Plan a city trip with one hotel, no taxis, and an easy pace
When his wife handed him the job of planning their once-a-year trip, a 68-year-old Japanese systems engineer who blogs as 黒ラボ (Kuro Labo) gave Gemini a list of firm conditions: a budget flight-and-hotel package, one hotel for all four days, no taxis, and a gentle schedule. He says the plan it returned was practical and thoughtful.
What they did
His wife wanted a taste of big-city life for three nights. His request described them as a couple in their late 60s on a pension, and his conditions were firm: use a discounted flight-and-hotel package, stay in the same hotel every night because they aren't confident about their stamina, get around by public transit without taxis, and keep the schedule relaxed enough for their stamina. He spoke the whole request into his phone instead of typing it.
How it went
Gemini's four-day plan included a hotel near the station, train rides at about 10 a.m. to miss the morning rush, and a quiet garden and museum day. It suggested buying good prepared food from a department-store food hall to eat in the room, booking a French lunch instead of a pricier dinner, and taking an early flight home before they wore out. He says the dreaded planning job became a fun one: now he and his wife just pick the parts they like, and he can ask for changes, like swapping one museum for another. His post is in Japanese.
Worth knowing
AI can get train times, opening days, and prices wrong, so check each one on the official transit, museum, or restaurant website before you go. Book packages only through the airline, hotel, or a travel company you know, and pay by credit card. If stairs, long station transfers, or rest breaks matter, say so in your request. Don't share passport numbers or loyalty-account logins.
Try it yourself
Copy this into Gemini (or any AI assistant). Replace the parts in [brackets] with your own details.
We're a couple in our [age range] planning a [3-night] trip to [city] in [month]. Conditions: we'll book a flight-and-hotel package, stay in one hotel the whole time, and use public transit only (no taxis or rental car). We tire easily, so plan no more than [one or two] main stops a day, avoid rush hours, and include rest breaks. Our budget is about [amount] per day for food and sights. We enjoy [interests]. Give me a day-by-day plan, a money-saving tip for each day, and how to get from the hotel to each place. Mark every time, price, and opening day as "check on the official site."
Source: 黒ラボ (Kuro Labo), note (Kuro Labo's blog), Feb 26, 2026. Read the original →
First-hand account by the person who did it. Summarized in our own words. Spotted a mistake or want this removed? Tell us.