Day: May 3, 2024

The Private Jet Villa is a converted Boeing 737.The Private Jet Villa is in Bali.

Geometrium Studio

Geometrium Studio, an architectural and interior design team that’s been around since 2013, transformed the plane into a luxury accommodation in the Uluwatu region of Bali, Indonesia.

According to a press release from the studio, the jet sits 150 meters above seawater on a cliff and overlooks the Indian Ocean.

The water-side stay can also be accessed by helicopter, as a helipad is built onto the roof of the building adjacent to the plane.

Almost the entire plane has been turned into living space, including the wings.The wing was turned into a patio.

Geometrium Studio

According to the same press release, the plane, designed with “milky shades,” combines natural wood and concrete textures to make the space look as large as possible.

The natural look starts on the plane’s wings, one of which was turned into a fenced-in patio. White furniture sits atop the wing, which overlooks the ocean.

It was designed with indoor-outdoor living in mind, complete with sliding glass doors.The villa features sliding glass doors.

Geometrium Studio

The large glass doors open to the dining and living area, making the space feel open. Mirrors on the plane’s walls also make it seem bigger than it is, as a video tour of the villa demonstrates.

Geometrium Studio’s press release noted that the property was intentionally designed with photo opportunities in mind, particularly the areas that blend indoors and outdoors. The villa’s aviation aspect is front and center.

The kitchen overlooks the patio. The kitchen can be hidden in a cabinet.

Geometrium Studio

The kitchen and living area sit together in an open-concept area.

The kitchen includes a sink and counters, though they can be hidden behind a built-in cabinet when not in use. Geometrium Studio said its countertops were designed with the same natural stone as those in the bathrooms.

Though the kitchen is beautiful, guests likely won’t be using it themselves much. A rental of the property also comes with access to a private chef, as well as a private butler service, according to its website.

The villa features two bedrooms.The bedrooms sit on two ends of the plane.

Geometrium Studio

The Private Jet Villa is home to the Jet Suite and the First Class Suite, both of which have en suite bathrooms.

They sit on opposite sides of the kitchen, creating two “wings” within the villa.

Doors to the bedrooms are tucked into the curve of the plane, while the ceiling-length headboards make the rooms seem bigger than they are.

The bathrooms are attached to the bedrooms, adding to the rooms luxury.The tub is free-standing.

Geometrium Studio

The First Class Suite has a free-standing, rounded soaking tub. Geometrium Studio said it focused on rounded shapes in the villa’s design because of the plane’s pre-existing roundness.

The tub also sits next to a side door, which leads to a hammock.

Tha hammock creates the illusion guests are floating above the sea.The hammock overlooks the ocean.

Geometrium Studio

The netted hammock is attached to the plane, so guests can crawl out of the hangar door to sit on it.

It overlooks the ocean, and at the height the plane sits, guests will likely feel as if they’re flying when they sit on it.

And the cockpit was transformed into a luxurious jacuzzi.The cockpit is now a luxury jacuzzi.

Geometrium Studio

The Jet Suite was built in the area of the plane that once housed the cockpit.

In their video tour of the plane, the team said they kept the cockpit’s original windows intact and added additional panes, so it’s full of natural light. A jacuzzi also sits in the former pilot’s cabin.

The property also has amenities on the ground below the plane.The property has a pool.

Geometrium Studio

Just below the plane, Geometrium Studio built an infinity pool that hangs off the cliff to accompany the villa. It also has a fire pit surrounded by seating.

A separate building for the villa’s staff also sits next to the pool.

The villa starts at $3,100 a night. The villa costs thousands of dollars a night.

Geometrium Studio

If you want to enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience, it’ll cost you. One night at the Private Jet Villa team can start at $3,100, but it can cost upwards of $7,200 a night.

Best overall: Bear Pro Mattress TopperThe Bear Pro has unparalleled heat dissipation, motion isolation and pressure-relief.

James Brains/Business Insider

• Best for: All sleeping styles, hot sleepers
• Primary material: CertiPUR-US certified memory foam
• Firmness: Soft
• Trial period and warranty: 100 nights, 3 years

Pros: Impressive cooling, excellent pressure relief and support, great motion isolation, 100-night sleep trial, made in the US with CertiPUR-US certified memory foam

Cons: Doesn’t attach to your mattress, initial odor lasted for several days

In our cooling tests, the Bear Pro Mattress Topper stood out as the best cooling mattress topper overall. We found that, on average, the surface of the topper registered less than 85 degrees Fahrenheit when I got up from it — lower than almost every model we tested.

