Healthy On The Road :: 4 Immune Boosters

[trip style = any]

{When she’s not training clients or being trained by her dog Zuzu, Leah writes Healthy on the Road, published the first Thursday of every month.}

Our bodies have a sneaky way of lowering their defenses the moment they know their owner’s don’t need to report to work, school or any regular duty on Monday morning.

When I was a kid, my parents couldn’t even tell me we were going on holiday until we were well on our way. Planning and packing was all done behind my back---a ruse they were forced to perfect after one too many departures were ruined by my over-excited stomach.

Occasionally, my body still "finds the time" to get sick on vacation, yet the logistics of secret trip planning are a bit much to ask of my husband, so I strive to abide by these immune-boosting tips:

1/ Get Active Incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity, of any type, leading up to and during your vacation. You will sleep better and feel stronger.

2/ Drink Water & Lots Of It H2O; drink it before, during and after your vacation. Be sure to have your refillable water bottle with you at all times {for our FAVE foldable and reusable "Vapur" water bottle, see 2011 Cool Christmas Finds}. The only time that bottle should be empty is when you’re traveling through airport security! {Trip Styler Tip :: Pack a couple sachets of the powdered vitamin supplement, Emergen-C, to mix into your water bottle during travel for an added boost.}

3/ Catch Enough ZZZZZs Pace your trip prep by getting enough sleep leading up to your departure. Avoid the stress and immune suppression associated with last-minute packing---aim to be packed at least one day before you leave.

4/ Load Up On Fruits And Veggies “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” -True and wise words from Michael Pollen's book “In the Defense of Food.” Strive to first fill your plate with fresh fruit and veg. Not only is this the most natural and healthy way to get your immune-boosting vitamins, but it will help prevent vacation weight gain.

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More Healthy On the Road… Give The Pool A Chance - A Workout In The Water Lifestyle Choices Make Any Trip Style Healthy The 20-min Exercise Itinerary Healthy DIY Plane Snacks Hotel Room Exercises {You can do in your underwear}

[photos sourced online]

Roam+Board :: Llipimpac Guesthouse

[trip style = budget conscious]

{Editor’s Note: A few years ago my husband and I met some friends in Cusco, Peru before trekking to Machu Picchu. We stayed here.}

What
Anchored by a small, grassy courtyard filled to the brim with morning sun, this stone-built property personifies charming with its pocket-sized quadrants for barbecuing, eating breakfast, acclimatizing to the altitude and sleeping.

Depending on where you read about it, Llipimpac is either called a guesthouse or a hostel, the former being more accurate given it has private rooms with attached bath{s}, daily housekeeping and service so discreet it's done with a whisper.

Where
Cusco, Peru, perched at a lofty 11,000ft above sea level.

When
With the crowds descending from June - August, an attempt to visit in mid-April, May, September or early October will leave you with greater flexibility and choice. Avoid winter, aka, the rainy season.

Who/Why
You want to stay at a private, local enclave that jives with local architecture—away from any garden variety hotel.

Cost
From $50usd/night for a single, $65 for a double room with private bathroom. Includes a breakfast of eggs and plump buns with jam and butter, WiFi, coca tea, parking and an airport shuttle. Note: rooms can get a little cold at night, so ask the front desk to rent a heater.

More Roam+Board
Postcard Inn At Holiday Isle – Florida Keys
Nira Alpina – Switzerland
Rockhouse – Jamaica
Hotel Bellevue – Near Seattle
Rolling Huts – Methow Valley {WA}
From ice hotels to Anna Wintour’s steal-of-a-deal holiday escape, find all featured R+B properties here.

[photos via llipimpac]

Tech Tuesday :: Google Traveler Tricks

[trip styler = any]

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Flipping through endless Encyclopedia Britannica volumes for elementary and jr. high projects, it still blows.my.mind Google can generate answers to 85% of travel queries in seconds.

What if I told you Google could work even faster? As long as you ask the right travel question, your answer will pop up in milliseconds, no additional clicks required. Here are some basic Google travel queries I use every day:

Weather Find the weather forecast, search “weather city” ex: “weather vancouver” *Note, if you just type "weather" Google will also show the weather forecast in your current location. To find airport weather conditions, search “[airport name/code] airport + conditions” ex: “ogg airport + conditions”

Local Time Find the local time, search “time place” ex: “time Paris”

Directions Find a map and a link to directions, search "business place" ex: "pizzeria farina vancouver"

Flights Find direct flights from your home airport, search "direct flights from vancouver"

Find direct flights from your home airport to your destination, search "direct flights from vancouver to maui"

Find flight status, search “flight name and/or number” ex: “ha 30″

Currency Convert currency, search “amount currency to another currency” ex: “100 cad to aud” *Note that sometimes this feature can be finicky. Make sure you have the exact short-form symbol for each country's currency. Bonus Conversions: Temperatures – “[temperature] [C/F] to [F/C]” ex: “12 c to f” Distances or Driving Speeds– “[value] [distance unit] in/to [distance unit]” ex: “140 miles in km” / ex: “90 mph to kph”

Translate Translate words and phrases, search "translate: [word or phrase] to language" ex: "translate: I like bananas to french" Bonus: Type the foreign word you don't know into Google image search to see what it is.

