Vasukai

AI Travel Index / October 2026

Who AI recommends in New York

What ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews told travellers asking about New York, asked from United States. The squares show which assistants named each business.

CChatGPTGGeminiPPerplexityAGoogle AI Overviews

Hotels

29 businesses named; 90% by only one assistant

  1. Arlo NoMadCGPA
  2. Crosby Street HotelCGPA
  3. The Carlyle, A Rosewood HotelCGPA
  4. Aman New YorkCGPA
  5. Bemelmans BarCGPA
  6. Conrad New York DowntownCGPA
  7. Four Seasons Hotel New York DowntownCGPA
  8. Google HotelsCGPA

Sources cited: google.com, timeout.com, tripadvisor.com, facebook.com

Asked: “What are the best hotels in New York?” and “Where should I stay in New York for a first visit?”

Restaurants

50 businesses named; 68% by only one assistant

  1. Katz's DelicatessenCGPA
  2. AtomixCGPA
  3. Le BernardinCGPA
  4. Russ & DaughtersCGPA
  5. SemmaCGPA
  6. Gramercy TavernCGPA
  7. Joe's PizzaCGPA
  8. L'ArtusiCGPA

Sources cited: google.com, blog.resy.com, ny.eater.com, nytimes.com

Asked: “What are the best restaurants in New York?” and “Where should I eat in New York for local food?”

Things to do

50 businesses named; 90% by only one assistant

  1. SUMMIT One VanderbiltCGPA
  2. Top of the RockCGPA
  3. American Museum of Natural HistoryCGPA
  4. Chelsea MarketCGPA
  5. Metropolitan Museum of ArtCGPA
  6. 9/11 Memorial & MuseumCGPA
  7. All-borough bus tourCGPA
  8. Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off ToursCGPA

Sources cited: tripadvisor.com, viator.com, getyourguide.com, timeout.com

Asked: “What are the best things to do in New York?” and “Which tours in New York are worth booking?”

Tours and day trips

52 businesses named; 83% by only one assistant

  1. AmtrakCGPA
  2. ViatorCGPA
  3. GetYourGuideCGPA
  4. TripadvisorCGPA
  5. Big Bus ToursCGPA
  6. Dia BeaconCGPA
  7. Free Tours by FootCGPA
  8. Real New York ToursCGPA

Sources cited: viator.com, tripadvisor.com, instagram.com, topviewtix.com

Asked: “Best day trips from New York and who to book with?” and “Which tour companies are best for a trip to New York?”

Airport transfers

38 businesses named; 79% by only one assistant

  1. LyftCGPA
  2. UberCGPA
  3. AirTrainCGPA
  4. NJ TransitCGPA
  5. Long Island Rail RoadCGPA
  6. BlacklaneCGPA
  7. GO Airlink NYCCGPA
  8. Q70 busCGPA

Sources cited: skyscanner.com, tripadvisor.com, rome2rio.com, blade.com

Asked: “What is the best way to get from the airport to central New York?” and “Which airport transfer service should I use in New York?”

eSIMs and mobile data

22 businesses named; 64% by only one assistant

  1. T-MobileCGPA
  2. HolaflyCGPA
  3. AiraloCGPA
  4. AT&TCGPA
  5. SailyCGPA
  6. UbigiCGPA
  7. VerizonCGPA
  8. MobiMatterCGPA

Sources cited: google.com, saily.com, esim.holafly.com, blog.yesim.tech

Asked: “What is the best way to get mobile data as a tourist in New York?” and “Which eSIM should I buy for a trip to New York?”

Travel insurance

28 businesses named; 89% by only one assistant

  1. Allianz Travel InsuranceCGPA
  2. SquaremouthCGPA
  3. InsureMyTripCGPA
  4. Seven CornersCGPA
  5. Travelex Insurance ServicesCGPA
  6. AIG Travel GuardCGPA
  7. Allianz Global AssistanceCGPA
  8. Atlas AmericaCGPA

Sources cited: americanvisitorinsurance.com, capturetheatlas.com, nerdwallet.com, squaremouth.com

Asked: “Best travel insurance for visiting New York?” and “Which travel insurance should I get for a trip to New York?”

Airlines

26 businesses named; 77% by only one assistant

  1. Delta Air LinesCGPA
  2. JetBlueCGPA
  3. American AirlinesCGPA
  4. United AirlinesCGPA
  5. JetBlue AirwaysCGPA
  6. Southwest AirlinesCGPA
  7. AmericanCGPA
  8. UnitedCGPA

Sources cited: expedia.com, skyscanner.com, kayak.com, aa.com

Asked: “What is the best airline to fly into New York?” and “Which airline is best for flying to New York?”

Other cities

LondonUnited KingdomParisFranceDubaiUnited Arab EmiratesSingaporeSingaporeTokyoJapanBangkokThailandIstanbulTurkeyRomeItalyBarcelonaSpainBaliIndonesiaMumbaiIndiaDelhiIndiaSydneyAustraliaLisbonPortugalAmsterdamNetherlandsHong KongHong KongLos AngelesUnited StatesCape TownSouth AfricaMexico CityMexico

How we ran it

On 10 October 2026 we asked ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews the same 320 travel questions: two for each of 8 topics in each of 20 cities, worded the way travellers ask.

Each question was asked from the city’s own country, through the assistant itself where possible (Perplexity through its API with web search). Google does not show an AI Overview for every search, so a few questions have three answers instead of four.

We recorded every answer in full and listed the businesses each one named. Landmarks, neighbourhoods and public places are not counted. Different spellings of the same business are merged.

This shows what the assistants said that day, not our own ranking. Answers change, so we ask the same questions again every month and keep every answer.

Is your business in the answer?

The free AI check shows whether ChatGPT names your business when customers ask, who it names instead, and three things to fix first. No card needed.

Run my free check