Mastering Tern: Your Easy Guide to Personalized Travel Planning

Planning a trip can sometimes feel overwhelming—choices, logistics, and endless options can make the process daunting, especially for first-time users. Luckily, Tern’s AI-powered platform simplifies this experience, allowing travelers to craft personalized itineraries effortlessly.

Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a curious beginner, this step-by-step tutorial will walk you through using Tern’s intuitive tools to create a tailor-made travel plan from scratch. Discover how to select destinations, customize activities, choose accommodations and dining options, and visualize your journey on an interactive map—all with the power of AI guiding your choices.

Let’s dive into the future of travel planning, one step at a time!

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Step 1: Getting Started with Tern

Create an Account

To begin your journey, visit Tern’s website or download the app from your device’s app store. Sign up with your email or social media account. Once logged in, you’ll be greeted with a clean, user-friendly dashboard designed to guide you through the planning process.

Begin a New Trip

Click on the "Create New Trip" button. Tern will prompt you to enter some basic information about your travel plans—these include your intended destination(s), travel dates, and any specific themes or interests (e.g., adventure, relaxation, cultural exploration). Don’t worry—if you’re unsure, you can always adjust these details later.

Step 2: Selecting Destinations with AI Assistance

Utilize Smart Recommendations

Tern’s AI engine analyzes your inputs and preferences to suggest optimal destinations. For example, if you specify a five-day trip focused on cultural experiences, Tern might recommend cities like Florence, Kyoto, or Marrakech based on your interests.

Explore Alternative Options

The platform provides a list of alternative destinations, complete with brief descriptions and user reviews. You can select one or multiple locations if you wish to combine different places.

Case Study Example:

Alex wanted a relaxing beach getaway but also loved snorkeling. Tern suggested Bali and the Maldives, highlighting the best spots for water activities, which Alex hadn’t considered.

Step 3: Customizing Activities

Personalized Activity Suggestions

Once your destination(s) is selected, Tern leverages AI to recommend activities aligned with your interests. Whether it’s hiking, museum visits, culinary tours, or nightlife, the platform provides a curated list based on your profile.

Add, Remove, and Rearrange Activities

Simply click on activities to add them to your itinerary. You can also remove or reorder them to fit your preferred schedule. Tern’s AI learns from your choices, gradually refining suggestions for future planning.

Example:

Emma loves outdoor adventures. Tern suggested a mountain trek and a kayaking tour in New Zealand, which she customized by adding a wine tasting afternoon.

Step 4: Choosing Accommodations

AI-Driven Accommodation Recommendations

Based on your destinations and activities, Tern recommends lodging options—hotels, hostels, boutique stays—that match your style and budget.

Filtering and Personalization

Use filters for price range, amenities, ratings, or specific preferences like pet-friendliness or eco-certifications. Tern’s AI considers your previous choices to suggest the most compatible options.

Example:

Liam prioritized eco-friendly accommodations in Costa Rica. Tern identified and recommended top-rated eco-resorts aligned with his values.

Step 5: Selecting Dining Options

Cuisine Preferences

Tern suggests restaurants and local dining experiences based on your dietary preferences, cuisine interests, and proximity to your planned activities.

Booking and Reservations

Some options allow direct reservations or links to booking platforms, making it easy to secure spots ahead of time.

Tip:

Use the map view to see restaurant locations relative to your accommodations and activities for seamless planning.

Step 6: Visualizing Your Journey on an Interactive Map

Dynamic Trip Map

Tern features an interactive map that visualizes your entire itinerary—destinations, activities, accommodations, and dining spots. As you add or modify elements, the map updates in real-time.

Benefits of Map Visualization

• Clarity: See the geographic layout of your trip.
• Optimization: Spot overlaps or long travel distances and adjust accordingly.
• Sharing: Easily share your trip plan with friends or travel companions.

Example:

By viewing her trip on the map, Sofia realized her planned activities in Rome were too spread out, so she rearranged them for better efficiency.

Step 7: Finalizing and Saving Your Trip

Review Your Itinerary

Go through all the details—destinations, activities, accommodations, dining, and map view—to ensure everything aligns with your expectations.

Adjust and Personalize Further

Use Tern’s AI suggestions to tweak your plan, add last-minute ideas, or remove elements.

Save and Export

Once satisfied, save your trip. You can export it as a PDF or share a link with friends or travel agents.

Additional Tips for First-Time Users

• Leverage AI Recommendations: Trust Tern’s AI to introduce you to options you might not have considered.
• Iterate and Refine: Feel free to experiment—change destinations or activities to see how suggestions evolve.
• Stay Updated: Tern continuously learns from your interactions, so the more you use it, the better personalized your plans become.

Conclusion

Tern’s AI-powered platform revolutionizes how travelers craft personalized itineraries—from selecting destinations to visualizing your journey on an interactive map. Its ease of use and intelligent suggestions make travel planning accessible and enjoyable for beginners and seasoned explorers alike.

Now that you have this step-by-step guide, you’re ready to experience the future of travel planning. Dive in, explore your options, and let Tern turn your travel dreams into reality!

Happy travels!