Totally get the “anti‑AI for trip planning” feeling – that worry about losing the little nonna-run spots with no website is very real. Right now a lot of AI tools lean toward whatever’s easiest to crawl and “safe” to recommend, which flattens the nuance and taste you’re talking about.
What’s quietly changing things is that more people are starting to optimize *for* these AI answers specifically – people are calling it Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). It’s basically about giving AI enough structured, contextual clues so it can surface those special, less-obvious places instead of just the same top 10 lists.
Been playing with a free tool called https://aeoanalyzer.app to understand how AI is “seeing” content. Not magic, but it’s helped map where things are invisible vs. actually discoverable in AI answers.
Wow! What a fun read and a great idea to bring such experts together. Thank you for introducing me to not only some cool people to follow in the industry, but also some food for thought when it comes to new destinations and wellness tips :)
I've been putting off Menorca for years because my allegiance for it's bigger sister Mallorca is very strong, but it sounds like I really need to reconsider
Also, if I could recommend the Azores. I have never in my life experienced a more lush place! Driving down a road where on the sides you had luxurious bushes of flowers and from the top, branches of the most fairytale-like trees coming down, was the most incredible experience. I need to find some of the photos I took, because it felt like a place so ancient, that dinosaurs could pop out from behind the ferns. And don't get me started on the thermal pools!
So I booked a hotel in Ponta Delgado, which is the big city on the main island. But you have to book so much more in advance than you think. It was fine but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. I just didn’t have a lot of options left. For the second part, I got a car and an airbnb in the middle of the island and it was amazing! I do think they don’t have as much accommodation during peak season, so you need to plan ahead. But if you’re ok not being in the city, there are some gorgeous properties out there and I wish I would have stayed at the airbnb the whole time.
I didn't know the island when I booked but after I got there, the villages around the thermal baths in Furnas looked so lovely. Would have probably looked for something there, had I known.
But my airbnb had a little coffee tree in the back, which was kinda mind blowing
Thanks for having me Waverly - so fun!
This was so fun—thanks for having me!🤍
💛💛💛💛 thanks for having me 💛💛💛💛
Totally get the “anti‑AI for trip planning” feeling – that worry about losing the little nonna-run spots with no website is very real. Right now a lot of AI tools lean toward whatever’s easiest to crawl and “safe” to recommend, which flattens the nuance and taste you’re talking about.
What’s quietly changing things is that more people are starting to optimize *for* these AI answers specifically – people are calling it Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). It’s basically about giving AI enough structured, contextual clues so it can surface those special, less-obvious places instead of just the same top 10 lists.
Been playing with a free tool called https://aeoanalyzer.app to understand how AI is “seeing” content. Not magic, but it’s helped map where things are invisible vs. actually discoverable in AI answers.
oh super interesting!
This was so good! I really enjoyed reading everyone's perspectives, both as a travel-lover and very part-time TA.
Ahhh love this, some of my fav travel voices ❣️
Wow! What a fun read and a great idea to bring such experts together. Thank you for introducing me to not only some cool people to follow in the industry, but also some food for thought when it comes to new destinations and wellness tips :)
Love all of these recs! So good!
I’ve found my people!
Loved being a part of this! So many great recs from everyone x
I've been putting off Menorca for years because my allegiance for it's bigger sister Mallorca is very strong, but it sounds like I really need to reconsider
This is so cool! Thank you for sharing! 🤗
Loved this! Tons of thoughtful insight. My biggest takeaway is that I MUST get to New York so I can experience Gupshup!!
Haha truly!! It's so good. Apparently a lot of the UK Indian restaurants (Dishoom and others) are coming to NYC finally too
So many useful recommendations and thoughtful discussion on current trends. Great article!
Thank you Christy! Glad you enjoyed reading.
I love this! What a fun idea to pool all the recs. Thank you for sharing 🤍
Aw thanks Sophie, means a lot!
Also, if I could recommend the Azores. I have never in my life experienced a more lush place! Driving down a road where on the sides you had luxurious bushes of flowers and from the top, branches of the most fairytale-like trees coming down, was the most incredible experience. I need to find some of the photos I took, because it felt like a place so ancient, that dinosaurs could pop out from behind the ferns. And don't get me started on the thermal pools!
such a good rec! the azores are sooo beautiful, definitely on my list! where did you stay and did you visit multiple islands?!
So I booked a hotel in Ponta Delgado, which is the big city on the main island. But you have to book so much more in advance than you think. It was fine but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. I just didn’t have a lot of options left. For the second part, I got a car and an airbnb in the middle of the island and it was amazing! I do think they don’t have as much accommodation during peak season, so you need to plan ahead. But if you’re ok not being in the city, there are some gorgeous properties out there and I wish I would have stayed at the airbnb the whole time.
airbnb/villa seems like a really special experience given how beautiful and remote the landscape is!
I didn't know the island when I booked but after I got there, the villages around the thermal baths in Furnas looked so lovely. Would have probably looked for something there, had I known.
But my airbnb had a little coffee tree in the back, which was kinda mind blowing