TripAdvisor

This MCP server lets you access TripAdvisor vacation data to plan trips, discover attractions, find restaurants and hotels, view photos and reviews, and use an interactive planning prompt from your MCP client. It centralizes travel data so you can build rich vacation-planning flows.

How to use

Start a new conversation with your MCP client and choose the TripAdvisor Vacation Planner MCP Server. You can prompt it with natural language requests like: “Find hotels near downtown Seattle,” “Show top attractions in Paris,” or “Plan a 3-day itinerary with restaurants and must-see sites.” The server will handle location searches, details, nearby recommendations, photos, and reviews, and it supports an interactive vacation planning prompt to guide your decisions.

When you request information, you can ask for: nearby attractions, restaurants, and hotels; detailed information about a location; photos and reviews; and location-based suggestions to craft your itinerary. Use clear, specific prompts to get targeted results, such as “Show three kid-friendly activities near my hotel” or “List highly rated restaurants within 1 km of the museum.”

How to install

Prerequisites you need to prepare before installing and running the server:

• Python 3.10 or higher
• uvx (the Fast Python package installer and resolver)
• TripAdvisor API key (obtainable from the TripAdvisor Developer Portal)
• Claude Desktop (for Claude Desktop integration)
• Google Maps MCP Server (optional, for map-related features)

Install and run the TripAdvisor MCP Server using uvx. Follow these steps exactly to set up your local environment and start the server.

Step-by-step commands

# Set up environment and install CLI tooling
uv venv
# On Windows
.venv\Scripts\activate
# On macOS/Linux
source .venv/bin/activate

# Add required dependencies
uv add "mcp[cli]"

# Run the server (you will set your API key in the environment first)
export TRIPADVISOR_API_KEY=your_api_key_here  # Linux/macOS
set TRIPADVISOR_API_KEY=your_api_key_here     # Windows Command Prompt
$env:TRIPADVISOR_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"  # Windows PowerShell

mcp run server.py

Setting up for Claude Desktop

To integrate with Claude Desktop, install and run the server via MCP within Claude's workflow.

mcp install server.py

Configuring Claude Desktop for this server

In Claude Desktop, add a new MCP server entry with the following configuration to point Claude at your local TripAdvisor MCP Server.

{
  "tripadvisor": {
    "command": "uv",
    "args": [
      "run",
      "--with",
      "mcp[cli]",
      "mcp",
      "run",
      "PATH_TO_YOUR_PROJECT\\server.py"
    ],
    "env": {
      "TRIPADVISOR_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
    }
  }
}

Using the Vacation Planner

After configuring Claude Desktop, start a new conversation in Claude and prompt with the Vacation Planner directive. You will be guided through an interactive planning flow to tailor your trip based on your preferences and constraints.

Troubleshooting and tips

If you encounter 401 Unauthorized errors, verify your TripAdvisor API key is correct and that your IP is whitelisted in the TripAdvisor Developer Portal. If Claude Desktop integration fails, double-check the server command, PATH_TO_YOUR_PROJECT, and that TRIPADVISOR_API_KEY is properly set in Claude's environment. If Claude has difficulty completing tasks, you may be running into token limits; try simplifying prompts or breaking tasks into smaller steps.

Available tools

Location Search

Find locations by name and category to start exploring trips and identify potential spots to visit.

Location Details

Get comprehensive information about a specific location, including amenities, hours, and key highlights.

Location Photos

View photos for a location to get a sense of what to expect and help with planning.

Location Reviews

Read reviews to understand experiences and recommendations from other travelers.

Nearby Search

Find attractions, restaurants, and hotels near a given point to build a cohesive itinerary.

Vacation Planning Prompt

Interact with an guided planning flow to tailor your trip based on preferences, dates, and constraints.