I'm a former flight attendant. Here are 12 ways passengers ruin their experience on long-haul flights.
Some people drink too much alcohol, which can lead to dehydration and poor behavior.
Others forget to dress in layers and spend the entire flight feeling too hot or too cold.
As a travel writer who used to work as an international flight attendant, I've crisscrossed the globe many times over.
I've serviced every cabin and sat in just about every seat on the plane, from a first-class sleeper suite to the middle seat in the back of economy. In doing so, I've learned many of the tricks of the trade.
Here's what I've noticed many travelers do, consciously or subconsciously, to sabotage their comfort and overall experience on long-haul international flights.
Many fail to test out their bulky neck pillows before the flight and don't end up using them.
Some people swear by those classic U-shaped neck pillows, and my daughter actually loves hers.
But more often than not, I've seen passengers schlep them all over the world only to hang them up on the plane after finding them uncomfortable.
Before you burden yourself with such a bulky addition to your carry-on, test the pillow at home to make sure it's a good fit.
Some have a hard time waking back up after taking sleeping pills in the air.
Don't assume you can wash down a sleep aid with a couple of drinks and stay comfortably asleep for precisely the right amount of time.
Some sleeping pills can lead to grogginess and other side effects, and you need to be able to be awake and alert in the case of a mechanical issue or other emergencies on the plane.
If you have a hard time getting up after trying sleep aids for the first time, having a stronger-than-usual reaction to them, or taking too many, you could wake up to a frustrated flight attendant in front of your face.
Always talk to your doctor before taking prescription medication in the air. And if you're taking over-the-counter sleep aids, make sure you closely follow the instructions.
Passengers who let their kids watch TV series and movies the entire flight may have to deal with jet lag the next day.
As a mom, I don't judge parents for loosening their usual rules to get their kids through long flights. My oldest would happily hop on the world's longest flight just for the opportunity to watch TV and movies the whole time.
The number of kids' TV shows, movies, and games on most international flights is glorious, but if you don't mix in some analog-entertainment options — such as coloring books, sticker books, or mazes — your kids will probably be too wired to wind down and sleep.
And without sleep, they'll probably experience jet lag the next day.
I've seen travelers walk around the cabin without shoes or socks.
There's nothing like settling in for a long flight by kicking off your shoes and pulling on a comfy pair of socks, an amenity that crew members often hand out in first class.
But you're supposed to wear those socks when you're sitting down in your seat, not when you're walking around the cabin.
When I was working as a flight attendant, many airplane carpets didn't get deep cleaned very frequently. Because the cabin can get bumpy when the plane flies through turbulence, the liquid on the lavatory floor might not be water.
If you want to walk around without shoes on, pack some slippers to avoid direct contact with the floor.
Many plane travelers don't drink enough water and arrive at their destinations dehydrated.
If the captain is constantly switching the seatbelt sign on and off, or you have to climb over other people to get to the lavatory, it can be tempting to ration your water intake on flights.
But the dry air and high altitude can both contribute to dehydration, which can then exacerbate jet-lag symptoms or lead to other health issues.
Flight attendants should frequently sweep through the cabin offering water, but if that's not the case, don't hesitate to ask for more.
To have more control over the situation, you can bring your own water bottle on the plane. Most airports have water stations, so consider bringing an empty bottle to fill once you pass through security.
Some people don't layer enough in the plane cabin and are either too hot or too cold.
It's hard to please everyone, and that's especially true when it comes to the temperature inside an airplane that's hurtling across the world thousands of feet above the ground.
There's a high probability that, at some point, the cabin will be too hot or too cold for your liking. You can ask a flight attendant to tweak the temperature, but keep in mind that another passenger may have just requested a change in the opposite direction.
Play it safe by dressing in layers that are easy to pile up or remove.
Many travelers rely on in-flight entertainment, which doesn't always work.
A long-haul flight is a perfect opportunity to catch a new movie release or a TV series that streams on a channel you're not subscribed to at home.
But seat-back TVs can be finicky, so there's a chance the one in front of you won't work. If you're not the kind of person who can sleep all night on a plane, bring your own entertainment.
A lot of passengers don't charge their devices before boarding because they mistakenly assume the outlets by their seats will function.
It's smart to load your devices up with movies, shows, and e-books before a long flight.
Just make sure to keep your devices fully charged before you board because it's not uncommon for the outlets in a seat, a row, or an entire plane to stop working.