*I would like to give credit to the Vagabondish travel blog, credited with posting some of these Google travel shortcuts in 2008. I've been using them since then.

More Tech Tuesday Book A Hotel Online With Expert Recommendations STOP, Are You Using A Promo Code? Trading Airline Points The Six-Week Rule For Buying Airline Tix Dashboard To Wall Hotel Tonight

[images via google]

NYC Restau-Style

[trip style = urban]

{Editor's Note: Today is a hybrid of our destination Spotlight{s} and Fashion Friday columns mix-mastered into one! Enjoy.}

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May I take a minute of your time for a New York minute?

I recently wrote an article for the travel section of The Daily Meal {an NYC-based foodie site} about what to pack for food-loving adventures, one of which was restaurant tasting in NYC.

The Trip In late November my sister {Trip Styler's Fashion Friday columnist} and I took a literal bite out of the Big Apple. Not wanting to waste any time during our 3-night/4-day stay, she made a foodie itinerary---based on the army of lifestyle bloggers she follows---that took us to corner bistros and alley-cat restaurants. See my top 3 picks below.

The Garb Trying to fit a restaurant and shopping checklist the size of the Chrysler building into one trip style = extended weekend, we were constantly on the go, meaning many of the fancier get-ups we brought for dinner didn't get worn. Ideally, it's always fun to get dressed up for a night out, but practically, it doesn't always happen that way when you've been out and about ALL day and need nourishment at.that.moment---hence the above day-to-night NYC restaurant'ing packing/style guide. - Women // Start with colored jeans, jean shirt, leather jacket and a Kate Spade messenger bag. End with the same bottoms, plus a black tank and leopard blazer to finish the look. - Men // Start with dark-wash jeans, button-up shirt and blazer. End by adding a pocket square and scarf to finish the look.

The Restaurants 1/ Breakfast // Freemans - Walking down a narrow alley, you reach a tall brick building with a small, nondescript door. Inside, the people and cuisine are the art in the old, canvas-like space. Freemans is an urban tavern experience with food that pulls from American traditions.

2/ Lunch // Cafe Cluny - This petite, cream-colored corner bistro is where conversation and contemplation happen---a place you could just as easily chat with friends or sit solo and read a novel. Servers wear striped Breton shirts, which I'm quite sure makes the French food taste that much better.

3/ Dinner // August - A small and simple interior meant to highlight the Mediterranean meals opens up into a glass-enclosed terrace with glowing lights, overhanging flowers and banquette seating reminiscent of massive church pews. Warning: the restaurant might have to kick you out, because you'll want to stay all night.

*See additional Trip Styler NYC suggestions here: eat, do & stay.

[photos and images via @tripstyler, cafe cluny & august]

Fashion Friday :: Scarf Tying 101

[trip style = any]

Scarves: they're on every woman's travel packing list. Well, guess what? They're not overrated---and they're not just for women, but more on that later. What other travel accessory is fashionable, practical and comfortable? Chilly flight? Put on a scarf. Broken bag strap? Tie on a scarf. Coffee on your shirt? Cover with a scarf. Fell and broke your arm? Sling on a scarf. Forgot to pack a scarf? Go buy a scarf!

Watch this clever video for 25 try-at-home-in-the-mirror-by-yourself-with-a-glass-of-wine ideas. Talk about the perfect Friday night...

{Can't see the video? Click here.}

Trip Styler Tip #1: Have you ever noticed how some women just sling scarves around their necks and look perfectly put together? They could just be French, but chances are their scarves aren't cheap. The sad truth is that pricier scarves hang and hold their shape better than more affordable scarves. Try the same tie with an H&M scarf and an Alexander McQueen scarf and you'll see what I mean. You can find a fantastic scarf for $5, but if you want to feel like a million bucks, invest in a fabulous scarf.

Trip Styler Tip #2: Guys, you can wear non-winter scarves too. Brooklyn-based company the Hill-side makes great scarves from utilitarian fabrics like selvedge chambray, wool and organic flax cotton.

More Scarf-Tying Resources
- Scarf turban video*Previously mentioned in this month's Travel Beauty post
- Hermès guide
- Designlovefest scarf video
- GQ rules video*They echo my advice: invest in one great scarf

Now What To Buy?
(clockwise from top left)
Burberry printed modal and linen-blend scarf, Virginia Johnson lightweight merino wool shawl, A Peace Treaty tsuru taupe scarf, Vivienne Westwood printed woven scarf, Alexander McQueen skull print modal and cashmere blend scarf, Madewell storyteller cityblock scarf, Reborn 4d polaroid scarf, Zara graduated tricolour scarf, Swash horn of africa eclipse printed silk-chiffon scarf, Etro printed silk shiffon scarf, Benah marlin silk scarf

More Fashion Friday
Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Santa, Style Icon
November in New York
Global Style 

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by fashion blogger Heather.}

[graphic by @heatherlovesit]