It might have been the scariest night time of her life. Instead, it was a journey story for the ages

This week in journey information: Australian vacationers descended on an imaginary vacationer attraction, a lady recollects the night time she unexpectedly bunked with a pair of touring nuns, and the turning level for REAL ID has arrived.

Hundreds of vacationers are flocking to sizzling springs in a small city in Tasmania, Australia. However, there was one small wrinkle of their journey planning. The sizzling springs are literally an AI “hallucination” that erroneously appeared on a journey recommendation web site and was extensively shared earlier than folks discovered what was taking place.

We examined ChatGPT journey recommendation in 5 cities

CNN Travel workforce members in 5 main cities around the globe requested ChatGPT to create journeys for them. Watch how we examined the itineraries that can assist you use the most well-liked LLM (giant language fashions) for journey planning extra successfully. To be taught extra about our experiment, learn the complete report.

We examined ChatGPT journey recommendation in 5 cities

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While this specific anecdote is humorous, it speaks to a bigger, extra alarming development within the journey trade.

Anne Hardy, adjunct professor in tourism at Southern Cross University, Australia, instructed CNN that about 37% of vacationers use synthetic intelligence-powered giant language fashions like ChatGPT for journey recommendation or itineraries.

Are you serious about utilizing AI to plan your subsequent trip, however unsure inform what’s actual and what’s faux? Five CNN Travel staffers in 5 completely different cities tried to observe AI-created itineraries in their very own hometowns, with various levels of success. Follow their experiences – and be taught from their errors – right here.

“Great Escapes” is a brand new CNN Travel collection about how journeys generally don’t go as deliberate — and what occurs subsequent. Over the following few weeks, we’ll be bringing you the primary three articles within the collection, that are additionally accessible in audio type.

This week’s story is about Diann Droste, who in 1973 was a 16-year-old excessive schooler touring across the US by Greyhound bus when an enormous snowstorm threatened to strand her alone in a small city in Minnesota.

Luckily, although, Diann wasn’t alone. Two guardian angels emerged – within the type of nuns. The two girls noticed broke, scared Diann alone within the foyer of a motel and invited her to stick with them. That night time, the unlikely trio had dinner and the nuns taught Diann play the cardboard recreation Canasta.

These days, Diann is a mother whose youngsters can’t consider she as soon as roomed with whole strangers. But, as she explains, that’s the sort of factor folks did earlier than cell telephones and the widespread use of bank cards.

The subsequent morning, the snow had cleared sufficient to let the bus proceed on its journey, and Diann went residence to her household. However, she has by no means forgotten – even in any case this time – the kindness of the 2 girls who made positive she was protected on that snowy night time.

Starting this Sunday, February 1, the Transportation Security Administration says it would cost airline passengers who do not need a REAL ID $45 to confirm their id.

CNN’s Pete Muntean explains what this implies for vacationers.

Fliers with out Real ID will face $45 payment, seemingly delays

Fliers with out Real ID will face $45 payment, seemingly delays

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One of probably the most enjoyable elements of visiting a brand new place is attempting the native specialties. That was definitely the case for actor Tony Shalhoub, who tried rye bread ice cream in Reykjavik, Iceland, throughout the “Breaking Bread” collection that he hosted on CNN.

The grain-meets-dairy concoction is topped with rhubarb syrup and house-made whipped cream. Although Shalhoub was skeptical at first, he ended up loving the stunning deal with.

Tony Shalhoub by no means knew this ice cream taste existed. Now it is his favourite

Tony Shalhoub by no means knew this ice cream taste existed. Now it is his favourite

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And that’s not all. Sometimes a easy ingredient like olive oil is greatest tried not as a part of a much bigger dish however as a tasty deal with in its personal proper. Shalhoub and CNN’s Anderson Cooper tried out olive oil pictures – that’s proper, consuming it straight, identical to tequila or vodka. The verdict? Four thumbs up.

America’s largest World War II cemetery isn’t in Europe.

It’s in Manila, capital of the Philippines.

France’s excessive velocity rail system is providing a kid-free cabin.

It has stirred up loads of controversy.

A former flight attendant scammed a bunch of free flights.

He did it by pretending to be a pilot.

A significant layoff. A death-defying climb. A panda farewell.

What do you keep in mind from the week that was?