To be extra safe, bring a book or download a few podcasts, which won't drain your battery and will help you stay entertained through the night.
People who drink too much alcohol can act out of turn.
Because of decreased blood-oxygen levels from low cabin pressure and dehydration from low humidity, alcohol's effects can feel like they hit much harder in the air.
I've seen inebriated passengers embarrass themselves, start fights, and vomit after boasting about how much alcohol they can handle.
I'm not saying you can't have a glass of wine with dinner — I rarely pass up the opportunity — but please keep in mind that even if you don't misbehave, too much alcohol and dehydration can lead to a brutal case of jet lag.
Travelers don't always remember to bring small items, such as earplugs and moisturizers, that make the journey significantly more comfortable.
If you're in a premium cabin, a flight attendant may hand you a cute amenity kit. But if you're in the back, you'll probably have to bring your own.
The air in plane cabins tends to be low in moisture, so bring lip balm to keep your lips from chapping and lotion to keep your skin from flaking.
If you don't have noise-canceling headphones, bring earplugs to block out the sound of people chewing, chattering, coughing, and pacing up and down the aisles.
An eye mask helps cover your eyes from flashing TV screens, flight attendants' flashlights, and the light streaming in from any open window shades.
And after a long night of eating airplane food and sipping wine and then waking up to breakfast and coffee, you'll appreciate having travel-size toothpaste and a toothbrush. Or at the very least, bring a stick of gum to freshen up your breath.
Passengers often reach for gassy foods and drink carbonated beverages.
Some airplane food is very processed, so it makes sense that travelers want to fill up on salads and fresh vegetables at the airport.
That said, do your best to lay off anything that can give you gas, including carbonated beverages. The low air pressure at cruise altitude causes gases to expand.
That's the reason your bag of chips inflates like a balloon, and it explains why you have to loosen your belt to accommodate your in-flight bloat.
All that trapped wind can be agonizing, which is why my airline trained its flight attendants to put passengers in flatulence-friendly positions to ease their pain.
This story was originally published on December 19, 2022, and most recently updated on July 7, 2025.
Read the original article on Business Insider

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I Lived in Portland, Maine, for 8 Years—Here's My Insider's Guide to the City
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Travel + Leisure
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- Travel + Leisure
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Though she's been to over 40 countries across the globe, she has a soft spot for the Caribbean—she's lived and worked in four different countries there and visited over 50 hotels across the region. However, she finds herself frequently returning to one island specifically: Puerto Rico. She's been going to the Isle of Enchantment for over 15 years, and has stayed in some of the country's best hotels. Exterior walkway with view of the ocean at Dorado Beach. The story of Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve dates back to the 1950s, when businessman Laurance Rockefeller (yes, as in those Rockefellers) purchased 50 acres of what was once a grapefruit and coconut plantation with the intent to turn it into a posh seaside retreat. Today, this 2025 World's Best Awards-winning resort is home to 96 rooms and villas, each with ocean views and access to a long stretch of coastline that's made Dorado Beach such a coveted destination. The only thing that managed to drag me away from the palm-fringed beachfront during my time at the resort was the Spa Botánico, the property's oversized wellness haven that sprawls across five lush acres. Here, guests can check out the on-site apothecary, two treehouse-style treatment rooms, and 10 freestanding villas—it's a spa experience that rivals most that you'll find in the Caribbean. Location: Dorado Dorado Nearest Airport: 26 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 26 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Family-friendly Family-friendly Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are required at some restaurants. Reservations are required at some restaurants. Accessibility: The property has three categories of accessible rooms, accessible entrances to pools, and other resort facilities. There are also accommodations for guests with hearing and visual impairments. The property has three categories of accessible rooms, accessible entrances to pools, and other resort facilities. There are also accommodations for guests with hearing and visual impairments. Rates: $$$$ A guest room in Condado Vanderbilt. For over a century, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel has reigned supreme from its posh spot on Ashford Avenue, welcoming guests like John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and actor Errol Flynn. Its classic charm and elegance have earned it a regular spot in Travel + Leisure 's World's Best Awards. My first stay at the Condado Vanderbilt coincided with an unseasonably rainy weekend in San Juan, but instead of watching the waves crash from my covered oceanfront balcony, I booked a treatment at the spa instead. Just a few minutes into my hour-long treatment in the hammam, I was scrubbed, soaked, and otherwise soothed