The Bear Pro was also the only topper that recorded a higher initial temperature than the final reading, two minutes after I got up from it. I didn’t trust the reading the first time, so I performed the test again and got similar results. This means the topper has unparalleled heat dissipation.

These results could be attributed to the copper-infused memory foam and Celliant cover. The manufacturer claims that these materials help with heat dissipation and staying cool. I didn’t find any scientific studies to support this, but my subjective experience suggests that the materials help with cooling.

In addition to its great cooling properties, the extra plush feel of the Bear Pro Topper was comfortable to sleep on no matter what position I was in. I slept great on the topper and woke up feeling refreshed and free from aches and pains each morning.

The Bear topper also does an outstanding job of dampening motion transfer. It had the lowest vibration readings in our motion isolation test, which suggests it’s a good option for couples.

The Bear Pro is also made in the US, and you can try the topper for up to 100 nights risk-free, the longest trial period of the models we tested for this guide.

Setting up the Bear Pro topper took less than five minutes, and though it doesn’t attach to your mattress, we observed minimal shifting after sleeping on it. The biggest negative was that the topper had a strong “new bed smell” out of the box that took several days to dissipate.

Best budget: Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress TopperLucid’s topper is simply designed and effective. The bamboo charcoal-infused memory foam has several holes to help with ventilation.

James Brains/Business Insider

• Best for: Hot sleepers, side and back sleepers
• Primary material: CertiPUR-US certified memory foam
• Firmness: Soft
• Trial period and warranty: 30 days, 3 years

Pros: Impressive heat dissipation, strong motion isolation, made of CertiPUR-US certified foam, stays put without shifting, easy setup

Cons: May be too soft for some sleeping styles, limits movement

Even if the Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper didn’t cost around $100, it would still be considered one of our top picks for the best cooling mattress toppers. This mattress topper performed exceptionally well in all of our tests, exceeding expectations, particularly considering its budget-friendly price point.

In our cooling tests, the surface temperature of the topper never got very hot. Within two minutes of getting up from it, the topper’s temperature came close to its initial reading, which means the heat dissipation is outstanding.

The Lucid topper is essentially a slab of charcoal-infused, bamboo memory foam with several holes in it to help with airflow and cooling. I did find the topper was a little too soft for my comfort, and I like it soft. I did not wake up with soreness or pain after sleeping on it. 

The foam sinks significantly as you lay on it, which makes it hard to change sleeping positions at night and could be a problem if you have specific pressure points you need support for. On the plus side, the foam did a great job of isolating motion in my tests, so when your partner moves, you’re less likely to feel it. 

The topper is available in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch thicknesses. I would be interested in trying the 2-inch version since it can’t sink as much and thus may be able to provide a more supportive and manageable softness.

The unboxing was intuitive, though there was a fabric wrapping that didn’t seem to be part of the topper. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, so I threw it away. The topper had a strong odor that went away by bedtime by which time it also fully expanded. I liked that it stayed in place despite not attaching to the mattress.

Best for back pain: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress TopperMade with Tempur-Pedic’s proprietary memory foam your weight and body heat cause the material to slowly adjust to the curves of your body, providing the pressure relief and support ideal for back pain sufferers.

James Brains/Business Insider

• Best for: All sleeping styles
• Primary material: CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam
• Firmness: Average
• Trial period and warranty: None, 10 years

Pros: Made in the US of CertiPUR-US certified body-contouring foam, good heat dissipation, machine-washable cover, 10-year warranty

Cons: No trial period, putting the cover back on is a pain, shifts on the mattress

The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt  Mattress Topper is renowned for its exceptional comfort and support, making it one of the best cooling mattress toppers available. It features a proprietary CertiPUR-US certified foam that not only provides excellent contouring to the body but also ensures proper alignment of the spine. This feature can be particularly beneficial for individuals who experience lower back pain, as it helps alleviate discomfort and prevent it from acting up during sleep.

Unlike most memory foam, Tempur-Pedic’s US-made foam doesn’t instantly sink down once you put weight on it. In fact, if you pat it, it makes a hollow sound as if it were much firmer than it is. But when you lay on it, your weight and body heat cause the material to slowly adjust to the curves of your body providing the pressure relief and support ideal for back-pain sufferers.

