Packed :: Summer Urban Weekend

[trip style = urban + adventure + weekend getaway]

Right now I'm in Francais Canada, Montreal exactement, trying a melange of trip styles: urban AND active + adventure---a doozy for packing. And here's the kicker: I've just stayed in three different hotels over three consecutive nights {...an assignment for Jetsetter.com}. Double packing doozy!!

Always striving to encourage all trip stylers of the world to pack 'more' in 'less' space, I timed myself packing the day before I left. It took me an hour to select my clothes and fold them into my carry-on along with doodads {hats, camera, chargers, etc...} from my travel bin and always-packed travel toiletries {note to self: hire an Olympic coach to improve my packing time}. Knowing I'd be unpacking and re-packing a total of eight times, I tried to keep it chic and simple---after all, Montrealers are serious about le style!

{Trip Styler Tip: ALWAYS pack with your trip's itinerary in mind. Write out a day-by-day plan of what you're doing and where you're going as a means of building your list.}

My itinerary consisted of three dinners out avec fireworks and festivals apres, biking throughout the city's sights and stand-up paddleboarding {as well as a few meetings}. Packing accordingly, here's what I wore from day one to day four: {Forgive the poor quality of this photo--and the bike picture in general!!!}

Le Packing List {this is A LOT, I could've brought less} - two dresses - two skirts - 3 tank tops - blazer - 1 pashmina - 2 workout shorts - 2 workout tops - 1 light sweatshirt - runners/sox - wooden mid-rise heels - flip flops - t-strap sandals - booties - slippers - bathing suit {actually I forgot it, so I went SUP'ing in work-out spandex...classy}

{Trip Styler Tip: I know this sounds crazy, but other than adding a few more tops, this four-day packing list is MORE than enough for a week, or two, or three. Case in point, I brought the same size carry-on to Montreal for the weekend as I did to Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire for two weeks! For longer trips, pack for four days and just repeat/mix/match clothes.}

Related Fashionable Flashpacking Fitting 50 Garments Into A Carry-On Q&A With “How To Pack Like a Rock Star” Author Packing 103 // Packing 102 // Packing 101 Size Matters Travel Essentials for Any Trip Style High Rolling :: To Roll or Lay Flat? A Summer Weekend Packing List The Art of Carry-On Travel Going Away? Packing and To Do List

[photos by @tripstyler]

Fashion Friday :: Like a Virgin

[trip style = any]

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

I think my favorite expression is "Bananas!" I blame Rachel Zoe and Gwen Stefani. Speaking of bananas, did you hear the big news in travel fashion this month? {Sadly no, a law banning pyjama pants in airports has not been passed, despite my letters to international airport authorities.} Banana Republic has redesigned the uniforms of Virgin America's flight attendants and pilots. Virgin, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

In order to drum up excitement for the redesign, Banana Republic put its designers in teams for a design challenge à la Project Runway, with Virgin execs choosing the winning looks and Virgin teammates weighing in. The final looks, described as "utility chic", mirror the airline's branding and cabin aesthetic.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdI-XBgJLqE&w=500] {Can't see the video? Click here.}

The new uniforms take flight next month, just in time for the airline's fifth anniversary. But wait! There's more! Like what you see on your crew? For a limited time, variations of some items will be available in Banana Republic stores and on Virgin America flights. It might not be high fashion, but it's definitely 35,000-ft-high fashion.

PS. Virgin isn't the only airline marrying fashion with function; Toronto-based Porter Airlines flight crew sport uniforms designed by Pink Tartan, while Korean Air flight attendants sport Gianfranco Ferre.

Trip Styler Tip: Flying through San Francisco? Be sure to fly out of SFO's Terminal 2, home to Virgin America and American Airlines. It not only has a yoga room and a Kiehl's, but also hip and healthy food choices like The Plant Cafe Organic, Pinkberry, and Cat Cora, where on my last trip a Virgin pilot serenaded travelers on a baby grand piano. It also has a wine bar if that's your version of yoga...

More Fashion Friday
Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Airport Style
Summer Style With Heidi Merrick
Oh Mr. Sun

[collage by @heatherlovesit & photos via virgin america]

Jetset Jingles :: TS Music Musts

[trip style = any]

Jetset Jingles publishes once monthly. The ‘soundtrack’ is written, mixed and mastered by Nicole, amateur DJ by night and movie maven by day.

Like picking a trip style, music selection is a very personal and current-state-of-mind process. This month’s travel playlist is no exception to that rule. I asked the TS ladies to give me a couple of their travel music musts---songs that either get them excited for their upcoming travels or keep them going while transiting to their destination.

It’s a fun, eclectic mix! Here’s what they had to say about some of their selections:

Lauren {travel beauty} St Germain, So Flute Mariah Carey, Dreamlover “It brings back memories of listening to it on planes and while packing to get me excited to go away”

Heather {fashion friday} Brooke Fraser, Something In the Water Bill Withers, Lovely Day “Because everyone knows the words”

Keryn {kinderhop} Sarah McLaughlin, Ice Cream Paul Simon, Graceland “Because they have good beats that keep us motivated and moving down the road, even if it’s a very boring drive”

Leah {healthy on the road} Coldplay, Paradise M83, Intro “The arrangement is so inspiring when heading out on the road or on a run”

Trish {editor} Tom Petty, Free Falling Coldplay, Viva La Vida "It makes me want to dance on a beach until all hours of the morning, or until the bugs come out" {Nicole's Note: I secretly think this is Trish’s favorite song, like, ever. Whenever I ask her for a good tune for a travel playlist, she always suggests Viva La Vida}

Happy listening.

