Travel Itinerary Builder

A comprehensive travel planning skill that builds detailed day-by-day itineraries for any destination. It handles budget allocation across flights, accommodations, activities, and meals, provides real booking platform links, schedules activities with realistic travel times between locations, and includes local transportation guidance. Whether you are planning a weekend city break or a multi-country adventure, this skill creates actionable plans that account for jet lag, opening hours, seasonal considerations, and your personal travel style.

Supported Platforms & Integrations

Platform	Integration Type	Features
Google Maps	Route Planning	Calculates travel times between activities, suggests efficient daily routes, and maps walking distances
Booking.com	Accommodation Links	Provides direct links to hotels and hostels matching your budget and location preferences
Google Flights	Flight Search	Links to flight searches with pre-filled dates and destinations for price comparison
Viator	Activity Booking	Links to bookable tours, experiences, and skip-the-line tickets at each destination
Rome2Rio	Transportation	Maps intercity transport options including trains, buses, ferries, and domestic flights with pricing
XE Currency	Budget Conversion	Converts budget figures to local currency with current exchange rates for on-the-ground spending

When to Use

• Planning a vacation from scratch — transforms a vague idea ("two weeks in Japan") into a complete day-by-day plan with bookings, activities, and budget
• Optimizing an existing itinerary — reviews your draft plan for inefficient routing, missed highlights, unrealistic scheduling, or budget overruns
• Group travel coordination — creates itineraries that balance different interests, energy levels, and budgets across multiple travelers
• Business trip with leisure time — structures free time around fixed meeting schedules, maximizing sightseeing in limited windows
• Budget-constrained travel — builds itineraries that maximize experience within a strict budget, identifying free activities and affordable local options
• Multi-destination trip routing — determines the optimal order to visit multiple cities or countries based on geography, flights, and seasonal timing

Alternatives to Consider

• Use Wanderlog or TripIt if you prefer a visual app-based itinerary builder with mobile access and real-time flight tracking
• Use a travel agent for complex multi-destination luxury trips where personal service and emergency support justify the cost
• Use Reddit travel forums (r/travel, r/solotravel) if you want firsthand recommendations and are comfortable doing your own planning

Quick Start

Copy
skill: travel-itinerary-builder
config:
  destination: "Tokyo, Japan"
  dates:
    start: "2026-04-10"
    end: "2026-04-20"
  travelers: 2
  budget_total: 5000  # USD
  travel_style: "balanced"
  interests:
    - food
    - culture
    - nature
  accommodation_preference: "mid_range"
  departing_from: "San Francisco"

Example Prompt

Plan a 10-day trip to Tokyo and Kyoto for two people. Budget is 
$5,000 total excluding flights. We love food, temples, and nature. 
We want a mix of structured activities and free exploration time. 
Arriving April 10, departing April 20.

Example Output

## Tokyo & Kyoto Itinerary — 10 Days
Budget: $5,000 (excluding flights) | 2 travelers

### Budget Breakdown
| Category | Amount | Per Day |
|----------|--------|---------|
| Accommodation | $1,800 | $180/night |
| Food & Dining | $1,400 | $140/day |
| Activities & Tickets | $800 | varies |
| Transport (local) | $400 | JR Pass + metro |
| Contingency | $600 | 12% buffer |

### Day 1 — April 10 (Thursday) — Arrival & Shinjuku
- Arrive Narita → Shinjuku via Narita Express (¥3,250)
- Check in: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku ($90/night) [Booking.com link]
- 3:00 PM: Walk through Shinjuku Gyoen (¥500 entry)
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at Omoide Yokocho (budget: ¥3,000/person)
- 8:00 PM: Explore Kabukicho and Golden Gai
Transport: Narita Express + walking | Est. cost: $65

### Day 2 — April 11 (Friday) — Asakusa & East Tokyo
...

Advanced Configuration

Platform-Specific Settings

Copy
routing:
  optimize_for: "minimize_travel_time"
  max_daily_walking_km: 12
  prefer_public_transport: true
  include_uber_estimates: false

accommodation:
  booking_platform: "booking_com"
  requirements:
    - wifi
    - central_location
  check_in_flexibility: true
  airbnb_allowed: true

activities:
  pace: "moderate"  # relaxed, moderate, packed
  free_time_blocks: 2  # hours of unstructured time per day
  rain_alternatives: true

Parameters Reference

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
destination	string	required	City, country, or region to visit
dates.start	date	required	Trip start date
dates.end	date	required	Trip end date
travelers	number	1	Number of travelers for budget splitting and group logistics
budget_total	number	null	Total budget in USD; null for no constraint
travel_style	string	"balanced"	Style: budget, balanced, comfort, luxury
interests	array	[]	Key interests: food, culture, nature, nightlife, shopping, adventure, history
accommodation_preference	string	"mid_range"	Level: hostel, budget, mid_range, boutique, luxury
pace	string	"moderate"	Daily activity level: relaxed, moderate, packed
dietary_needs	array	[]	Dietary requirements: vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, gluten_free
mobility_constraints	string	null	Physical limitations affecting activity selection
rain_alternatives	boolean	true	Include backup indoor activities for outdoor plans

