Can Apps and Hacks Really Prevent Jet Lag?
I had taken the day off for a milestone birthday (let's not put a number on it) but here I was, bleary-eyed and grumpy, thanks to a jet-lag app I was testing for a family trip to Greece the following day.
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Travel + Leisure
37 minutes ago
- Travel + Leisure
I've Been Visiting Puerto Rico for Over 15 Years—These Are My 10 Favorite Resorts on the Island
I've visited Puerto Rico since I was a kid, and I'm lucky to have family here—it's a home away from home for me. But, in my humble opinion, Puerto Rico truly has something for every kind of traveler. History buffs will swoon as soon as they step onto the cobblestone streets of 500-year-old San Juan, while foodies and culture lovers will find many things to see and do in neighborhoods like Santurce and Condado that they'll need to plan a return trip. Plus, with sands ranging from inky black to white as snow, Puerto Rican beaches are some of the best in the Caribbean. And no matter what kind of trip you hope to have, Puerto Rico has a hotel to match. I've regularly visited the island for 15 years now—these are the 10 best hotels in Puerto Rico, based on my experience. Carley Rojas Ávila is a bilingual journalist who specializes in writing about travel, culture, and cuisine. 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
37 minutes 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.
Condé Nast Traveler
2 hours ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
Inflammation Is the Latest Wellness Buzzword
In the ever-evolving landscape of wellness, inflammation has emerged as the latest term du jour. Once relegated to medical textbooks, it's now become a focal point in conversations about health, beauty, and longevity. But what does it truly mean, and why is it garnering such attention? Unlike the sharp, obvious kind of inflammation you get from a cut or a sprained ankle, chronic inflammation is subtle. It lingers in the background, quietly disrupting everything from energy levels to digestion, and has been linked to conditions like heart disease, anxiety, fatigue, and even premature aging. It's no wonder so many of us are now trying to get a handle on it—through what we eat, how we move, and with the skincare we use. Travel, too, can have a surprising impact on inflammation, both good and bad. On the one hand, the disruption to routine, jet lag, poor sleep, and processed airport food can spike cortisol levels and inflammatory markers in the body. Long-haul flights also reduce circulation, which can lead to swelling and fluid retention. On the flip side, travel can also reduce inflammation if it allows for rest, exposure to nature, movement, and time away from stress. Inflammation—and finding ways to mitigate it—is something I'm deeply invested in. I have an autoimmune issue called Hashimoto's, which means that I'm constantly looking for ways to lessen the inflammation in my body in order to reduce my symptoms like dry skin, eczema, hair loss, brain fog, crippling exhaustion, and many more. I've tried as many medically sound protocols and questionable TikTok hacks as I can handle, but I can't help thinking a more immersive approach might be necessary. Thankfully, I was invited to a one-off anti-inflammatory retreat at Palazzo Fiuggi. Set in the peaceful Italian hills of Fiuggi, just southeast of Rome, this exclusive wellness retreat has become a leader in anti-inflammatory wellness. Known for its science-backed, holistic approach, the retreat combines advanced medical testing with personalized therapies to help guests reduce chronic inflammation.
