“This ChatGPT City Break Itinerary is Okay – But How Could it Leave Off Our Grade I-Listed Men’s Loos?!”

Resident Insiders’ at The Resident’s hotels put ChatGPT’s itineraries to the test.

As our lives become increasingly integrated with AI, it is rapidly becoming a trusted travel companion. ABTA research found that 43% of UK adults would be confident letting AI plan their holiday, and one in twelve Brits now report using AI for travel inspiration.

But travel is high-stakes, full of variables, and AI doesn’t always get it right. A 2024 survey found that 90% of itineraries generated by ChatGPT contained inaccuracies, including closed venues, incorrect opening times and unrealistic schedules.

Long before the advent of ChatGPT, The Resident’s portfolio of hotels across London, Liverpool and – more recently – Edinburgh, have been home to ‘Resident Insiders’. These are specially trained team members, fully equipped to answer questions and provide local tips and tricks.

Below, three Resident Insiders share what they think of three ChatGPT-generated itineraries. They highlight that while AI is a good starting point for travel inspiration, an additional human touch is essential for fact checking and for suggesting real, local gems.

Patricia Segurola, The Resident Covent Garden

“We’d ask more questions, and we wouldn’t default to big chains.”

Patricia, Hotel Manager at The Resident Covent Garden, asked ChatGPT to create an Easter staycation for a family of four comprised of two parents, a football-mad ten-year-old boy and an art-obsessed fourteen-year-old girl. It’s the whole family’s first trip to London and they’re excited to explore the city’s sights – both iconic London landmarks and local recommendations alike – and both children are picky eaters.

Reacting to the itinerary, Patricia says: “The basics have been covered, but for a family of four, we would offer options with less kilometres to cover.”

On the food options, Patricia suggests: “We much prefer recommending authentically London establishments as there are so many delightful ones right on our doorstep. While it is true that the well-known chains are safe bets, I know many of the independent gems will be more than happy to cater to even the pickiest of eaters!”

Experiencing a double take, Patricia notes: “The algorithm seems to have forgotten that the traveller requested an itinerary over the Easter weekend, because it recommends visiting Borough Market on the Easter Sunday when it will almost certainly be closed. As Borough Market is so community-focused – with many traders living locally – I would be surprised if it was open on Easter Sunday.”

AI missing key details that make for a smooth trip was another theme in Patricia’s review. She states: “Before recommending different stadiums, we would have first checked availability for the dates the family is visiting. Otherwise, you risk setting guests up for disappointment.”

And crucially, the team at The Resident Covent Garden would interact rather than regurgitate. Patricia says: “Instead of suggesting an untailored list of London’s ten best attractions based on a few hints or clues from the guest, we’d spend time interacting with the guest to tactfully learn about interests and preferences that they might not have explicitly mentioned. That way, we’re able to add little suggestions to their itinerary throughout the entirety of their stay instead of just at the beginning – each one better than the last as we get to know the guest.”

Sharon Brown, The Resident Liverpool

“It’s fine, but it missed off our Grade I-listed men’s loos!”

Sharon, Hotel Manager at The Resident Liverpool, posed as a 30-year-old solo traveller planning a trip to Liverpool for the first time over the Easter weekend. Interested in more than just the city’s football and music heritage, this guest wants to hear local recommendations, too.

Though Sharon agrees with some of ChatGPT’s itinerary, she points out some practical errors. Sharon says: “A morning exploring museums on the waterfront is a great idea, but the algorithm tells you to go to the World Museum, which is in the city centre, not on the waterfront.

“If you want to spend the morning on the waterfront, I recommend visiting Museum of Liverpool and Tate Liverpool, then stopping for brunch or lunch nearby. There is a range of great little eateries at the waterfront including Rough Handmade which bakes all the pastries fresh each day.

“Liverpool is very walkable, but the generated itinerary could still use some fine-tuning to avoid the guest having to trek one from place to the next.”

