Planning a Trip With Wonderplan AI: What Worked and What Didn’t

I didn’t start using Wonderplan AI because I was looking for the “ultimate” travel planner. I used it because I was tired.

Tired of opening 15 tabs just to figure out what to do on Day 2.
Tired of bookmarking blogs I’d never return to.
Tired of group chats where everyone says, “Let’s decide later.”

So instead of overthinking it, I typed my destination into Wonderplan AI and let it do its thing. What followed wasn’t magic, but it was interesting enough that I stuck with it through the entire planning process.

Here’s what that experience really looked like.

Getting Started Felt Surprisingly Lightweight

The first thing that stood out was how little the tool demanded from me. No account creation loop. No “unlock premium” screen. No long preference quiz that makes you feel like you’re filling out a visa application.

I entered:

• Where I was going
• How many days I had
• A rough spending range
• The kind of trip I wanted (not too hectic, not too slow)

That was it.

Within moments, I had something on my screen that actually resembled a plan, not just a list of places, but a timeline.

That alone felt like progress.

Seeing a Trip Take Shape Changed My Mindset

What Wonderplan gave me wasn’t a perfect itinerary, it was momentum.

Each day had:

• A general flow
• A mix of sightseeing and downtime
• Familiar landmarks I expected to see

It felt like someone had taken the overwhelming “blank page” and sketched the outline for me.

That sketch mattered more than I expected. Instead of asking “What should I do?”, I started asking “Do I like this idea?”, which is a much easier question to answer.

Some Suggestions Made Sense, Others Needed a Reality Check

As I read through the plan more carefully, patterns started to emerge.

Certain days were thoughtfully paced.
Other days felt optimistic, borderline unrealistic.

On one afternoon, the itinerary had me visiting two places that looked close on paper but were far apart once I checked a map. Another time slot assumed I’d casually fit in an activity that locals know requires advance tickets.

This wasn’t a deal-breaker, but it was a reminder:
the AI doesn’t know how tired I’ll be, how long queues are, or whether a place closes early on a weekday.

I found myself opening Google Maps more than once to sanity-check distances.

Editing the Plan Was Easier Than Expected

One thing I genuinely appreciated was how painless it was to make changes.

I didn’t feel punished for disagreeing with the AI.

I removed things I wasn’t interested in.
I reshuffled days that felt overloaded.
I simplified sections that felt rushed.

Instead of collapsing, the plan adapted. That made the tool feel cooperative rather than rigid.

The Budget Estimates Were Helpful, But Only in a Loose Sense

Wonderplan gave me cost expectations tied to the budget level I selected. These numbers weren’t precise, but they helped answer one important question:

“Am I planning something wildly unrealistic?”

For that purpose, they worked.

What they didn’t do was replace actual price checks. I still verified hotels, transport, and activities separately, and the real costs didn’t always match the estimates.

That gap wasn’t shocking, but it’s worth acknowledging.

Planning With Others Became Less Chaotic

I shared the itinerary with the people I was traveling with, and this is where the tool quietly earned points.

Instead of endless messages like:
“Maybe we can do this?”
“Wait, which day was that?”

Everyone looked at the same plan.

Even when we disagreed, we were disagreeing about something concrete. That saved time, and friction.

Trust, Accuracy, and Where I Had to Be Careful

At no point did Wonderplan pretend to be a booking engine or a live pricing source. That honesty helped.

Still, I didn’t blindly follow it.

I double-checked:

• Opening hours
• Travel times
• Reservation requirements

Whenever I did that, I noticed the same thing: the AI was directionally right, but occasionally off in the details.

That’s manageable, as long as you expect it.

What I Liked More Than I Expected

• I didn’t feel rushed into paying
• I didn’t feel tracked or pushed
• I didn’t feel like I was being sold anything
• For a free tool, that restraint stood out.

It felt like Wonderplan was okay being used as a stepping stone rather than a final destination, and that made it easier to trust.

What Still Needs Work

There were moments where:

• Locations weren’t grouped efficiently
• Days felt slightly overpacked
• Recommendations leaned mainstream

If you’re the kind of traveler who hunts for hyper-local experiences or plans down to the minute, you’ll still need extra research.

How I’d Rate the Experience Overall

If I had to summarize the experience honestly:

• As a planning starter: very strong
• As a final authority: not there yet
• As a free tool: genuinely useful

My Personal Rating

4 out of 5

Not because it’s flawless, but because it saved time, reduced stress, and gave me something workable faster than I could have done alone.

Final Thought

Wonderplan AI didn’t plan my trip for me.
It planned my trip with me.

And for a free tool that doesn’t overpromise, that’s a fair outcome.

If you treat it like a collaborator instead of an oracle, it earns its place in the planning process.