into vacation mode. I emerged to find the sun shining—just in time to dig into a lunch poolside. Location: San Juan San Juan Nearest Airport: 5 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 5 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Family-friendly Family-friendly Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are required at some restaurants. Reservations are required at some restaurants. Accessibility: Facilities and select rooms are fully wheelchair accessible. Visual and audio amenities are available for people with hearing and vision impairments are available upon request. Facilities and select rooms are fully wheelchair accessible. Visual and audio amenities are available for people with hearing and vision impairments are available upon request. Rates: $$ A guest room in Finca Victoria. Head to the island of Vieques for Finca Victoria, a wellness-focused boutique hotel that's one of the most unique stays in the entire Caribbean. This is one of my favorite places to stay in the region (and T+L's too, as it made an appearance on the 2020 It List) and you can find this property atop one of the highest hills on the island. The property has a variety of one-of-a-kind accommodations, ranging from standalone cabins and houses to breathtaking multilevel treehouses complete with outdoor showers and kitchens. There's a hidden-away garden pool with lounge space, boutique, and cafe, plus a yoga pavilion where you can listen to the sound of coquí frogs and the breeze rustling fruit trees. A small but mighty spa offers everything from Ayurvedic therapies and Western massages to Chinese traditional medicine-inspired treatments—another reason this has become such a coveted wellness destination. Location: Vieques Vieques Nearest Airport: 2 miles to Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) 2 miles to Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Adults-only Adults-only Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are not required. Reservations are not required. Accessibility: The property has one wheelchair-accessible room, plus a removable ramp that can be added to access many facilities, though paths and unpaved areas may be challenging to navigate. The property has one wheelchair-accessible room, plus a removable ramp that can be added to access many facilities, though paths and unpaved areas may be challenging to navigate. Rates: $ Aerial view of the pool area at Caribe Hilton. In the big world of rum-related experiences to be had in Puerto Rico, there is one thing that tops my list every time: cozying up to Caribar in the Caribe Hilton, the birthplace of the piña colada. Since its start in 1949, this tropical yet cosmopolitan San Juan institution has welcomed everyone from Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren to Barack Obama. The hustle and bustle of the city seems to melt away at this 17-acre property, which is surrounded by pristine beaches and covered with tropical gardens that are peppered with a collection of swimming pools. You can catch me here, lounging in a hammock under a palm tree after the piña colada kicks in—it's an obligatory stop every time I'm on the island. Location: San Juan San Juan Nearest Airport: 6 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 6 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Family-friendly Family-friendly Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are required at some restaurants. Reservations are required at some restaurants. Accessibility: Seven different categories of rooms and suites are fully wheelchair accessible, and the grounds feature wheelchair-accessible paths of travel and pool lifts. A beach wheelchair is available to borrow. Seven different categories of rooms and suites are fully wheelchair accessible, and the grounds feature wheelchair-accessible paths of travel and pool lifts. A beach wheelchair is available to borrow. Rates: $ Aerial view of the beach at La Concha. Since its 1958 debut, La Concha Resort has stopped guests in their tracks with its eye-catching, seashell-shaped structure that you can spot from the beach. In 2023, the resort went through a $45 million renovation and entered a new era. That seashell? It's now home to a dining destination that's the talk of San Juan: Levant, helmed by award-winning chef Michael White. Amidst the debut of Levant, La Concha Resort also unveiled 238 renovated rooms and suites, as well as the sushi and sake-centric Tekka Bar by Takashi Segawa. Location: San Juan San Juan Nearest Airport: 5 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 5 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Family-friendly Family-friendly Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are required at some restaurants. Reservations are required at some restaurants. Accessibility: The resort is fully ADA compliant throughout rooms and facilities, with lifts at every pool and beach wheelchairs available to borrow. The resort is fully ADA compliant throughout rooms and facilities, with lifts at every pool and beach wheelchairs available to borrow. Rates: $ Interior bar area in St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort. The second you pull through the gates at The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, just a short drive from San Juan, you'll feel the stress rolling off of you. What awaits at this World's Best Awards-winning resort feels like a remote tropical escape. Oceanfront buildings, connected by winding paths hidden by lush tropical foliage, house a collection of 139 luxe rooms and suites. Somehow, they seem like beach