By Jack Dona ·
· 6 min learn
truth checking course of and our editorial pointers.”>

Reality Checked


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The ChatGPT home page on a mobile phone screen

Planning an abroad journey, particularly one with legs in a number of nations, is usually a making an attempt activity. In addition to the questions of the place to go and what to do, you might want to work out whether or not to get journey insurance coverage, if you might want to apply for visas, and a lot extra. 

So, I sought to leverage the ability of OpenAI’s ChatGPT to assist me plan a hypothetical journey to Europe. 

I informed ChatGPT I need to go to Europe for 2 months in June and July. I need to go to the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Spain, Belgium, France and Portugal in probably the most environment friendly approach doable to minimise journey time. 

I additionally informed it that I used to be within the arts, meals, and historical past and that I wished to see a music competition whereas I used to be over there. 

Right here’s what it mentioned.

Planning a journey itinerary for Europe

ChatGPT: “Appears like a terrific journey! Primarily based in your pursuits and the nations you need to go to, I might suggest the next itinerary to minimise journey time:

1. Begin within the UK. Spend a few week in London, exploring its museums, galleries and iconic landmarks just like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Then head as much as Edinburgh, Scotland to see its stunning castles, museums and parks.

2. From Scotland, take a flight or practice to Amsterdam, Netherlands. Discover the museums, canals and distinctive structure of the town, and pattern among the scrumptious Dutch delicacies.

3. Subsequent, take a practice to Berlin, Germany. Spend a number of days exploring its vibrant arts and music scene, in addition to its fascinating historical past, together with the remnants of the Berlin Wall.

4. From Berlin, take a practice to Vienna, Austria. Spend every week right here, having fun with its stunning structure, palaces, and museums. You may as well bask in its scrumptious pastries and occasional tradition.

5. From Vienna, take a flight or practice to Barcelona, Spain. Spend a number of days right here, exploring its stunning seashores, Gaudi’s structure, and the full of life meals and humanities scene.

6. Then, take a practice to Paris, France. Spend a few week right here, visiting its museums, landmarks just like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame, and having fun with the scrumptious French delicacies.

7. From Paris, take a practice to Brussels, Belgium. Spend a number of days exploring its museums, meals scene, and historic landmarks just like the Grand Place.

8. Lastly, take a flight or practice to Lisbon, Portugal. Spend every week right here, having fun with its stunning seashores, historic structure, and scrumptious seafood.

As for music festivals, there are lots of to select from in Europe throughout June and July. A number of the hottest ones embody Glastonbury within the UK, Roskilde in Denmark, Rock Werchter in Belgium, and Primavera Sound in Spain. Relying in your itinerary, you could possibly plan to attend one among these festivals throughout your journey.”

What ought to vacationers be careful for when travelling to Europe?

A pickpocket pulling a wallet out of a tourist's jacket pocket

I wasn’t very shocked that its recommendations for issues to do in every nation had been fairly stock-standard for vacationers. So, I requested ChatGPT about vacationer traps.

ChatGPT: “Sure, there are widespread traps. Listed here are a number of examples:

1. Pickpocketing: Pickpocketing is a standard drawback in lots of European cities, particularly in crowded areas akin to vacationer sights, public transportation, and busy purchasing areas. To keep away from turning into a sufferer, maintain your valuables (pockets, telephone, passport) in a safe place, akin to a cash belt or a bag that you would be able to maintain near your physique.”

—

Europe actually does have a popularity for pickpockets.

Sadly, it’s not all the time clear if a journey insurance coverage coverage will cowl you for pickpocketing incidents. When you would possibly be capable of discover a coverage that covers your passport or transaction playing cards in the event that they’re stolen, pickpocketing is a troublesome one for insurance coverage suppliers to cowl.

Nonetheless, if it is a dealbreaker for you, ensure you give your potential journey insurance coverage supplier a name to examine how they deal with pickpocketing claims.

If you happen to’re a sufferer of theft, it doesn’t matter what’s been stolen, your first port of name needs to be to contact the police to make a report, then let your journey insurance coverage supplier know what’s occurred.

—

“2. Vacationer traps: Some eating places, retailers, and sights might overcharge vacationers or present low-quality companies or merchandise. To keep away from falling right into a vacationer entice, do your analysis upfront, learn opinions on-line, and ask locals for suggestions.

3. Scams: Some scammers might attempt to trick vacationers into giving them cash or private info, usually utilizing ways akin to pretend petitions, road performances, or providing to take your image for a payment. Be cautious of people that method you on the road, and by no means give cash or private info to strangers.”

—

Whereas journey insurance coverage gained’t often cowl you for scams, you may relaxation assured that there are quite a few complete journey insurance coverage insurance policies that supply cowl in case your transaction playing cards are used fraudulently.

Plus, relying in your bank card or debit card supplier, you might also be coated by their in-built, anti-fraud protections.

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“4. Overpacking: Packing an excessive amount of could make your journey extra irritating and costly, particularly when you plan to journey by practice or different types of public transportation. Pack mild and convey solely what you want, and take into account doing laundry on the highway to avoid wasting house and cash.