Core Concepts

Concept	Description
Neighborhood Clustering	Groups activities by geographic proximity to minimize transit time and maximize time at each location
Energy Curve Planning	Schedules demanding activities (long walks, hikes) early in the trip and lighter activities later, accounting for cumulative fatigue and jet lag
Budget Envelope Method	Allocates the total budget into daily envelopes across categories, with flexibility to borrow from low-spend days for splurge meals or special experiences
Seasonal Awareness	Adjusts recommendations based on season: cherry blossom spots in spring, indoor alternatives in monsoon season, festival schedules, and daylight hours
Buffer Architecture	Builds buffer time into every day for spontaneous discoveries, rest, and the inevitable delays that happen during travel

┌──────────────┐     ┌───────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐
│  Destination │────▶│   Activity    │────▶│    Route     │
│  Research    │     │   Selection   │     │   Optimizer  │
└──────────────┘     └───────────────┘     └──────┬───────┘
                                                   │
┌──────────────┐     ┌───────────────┐             │
│  Booking     │◀───│    Budget     │◀─────────────┘
│  Links       │     │   Allocation  │
└──────────────┘     └───────────────┘

Workflow Examples

Scenario 1: Budget Backpacking Southeast Asia

Input:

3 weeks in Southeast Asia on $2,000 total (excluding flights). 
Solo traveler. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia. Love street food, 
temples, and beaches. Staying in hostels.

Output: A 21-day route: Bangkok (3 days) to Chiang Mai (3 days) by overnight train, fly to Hanoi (3 days), Ha Long Bay day trip, overnight bus to Hue (2 days), train to Hoi An (3 days), fly to Siem Reap (3 days), bus to Phnom Penh (1 day). Budget per day: $30 accommodation, $15 food, $10 activities, $40/day transport averaged. Includes hostel links on Hostelworld, street food recommendations by neighborhood, and temple visit scheduling to avoid crowds.

Scenario 2: European Honeymoon

Input:

Plan a 12-day European honeymoon. Budget $8,000 excluding flights. 
We want romance, great food, and beautiful scenery. Considering 
Italy and Greece. Mid-September.

Output: A curated 12-day itinerary: Rome (3 days) including a private Colosseum tour and Trastevere dinner, train to Amalfi Coast (3 days) with a sunset boat tour and Ravello gardens, fly to Santorini (3 days) with caldera sunset dining and wine tasting, ferry to Athens (3 days) with Acropolis and Plaka district. Boutique hotel selections ($150-200/night), fine dining reservations alongside hidden local trattorias, and special honeymoon experiences flagged throughout.

Scenario 3: Family Trip with Young Children

Input:

Week in Barcelona with two kids (ages 4 and 7). Need kid-friendly 
activities, no super early mornings, and restaurants that work 
for picky eaters. Budget $4,000.

Output: A family-paced 7-day plan starting no earlier than 10am, featuring the Aquarium, Park Guell (morning when cooler), Barcelona Beach, Camp Nou stadium tour, Magic Fountain evening show, and CosmoCaixa science museum. Each day includes mid-afternoon "recharge time" at the hotel or a park. Restaurant recommendations specify kids' menus and outdoor seating. Activities are grouped with maximum 2 per day to avoid meltdowns. Includes a rainy-day alternative plan.

Best Practices

1. Build in buffer days — Plan activities for about 70% of your available days. Leave the rest for spontaneous exploration, rest, or revisiting places you loved. Over-scheduled trips lead to exhaustion and missed serendipity.

2. Book anchor accommodations first — Secure your first and last night accommodations plus any high-demand stays (e.g., Santorini sunset-view hotels) immediately. Fill in the middle once the framework is set.

3. Cluster activities by neighborhood — Do not zigzag across the city. Group morning and afternoon activities within walking distance of each other to reduce transit time and maximize exploration.

4. Research local meal timing — In Spain, lunch is at 2pm and dinner at 9pm. In Japan, popular ramen shops close by 2pm. Align your schedule to local eating culture rather than forcing your home timezone habits.

5. Keep a contingency fund — Budget 10-15% of your total as a contingency envelope. Unexpected costs (delayed trains, last-minute tickets, medical needs) always arise, and having a buffer prevents financial stress from ruining the trip.

Common Issues

Activities are not available on the planned day

Many museums and attractions have specific closing days (e.g., the Louvre is closed Tuesdays). The skill checks known closing schedules when generating the itinerary, but always verify current hours before booking. Seasonal closures and holiday schedules can override regular hours.

Budget seems unrealistic for the destination

Budget estimates are based on typical mid-range pricing. If the total feels wrong, adjust travel_style to match your actual spending habits. Specify budget_total as a hard constraint and the skill will trim or substitute activities and accommodation tiers to fit.

Intercity transportation connections seem wrong

Transportation schedules change frequently. The skill uses Rome2Rio data for general routing and pricing, but specific departure times should be verified on the local operator's website. Train schedules in Europe can be booked on Trainline or the national railway's app for confirmed times and prices.

Privacy & Data Handling

All itinerary data is generated and stored locally in your project directory. The skill does not create accounts on booking platforms or make reservations on your behalf — it provides links for you to book directly. No passport numbers, payment information, or personal travel details are transmitted to any external service. When generating booking links, the skill constructs search URLs with destination and date parameters only. Your travel preferences, budget information, and itinerary details remain entirely on your local machine and are never shared with third parties.