Last week, I tried NotebookLM for travel planning for the first time, and honestly, this AI-powered tool from Google blew my mind.
Typically, when preparing for a trip, we all gather information in our own way — in a notebook, on maps, in a calendar. Some people use folders, others dump everything into one file. We collect links to web pages, text in various formats, screenshots, PDF documents — some of which we haven’t even read yet. In the end, we’re left with a pile of scattered information in different formats.
But what if I told you there’s a tool that can take all of this, add dozens of sources it suggests itself, and generate a structured report with links to the original materials?
NotebookLM is a free AI tool by Google that compiles information based on your query. You can also feed it everything you already have on the topic — including text, documents, website links, and videos. In this way, NotebookLM for travel helps organize even the most chaotic notes and links into something usable. One of the best feature for NotebookLM travel planning is the ability to break down cluttered research into structured ideas.
Then, the system analyzes all of it, breaks it down into topics, highlights key aspects, finds hidden patterns and contradictions, and generates a report accompanied by a mind map that allows you to dive deeper into specific subjects.
You can search within the finished report and ask questions, clarify details, and compare information.
I’ve already created several projects for my upcoming trips. For each one, I opened a separate project, uploaded everything I had, asked it to find and add relevant sources, and analyze the data. As a result, I finally have order in my materials — for the first time in years.
The cherry on top is the audio summary in the form of a podcast. Although it’s a bit free-form, it gives a great overview of the material with pleasant voices and intonation.
The application runs directly in the browser and is very intuitive. The interface, as always with Google, is minimalistic — nothing unnecessary, but everything works perfectly.
NotebookLM for travel Guide
Notebook LM by Google is a personal research assistant powered by artificial intelligence that helps you organize information, find what you need, and generate useful materials.
For travelers, this tool can be a real game changer, transforming a chaotic mix of notes, links, and documents into a structured plan and convenient source of information.
This guide will help you master NotebookLM — from creating a project to generating final outputs such as reports, mind maps, and audio summaries, with a focus on how it can be useful for travel. I used NotebookLM travel planning to prepare for our trip to Switzerland and Germany.
How to Start Using NotebookLM for Travel: Creating Projects
A project (or “notebook”) in NotebookLM is your workspace dedicated to a specific topic. For travelers, this can be a single trip, a region study, or even planning a series of travels.
How to Create a Project
Log into NotebookLM:
Go to the NotebookLM website and sign in with your Google account.
Click “+ New Notebook”:
Give your project a meaningful title, such as “Italy Trip 2025”, “Exploring U.S. National Parks”, or “Weekend in Amsterdam”.
Start adding sources:
Right after creating the project, you can upload relevant information.
Tips for travelers:
If you’ve never used NotebookLM for travel – start with one itinerary.
One project = one trip: This will help keep things organized and focused.
Use clear titles: It’ll be easier to navigate if you have multiple projects.
Full List of Information Sources
NotebookLM can work with various types of text-based data. The more relevant information you provide, the more accurate and useful its responses and generated materials will be.
You can also ask it to find additional sources.
Supported Sources
Google Docs:
Perfect for your own notes, plans, to-do lists, and itinerary drafts.
PDF files:
Upload travel guides, brochures, scanned book pages, booking confirmations, and insurance documents.
Text files (.txt):
Plain text notes and copied information from the web.
Copied text:
You can paste text directly into NotebookLM.
Web links (URLs):
Add links to travel articles, blogs, official attraction websites, restaurant and hotel reviews. NotebookLM will process the textual content of these pages. Note: Web link processing and quality may vary depending on the current version, availability of the feature, and site structure.
Sources Useful for Travelers
Bookings:
Flight tickets, hotels, car rentals, event tickets (save as PDF or copy text).
Itineraries:
Detailed day-by-day plans, including addresses, hours of operation, and transport options (can be managed in Google Docs).
Research:
Articles on landmarks, culture, local cuisine, tips from experienced travelers (copy text or use URLs).
Personal notes:
Ideas on what to see and do, packing lists.
Important info:
Embassy contacts, emergency numbers, visa and insurance details.
Travel guides:
Digital versions (PDF) or copied/scanned chapters from printed books.
Reviews:
About restaurants, hotels, excursions (copy the text).
Tips for Adding Sources
Relevance first:
Make sure the information you upload is truly related to your trip.
Structure your Google Docs:
Use headings, lists, and clear formatting to help NotebookLM better process the content.
Check URL parsing:
After adding a URL, make sure NotebookLM correctly extracted the content. Complex sites may not be fully processed.
Convert to text:
If you have important info in unsupported formats (e.g., images with text), extract the text and save it in .txt or Google Docs.
Information Processing in NotebookLM
Once the sources are uploaded, NotebookLM starts analyzing them. You can interact with the content by asking questions, requesting summaries, and generating ideas.
Key Features for Processing Information
Ask questions:
Ask NotebookLM for specific information from your sources. For example:
“Which vegetarian restaurants are mentioned near the Colosseum?”
“What is the address of the ‘Sunny Beach’ hotel?”
“What are the Van Gogh Museum’s opening hours in my notes?”
“List all the attractions in Paris mentioned in my sources.”
Get summaries:
Ask NotebookLM to provide concise summaries on a given topic based on your sources.
“Summarize the main activities planned for day one in Rome.”
“Summarize transportation info in London from the uploaded articles.”
Brainstorm ideas:
Use NotebookLM to spark ideas.
“What are some day trip ideas from Florence based on my sources?”
“Suggest evening entertainment in Berlin mentioned in my documents.”
Noteboard: As you explore responses and ideas, you can save important fragments, quotes, and personal notes in the “Noteboard” section. This helps collect key information in one place. NotebookLM will also suggest saving helpful answers to the Noteboard.
