*By Carlo Versano*
Nearly a year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the island is primed for a tourism comeback, said Mark Ellwood, a contributing editor for Condé Nast Traveler.
"I think it's reassuringly much better, especially in San Juan," Ellwood said Tuesday in an interview on Cheddar. "It's about 90 percent there."
The island's marketing agency just announced a tourism campaign, [#CoverTheProgress](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/puerto-rico-tourism-industry-calls-for-news-coverage-of-the-islands-positive-milestones-as-the-one-year-anniversary-of-hurricane-maria-approaches-300699367.html), which highlights the rebuilding efforts in the 11 months since the storm killed [as many as 1,400](http://www.p3.pr.gov/assets/pr-draft-recovery-plan-for-comment-july-9-2018.pdf).
Ellwood, who just returned from a trip to the island, urged potential travelers to consider a vacation in Puerto Rico for altruistic reasons.
"Our money is one of the ways we can help," he said.
But it's not just an act of service. Many of the high-end hotels are either fully or partially back up and running, and daily average room and occupancy rates are climbing, according to a report published Tuesday in the [Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/articles/puerto-ricos-hotels-offer-rare-good-news-in-aftermath-of-the-hurricane-1534849200).
The island of Vieques, off Puerto Rico's eastern seaboard, is particularly enchanting, Ellwood said. He added the [Hix Island House] (http://hixislandhouse.com/) on the island is one of his favorite hotels in the world, and prices start at a reasonable $115 per night.
Prices throughout the territory will be lower through hurricane season. For flexible travelers who spring for travel insurance, there are great bargains to be had.
"I know travel insurance sounds crazy, but it's crazy until you need it," Ellwood said.
The month of September is what's known in the industry as "shoulder season," when travelers can get the best of both worlds: off-season prices and on-season weather.
Ellwood's shoulder-season choices:
-The British countryside, which has lovely weather, pretty foliage and a wine region "as good as Champagne" in Sussex.
-French Polynesia, a "bucket list" destination where deals can be found outside Bora Bora and Tahiti. On the smaller islands, no-frills guest houses can go for $200-250 per night, according to Ellwood.
But when you're waking up on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, does it really matter if there's no room service?
For full interview [click here] ( https://cheddar.com/videos/puerto-ricos-tourism-agency-wants-you-to-see-how-the-island-has-recovered-a-year-after-hurricane-maria).
March For Our Lives will be returning this weekend to Washington, DC, in the wake of the recent mass shooting seen throughout the country. Marchers include Yolanda Renee King, the only granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. She joined Cheddar News to discuss the importance of the march and activism in general. "I just think that it's so important to have these rallies because we need to demand to our leaders and politicians that they pass legislation and that and we actually need to see action," she said.
Catching you up on today’s entertainment headlines with the Grammys announcing new categories to be added to the awards show, Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck planning to release an album together, Britney Spears' ex-husband crashing her wedding, and more.
Erika Alexander and Whitney Dow, directors of 'The Big Payback,' join Cheddar News to discuss their new film, 'The Big Payback.' It premieres Saturday, June 11 at the Tribeca Festival.
'Pride Portraits' is a trans-led organization aiming to visually represent the LGBTQ+ community one photograph at a time. Eden Rose Torres, founder and president of Pride Portraits, joins Cheddar News to discuss its participants and the issues the LGBTQ+ community still faces.
The 75th Annual Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 12. Cheddar News takes a closer look at who's nominated and what audiences can expect from the ceremony.
On this episode of ChedHER: Global VP of LinkedIn Sales Solutions explains how she leads a 1,000+ person team for LinkedIn's $1 billion business, and gives advice for determining your own unique leadership style; Chief Sales Officer at Xometry, joins ChedHER breaks down why women should consider careers in manufacturing, and what opportunities are available for them in this industry; Founder of Pride Live & Stonewall Day, joins ChedHER talks about the mission and story behind Pride Live, and what to expect from this year's Stonewall Day.
Kathy Mayerhofer, Chief Sales Officer at Xometry, joins ChedHER to discuss why women should consider careers in manufacturing, and what opportunities are available for them in this industry.
Alyssa Merwin, Global VP of LinkedIn Sales Solutions, joins ChedHER to discuss how she leads a 1,000+ person team for LinkedIn's $1 billion business, and gives advice for determining your own unique leadership style.
Diana Rodriguez, Founder of Pride Live & Stonewall Day, joins ChedHER to discuss the mission and story behind Pride Live, and what to expect from this year's Stonewall Day.
Amanda Jones is the TikToker behind the “healthy Coke” recipe. In her viral post, she shared a concoction of balsamic vinegar and La Croix, allegedly something she learned from her pilates instructor and claimed it tastes just like Coca-Cola — only healthier. Jones joined Cheddar News and walked Hena Doba and Ken Buffa through the unusual recipe to have a taste for themselves.
