There’s no denying many of us are looking to AI in some form or fashion when we travel. Whether it’s a quick AI-generated answer from Google on the average price of a meal in a new country or a more in-depth search on a city, there’s a time and place for technology. We’re finding ways to incorporate AI into our workflows at Spain Savvy too—helping us with efficiency and organization. But we wanted to do a little test to see how well AI can plan a trip to Spain. So we analyzed a 10-day ChatGPT-generated itinerary to Spain and this is what we found. Spoiler alert: there’s never been a better time to work with a travel designer.

Here was our prompt 

Give me a day-by-day 10-day itinerary through Spain in July to see the most important cities and sites. I’ll be traveling from Houston, Texas. Recommend the best things to do, transportation, hotels, and restaurants. There are 2 adults and 2 teenagers in our group. We’re interested in history and art to an extent but don’t want to spend the whole time in museums. We love culture, food, and being outside. Separate everything by day and include exact timings and where/how to book each activity, hotel, or restaurant. 

The ChatGPT Spain Itinerary

Here’s what AI came up with:

I’ve built this around the best first-time route: Madrid → Toledo → Córdoba → Seville → Granada → Barcelona. This is widely considered the most efficient and diverse route for 10 days.

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OVERVIEW (from Houston)

🔴 Flight: Houston → Madrid (overnight, ~9–11 hrs, often via Dallas or direct seasonal)

Return: Barcelona → Houston

Transport in Spain: High-speed train (AVE) — fastest and easiest 

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

We’ve taken this route so many times. The reality is you’re looking at 2 connecting flights from Houston to Madrid. and on the return from Barcelona as well, meaning at least a 15 hour travel time.

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DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

 DAY 1 — ARRIVE IN MADRID (Easy start)

Morning

8:00–10:00 → Arrive in Madrid

Private transfer or taxi (~30 min)

 🟡 Hotel recommendation (3 nights) : Only YOU Boutique Hotel (central, stylish, family-friendly)

Afternoon (light day)

 🟡 1:00 Lunch near Plaza Mayor: Sobrino de Botín (historic, famous roast pork)

 🟡 3:00 Walk: Plaza Mayor → Puerta del Sol → Royal Palace

5:30 Rest (important for jet lag)

Evening

 🟡 8:30 Tapas crawl in La Latina neighborhood

🔴 10:30 Optional rooftop drink

Book: Airport transfer: Welcome Pickups / hotel concierge

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

There are actually two separate Only YOU Hotels in Madrid. We would avoid the Atocha location and book the one on Barquillo Street. We definitely agree you’ve got to have lunch at Botín! But it’s a pretty hearty meal, so just be prepared for that after a full day of travel. And while we definitely recommend an afternoon walk, there’s no point in walking to the Royal Palace if you’re going there first thing the next morning. Finally, La Latina is a great place for a tapas crawl, but you’re really going to need some recommendations as to where to go and what to order (we love the seafood offerings at La Paloma). And you’ll just want to save rooftop drinks for another night so you can rest up for the next day.

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DAY 2 — MADRID (Culture + Outdoors balance)

Morning

9:00 Royal Palace entry

11:00 Walk to Almudena Cathedral

Book: Skip-the-line Royal Palace tickets (GetYourGuide / official site)

🟢 1:00 Lunch Mercado de San Miguel (great for teens)

Afternoon (relaxed)

🟢 3:00 Retiro Park: Rowboat on lake + Crystal Palace

🟡 Optional light museum (choose ONE)

5:00 Prado Museum (1.5 hrs max — don’t overdo it)

Evening

9:00 Dinner: Casa Lucio (famous huevos rotos)

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

Mercado San Miguel is such a fun spot for lunch and Retiro is an excellent place to wander and slow down in a busy city. Only one of the museum offerings is actually mentioned, but if the Prado’s more classic art isn’t your vibe, we especially love the Reina Sofia for more contemporary exhibitions.