While testing the TEMPUR-Adapt , I was just getting back into running and lifting after a foot injury. These activities usually aggravate my chronic back pain, but I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to put in more miles.

The TEMPUR-Adapt was also one of the best at dissipating heat in our tests. Two minutes after getting up from the topper, the surface temperature was almost back to what I measured before I lay down.

It comes with a removable cover that’s machine washable, but I’d recommend investing in a mattress protector to cover it and your mattress. The cover was easy to take off and clean, but it took me about 10 minutes to get it back on. 

There were a few negatives with this pad. First, there’s no trial period. If you find the TEMPUR-Adapt isn’t right for you, you can’t return it. However, if there are manufacturing defects, it’s covered by a 10-year warranty and you can get a replacement or repair.

Another negative is it doesn’t attach to your mattress, and I found it shifted while sleeping on it, but the latest edition added helpful straps to secure it to your mattress. Also, the motion isolation of this topper was just average.

What to look for in a mattress topper

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

Cooling: Using an infrared thermometer, I measure the surface temperature before lying down, right after I get up, and two minutes after I get up. I compare the readings to get a good idea of how cool the mattress topper stays and how well it dissipates heat.

Comfort: Each morning after sleeping on the toppers, I noted how comfortable it felt, if I was sore, and how well I slept as measured by the Garmin Forerunner 945 smartwatch. I also paid attention to what sleeping positions I was most comfortable in.

Fit: Having to constantly readjust your mattress topper can be a real pain. I looked at how much each topper shifted after I slept on it. I also noted if there were straps to keep it attached to the bed.

Setup: I set up each cooling mattress topper and observed how long it took me, if it was intuitive, and if there were any initial odors. I did this in the morning so the topper would have plenty of time (at least 10 hours) to air out and expand. At bedtime, I noted if the topper had fully expanded and if it still had an odor.

Motion Isolation: When your partner is tossing and turning at night, you don’t want it to interrupt your sleep. This makes motion isolation important. I tested this by setting my phone on the topper 12 inches from the right edge of the bed. Then, I dropped a 15-pound bowling ball from four feet above the topper so that it landed 12 inches from the left edge of the bed (and 36 inches from the phone). I measured the motion transfer using a vibration meter app and took the median reading after five repetitions of the test.

Trial and warranty: No matter how great a topper looks on paper, you never know if it’s right for you until you actually sleep on it for an extended period. This is why risk-free trials are so important. We looked at trial periods and if there were any loopholes, such as charges for returning the pad. We also examined the warranty for each model. Most manufacturers offer a trial of at least 30 days and a warranty of at least two years.

How we tested each cooling mattress topperI test cooling properties with a infrared thermometer by measuring the surface temperature before lying down, right after I get up, and two minutes after.

James Brains/Business Insider

For this guide, I tested 15 mattress toppers and also spoke with Rebecca Robbins, PhD, associate scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, for insight on topper materials and features.

In addition to sleeping on each topper for at least two nights, I put each through several objective tests. When testing a cooling mattress topper, the most important factors to consider are cooling, comfort, and fit.

FAQs

How do you know if you need a mattress topper?

Toppers as a cost-effective way to update a mattress that isn’t very old but is causing you pain or to overheat. 

Adding a topper allows you to extend the life of your mattress in a cost-effective way.

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What is the best cooling material?

Though foam is generally believed to trap heat, all of the picks in our guide are made of some sort of foam. However, they each have some added material to help with cooling.

The Bear Pro has copper-infused memory foam. The Lucid topper has bamboo charcoal-infused memory foam. The Tempur-Pedic topper has a proprietary foam that I’ve found is generally cool in all of the company’s products I’ve tested.

There’s a lot of variability in the materials that work well for cooling. However, in our testing, we noticed that natural latex and polyethylene don’t do a very good job. 

When shopping for a cooling mattress topper, Rebecca Robbins, PhD, associate scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, suggests not going overboard with a thick topper. “We sometimes have a tendency to think more is better,” said Robbins. “But I would say that if you’re sleeping on a very thick foam mattress topper, then it could have a tendency to build heat, which you don’t want at night.”

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How do you clean a mattress topper?

Most mattress toppers are not machine washable. Instead, you’ll want to spot clean any messes immediately with a mild soap and damp towel. Then allow it to dry completely before putting it back on your bed. 