5. Not reserving upfront: Throughout peak journey season, many well-liked sights, excursions, and lodging might promote out shortly. To keep away from disappointment, ebook your actions and lodging upfront, and take into account travelling through the low season to keep away from crowds and get monetary savings.”

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Whereas reserving upfront is an effective way to assist make sure you’re booked in for lodging and actions, there’s a danger of needing to cancel for causes outdoors your management and never having the ability to get a refund. 

Many complete journey insurance coverage insurance policies supply cancellation and journey delay cowl in order that if you might want to finish your journey early, miss your flights, or your lodging or exercise supplier goes bust, you could possibly recoup these pre-booked funds.

Can you are taking trains round Europe as an alternative of flying?

As somebody keen on gradual journey, I believed it was fascinating how earlier it advised taking trains or planes between locations when the choice was there. 

I requested ChatGPT what the very best route for my journey could be if I wished to catch trains between my locations.

ChatGPT: 

“1. London, UK to Amsterdam, Netherlands: Take the Eurostar practice from London to Brussels, then switch to a Thalys practice to Amsterdam.

2. Amsterdam, Netherlands to Vienna, Austria: Take an in a single day practice from Amsterdam to Munich, then switch to a practice to Vienna.

3. Vienna, Austria to Berlin, Germany: Take a direct practice from Vienna to Berlin.

4. Berlin, Germany to Madrid, Spain: Take a direct practice from Berlin to Paris, then switch to a practice to Madrid.

5. Madrid, Spain to Brussels, Belgium: Take a direct practice from Madrid to Paris, then switch to a practice to Brussels.

6. Brussels, Belgium to Paris, France: Take a direct practice from Brussels to Paris.

7. Paris, France to Lisbon, Portugal: Take a direct practice from Paris to Hendaye, then switch to a practice to Lisbon.”

Visas, the Schengen Space and journey recommendation

An image of a European passport stamped with a Shengen visa

It dawned on me that I’d be travelling by means of a number of completely different nations. Will I would like a visa for in all places I’m going? 

So I requested ChatGPT. Fortunately for me, the nations I plan to go to are all throughout the Schengen Space, that means I gained’t have to get visas for every vacation spot if I’m travelling for lower than 90 days.

ChatGPT: “As an Australian citizen, you don’t want a visa to enter the UK for tourism or enterprise functions for a keep of as much as 6 months. Nonetheless, you’ll need a legitimate passport.

For Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Portugal, Australian residents can journey for as much as 90 days inside a 180-day interval and not using a visa for tourism or enterprise functions. Nonetheless, you’ll need a legitimate passport.”

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ChatGPT additionally talked about that visa necessities can change, so it’s all the time a good suggestion to examine with the embassy or consulate of your vacation spot for up-to-date info. 

One other nice useful resource for Australian travellers to utilize is the Australian authorities’s Smartraveller web site. 

Smartraveller supplies the newest particulars on entry necessities, journey warnings, native legal guidelines, and a lot extra. It’s a useful resource price getting acquainted with for any traveller going to any nation.

What does ChatGPT say about journey insurance coverage?

As somebody aware of the ins and outs of journey insurance coverage, I requested ChatGPT whether or not securing a coverage for my journey was a good suggestion.

ChatGPT: “It’s extremely really useful to get journey insurance coverage for any worldwide journey, together with your journey to Europe. Journey insurance coverage can assist shield you from surprising bills and give you peace of thoughts throughout your journey. A number of the advantages of journey insurance coverage might embody:

1. Journey cancellation or interruption protection: This can assist reimburse you for non-refundable bills in case your journey is cancelled or interrupted on account of unexpected occasions akin to sickness, harm, or pure disasters.

2. Emergency medical protection: This can assist cowl the prices of emergency medical remedy or hospitalization when you develop into unwell or injured throughout your journey.

3. Baggage and private belongings protection: This can assist reimburse you in case your baggage is misplaced, stolen, or broken throughout your journey.

4. Journey delay protection: This can assist reimburse you for added bills akin to meals and lodging in case your journey is delayed on account of climate, mechanical points, or different causes.

5. Emergency help: Many journey insurance policy embody 24/7 emergency help companies, which can assist you with issues like discovering medical care, changing misplaced passports, or arranging emergency transportation.

Earlier than buying journey insurance coverage, you should definitely rigorously evaluate the coverage to grasp the protection, exclusions, and limitations. It is also a good suggestion to match plans from completely different suppliers to seek out the very best protection and value to your wants.”

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ChatGPT is on the cash: it’s tremendous essential to learn by means of a coverage’s product disclosure assertion (PDS) earlier than you buy it. Not all insurance policies are created equal. So, some is likely to be a greater match to your wants than others. 

If you wish to know extra about journey insurance coverage, take a look at Mozo’s journey insurance coverage guides, specifically our give attention to how to decide on a journey insurance coverage coverage that’s best for you. 

If you wish to take a look at some award-winning insurance policies, head over to the very best journey insurance coverage web page to learn concerning the winners for 2023 or take a look at a few of your choices under.

Please word, we do not endorse utilizing ChatGPT as a strategy to plan your travels. This text is meant as an example among the high issues to bear in mind while travelling solely. ChatGPT’s responses might have been edited for readability and to cut back repetition.

Journey insurance coverage comparisons on Mozo

– final up to date 20 February 2023




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