On ChatGPT’s creativity, Sharon notes: “It has listed some great places to visit, but it has missed some amazing locations and attractions. There is no mention of the Baltic Triangle – home to some fantastic street food markets, bars and gritty nightlife venues – and it missed off St Luke’s Church, known as the bombed-out church after the Liverpool Blitz.

“And maybe ChatGPT is a bit of a prude, but I would always recommend guests pay a visit to the Philharmonic Dining Rooms for the Grade I-listed men’s loos – complete with floor-to-ceiling yellow tiled walls, mosaic floors, and imitation marble urinals.”

Like Patricia, Sharon also picks up on ChatGPT’s inability to take note of seasonal events and opening hours. Sharon says: “The itinerary speculates that there might be Easter food markets, but as a local to Liverpool I know that there aren’t any during this time of year. There will of course be a local church service if that would interest the guest, but Easter Sunday is also a good day to get out of the city – why not catch the Merseyrail up to Crosby Beach to see the iron men sculptures?”

Gillian Mylles, The Resident Edinburgh

“You’d be going back on yourself there.”

Gillian, General Manager at The Resident Edinburgh, requested an itinerary for a young couple visiting Edinburgh over Easter for the first time – both keen on history, culture, and some non-crowded, photogenic hotspots.

Like Sharon, Gillian flagged that good planning is not just about great suggestions, but also how the traveller gets from one to the other. Gillian says: “While I love Stockbridge and its many bakeries, independent shops and galleries – it wouldn’t make sense to start your day there and then return later in the afternoon.

“What I’d recommend instead is walking down to the Dean Village for the morning sunlight and then walk along the Water of Leith towards Stockbridge. In the early morning, the walk along the Water of Leith shouldn’t be too busy and the sunlight poking through the leaves above would make a great backdrop for a photo.

“Coming out at Stockbridge, you’re right by what I believe is Edinburgh’s best bakery, Lannan. And when I say get there early, I really mean it. It opens at 9 but I once got there at 8 and there was already one person in front of me. By half past, there must have been a queue of at least 40 people forming along Hamilton Place!”

Gillian adds: “Edinburgh Castle is of course very well-known, and, in fairness, the algorithm does acknowledge that. I normally recommend guests jump into Camera Obscura afterwards – this attraction is often overlooked but right next to the castle, so well worth a visit.”

Overall, the Resident Insiders generally think AI-generated itineraries are good starting points. But, for a trip that works with details you’d never think to ask, nothing beats asking local experts who really know the area.

Visit residenthotels.com for more information about room availability, prices, local guides and its 100% real ‘Resident Insiders’.

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Notes to editors:

The full prompts and resulting ChatGPT-generated itineraries are available to view in this Google Drive. A new session of ChatGPT was generated for each itinerary and no additional personality presets or custom instructions were input.

For further press information, please contact:
Hannah Carlisle | Will Challis | Cesar Arnold
Rooster.
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8930
E: theresident@rooster.co.uk
W: www.rooster.co.uk

About Resident Hotels Ltd:
Resident Hotels is a specialist hotel operating company founded in 2006 and owned by Mactaggart Family & Partners, led by CEO David JM Orr. The group manages two distinct brands on behalf of its investors. The Resident brand consists of five hotels that are positioned in the Upper Upscale segment and located in Covent Garden, Soho, Victoria, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, while our four midscale properties have recently been rebranded to Four Points Flex by Sheraton.

Formerly Sleeperz Hotels and Cityroomz, this rebrand represents an exciting new chapter for our hotels in Cardiff, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Dundee, as they become a part of Marriott’s new midscale brand Four Points Flex by Sheraton. Offering a refreshed new look and recently refurbished bedrooms and public areas, guests may now enjoy Marriott Bonvoy benefits when they stay at our hotels. Four Points Flex by Sheraton Edinburgh opened in July 2025, marking the final of our four hotels to join the brand, following our other properties converting earlier this year.

Resident Hotels aims to expand its portfolio through management contracts and developments, targeting an additional 1,500 to 2,000 rooms, further strengthening its position in the hospitality market, with its two-brand strategy.

For more information, please visit residenthotels.com or connect on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.