However, before you try to clean your mattress topper, check out your topper’s user manual or tag, or visit the manufacturer’s website for the most accurate cleaning directions.

Some mattress toppers come with a removable cover that’s machine washable. I’ve found these covers are a pain to put back on after you wash them. I recommend protecting your mattress and topper with a mattress protector. These are usually waterproof, machine washable, and cost as little as $20 each. Check out our guide on the best mattress protectors.

“A Hard Day’s Night” — “Grey’s Anatomy”“Grey’s Anatomy.”

ABC

The first episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” aired on March 27, 2005, and introduced 16.25 million viewers to a cast of characters so compelling that the show is still on 19 years and 20 seasons later.

“A Hard Day’s Night” starts with surgical intern Meredith Grey, a young, slightly chaotic woman who is juggling moving back to Seattle, starting a new job, finding out her dreamy one-night stand, Derek, is now her boss, and her mother’s secret Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

We’re also introduced to the four other original interns (Cristina Yang, Izzie Stevens, Alex Karev, and George O’Malley), their intense boss, Dr. Bailey, and the intimidating chiefs Dr. Weber and Dr. Burke.

It’s a wonder that this fit into 45 minutes of TV, but the episode was so tightly written with immediately compelling characters that audiences have been tuning in ever since, even though almost all of the original cast is gone.

“Pilot” — “Breaking Bad”“Breaking Bad.”

AMC

The image of Walter White standing in a green dress shirt and tighty-whities while brandishing a gun beside a beat-up RV in the middle of the New Mexico desert is one that any viewer of “Pilot” will never forget, not even 16 years after its premiere on January 20, 2008.

“Breaking Bad” is widely considered one of the best TV shows ever, but it wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without establishing the show’s darkly comedic tone and introducing inimitable characters like White, a chemistry teacher who decides to start cooking meth to pay for his chemo, his delinquent former student Jesse whom he enlists to help him, his DEA agent brother-in-law Hank, and White’s slightly clueless (for now) wife, Skyler.

“Breaking Bad” went on to air for five more seasons (62 episodes in all), and by the end had become a huge success for AMC in both awards and ratings. And it all started with Walt’s slacks flying in the wind.

“Winter Is Coming” — “Game of Thrones”“Game of Thrones.”

HBO

Try to think back before the finale of “Game of Thrones” had soured your opinion of the entire show — go all the way back to April 17, 2011, when you turned on HBO to check out its new fantasy series.

If you were like most people, you were immediately hooked by the immersive world of Westeros and its compelling characters like Ned Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen.

“Winter Is Coming” also established a sense of dread that hung over the rest of the show — while these highborn lords and ladies fought over a throne, the real threat resided in the north with mysterious creatures who could reanimate the dead.

“Game of Thrones” finished in 2019 after eight seasons and 73 episodes, with many fans left unhappy by its ending. But if you ever need to remember the magic of Westeros, revisit the pilot.

“Pilot” — “Arrested Development”“Arrested Development.”

Fox

Dramatic pilots can have up to an hour to set up the premise of the show, but sitcoms have a tougher challenge — these shows usually have at most 28 minutes to hook enough people into tuning in next week.

The “Arrested Development” pilot aired on November 2, 2003, and had enough jokes to fill an entire season of a lesser sitcom.

Over the course of the episode, we meet the dysfunctional Bluth family: patriarch George Sr. and his wife, Lucille; their kids Michael, Gob, Buster, and Lindsay; Michael’s son, George Michael; and Lindsay’s husband Tobias and daughter Maeby.

The pilot sets up George Sr.’s criminal activity, the love of wordplay and puns from the writers, and the general absurdity of the world of the Bluths.

“Arrested Development” was never a huge ratings success, but it became such a cult classic that it was brought back in 2013 (seven years after it ended) and then again in 2018.

“Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” — “Mad Men”“Mad Men.”

AMC

“Mad Men” premiered on July 19, 2007, and took viewers back to 1960 and the peak of the New York City advertising scene.

But while we thought the show was just about a typical ad man — the cigarette-smoking, bourbon-drinking, womanizing Don Draper, and his fascinating coworkers — the last scene of the episode told us we didn’t know this man at all.

After watching Don spend the episode trying to woo a new client (both romantically and professionally), we learn he actually has a wife and two kids. This is a man who knows how to compartmentalize — something we’d learn over and over again across “Mad Men’s” 92 episodes.

