What is an AI Travel Concierge?

A new category of travel planning that combines technology with personal service.

Think of it as the middle ground between doing everything yourself (Expedia, Google Flights, 47 browser tabs) and hiring a full-service travel agent (expensive, requires appointments, often overkill).

A travel concierge gives you conversational help—you describe what you want, they search and curate options—without the friction of traditional booking or the cost of a traditional agent.

How It's Different

Service What It Does Limitation
OTAs (Expedia, Booking) Search + book yourself You do all the filtering
Travel Agents Full service, human Expensive, slow, needs appointments
ChatGPT / AI Chatbots Ideas + itineraries Can't check prices or book
Travel Concierge Curated search + actual booking Newer category, varies by provider

How a Travel Concierge Works

1

You describe what you want

Through text, chat, or voice. "I want a romantic weekend getaway, somewhere warm, under $2,000" is enough to get started.

2

Service searches and filters

They search across multiple sources—flights, hotels, sometimes activities—and filter based on your preferences. Not just price, but vibe, location, reviews.

3

You get a curated shortlist

Instead of 200 results, you get 3-5 options with clear rationale. "This one for value, this one for location, this one if you want to splurge."

4

They handle the booking

Depending on the provider, this ranges from sending you links to completing the entire booking on your behalf.

Who Is a Travel Concierge For?

Great fit

  • • People who want help but not a full travel agent
  • • Busy professionals who value speed over savings
  • • Travelers overwhelmed by too many options
  • • Anyone who's thought "just book it for me"

Maybe not ideal

  • • Extreme budget travelers (every dollar counts)
  • • People who enjoy the research process
  • • Very complex, multi-week itineraries

Sound like a good fit?

Text Us to Try It

Questions to Ask Any Travel Concierge

Before you trust a service with your trip, ask:

  1. Can you actually book, or just recommend?

    Some services only give suggestions. Others can complete bookings.

  2. What inventory do you search?

    Are they connected to real booking systems, or just surfacing generic info?

  3. What are your fees?

    Most are free (earn via commissions). Some charge service fees.

  4. What happens if I need to change or cancel?

    Understand the support model before you book.

Example: Otherwhere

Otherwhere

Personal travel booking service via SMS. Text or call to get curated flight and hotel options with real prices, then we handle the entire booking for you. Free to use—pricing is built into the rates you see.

Learn more about Otherwhere →

This is an emerging category. New services are launching regularly. The key differentiator is whether they're connected to real booking inventory or just providing generic suggestions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AI travel concierge?

An AI travel concierge is a service that helps you plan and book trips through conversation (text, voice, or chat) instead of searching multiple websites yourself. They typically combine technology with human expertise.

How is a travel concierge different from ChatGPT?

ChatGPT can suggest ideas but can't check prices, availability, or book anything. A travel concierge like Otherwhere is connected to real booking systems through APIs like Duffel, can search actual inventory with current prices, and handles the entire booking for you.

How is a travel concierge different from a travel agent?

Traditional travel agents often require appointments and may charge upfront fees. Modern travel concierge services like Otherwhere work via text on your schedule and are free to use—they earn through commissions built into the rates you see.

Are travel concierge services free?

Many travel concierge services, including Otherwhere, are free to use. They earn money through small margins on flights and commissions from hotel partners—similar to how other booking platforms work. You see the total price upfront with no hidden fees.

Can a travel concierge actually book my trip?

Yes—that's the key difference from generic AI chatbots. Services like Otherwhere search real inventory, show current prices, and handle the entire booking on your behalf. You receive confirmation numbers, PNRs, and e-tickets directly.

Try a Travel Concierge

Text us where you want to go. We'll send options. You pick. We book.

Text Us to Get Started