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ChatGPT is a Frenemy...sometimes

AI is inevitable. As a blogger, I hate how it steals my work and I’m slowly losing the job I’ve built over the last 15 years.

But instead of whining about change, I’ve learned to embrace the enemy.

AI helps me with everything from travel planning to editing my short videos (does anyone watch those?).

But AI cannot replace travel writers, travel agents, or your friend who has been to a location. And last week it really burned me.

I had ambitious day trip plans around Puebla, but not a lot of time. I made the big mistake of asking ChatGPT to plan my day.

What a mistake!

The time I thought I was saving left me scrambling around the historic center like a confused tourist.

So learn from my mistakes. Here’s where AI fails travelers and what you need to do about it.

Where ChatGPT Failed Me

1. Outdated Information I asked for places to try a pre-hispanic drink in Puebla’s historic center. ChatGPT suggested places that had closed years ago, didn’t serve the drink I wanted, or required a 30-minute taxi ride.

2. Tourist Trap Suggestions ChatGPT loves TripAdvisor. I do not. It lists popular spots where tour groups go.

I want local places. The recommendations felt like they came from a generic “Top 10 Things to Do” list.

3. Wrong Transportation Details It told me the bus to Tlaxcala was run by Futura. When I arrived, they said no and didn’t know which company did.

A man shining shoes told me to take the Verdes bus line. Sometimes local knowledge beats artificial intelligence.

4. Bad Food Advice When I asked about a Poblana sweet mollete, ChatGPT immediately got it wrong by missing the key ingredient: coconut filling.

Traditional recipes need human knowledge and cultural understanding.

5. Overconfidence ChatGPT is like that guy who gives directions when he doesn’t know the way. He sounds confident while leading you astray.

When I asked about pre-hispanic dishes in Cholula, ChatGPT gave confident but useless advice. The free version Claude.ai honestly told me to contact the local tourist board.

How to Fix This

Fact-check the AI - Ask “Are you sure this is right?” and it sometimes corrects itself.

Verify on Google Maps - Check every business location, read recent reviews, confirm hours.

Ask locals - Street vendors and hotel staff know what actually works.

Use local weather sources - Regional meteorology sites beat generic apps.

Treat AI as a starting point - It’s a rough guidebook draft. Layer in real-time verification and local knowledge.

The bottom line?
​
AI can spark ideas, but traveling requires human intuition and cultural understanding.

And sometimes the man shining shoes knows more about bus routes than the most advanced artificial intelligence.

Trust me on this one....and if you can always reach out to me. If I haven't been somewhere often I know another travel blogger who has.

Keep life delicious, Ayngelina

P.S. I'm working on a Vietnam food tour with a local guide I've known for years. If you're interested in joining me to eat these dishes where they originated, you can sign up here. No commitment, it's just a separate email that will only go out to people interested in Vietnam.