Vasukai's AI Travel Index for October 2026 found that 4,821 different businesses were named across 1,189 answers, and 75% of those businesses were named by only one of the four assistants tested. The index asked ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews the same 320 travel questions on 10 October 2026.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED Vasukai's AI Travel Index for October 2026 found that 4,821 different businesses were named across 1,189 answers, and 75% of those businesses were named by only one of the four assistants tested. The index asked ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews the same 320 travel questions on 10 October 2026.
- Vasukai published its AI Travel Index for October 2026.
- On 10 October 2026 the same 320 travel questions were asked of ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews.
- The assistants gave 1,189 answers and named 4,821 different businesses.
- 75% of those businesses were named by only one of the four assistants.
KEY FACTS
- Businesses named: 4,821 across 1,189 AI answers
- Named by only one assistant: 75%
- Named by every assistant that answered: 254
- Questions asked: 320: two for each of 8 topics in each of 20 cities
- Assistants tested: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews
- Date of the test: 10 October 2026
The index in charts
At a glance
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Businesses named | 4,821 |
| AI answers recorded | 1,189 |
| Questions asked | 320 |
| Cities | 20 |
| Named by only one assistant | 75% |
| Named by every assistant that answered | 254 |
Businesses named most often, by category
| Category | Business | Cities where it was in the top three named |
|---|---|---|
| eSIMs and mobile data | Airalo | 16 of 20 |
| eSIMs and mobile data | Holafly | 14 of 20 |
| eSIMs and mobile data | Orange | 2 of 20 |
| eSIMs and mobile data | Nomad | 2 of 20 |
| eSIMs and mobile data | Airtel | 2 of 20 |
| Tours and day trips | GetYourGuide | 15 of 20 |
| Tours and day trips | Viator | 15 of 20 |
| Tours and day trips | Klook | 3 of 20 |
| Tours and day trips | Context Travel | 2 of 20 |
| Tours and day trips | Tripadvisor | 2 of 20 |
| Travel insurance | Allianz Travel Insurance | 15 of 20 |
| Travel insurance | World Nomads | 9 of 20 |
| Travel insurance | Squaremouth | 6 of 20 |
| Travel insurance | IMG | 2 of 20 |
| Travel insurance | Staysure | 2 of 20 |
| Airport transfers | Uber | 10 of 20 |
| Airport transfers | Grab | 3 of 20 |
| Airport transfers | Klook | 3 of 20 |
| Airport transfers | Welcome Pickups | 2 of 20 |
| Airport transfers | Gojek | 2 of 20 |
The ten websites the assistants cited most
| Rank | Website |
|---|---|
| 1 | google.com |
| 2 | tripadvisor.com |
| 3 | viator.com |
| 4 | facebook.com |
| 5 | getyourguide.com |
| 6 | youtube.com |
| 7 | reddit.com |
| 8 | squaremouth.com |
| 9 | expedia.com |
| 10 | traveltomtom.net |
Source: Vasukai AI Travel Index, October 2026, tested on 10 October 2026. The index records what each assistant said on that day and is not a ranking. Vasukai is owned by Kael Tripton Ltd, the company that publishes this site. Being named by an AI assistant is not a recommendation by Kael Tripton.
What the index found: 4,821 businesses, 75% named by one assistant
Vasukai published its AI Travel Index for October 2026. Vasukai is owned by Kael Tripton Ltd, the company that publishes this site. The index reports what four AI assistants said when asked the same set of travel questions on a single day. Across 1,189 answers, the assistants named 4,821 different businesses. Of those businesses, 75% were named by only one of the four assistants. A further 254 businesses were named by every assistant that answered. The index states that asking a different assistant usually produces a different list, so being named by one assistant says little about the others.
