Travel Planner

What is TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server?

TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server is a server-side application that acts as an intermediary between Large Language Models (LLMs) and Google Maps API. It allows LLMs to access and utilize Google Maps functionalities for travel planning and itinerary management. This server is built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), facilitating seamless integration with LLM applications like Claude Desktop.

How to use TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server?

TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server can be installed and used in several ways:

• Via Smithery: The recommended method for Claude Desktop users is to install it automatically via Smithery using the command: npx -y @smithery/cli install @GongRzhe/TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server --client claude.
• Manually (npx): You can run it directly using npx @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp. For Google Maps API integration, set the GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY environment variable: GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_api_key npx @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp.
• Globally (npm): Install globally with npm install -g @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp and then run with GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_api_key @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp.

For integration with Claude Desktop, you need to configure claude_desktop_config.json by adding the server details under the mcpServers section, including the command to run the server and your Google Maps API key.

Key Features of TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server

TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server provides several tools that leverage Google Maps API:

• searchPlaces: Allows searching for places using Google Places API with options for query, location bias, and search radius.
• getPlaceDetails: Retrieves detailed information about a specific place using its Google Place ID.
• calculateRoute: Calculates routes between two locations, supporting different travel modes (driving, walking, bicycling, transit).
• getTimeZone: Fetches timezone information for a given location and optional timestamp.

Use Cases of TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server

This server is ideal for applications requiring intelligent travel planning capabilities, particularly those powered by LLMs. Potential use cases include:

• Automated Itinerary Generation: LLMs can generate detailed travel itineraries by searching for points of interest, calculating travel times, and getting place details.
• Location-aware Chatbots: Chatbots can provide real-time information about places, directions, and travel times based on user queries.
• Travel Assistant Applications: Building comprehensive travel assistants that can help users plan trips, find attractions, and navigate.
• Integration with AI Agents: Enabling AI agents to perform complex travel-related tasks by providing them with access to Google Maps functionalities.

FAQ about TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server

• What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)? MCP is a protocol that allows LLMs to interact with external tools and services, extending their capabilities beyond their core language generation.
• Do I need a Google Maps API Key? Yes, a Google Maps API Key is required. It needs to have the Places API, Directions API, Geocoding API, and Time Zone API enabled.
• How do I get a Google Maps API Key? You can obtain a Google Maps API Key from the Google Cloud Platform Console.
• Can I use this with other LLMs besides Claude Desktop? While the documentation highlights Claude Desktop, the server is built on MCP, which is designed for broader LLM integration. Compatibility with other LLMs would depend on their MCP support.
• How do I contribute to the project? You can contribute by cloning the repository, installing dependencies, and building the project from the source. Refer to the "Development" section in the README for more details.

Travel Planner MCP Server (@gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp)

A Travel Planner Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation for interacting with Google Maps and travel planning services. This server enables LLMs to perform travel-related tasks such as location search, place details lookup, and travel time calculations.

Installation & Usage

Installing via Smithery

To install Travel Planner for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @GongRzhe/TRAVEL-PLANNER-MCP-Server --client claude

Installing Manually

# Using npx (recommended)
npx @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp

# With environment variable for Google Maps API
GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_api_key npx @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp

Or install globally:

# Install globally
npm install -g @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp

# Run after global installation
GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_api_key @gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp

Components

Tools

• searchPlaces

  • Search for places using Google Places API
  • Input:
    • query (string): Search query for places
    • location (optional): Latitude and longitude to bias results
    • radius (optional): Search radius in meters

• getPlaceDetails

  • Get detailed information about a specific place
  • Input:
    • placeId (string): Google Place ID to retrieve details for

• calculateRoute

  • Calculate route between two locations
  • Input:
    • origin (string): Starting location
    • destination (string): Ending location
    • mode (optional): Travel mode (driving, walking, bicycling, transit)

• getTimeZone

  • Get timezone information for a location
  • Input:
    • location: Latitude and longitude coordinates
    • timestamp (optional): Timestamp for time zone calculation

Configuration

Usage with Claude Desktop

To use this server with the Claude Desktop app, add the following configuration to the "mcpServers" section of your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "travel-planner": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@gongrzhe/server-travelplanner-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "your_google_maps_api_key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Alternatively, you can use the node command directly if you have the package installed:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "travel-planner": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["path/to/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "your_google_maps_api_key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Development

Building from Source

1. Clone the repository
2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Build the project:

   npm run build
   

Environment Variables

• GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY (required): Your Google Maps API key with the following APIs enabled:
  • Places API
  • Directions API
  • Geocoding API
  • Time Zone API

License

This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. For more details, please see the LICENSE file in the project repository.