Leveling Up Your Prompts

A Sample Visit to Melk, Austria

Most people start using ChatGPT the way they use Google:

“What should I do in [place]?”

That’s not a bad start, but it’s not where the real value of AI kicks in.

Prompting is a skill. And like any skill, it improves with practice and structure. Today, we’ll walk through how better prompts lead to better results, using an upcoming visit to the picturesque town of Melk, Austria as our example.

🎯 The Prompt Quality Spectrum (in action)

Here’s how your results change as your prompts evolve from Weak to Extraordinary.

🔴 1. Weak Prompt – “Google style”

“What to do in Melk, Austria?”

This is vague and unstructured. ChatGPT can return a few top tourist spots, but it won’t know:

• How long you’re staying
• Your interests
• Whether you want a walking tour, a foodie guide, or a photo shoot route

📉 Result: A generic list of 3–5 places.

🟡 2. Good Prompt – Adding a little focus

“What are the best things to see in Melk, Austria if I only have one day?”

This adds important context: time limitation. The answer now focuses on priorities—but still lacks detail.

✅ Better, but still not personal.

📉 Result: Prioritized highlights, maybe a few food options.

🟢 3. Great Prompt – More structure = more value

“Create a one-day itinerary for visiting Melk, Austria. Include must-see attractions, timing, local food suggestions, and a mix of walking and scenic views in late June.”

This is where the AI starts to shine. You’ve now:

• Given it a purpose (a one-day itinerary)
• Asked for a specific format
• Included relevant preferences (walking, scenic, food)

📈 Result: A useful, organized, and semi-personalized day plan.

🟢🟢 4. Extraordinary Prompt – Creative + custom

“Plan a full-day itinerary for Wednesday 6/25/25, in Melk, Austria for a traveler on a river cruise, who enjoys history, local cuisine, and scenic architecture. Include timed recommendations starting at 9:00 AM, a visit to Melk Abbey, lunch at a local restaurant, and one hidden gem or nature spot. Present the output as a narrative travel blog-style post with engaging, informative tone.”

Now we’re talking.

✅ Traveler type
✅ Interests
✅ Timing
✅ Format and tone
✅ Landmark + bonus experience

📈📈 Result: A rich, blog-worthy guide that sounds like it was written just for you.