bungalows rather than traditional hotel rooms. I spent a long weekend couples trip cocooned in the pure Caribbean bliss of what is easily one of the island's most luxurious resorts, snuggled up under an umbrella with a pitcher of mojitos on the resort's long, luscious beach, and chatting for hours on a private oceanfront terrace under moonlight. The food at the hotel's signature restaurant, Paros, was so good that we joked about going back every night and ordering the same thing. I wonder, could there be a more well-rounded place to stay in Puerto Rico than the St. Regis? Location: Rio Grande Rio Grande Nearest Airport: 22 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 22 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Family-friendly Family-friendly Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are required at some restaurants. Reservations are required at some restaurants. Accessibility: There are two room categories with accessible rooms. The grounds have ramps, pool lifts, and wheelchairs are available to borrow. There are two room categories with accessible rooms. The grounds have ramps, pool lifts, and wheelchairs are available to borrow. Rates: $$ A bar inside Fairmont El San Juan. Fairmont El San Juan was named the best resort in Puerto Rico by T+L readers in the 2025 World's Best Awards, and it's no surprise why. Your recurring daydream of spending unending hours splayed out on the beach should take place right here, on the beaches of Isla Verde, located on the edge of San Juan. I gave into the daydream and booked a stay this summer with my three-year-old son—parents, take note, there are few better places to stay on the island than this. Beyond the beach, this 388-room resort embodies that "the best-is-at-your-fingertips" feeling that makes it such a dreamy destination for a fly-and-flop style getaway. 13 drinking and dining venues offer everything from fresh Italian pasta and pizza to elevated Puerto Rican cuisine at Caña, while a casino, cabaret, and jam-packed schedule of live entertainment ensures that you'll never get bored. Location: San Juan San Juan Nearest Airport: 1 mile to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 1 mile to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Family-friendly Family-friendly Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are required at some restaurants. Reservations are required at some restaurants. Accessibility: Several different room categories have fully accessible rooms. Most facilities, including the pool, are wheelchair accessible. Several different room categories have fully accessible rooms. Most facilities, including the pool, are wheelchair accessible. Rates: $$ A guest room in Aire De O:live. Named one of the best new hotels in the world by T+L when it debuted in 2023, Aire de O:live is the third San Juan property of the growing O:live collection, a brand known for its beachy boutique hotels packed with personality. Sites along a gorgeous stretch of sand, Aire de O:live marries elements of a typical Caribbean resort with a pared-down, connection-focused boutique experience. There's a subtle South Beach vibe to this soaring white building that sits almost directly on bluffs of white sand, though the muted interiors are serene and earthy. The rooftop has a pool with a view, but trust me, splurging for the suites with private plunge pools is well worth it. A tip I almost hesitate to share? The rooftop offers day passes for non-guests. Location: San Juan San Juan Nearest Airport: 2 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 2 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Adults-only Adults-only Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are recommended, not required. Reservations are recommended, not required. Accessibility: There are wheelchair-accessible rooms and facilities here, but getting to the pool and beach may be a challenge. There are wheelchair-accessible rooms and facilities here, but getting to the pool and beach may be a challenge. Rates: $ Even with 500 years of history under its belt, Old San Juan bursts with vibrancy and vigor, an ever-exciting place to stay even if the beach isn't within view. With a slew of new boutique hotels popping up along cobblestone streets, let Plaza Colón-facing Alma San Juan be at the top of your list. Historic hotels sometimes have cramped, stuffy rooms, but here, spacious spaces feature fresh, modern decor and little luxuries like Molton Brown amenities—everything you'll crave after a day spent exploring the old city. Alma San Juan has a darling lobby cafe and a delicious signature restaurant, but the real star is the rooftop eatery, Mar y Rosa. Its raw bar menu features ceviche and spicy aguachile accompanying tapas-style dishes like mouthwatering mofongo and pork belly pinchos made for sharing. Location: San Juan San Juan Nearest Airport: 8 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 8 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Adults-only Adults-only Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are recommended, not required. Reservations are recommended, not required. Accessibility: Facilities are wheelchair accessible throughout and include features like braille signage and strobe lights. Fully ADA-compliant guest rooms available. Facilities are wheelchair accessible throughout and include features like braille signage and strobe lights. Fully ADA-compliant guest rooms available. Rates: $ In his chart-topping song 'El Apagón,' Bad Bunny says, "Forget the Maldives, I'll stay in Palomino." What he's referring to is the private island