Itinerary question experiment

Just a suggestion. You need to give the AI more info about you and your wife. For example, some of the things you like to do. You like history. Your wife enjoys relaxing on a beach. Things like that. Otherwise you will get a generic response that you won’t like.

The AI can handle a lot of info. Some of the prompts we use at work are pages long. So don’t be afraid to give it more info so it can tailor the response to you.

This is an impossible question to answer in less than 10,000 words. My AI advice -- go buy a good guidebook and watch a few travel DVDs and then return with specific question we can answer based on our travel experiences.

Any decent AI will tell you not to spend 3 nights in Ostia Lido, and to visit Tivoli as a day trip from Rome.

Won't AI find this post and use it as data to formulate its answer?

I recently got promoted and asked MS Co-Pilot if it would be appropriate if I demanded my new team to sign an oath of allegiance to me. Copilot Indicated that it would be highly unprofessional and pointed me to our HR site. Copilot evidently doesn’t have a sense of humor.

My answer to your question would be skip the cruise ship, spend more time in Rome and Barcelona and anywhere in between.

As you’re asking for what to “see,” I take it you want recognized sights.

I also presume that both Ostia Lido and Tivoli are locations in Italy, and you’re not heading to an amusement park in Copenhagen, which AI may or may not assume. So:

1. While in Ostia, take some time away from the beach and visit Ostia Antica, a fascinating archaeological excavation of the port community of Ancient Rome. Be sure to see the remains of the communal public toilet facilities - quite an engineering marvel.

2. At Tivoli, more Ancient Roman remains await, at Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana). Be prepared to walk, with some uphill and downhill stretches, to see a theater and numerous surviving buildings, plus water features including a fantasy canal and a pond, built for the Roman emperor Hadrian almost 2,000 years ago. Tivoli also has a more recent villa, Villa d’Este, which dates back 500 years, and includes gardens with elaborate fountains.

3. Onboard the Norwegian ship, be sure to see all the dining options offered. See the open waters of the Mediterranean. too.

4. In Barcelona, see Gaudi architecture, including Casa Batlló and the massive, still-under-construction Sagrada Família basilica. Consult a list of Michelin-starred restaurants, if you’d like a superior dining experience. Also, don’t miss the Joan Miró museum, at the top of Montjuïc mountain, where the 1992 Summer Olympics were also held.

5. See your bank balance the month after your trip. Enjoy.

The more you tell AI, the more it learns. The more it learns the sooner you will hear "I'll be back".

And if you were to post on this forum the depth of information that AI appears to require to do a good job, I suspect that you would get much better information on the forum ... with the advantage of you having context for the opinions.

Don't just rely on AI, do you own research.

Haha, good question! I know nothing about any of those places, so my recommendation would be for you to just get a couple of guide books and leaf through them, and maybe watch some YouTube videos to get an idea of the places you will be seen. Then come back here for more detailed responses.

But I think I can tell you what AI's answer will be. It will tell you, first of all, that those are great locations and you have made wonderful choices, and it's awesome that you are taking the time to plan your trip in advance. Then it will proceed to list major sites in each of those places, and at the end, it will give you some more options for it to research (or possibly organize).

What it will not do (as opposed to most people on this forum), is tell you to go search some guide books and do some of your own research first, then come back here for more detailed information. AI wants to help you! 😊

"What do you recommend we see?" is much too broad. You need to include what your interests are. You need to start a conversation. "What should I see?" is a simple Google question. That's not worthy of an AI question, in my opinion. You need to tell the AI a little about yourself and what your interests are.

In October 2026 my wife and I (aged early 60's) will be visiting Ostia Lido for 3 days and then Tivoli for three days. After that, we'll be boarding the Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship for a 7 day cruise from Rome to Barcelona. After the cruise we'll head to Zaragoza for 3 nights and then Sitges for 3 nights before flying home on WestJet to Calgary. What do you recommend we see?

Why Ostia Lido or Tivoli?

