Jenna Bush Hager on the Jet Lag Cure She’s Used Since College—Plus, the Caribbean Island She’s ‘Obsessed’ With

Even thoughToday Show host Jenna Bush Hager is a celebrity with presidential lineage, she shares a common travel fear with many of us: lost luggage. As a result, she has become an extremely efficient and strategic packer—she will even stick to only a carry-on for a long trip. “I like to always pack in a carry-on. Even when we left last summer for two weeks, I traveled with a carry-on because I’m always in fear my bag will get lost.” Travel + Leisure caught up with Bush Hager on her impressive packing strategy, her favorite trips to take with her family, and the jet lag cure she has been using since college. 

Her fear of lost luggage has led her on a quest to find products that can serve her in multiple ways. “As I travel, I feel like I want products that do multiple things because I like to always pack in a carry-on.” She noted the CC+ Cream Foundation from IT Cosmetics, a brand she recently partnered with for a campaign, as an example of this—the product does triple duty with SPF, skincare ingredients, and coverage.

So does she have room in her carry-on for anything unexpected? “A set of matching pajamas for a girls’ trip. I like to bring a PJ so we can all match,” she said.

Perhaps her love of matching pajama sets stems from being a twin. Bush Hager and her sister were freshmen in college in 2001 when their father, George W. Bush, became president of the United States. As the granddaughters of George Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, they were used to being in the public eye, but being daughters of the president brought their fame to a whole new level. Though some of their teenage antics received a lot of press attention, Bush Hager did pick up some great travel habits during her college and First Daughter years as she traveled a lot—and even Air Force One trips can leave you jet lagged. 

“One thing that I always do when I get off a long flight is move my body because it helps with jet lag. I’ve done this since I was in college and would travel far away. I also drink a lot of water because I always feel a little dehydrated when I fly. Every time you fly, for every hour you’re on the plane, it’s recommended to have that many glasses of water. I believe in salt packs or hydration powders, so I travel with those. I travel with Vitamin C and other extracts, which make me feel better. I would say movement, Vitamin D, and a ton of hydration is key.” She also adds that when you try to get your body moving post-flight, especially on a walk or a jog, you get the bonus of on-the-ground exposure to a new destination, and you can see things you may not have otherwise. As soon as she gets to her hotel, she also unpacks for herself and her children, daughters Mila and Poppy and son Hal.

She loves traveling with her family, including husband Henry Chase Hager, but she makes it clear that traveling is different than a vacation. “I love when it’s traveling and not a vacation, so as long as that’s the expectation—that you get to show them other cultures and get to take them to places that show them how big and beautiful the world is and know you’re not going to be lounging by the pool with a book,” she told T+L. In 2023, the whole family went to Normandy, France, and she said the best day of the trip was when they took the children to the American cemetery in Normandy. As for their next trips, she wants to take them to the other side of the world. “I’ve never been, but I would love to take them to Australia and New Zealand, but I’d also have to have more than a week off to do that.” 

While some trips are all about on-the-go exploration, Bush Hager also loves a relaxing vacation and was recently surprised by a trip to Nevis in the Caribbean. “I thought I would love it, but I didn’t know how much I would love it. Nevis, which is a small island in the Caribbean, is located outside of St. Martin. I was obsessed with it because I felt like it had incredible food. It had hiking, which I love. It had a ton of beautiful activities, and yet it isn’t wildly touristy. It’s still kind of off the beaten track. It’s so beautiful, and it has all the things you would think about in a Caribbean island—the beaches, the snorkeling—but it also has culture and delicious food.” Hopefully, once they announce the new Today Show co-host, Bush Hager can get some time off and take a well-deserved vacation and travel with her family.