extension of this World's Best Award-winning resort, located just outside the small town of Fajardo. And the singer is certainly not exaggerating: hopping onto the guests-only ferry out to Palomino Island feels like moving from paradise to heaven itself. Here, you'll find a 100-acre stretch of fine white sands, crystal-clear water, and palapa-shaded lounge chairs scattered around a beachside eatery. Back on the mainland, El Conquistador Resort is much more than just its private island. This 677-room, family-friendly property gives you access to waterslides, a lazy river, and a lagoon pool, plus an array of restaurants and bars that will keep you full throughout your stay. Its location in Fajardo also makes it an easy jumping -ff point for day trips to the pristine Cayo Icacos or to nearby Ceiba, where you can catch the ferry to the islands of Culebra or Vieques. Location: Fajardo Fajardo Nearest Airport: 34 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) 34 miles to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) Family-friendly or Adults-only: Family-friendly Family-friendly Restaurant Reservations: Reservations are required at some restaurants. Reservations are required at some restaurants. Accessibility: Facilities and select rooms are wheelchair accessible, including a pool entry lift and accommodations for visual and hearing impairments. Palomino Island is fully ADA-compliant and has a beach wheelchair with oversized wheels available for guests to borrow. Facilities and select rooms are wheelchair accessible, including a pool entry lift and accommodations for visual and hearing impairments. Palomino Island is fully ADA-compliant and has a beach wheelchair with oversized wheels available for guests to borrow. Rates: $ Aerial view of a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Yes, you read that right. While some hotels and resorts in Puerto Rico offer modified dining plans as add-ons to standard hotel rates, Puerto Rico has no true all-inclusive resorts. However, while this should definitely factor into your decision-making, keep in mind that the island is still rich in cuisine, activities, and attractions—and you might not want to feel trapped inside a resort, anyways. U.S. travelers do not need a passport to enter Puerto Rico and do not have to pass through customs and immigration when entering or exiting the island. For non-U.S. travelers, the same entry and exit requirements apply for Puerto Rico as they do when traveling anywhere else in the mainland United States. English is widely spoken across Puerto Rico, but travelers should keep in mind that Spanish is the island's universal language. Don't assume that everyone you meet will speak English. Making an effort to speak even a little Spanish will go a long way here. With that being said, travelers should feel comfortable knowing they'll get by even if their Spanish is rusty.


CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
I Asked AI to Help Me Travel More Sustainably. Here's What Happened
Growing up, we didn't travel much, especially not internationally. Even as a child, though, I knew I wanted to travel when I got older and could do things for myself. The kid who would wistfully spin and spin and spin a toy globe in my room is now an adult who can book trips as much as my schedule and budget will allow. There is a caveat, though. Growing up also means that I'm now cognizant of the environmental cost of traveling. Defying gravity is incredible and all, but it puts a damper on that dream vacation knowing that my trip is contributing to climate change and that the aviation industry accounts for 2.5% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. In a world where we're all thinking a little more about our carbon footprints, yet are also dreaming about that next far-away adventure we see on our phone screens, I wondered: Can tech -- and more specifically, AI -- help us travel more sustainably? To find out, I did what any curious digital native would do: I put this idea to the test. I turned to AI chatbots, specifically two of the biggest names in artificial intelligence: ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. My mission was to plan two very different vacations that would minimize my environmental guilt while still delivering on adventure, food and cultural enrichment. Here's how it went. For more AI Tips, explore these AI essentials you need to know and how to use AI to get better at playing guitar. A quick note: While AI can help you plan more sustainable trips, the tools themselves aren't exactly eco-neutral. Behind every chatbot response is a data center running thousands of servers, machines that require vast amounts of electricity and cooling water to operate. In fact, research suggests that generative AI tools like ChatGPT can use several liters of water per conversation, depending on the complexity of your queries. That water is typically used to cool the servers during processing. Microsoft, for instance, has reported a 34% year-over-year increase in water consumption, partially due to its AI investments. So while AI could be used to explore eco-friendly travel itineraries, it also has a lasting environmental impact of its own. Like with all tech, sustainable use comes down to moderation and transparency. The setup: Two trips, one goal For the experiment, I designed two different travel scenarios and let the chatbots plan the itineraries from there. Trip 1: A week and a half in Seoul, South Korea, flying from Tampa, Florida (where I live). My goals include hiking, art, food and seeing all the major historical