Travel Itinerary Builder

# Travel Itinerary Builder


Build complete, realistic travel itineraries with travel time buffers, accommodation research, packing lists, budget estimates, and weather-aware planning — all while avoiding the common AI travel planning failures that produce unusable itineraries.

**What this skill is**: A structured methodology for planning any trip — solo backpacking, family vacation, romantic getaway, business trip, group trip, adventure travel, cultural immersion, or multi-city tour. Works for domestic and international destinations, from 2-day weekends to month-long expeditions.

**What this skill is NOT**: A booking engine. This skill produces a research-backed itinerary plan, budget estimate, and packing list — it does not execute bookings through APIs. It also does not replace real-time verification of opening hours, prices, or availability. The itinerary is a planning artifact that the traveler uses alongside real booking sites.

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## Table of Contents

- [Triggers](#triggers)
- [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
- [Methodology](#methodology)
- [Deliverable Format](#deliverable-format)
- [Trip Overview](#trip-overview)
- [Daily Itineraries](#daily-itineraries)
- [Budget Breakdown](#budget-breakdown)
- [Packing List](#packing-list)
- [Practical Information](#practical-information)
- [Booking Links](#booking-links)
- [Notes & Reservations Needed](#notes-and-reservations-needed)
- [Pitfalls (Documented AI Failure Modes)](#pitfalls-documented-ai-failure-modes)
- [Cross-Skill Hints](#cross-skill-hints)
- [Dos and Don'ts](#dos-and-don'ts)

## Triggers

"plan a trip", "travel itinerary", "vacation planning", "trip to [destination]", "itinerary for [city]", "travel plans", "holiday planning", "vacation budget", "road trip", "honeymoon itinerary", "family trip", "backpacking", "weekend getaway", "travel packing list", "trip budget"

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## Prerequisites

- Web browser or web_search tool for destination research, flight/hotel comparison, weather lookup
- Numbeo or similar cost-of-living database for realistic budget estimation
- Google Maps or similar mapping service for travel time verification
- The `maps` skill for geocoding, POI search, routing, and timezone lookups (installed and available)
- Current date/time awareness to avoid recommending past dates or closed seasonal venues

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## Methodology

### Phase 0: Trip Brief & Constraint Collection

Before ANY research happens, lock down the trip's parameters. Skipping this phase produces generic itineraries that don't fit the traveler's actual needs.