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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Claude AI lets you connect to several third-party services.
- TripAdvisor, AllTrails, and Spotify are among the newest connectors.
- I used Claude and its connectors to plan an upcoming hiking trip.
My wife and I like to travel, and I often use AI to help me plan a trip. Usually, I simply ask the chatbot to recommend local hotels and attractions. Though I’ve typically turned to ChatGPT and Gemini for this type of planning, another AI I’ve been using more frequently is Anthropic’s Claude. To help with certain requests, Claude offers a feature called Connectors, through which you connect to and work with third-party services.
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Introduced in July 2025, Claude Connectors started with such external services as Gmail, Slack, and Canva. Since then, the AI has added additional services, mostly ones aimed at work- and finance-related activities. But on Thursday, Claude unveiled 15 new connectors, many of them directed more toward personal tasks. These include AllTrails, Audible, Instacart, Spotify, StubHub, TripAdvisor, and Uber, among others.
Some of the new additions caught my eye, as I thought they could help with travel planning. In this case, my wife and I want to head up to the Adirondacks this summer to hike and just enjoy the area. With that in mind, I tapped into a few of the new Claude Connectors to see how they could map out our trip.
How to use Connectors in Claude
Connectors are available with all Claude plans — free and paid. You can use them at the Claude website or through any of the desktop or mobile apps.
To get started, sign in to the Claude website or one of the apps and start a new chat. Click the plus icon in the prompt, move to Connectors, and then select “Add Connector” from the menu. At the Connectors directory, you can search for a specific service, filter the list by type, or sort it by name or another attribute. Just click the plus icon for one you want to add. You’re then returned to the main chat window.
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To use a Connector in a new chat, just write your prompt as you normally would, and Claude will try to determine which Connector to use. If that doesn’t do the trick, then include the name of the Connector in your request.
How I planned my trip with connectors
For planning my trip, I added TripAdvisor for hotels, AllTrails for hiking trails, Viator for guided tours, and Spotify to pass the time on the drive by playing our favorite music.
First, I consulted TripAdvisor for places to stay. At the prompt, I asked Claude to find hotel rooms near Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks, which is where we planned to hike. Here, the AI asked me whether I wanted to use Booking.com or TripAdvisor for assistance. I chose TripAdvisor.
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In response, Claude displayed a map and details for 15 different hotels. Each entry showed me the name of the hotel, the number of stars it received, and the average price. Clicking on the name of a specific hotel gave me more details. From there, I could book a hotel room through TripAdvisor.
Second, I started a new chat and asked Claude to find and map out hiking trails around Mount Marcy. Here, Claude automatically turned to the AllTrails Connector I had added. The response showed me the names and details on several trails in the area. Choosing a specific trail displayed a larger map and further details. From there, I could save the map directly in the AllTrails app to store it for our trip.
Third, I wanted to see if there were any guided hikes or tours in the area. For this, I tapped into Viator, a tour company that my wife and I have used many times in the past. At a new chat prompt, I asked Claude to show me any guided hikes or tours in the Adirondacks, including but not limited to the Mount Marcy area.
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Claude initially looked on the web for the information but then consulted Viator. No guided tours appeared on the list based solely on Viator’s offerings. The AI then segued to local licensed guide services and came up with several choices that matched what we needed.
Finally, I wanted to create a few playlists of songs to which we could listen on our long drive to the Adirondacks. Here, I specifically told Claude to use Spotify and asked it to create a playlist of classic rock music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s for a long car trip. After submitting the prompt, I had to link to my Spotify account by signing in.
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Claude then generated several playlists. From the chat screen, I could preview each playlist and add it to my Spotify library. Clicking a specific playlist took me to Spotify, where I could preview all the songs and manage the list. To fully use this feature, you do need a Spotify Premium account.
Why I prefer Claude AI
Claude AI and its interactive Connectors definitely helped plan and map out our upcoming trip. ChatGPT offers the same capability, with access to such apps as Booking.com, Coursera, Expedia, and Zillow. But I like the range of services available through Claude, especially for trip planning, and will use it the next time my wife and I want to get away.