Let algorithms plan your trip

To be clear, I do not mean using AI, but one step behind that: let influencers and the social media algorithm help you plan.

At least a few weeks before a trip, I go to Instagram and follow a few key accounts tied to wherever I’m going, ones that show you the main spots to visit, eat, and shop. Sometimes it’ll be the city or town’s tourism board, sometimes you look for the city and “secret,” sometimes you stumble on individuals who feel like it’s their job to share their city tips.

Follow just 2-4 of them and then watch videos full of recommendations, opinions, and insider tips all flow into your feed. I use Instagram’s “Save” feature to quickly bookmark videos into a separate folder whenever I see them, then spend a dedicated hour later clicking through them and noting the ones I want to do in a spreadsheet or on a map.

People who really live in a city have strong opinions about it, and largely want you to have a great trip there! That doesn’t change even when they’re just people in your phone.