort needed to compare flights, hotels, and activities across multiple platforms.
Frustations
Overwhelmed by the amount of choice on booking sites.
It feels like she spends hours researching but still worries about missing the best deals.
Group trip planning often falls apart because coordinating friends is too chaotic.
Skeptical of AI/algorithm suggestions if they feel like ads instead of authentic recommendations.
Quote
“I love traveling on a whim, but I hate spending more time planning than actually enjoying the trip.”
Person 1 Asha
24, grad student, strict budget, flexible dates.
“I’ll trade a 45-minute layover if it saves $120, but I want that trade-off made explicit.”
-Asha
Person 2 Kim
42, parent of 2, time-boxed, family-friendly filters.
“Give me a family preset: short transfers, walkable to food, and a backup plan if it rains.”
-Kim
Person 3 Nia
33, solo female traveler, safety and neighborhood vibes matter.
““Show me neighborhoods I’ll feel safe in after 10 pm—reviews rarely say that.”
-Nia
“Walk me through your last trip—from idea to wheels-up.”
“Where did the plan break down?”
“How do you decide what to trust online?”
“If an AI planned it for you, what would you need to feel comfortable?”
“How do you coordinate with others? What’s painful about that?”
Interview prompts
Goals
Plan last-minute trips without stress.
Discover unique, local experiences beyond the usual tourist traps.
Travel within budget but still feel spontaneous and adventurous.
Have everything (flights, accommodations, activities) in one place instead of juggling 5 different apps.
Themes & insights
Choice overload: Users bounce between 4–6 apps; fatigue is greater than excitement.
Trust gap with AI: Willing to try if transparent and editable; distrust when results feel sponsored.
Constraints > inspiration: Budget, time windows, safety, and loyalty benefits drive decisions more than “Top 10 lists.”
Group friction: Voting, splitting costs, and keeping one source of truth are the biggest blockers.
Time value: People optimize price but regret long transfers and early flights—they need a total cost of trip view (money + time + energy).
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