I visited Montreal for the first time with nothing booked. Locals helped me plan my 24-hour trip.
A travel writer recounts her experience visiting Montreal without a pre-planned itinerary, relying instead on spontaneous recommendations from locals. The experiment was a response to the perceived exhaustion and unreliability of AI-generated and influencer-driven travel content.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing consumer trend of 'digital detox' and a skepticism toward algorithmic travel planning in favor of authentic human interaction.
The author got all her travel recommendations from locals. Courtesy of Brittany Vickers I've become exhausted by creating a travel itinerary with ChatGPT and social media recommendations. However, I love to talk to people, so I went to Montreal for 24 hours without even booking a hotel. Locals helped me decide where to stay and what to do. On a trip to Montreal, my first time ever in Canada, I ditched ChatGPT and influencer travel content for actual recommendations from locals. As a travel writer and content creator, I draft an itinerary before I travel. Every day is carefully curated from when I wake up to when I go to sleep, including dining reservations, sightseeing, and other activities. I spend hours scouring the internet, TikTok, and Instagram for Top 10 and "Best of" lists, and asking ChatGPT for recommendations. It's become exhausting.
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