“Pilot” — “Glee”“Glee.”

Fox

Fox knew they had something special when the “Glee” pilot was finished, which is why it aired on May 19, 2009, a full four months before the rest of the show aired that September.

The network wanted to create some buzz for the show, and it worked. “Glee’s” pilot is wonderful: The musical performances were touching, the comedy was biting and hilarious, and the characters were immediately lovable.

In typical creator Ryan Murphy fashion, “Glee” went off the rails almost immediately. But the power of the final scene of the pilot, with the glee club performing “Don’t Stop Believin’” together, cannot be denied.

“Premiere” — “The OC”“The OC.”

Fox

When “Premiere” aired on Fox on August 5, 2003, it was almost unbelievable how much happened in just one episode.

Viewers were introduced to the glamorous lives of Orange County’s elite through the eyes of an outsider: Ryan Atwood, a juvenile delinquent with a heart of gold. After his public defender, Sandy Cohen, takes him in, Ryan decides to leave his criminal past behind and join the preppy residents of Newport Beach.

Ryan is introduced to his surrogate brother, Seth Cohen (an all-time TV character), Seth’s longtime crush, Summer, and his mysterious neighbor, Marissa.

Oh, and he gets punched in the face by Marissa’s boyfriend, Luke, while being welcomed to the OC.

Unlike in other teen soaps, the adults on this show had drama, too. Sandy, his wife Kirsten, and Marissa’s parents all had compelling arcs of their own.

The show crammed so much plot into each episode that it wasn’t surprising when “The OC” ended after just four seasons.

“Pilot” — “This Is Us”“This Is Us.”

NBC

Viewers were shocked at the end of the “This Is Us’” pilot episode on September 20, 2016, when it was revealed the seemingly disjointed storylines of four people with the same birthday were actually all related — and that the plot line centering on Jack, a kindhearted dad-to-be, was actually taking place 36 years in the past.

The other three adults — Kate, Kevin, and Randall — were his kids (a set of twins and their adopted brother), who also shared Jack’s birthday.

From the start, viewers were invested. Even to this day, the hospital speech that Dr. K shares with Jack is tear-inducing.

“This Is Us” ended in 2022 after 105 more episodes and gallons of tears.

“Truth Be Told” – “Alias”“Alias.”

ABC

On September 30, 2001, a shocking 15 million people tuned in to see a new spy show starring Jennifer Garner, an unknown at the time.

“Alias” introduced us to Sydney Bristow (Garner), a college student turned spy who learns that the secret organization she had been recruited into was actually villainous.

Then she learned her dad, Jack, was working for the bad guys — but wait! Actually, he was a double agent working for the CIA and expected Sydney to do the same.

“Alias” might have lost the plot as the show continued, but the pilot (and, really, the first two seasons) remains excellent television.

“Pilot” — “Friday Night Lights”“Friday Night Lights.”

NBC

The pilot of “Friday Night Lights” is a cinematic achievement — which makes sense, since it had already been a movie in 2004.

When the pilot aired two years later, on October 3, 2006, it was like nothing on TV, with its documentary-style shaky cam, the realistic dialogue, and the decidedly un-glamorous lifestyles of the residents of Dillon, Texas.

But it became clear this show was about more than football when star quarterback Jason Street got carried off the field, never to return (on his feet) again. This show was about trauma, the pressure that these football players faced, the racial tension between Dillon residents, and much more.

“FNL” was never a ratings hit, but the fan base was loyal enough that the show lasted another 75 episodes.

“Pilot Parts 1 and 2” — “Lost”“Lost.”

ABC

When the two-part pilot of “Lost” aired on September 22 and 29, 2004, it already had a significant achievement to its name: It was the most expensive pilot of all time (up to that point).

It cost somewhere between a whopping $10 to $14 million to shoot the harrowing plane crash of Oceanic 815. Why? Because ABC actually purchased a decommissioned jet, shipped it to Hawaii, and then artfully beat it up.

But the “Lost” pilot is iconic beyond its numbers. We met a truly staggering cast of characters from across the world, who spoke different languages, which was somewhat unheard of on broadcast TV at the time. We were invested in them almost immediately.

If you weren’t hooked by the multiple mysteries (Why was Kate arrested? What is the roaring coming from the jungle?), you were by the end of the two-part pilot, when Charlie asks, “Guys … where are we?”