I visited Montreal for the first time with nothing booked. Locals helped me plan my 24-hour trip.

The author got all her travel recommendations from locals.

Courtesy of Brittany Vickers I've become exhausted by creating a travel itinerary with ChatGPT and social media recommendations.

However, I love to talk to people, so I went to Montreal for 24 hours without even booking a hotel.

Locals helped me decide where to stay and what to do.

On a trip to Montreal, my first time ever in Canada, I ditched ChatGPT and influencer travel content for actual recommendations from locals.

As a travel writer and content creator, I draft an itinerary before I travel.

Every day is carefully curated from when I wake up to when I go to sleep, including dining reservations, sightseeing, and other activities.

I spend hours scouring the internet, TikTok, and Instagram for Top 10 and "Best of" lists, and asking ChatGPT for recommendations.

It's become exhausting.

I have to sift through each post and ask myself whether the influencer genuinely enjoyed the place they're reviewing, or if it's just an advertisement — or, alternatively, if they're purposely highlighting something negative for engagement and exaggerating the experience.

Also, articles ChatGPT recommends sometimes haven't been updated in years, and a place you added to your list may no longer even be in business.

So, to test a new way of traveling , I decided to book an overnight stay in Montreal during a layover.

I booked my flight, and that was the end of the planning.

Equipped solely with a destination, my Midwestern ease with small talk, and an interest in genuine recommendations, I went on my trip with no itinerary and no pre-planning.