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DAY 3 — TOLEDO DAY TRIP (Medieval Spain)

Morning

🟢 8:45 Train Madrid → Toledo (30 min)

Book: Renfe high-speed train

🟢 10:00–14:30 Explore: Toledo Cathedral, Jewish Quarter, Alcázar viewpoints (Walk, not rushed)

1:30 Lunch at local restaurant with views

Afternoon

🔴 3:30 Return to Madrid

Evening

🔴 8:30 Flamenco show

 Book: Tablao Flamenco 1911 (authentic + teen-friendly)

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

Toledo is an excellent day trip from Madrid, and the activities mentioned are all worth checking out. However, we would suggest skipping the flamenco show that night (it’s way too much to pack in after a day trip), getting a later train out of Toledo, and enjoying more of the city in the afternoon. You’re not going to be able to have a “not rushed” pace if you want to explore all those sites before that 1:30 lunch.

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 DAY 4 — CÓRDOBA → SEVILLE

Morning

8:30 Train Madrid → Córdoba (~2 hrs)

🔴 10:30–2:00 Córdoba stop: Mezquita (highlight of Spain), Roman Bridge walk

Book: Mezquita tickets in advance

Afternoon

3:00 Train Córdoba → Seville (45 min)

🔴 Hotel (2 nights): Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla (great location + rooftop pool)

Evening

8:30 Dinner in Santa Cruz neighborhood

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

While our clients absolutely love Córdoba, it’s much better explored as a day trip from Seville rather than a complicated and rushed stopover (no lunch!) with your luggage in tow. Once you’re in Seville, we would recommend staying at the Hotel Don Ramón instead, as it’s much better for families.

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DAY 5 — SEVILLE (Most atmospheric city)

🟢 Early start (heat avoidance!)

Morning

9:00 Alcázar of Seville

🔴 11:00 Seville Cathedral + Giralda tower

Book: Combined Alcázar + Cathedral tickets

Lunch

1:30 Tapas (shade + AC!)

🟢 Afternoon (rest/siesta)

3:00 Hotel pool (important in July)

Evening

🔴 7:30 Plaza de España + park walk

9:30 Dinner

🟢 Optional: Flamenco show (if you skipped Madrid)

What Span Savvy travel designers say:

Seville is blazing hot in the summer so if you’re going to visit (we don’t normally send clients here in July), you’ll definitely want that early start and that afternoon siesta during the hottest part of the day (though you may want to wait until 8:30pm for that walk through Plaza España). Our biggest suggestion here, however, is dividing up the Alcázar and Cathedral into two separate days. Each visit takes up half a day and are definitely not doable in two hours. And when it comes to flamenco, we agree there’s no better place to see a show than in Seville!

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DAY 6 — GRANADA (Alhambra day)

Morning

🟢 8:00 Train or private transfer to Granada (~2.5–3 hrs)

Hotel (1 night): Parador de Granada (inside Alhambra complex if available)

Afternoon

1:30 Check-in + rest

Late Afternoon

🔴 4:00 Alhambra visit (cooler time)

 🟡  Book EARLY: Official Alhambra tickets (weeks ahead)

Evening

8:30 Dinner in Albaicín (sunset views)

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

Doing one day in Granada is a lot for this 10-day itinerary, but if you’re going to visit, a train or private transfer is the way to go. And while you definitely need to visit the Alhambra if you’re going to swing the trip, four o’clock is actually not a cooler time to tour, as it can be one of the hottest times of the day— early morning or evening tours are best to avoid heat. Just keep in mind you’ll need to get tickets months in advance, not weeks.