How This Helps Travelers:
Quick access to information:
No need to reread all your documents to find a reservation number or address.
Structured planning:
NotebookLM helps combine scattered bits of information into one cohesive view.
Finding hidden connections:
The tool may uncover interesting places or activities you forgot or overlooked, based on full source analysis.
Preparing for emergencies:
Quickly find emergency contacts or insurance details if they were uploaded.
The Final Output: Report, Mind Map, Audio Summary
Based on the analyzed information, NotebookLM can help you generate a variety of useful travel-ready materials.
Report
The report can be a structured document containing key information about your trip.
How to create it (using NotebookLM and other tools):
Collect key data in the Noteboard:
While asking questions and getting summaries, actively save important info (itineraries, bookings, lists, contacts, useful facts) in the Noteboard.
Organize notes in the Noteboard:
Group saved notes by days, topics (like “Transportation”, “Accommodation”, “Rome Sights”, “Florence Restaurants”) or priority. You can drag and drop notes to reorder them.
Export or copy:
Select the needed notes (or all) and copy them. Then paste into Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or another editor. Some versions of NotebookLM may offer direct export options.
Format and finalize:
Make your report reader-friendly by adding headings, lists, and optionally inserting maps or images (manually in your chosen editor).
Benefits for Travelers:
Ready-made itinerary:
A day-by-day plan with addresses, opening times, and essential info.
Reference guide:
All important details (addresses, phone numbers, booking numbers, useful local phrases) in one place.
To-do list:
Things not to forget or bring with you.
Safety checklist:
Important contacts and behavior guidelines.
Mind Map
A mind map is a visual way to represent information, ideas, and the connections between them. While NotebookLM doesn’t directly create mind maps, it does an excellent job of collecting and structuring information to later build one using specialized tools.
How to Create (using NotebookLM and mind mapping tools):
Define the central topic: For example, “Trip to Japan”.
Use NotebookLM to generate key topics and subtopics:
Ask questions to identify the main aspects of your trip: “Which cities should I visit?”, “What types of activities?”, “Transportation hubs?”, “Cultural highlights?”. Save the answers and key ideas to the Noteboard.
Identify main branches:
Based on Noteboard information, determine the core categories for your mind map (e.g. “Tokyo”, “Kyoto”, “Transport”, “Cuisine”, “Culture”, “Accommodation”).
Add subpoints:
For each main branch, include detailed info from NotebookLM (specific attractions, restaurants, transport options, dish names, tips).
Use specialized tools:
Transfer this structure to a mind mapping app or service (e.g. Coggle, MindMeister, XMind, Miro – or simply draw it by hand).
Visualize connections:
Show how various aspects of your trip are related (e.g., routes between cities, nearby points of interest).
Benefits for Travelers:
Big picture:
Helps you see the entire trip at a glance and how its parts interconnect.
Route planning:
Visually organize city transitions and attractions to optimize logistics.
Brainstorming:
Generate new ideas for activities or sights by viewing all options together.
Easy to digest:
Visual information is often easier and faster to understand than plain text.
Audio Overview
An audio summary can be handy for listening to key information on the go — while driving, walking through a city, or reviewing plans before bed. NotebookLM can help generate the script for this summary.
How to Create (using NotebookLM and voice tools):
Generate a script:
Use NotebookLM to create itinerary summaries, descriptions of attractions, or brief day-by-day notes. Ask specific prompts:
“Give a brief overview of tomorrow’s plan including addresses and hours.”
“Describe the history of the Eiffel Tower based on my sources in a few paragraphs suitable for audio.”
“Summarize top safety tips for Rome from my documents.”
Edit the text for audio:
Copy the generated content and adapt it for listening. Simplify long sentences, make them more conversational. Break text into short paragraphs. Add pauses or emphasis if recording yourself.
Record your voice:
Simply read and record the script using your phone or computer.
Use TTS (Text-to-Speech): Use online services or apps to convert text into speech (e.g., OS features, Google Text-to-Speech, NaturalReader, Balabolka). Choose your preferred voice and reading speed.
Save the audio file:
Download it to your phone or portable device for convenient playback.
Benefits for Travelers:
Hands-free access:
Get information when your hands are full (e.g. driving safely, commuting, carrying luggage, or walking around).
Retention and recall:
Listening helps reinforce key travel details, names, or historical facts.
Personal audio guide:
Create your own mini-audio tours of places based on your collected notes.
Quick daily refresh:
Play a short summary of tomorrow’s plan to stay up to speed.
Key Benefits of using NotebookLM for Travel
Centralized travel information:
Everything related to your trip — from passport and ticket scans to restaurant notes and blog links — is stored in one place and always at your fingertips.
Saves time and effort:
Quickly find what you need without flipping through dozens of documents, browser tabs, or notebooks.
Deeper insights and discoveries:
NotebookLM doesn’t just help gather information, it analyzes it, uncovers hidden connections, and suggests ideas based on your own materials.
Maximum personalization:
You create reports and summaries that are perfectly tailored to your travel style, needs, and interests.
Confidence and preparation for the unexpected:
Quick access to important info (insurance, embassy contacts, allergy notes) when things go off plan.
Smarter, more mindful planning:
Take a more thoughtful approach to building itineraries, choosing activities, and managing your budget.
Less stress before and during travel:
Peace of mind knowing that everything you need is safely stored, organized, and easy to access.
NotebookLM is a powerful and flexible tool that, when used well, can significantly ease your trip planning and make your journey richer, smoother, and more organized. Don’t be afraid to explore its features, upload various sources, and build the kind of final products that will be most useful to you! NotebookLM’s travel-specific advantage is its ability to turn raw information into a ready-to-use itinerary.
