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

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…