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DAY 7 — BARCELONA

Morning

9:30 Flight Granada → Barcelona (~1.5 hrs)

Book: Vueling or Iberia

🟢 Hotel (3 nights): Hotel Praktik Bakery (fun + central) or H10 Madison (family-friendly)

Afternoon

🟢 2:00 Gothic Quarter walk

4:30 Ice cream + wander El Born

Evening

8:30 Dinner near waterfront

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

These hotel recommendations are solid in Barcelona, though we’re partial to the H10 Mimosa. And we love an afternoon walk through the Gothic Quarter and El Born.

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DAY 8 — BARCELONA (Gaudí + iconic sights)

Morning

9:00 Sagrada Familia

🟢 Book: Official timed tickets (essential)

Midday

🔴 11:30 Park Güell

1:30 Lunch nearby

Afternoon

🟡 4:00 Casa Batlló (optional)

Evening

7:30 Beach time (Barceloneta)

9:00 Seafood dinner

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

You’ll definitely need those timed tickets to the Sagrada Familia cathedral. But it’s way too tight to visit Park Güell at 11:30am after the cathedral visit at 9am. You need a half day to properly enjoy each. As for Casa Batlló, it’s better to visit early morning or in the evening with their rooftop concerts.

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DAY 9 — BARCELONA (Relax + culture)

Morning

🟢 9:30 Bike tour (great for teens)

Book: Baja Bikes or Fat Tire Tours

1:30 lunch La Boqueria market

Afternoon

4:00 Free time: Shopping, cable car to Montjuïc, Pool / rest

Evening

🟡 8:30 Final dinner (paella night)

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

Bike tours are a fantastic way to see the city, though we usually recommend them the first day you’re in town so you get a lay of the land and don’t double back on sites and neighborhoods. Be wary of a paella dinner in Barcelona, as you can easily get sucked into a number of highly disappointing tourist traps.

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DAY 10 — DEPARTURE

7:00 Transfer to airport

Flight Barcelona → Houston

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BOOKING SUMMARY 

🟢 Book in advance:

• Alhambra (critical)
• Sagrada Familia
• Seville Alcázar
• Trains (Renfe / Trainline)
• Flights within Spain

🔴 Book closer to trip:

• Restaurants (1–3 days ahead)
• Flamenco shows
• Bike tours

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

Yes to booking those major sights in advance. Just keep in mind that it can be difficult to book trains on your own. You usually need a European credit card. Which is why we always book trains for our clients in advance. Restaurants need at least 2 weeks book time, especially for popular spots. Flamenco shows and bike tours should also be booked more in advance.

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JULY REALITY (IMPORTANT)

🟡 HOT (especially Seville/Granada: 95–105°F / 35–40°C)

Plan: Early mornings, midday rest, late dinners (normal in Spain).

What Spain Savvy travel designers say:

Luckily 105°F in Seville doesn’t feel like 105°F in Houston, with it’s crazy humidity. But we’ve seen temps reach 110ºF in July and Spaniards don’t blast their AC like Americans, so cooling off can be a little trickier. Córdoba is also extremely hot in the summer. And while Madrid and Barcelona aren’t going to hit 105ºF, they’re still very warm (and Barcelona is humid like Houston!).

Why There’s Never Been a Better Time to Work with Travel Designer

If you’re looking to check off the boxes and snap a photo at the most popular Instagrammable sites, then maybe a ChatGPT-generated itinerary to Spain is all you need. But if you want expertise and insider information from folks living and working in Spain— things like how to beat crowds, logistical tips and timing to avoid headaches, authentic restaurants, real culture experiences, interactions with locals— then a AI isn’t going to give you everything you need. Working with a travel designer not only offers that on-the-ground knowledge, but someone to take care of the details for you: think bookings, reservations, timings, inevitable mishaps. And more than anything, it’s having someone in your corner before and during the trip (you can always text or call us during the trip) who knows you and cares about you having an unforgettable and unique travel experience tailored to your specific needs. 

AI is a great starting point. But you need someone to take care of all the details. Don’t leave your family’s most precious memories in the hands of a database. Let’s start planning your absolutely perfect human-designed itinerary to Spain now.