Flying in to & out from what airports? Rome/FCO & Barcelona/BCN?

...and "booked as described but no hotels or sites have been finalized" which makes me wonder what that means WRT hotels - booked but fully refundable? Or none booked? Or booked but looking for possible better recommendations?

Also missing is past experience with the Rome and Barcelona areas. I'm assuming you have spent time in both cities, and are now looking to branch out to their neighboring areas, but I could be wrong. And if NOT flying out of BCN, Barcelona->Zaragoza->Stiges seems out of order to me.

What do you recommend we see?

Without the past experience AND "why" for places like Ostia Lido, Tivoli, Zaragoza, & Stiges, it is hard to suggest much. IOW, you picked Ostia Lido for a reason, so I would assume that's the answer to your question. Or, I would phrase it..."we chose Ostia Lido to see x, y, and z, but we have three days there and would like to add some other places to see."

My easiest answer would be - based on no history - stick to Rome and explore there and then stick to Barcelona and explore there. Both those cities would offer you a few day trip options - Ostia Lido or Stiges easily - so you could have an easier time of planning things. But if you've been to both Rome and Barcelona (or hate cities or museums or something else), I'm sure you can get very specific additional ideas for all those smaller cities (and Zaragoza which is relatively large).

As others mentioned, and you may have done, using AI for travel planning requires a lot of back-and-forth with refining the prompts and really getting it to learn what you (as early 60s folks with specific interests, specific fitness, specific dietary needs, specific past experiences, strong likes/dislikes, etc.) are looking for. An example: my nephew-in-law is a very big military history buff and can spend HOURS in EACH military and military-adjacent museum in a city/region. Many of my suggestions for him and my niece's first visit to Paris did not include ANY of those museums, but luckily, they knew they wanted to include those and they had a ton to choose from. But if I (or AI) had planned their trip, boy would it have missed some of their favorite places.

Here's the text version of what AI came up with. In my opinion it's pretty impressive for my purposely vague question, and far superior and helpful than the human responses. Remember, my original post asked you to be helpful on a general question, but most failed to do so.

For your multi-leg journey in October 2026, you will experience a diverse mix of ancient Roman history, Renaissance art, and vibrant Spanish culture. Below are recommendations for each of your stops.

1. Ostia Lido (3 Days)

Ostia Lido serves as a relaxing coastal gateway before your cruise.

Ostia Antica Archaeological Park: Located just 3 km from the coast, this is one of Italy's best-preserved Roman cities. It is less crowded than the Colosseum and offers a peaceful walk through ancient streets, theaters, and mosaics.

Pontile di Ostia (Ostia Pier): A central landmark perfect for a sunset stroll and views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Castel Fusano Pine Forest: For a change of scenery, you can take a horseback ride through this natural park just steps from the sea.

Dining: Visit the Borghetto dei Pescatori, a small, traditional fishing village area known for its unique atmosphere and fresh seafood.

1. Tivoli (3 Days)

Tivoli is a hillside treasure with three primary UNESCO-listed sites that deserve dedicated time.

Villa d'Este: Famous for its incredible Renaissance gardens and hundreds of intricate fountains, including the musical Water Organ Fountain.

Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana): The sprawling 2nd-century retreat of Emperor Hadrian. It features grand ruins, pools, and architectural experiments inspired by his travels across the empire.

Villa Gregoriana: A romantic park set in a deep gorge featuring walking paths, caves, and a spectacular 100-meter waterfall.

Local Treat: Don't miss trying ciocco, a local sweet specialty often found in the town's trattorias.

1. Norwegian Epic Cruise (7 Days)

Your cruise departs from Civitavecchia (Rome) on October 11, 2026. The standard itinerary for this sailing includes:

Salerno (Naples): Perfect for visiting the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, or the island of Capri.

Catania (Sicily): Explore the 11th-century Catania Cathedral or take an excursion to Mount Etna.

Livorno (Florence/Pisa): A gateway to the Renaissance art of Florence or the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice): A charming French Riviera port near Nice and Monaco.