Song List 1/ Viva la Vida - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends 2/ Dreamlover - Mariah Carey: Greatest Hits 3/ Something In the Water - Flags (Deluxe Version) 4/ Lovely Day - Bill Withers' Greatest Hits 5/ Graceland - The Essential Paul Simon 6/ Free Fallin' - Full Moon Fever 7/ Paradise - Mylo Xyloto 8/ Intro - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming 9/ Ice Cream - Closer - The Best of Sarah McLachlan (Deluxe Version)

Playlist {Can’t view the playlist?}

{Editor’s Note: We’re running a contest in partnership with Expedia right now! Tweet a photo and the hashtags #freedom & #expediafindyours for a chance to win a trip to Aruba or a $250 Expedia travel voucher. // PS – I recently stayed at the Nita Lake Lodge and it is Trip Styler Approved.}

More Jetset Jingles Pause And Reflect Gals’ Getaway Portlandia – The Mecca Of Indie Rock Palm Springs Rat Packin’ Caribbean R+R Best of Coachella Turbulence Calm

[photo by @tripstyler]

Saving Your Sole{s} At Security

[trip style = any]

Fact: Everyone passing through security going in or out of the US must take off their shoes.

Notice how the carpet lining airport security checkpoints always smells like feet. GROSS. If it smells that bad, I can't even imagine what's lurking---maybe even festering---beneath. Time to save our soles...

The Problem: Bare feet through security The Opportunity: Protecting feet through security

Many of us wear flats on travel days. They look good and feel good when walking {what feels like} a half-marathon through the airport. When the 'shoes off' rule just started, I made the mistake of walking through security with bare feet. NEVER AGAIN. I died a little inside. I don't even want to know how many germs the soles of my feet came into contact with walking 10 steps through the metal detector/body scanner.

Now, when I wear flats without socks, I pack a pair of 'security sox' into my carry-on's top zip pocket. These would only be used twice on my trip, once through security there and once through security back.

On a recent trip style = spa stint in Vegas, I took things one step further {pun intended} and devised what I thought was an even better plan to save my soles. I wore slippers {the kind hotels give you that can be washed post-trip}. On the way there, I had no problem at security. On the way back, it DID NOT go over well. I got berated by a TSA agent who insisted I must take my slippers off {rendering my feet bare}.

Moral of the story: wear socks through security. They are our only hope of protection from airport carpet cooties.

How To Save Your Soles At Security

• pack 'security sox' in the top of your carry-on for easy access
• put the socks on while taking off your shoes at the security scanner's belt
• walk through the metal detector/scanner
• take off your socks and put on your shoes
• throw the security sox in the wash as soon as you get home
• slippers don't count

[photo by @tripstyler]

Roam+Board :: Nita Lake Lodge

[trip style = weekend getaway]

{Editor’s Note: We’re running a contest in partnership with Expedia right now! Tweet a photo and the hashtags #freedom & #expediafindyours for a chance to win a trip to Aruba or a $250 Expedia travel voucher. // PS - I recently stayed at the Nita Lake Lodge and it is Trip Styler Approved.}

What In a sea of mega mountain resorts, Nita Lake Lodge is a quiet, lakeside retreat with boutique appeal. Think cool, alpine comfort, chiseled by color and a touch of library-chic.

Case in point: two-tone wood tables flirt with faux-fur pillow-topped traditional black velvet and brown leather seating. All huddling around a giant stone fireplace, this environs is exactly where you want to sip a cedar-infused rye sour {seriously, highly recommended} après one of Whistler's zillion summer or winter pursuits.

And speaking of fireplaces, every one of the 77 oversized rooms---a minimum of 550sf in size---share this cozy commonality. Rarely do I want to crack open a book in my hotel room, but the dancing flames and lake views demand it.

In the eve, refuel at Nita's Aura Restaurant. Written up by food critics from Vancouver to New York, chef Mike Guy creates modern Pacific, farm-to-table meals, each with a story of the field where the Pemberton potatoes were sourced or the straight where the fresh halibut was caught.

Off the beaten path from Whistler's condo clusters, the Nita Lake Lodge is close enough to the action, yet as far away as you want it to be.

Where Shoreside at Nita Lake in Whistler {near Creekside gondola}, about a one-and-a-half-hour drive or a three-hour luxury train ride {summer season only} from Vancouver, BC.

When Picturesque year round. Summer and winter buzz, while spring and fall are quieter lending themselves to a rejuvenating trip style = weekend retreat.

Who/Why Library-chic matches your horn-rimmed spectacles.

Cost Summer rates start at $149/night and include wifi, breakfast {if you book through the hotel direct}, use of hotel bicycles, a resort shuttle operating seven days a week from 7am - 11pm, access to the fitness center and the spa's sauna and steam room. Fido can stay for $25 extra per night.

{Trip Styler Tip :: If you'd like to surprise a special someone with a trip style = luxe + active escape, check out the Summer Rail Package {$659/person} combining a two-night stay with a return rail journey from North Vancouver aboard the Rocky Mountaineer's glass-domed coach, a stand-up paddle board lesson by REO Rafting on Nita Lake and a $180 Aura Restaurant dining credit.}

More Roam+Board Hester Creek Winery – Oliver, BC Fairmont Banff Springs – Banff Thompson – Beverly Hills The Sorrento Hotel – Seattle The LIT! Bangkok – Thailand Hotel De La Paix – Thailand From ice hotels to Anna Wintour’s steal-of-a-deal holiday escape, find all featured R+B properties here.

[photos taken by @tripstyler when a guest of Nita Lake Lodge]