The figures cover businesses in several travel categories, including hotels, food, tours, airport transfers, eSIMs, travel insurance and airlines. The index was produced by Vasukai, which is owned by Kael Tripton Ltd. The company publishes this site. The index is described by Vasukai as a record of what the assistants said that day, not as a ranking of its own. Being named by an AI assistant is not a recommendation by Kael Tripton. The index is repeated every month, and Vasukai says it keeps every answer.
How the test was run
On 10 October 2026 Vasukai asked ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews the same 320 travel questions. There were two questions for each of 8 topics in each of 20 cities. The questions were worded the way travellers ask them. The topics include hotels, food, tours, airport transfers, eSIMs, travel insurance and airlines. The 20 cities are London, Paris, Dubai, Singapore, New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Bali, Mumbai, Delhi, Sydney, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Cape Town and Mexico City.
Each question was asked from the city's own country, through the assistant itself where possible. Perplexity was asked 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. The assistants gave 1,189 answers in total. Landmarks, neighbourhoods and public places were not counted, and different spellings of the same business were merged. The result was 4,821 different businesses named across the answers. Vasukai says it asks the same questions again every month and keeps every answer.
Which businesses were named most often
For eSIMs and mobile data, the businesses most often among the top three named were Airalo in 16 of the 20 cities and Holafly in 14, followed by Orange, Nomad and Airtel in 2 each. For tours and day trips, GetYourGuide and Viator were each among the top three named in 15 cities, followed by Klook in 3, and Context Travel and Tripadvisor in 2 each. These figures record how often a business appeared among the top three names in the answers for that category.
For travel insurance, Allianz Travel Insurance was among the top three named in 15 cities, World Nomads in 9 and Squaremouth in 6, followed by IMG and Staysure in 2 each. For airport transfers, Uber was among the top three named in 10 cities, followed by Grab and Klook in 3 each, and Welcome Pickups and Gojek in 2 each. The index states that asking a different assistant usually produces a different list, so being named by one assistant says little about the others.
The websites the assistants relied on
The most cited sources across all answers were, in order: google.com, tripadvisor.com, viator.com, facebook.com, getyourguide.com, youtube.com, reddit.com, squaremouth.com, expedia.com, traveltomtom.net. These are the sources the assistants cited when giving their answers on 10 October 2026. The list is ordered by how often each source was cited across the 1,189 answers.
The index records the sources alongside the businesses named. The figures cover a single day of answers. Vasukai says answers change, so it asks the same questions again every month and keeps every answer. The index shows what the assistants said that day and is not Vasukai's own ranking. Being named by an AI assistant is not a recommendation by Kael Tripton.
What the figures do and do not show
The index shows what the assistants said on 10 October 2026. It is not a ranking. Google does not show an AI Overview for every search, so a few questions have three answers instead of four. The assistants gave 1,189 answers and named 4,821 different businesses. Of those businesses, 75% were named by only one of the four assistants, and 254 were named by every assistant that answered. Vasukai says that asking a different assistant usually produces a different list, so being named by one assistant says little about the others.
Vasukai says answers change, so it asks the same questions again every month and keeps every answer. The index is repeated monthly. The figures cover a single day's answers and are not a ranking. Being named by an AI assistant is not a recommendation by Kael Tripton. The index is published by Vasukai, which is owned by Kael Tripton Ltd, the company that publishes this site.
Source: Vasukai AI Travel Index, October 2026.
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DISCLAIMER
This article reports published research and is for general information only. Vasukai is owned by Kael Tripton Ltd, the company that publishes this site. Being named by an AI assistant is not a recommendation by Kael Tripton.
Frequently asked questions
How many businesses were named in the October 2026 AI Travel Index?
The assistants gave 1,189 answers and named 4,821 different businesses.
What share of businesses were named by only one assistant?
75% of the businesses were named by only one of the four assistants.
Which assistants were tested?
ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews.
How many questions were asked?
320 travel questions, with two questions for each of 8 topics in each of 20 cities.
When were the questions asked?
On 10 October 2026.
SOURCES
- Vasukai: AI Travel Index, October 2026 - accessed 10 October 2026