monuments, with a budget of $2,000 to $3,000. ChatGPT asked me to specify some travel details, then created an itinerary from there. Macy Meyer/CNET Trip 2: A wild card. I gave the AI chatbots full creative control to plan the most sustainable tropical vacation possible. In both cases, I used ChatGPT and Copilot side by side to compare results. The Seoul search: Sustainability in the capital city I started with the Seoul trip. I was actually supposed to move to Korea post-grad to teach English as a foreign language, but that didn't work out, thanks to COVID-19. I still haven't made it to Korea, so it's at the tippy-top of my bucket list. Both bots quickly recognized South Korea as a fascinating mix of ancient tradition and high-tech innovation. When I asked how to make my trip eco-friendly, they took two different approaches. ChatGPT gave me a detailed itinerary, including direct flight suggestions, budget breakdowns, eco-lodging in walkable neighborhoods like Insadong and Hongdae and sustainable food recommendations, such as local markets and temple cuisine. It also factored in transit cards and local carbon offset programs. Copilot gave me more surface-level results. It recommended looking into eco-certified hotels or guesthouses, but didn't recommend specific ones, and most of the itinerary it produced was essentially "just walk around this place." I did like that the results all linked out to other sources and websites, though, so I could do a deeper dive when researching its recommendations. Day 1 and 2 of the Copilot-generated itinerary for Korea. Macy Meyer/CNET Copilot also went about $1,000 over budget with its recommendations and didn't suggest specific flights to take to Seoul. That said, Copilot did shine when it came to sourcing carbon offset programs and comparing airline emissions. Its integration with Microsoft's web tools helped it pull in more current data. The tropical wild card: AI goes off the grid Now for the fun part. I asked each AI platform to plan the most sustainable tropical trip it could dream up. My only parameters were that I wanted a warm and tropical climate, nature and an eco-conscious budget. Copilot recommended Palawan, Philippines -- the "last frontier" of the Philippines -- and laid out a 10-day trip. I loved the itinerary. I mean, it's like a dream vacation, so how could I not? But again, the results were pretty brief and lacked specificity. For instance, Copilot said things like "when booking, check for airlines that highlight sustainability" or "familiarize yourself with waste-reduction programs," when that's what I was hoping the chatbot would be able to do for me. Copilot created a 10-day itinerary for the Philippines. Macy Meyer/CNET ChatGPT was again more detailed. It chose Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula -- a place I'd honestly never heard of, but I'm glad I know about now -- and outlined an eight-day experience. The suggested itinerary also included information about eco-lodges, permaculture farm tours and sea turtle conservation, and suggested packing reef-safe sunscreen and DEET-free bug spray. ChatGPT generated a trip for Costa Rica. Macy Meyer/CNET I fact-checked the suggestions from both chatbots, and nearly everything checked out. Most of the lodges ChatGPT listed are genuinely sustainable, utilizing solar power, composting toilets and no single-use plastics. The activities Copilot suggested all support local economies, communities and conservation. Both itineraries were invested in ecotourism, which I appreciated. This brings me to an important reminder: You can't take anything at face value. AI chatbots have a history of "hallucinating" wrong answers, meaning they generate false or misleading information and present it as fact. Any search or answer must be fact-checked. What AI gets right and wrong about sustainable travel Planning with AI has its perks: It saves time, simplifies the research and pulls in suggestions I never would've thought of (looking at you, Osa Peninsula). But AI isn't perfect. The chatbots occasionally recommended hotels that looked eco-friendly, but weren't certified. Neither platform could consistently tell if a business was truly sustainable or just good at marketing, and neither can book anything for you like a real travel agent can. Also, AI doesn't know you. It doesn't know that you prefer local buses to private tours, or that your idea of a dream vacation involves zero plans and a hammock. You'll still need to tweak your itinerary to suit your actual personality, not your browser history. For sustainable travel planning, both ChatGPT and Copilot were helpful tools to jumpstart the trip-planning process. Neither platform can replace a good travel advisor or first-hand knowledge, but they're decent enough assistants for brainstorming, budgeting and discovering new ideas. See also: Chatbots Are Ready to Help in Language Learning. Here's My Experience Would I use AI to plan my next trip? Maybe, but with caveats. I'd consider using ChatGPT and Copilot again, especially at the early planning stage when I'm besieged with options for travel destinations, but I definitely feel like I could get the same results from a well-traveled friend, travel agent or travel books like Lonely Planet. If I did opt to use AI chatbots again in the future, I'd still double-check sustainability claims, compare prices manually and use traditional sites to book things. AI is a tool, not a travel agent. While AI can help, the most sustainable travel choices -- taking fewer flights, supporting local businesses, packing smart and minimizing waste -- still fall on us.