Marseille (Provence): Visit the Notre-Dame de la Garde for panoramic city views or head into the lavender fields of Aix-en-Provence.

1. Zaragoza (3 Nights)

Zaragoza offers a stunning blend of Roman, Moorish, and Christian history.

Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
An iconic Baroque masterpiece and one of Spain's most important religious sites.

Aljafería Palace
An 11th-century fortified Islamic palace that later served as a residence for Christian kings.

El tubo
The city's most famous tapas district. It is ideal for an evening of "tapa hopping" among local bars.

Mercado Central de Zaragoza
A beautiful historic market where you can see local life and sample Aragonese ingredients.

1. Sitges (3 Nights) Sitges is a charming seaside town known for its beaches and artistic heritage. Old Town Stroll: Walk the narrow, whitewashed streets and visit the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, which sits dramatically on the waterfront.

Cau Ferrat Museum: The former home and studio of artist Santiago Rusiñol, showcasing Catalan Modernism.

Leisure: Enjoy a relaxed final three days with beachfront dining and walks along the Passeig Marítim.

Would you like more details on transportation options between these cities or specific restaurant recommendations for your stops in Spain?

Just a suggestion. You need to give the AI more info about you and
your wife.

Actually, I didn't. For a first time prompt for a broad overview I thought it was impressive.

This is an impossible question to answer in less than 10,000 words. My
AI advice -- go buy a good guidebook and watch a few travel DVDs and
then return with specific question we can answer based on our travel
experiences.

This response is sadly typical of the Forum and shows why AI is better for a start to the research.

Any decent AI will tell you not to spend 3 nights in Ostia Lido, and
to visit Tivoli as a day trip from Rome.

But you choose not to follow the request and be helpful while AI was. Why?

Won't AI find this post and use it as data to formulate its answer?

I ran it through AI again after posting and it didn't. However I did looked back on a previous TR I did on Sorrento and asked AI a question about spending 2 weeks in Sorrento and it found two posts from this Forum including my TR.

"But you choose not to follow the request and be helpful while AI was. Why?"

On the contrary, Allan, I was providing you with some good advice. My helpfulness knows no bounds. In fact, Hjelpsom is my middle name. Magnus Hjelpsom Gundersen, that's me.

I visited Ostia Antica from Rome. Ostia Lido itself is not an attractive town, which is not what AI is telling you. I don't see many people staying there just to go horseback riding or to walk along that nondescript bridge.

I visited Villa d'Este from Rome. Tivoli is no Pienza by my lights, but each to his own.

AI can provide you with a list of things to do for a week in and around Slough, England. I wouldn't want to stay there either.

AI can provide you with a list of things to do for a week in and around Slough, England. I wouldn't want to stay there either.

I'd definitely swing by the Wernham Hogg office and see if David, Gareth, or Tim were still working there! But "stay" there??? Nope.

I think you do better with questions of fact. I asked for a list of english language theater productions in Budapest in April and it found all of them, and that's not easy.

Allan,

A side note - I know that developments prevented your trip last summer to see a game at the baseball stadium in Denver. The Colorado Rockies’ season opener is today, and the home opener is in a week. Maybe they’ll do better than the predictions of many, and lose fewer than 100 games this year. Hopefully they’ll do well, and also, that conditions will permit you to visit Coors Field before too long.

Back to your original posting:

I didn’t factor in any stops during your cruise, but AI did. If I’d researched the cruise itinerary and inferred that you’d want sightseeing options (rather than the tour offered by the ship), I would’ve highly recommended something that Ai didn’t: Mucem, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, for the exterior of the building as much as its contents. Besides a memorable outdoor lunch in town, the museum was a highlight of our visit a few years ago.

I also didn’t consider that you might not be spending any time in Barcelona, but AI seems to have figured that out. Having not been to either of the Spanish destinations, I couldn’t offer any personal suggestions.

As this was an experiment, did you begin with a hypothesis, and was it confirmed by your results?