View-Finding

[trip style = any]

Remember View-Master toys? {Those little, plastic, click-through portals featuring a cardboard disk with built-in photo negatives.} Fast forward to 2013; there's a new breed of viewfinder in a colorful portal of international proportions. Specifically, Expedia has just launched a blog called the Expedia Viewfinder, and I'm BEYOND excited to be one of 10 regular writers!

All of the bloggers type travel tales and tips from a different point of view, highlighting popular travel destinations---think LA, Bangkok, Toronto, Vegas, Barcelona, etc. Some of the perspectives shared are those of dads, moms, solo wanderers, LGBT, adventurers, philosophers, couples, road trippers and moi! Our MO is simple: research, travel, test and tell.

I'm pumped to continue trip styling on TS along with my trusty flight crew {Heather, Lauren, Nicole, Leah and Keryn}. You can also find my stories through my viewfinder author page.

Why Expedia I get pitches to work with companies semi-regularly, but I only work with the brands I trust. I started partnering with Expedia last year, co-moderating their regular Twitter Travel Chats, and working on a few curated projects. The one I was most impacted by is a video which they shot of me in Mexico returning to the place that changed the course of my life. They didn't alter my story for their purposes, nor glorify it to look better. The blog is in the same vein.

[photos via expedia viewfinder blog]

Glamping {from lean to luxe}

[trip style = glamping]

{Editor's Note: I'm talking lean-to-luxe glamping options tomorrow on Global BC1's AM/BC with Jill Krop.}

It's been a while since glamping has made a grand entrance on the Trip Styler stage---'tis the season, right?

Glamping {glamorous camping} comes in all shapes, sizes and price points; think of it like a hybrid hotel stay under the stars. Most of the time, people glamp for the love of the trip style, versus a way to pinch pennies. And believe me, upscale glamping is often much more expensive than your average five-star stay.

Chic camping can be as simple as a yurt in the woods, as indie as an upscale trailer park hotel, or as fabulous as a full service tent set-up on a castaway isle. Here's a peek into the glamping gamut:

Lean Glamping {You, a yurt, and the wild} Rent a yurt from a provincial or state park, or a campground. Most are heated for year-round use. Case in point, I rented a Yurt in Oregon for a November surf trip a few years ago. The circular perma-tent came with a futon, bunk beds, a breakfast table and a heater. Above: Riverside campground yurts in Whistler, BC.

Milieu Glamping {You, a cushy tent or trailer, and the effortless outdoors} Top/ Hicksville Trailer Palace and Artist Retreat, Joshua Tree, CA Left/ Ecopod Boutique Retreat, Scotland Right/ Rolling Huts, WA

Luxe Glamping {You, a chic shack with ALL the bells and whistles, and nature---the edited version} Left/ Wilson Island, Australia Right/ Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Kenya

Fact: Glamping is one of my favorite trip styles. Have you been glamping?

[photos via riverside, hicksville, ecopod, rest by @tripstyler]

Holland. The Original Cool.

[trip style = urban]

Holland's been on my mind A LOT lately. My sister was just there, my dog's breed is Dutch and now this... The country of canals, cheese and cycling just came out with a two-minute video you NEED to watch.

Here are a few lines I love: "You call it organic and artisanal, we just call it food" "You call it boutique, independent, alternative, we call it the 9 Streets" "You call it exercise, we call it a way of life" {biking} "You call it green energy, we call it tradition" {windmills}

Video - Holland. The Original Cool. {Can't view this video?}

[photo via video]

From Sea to Sky

[trip style = luxury + active & adventure]

{Editor's Note :: At this very moment I'm in Whistler testing a new and splashy luxe package offered by the Pan Pacific Whistler. Flying in and out by seaplane is on the menu, as is two nights in a one-bedroom suite complete with kitchen, walk-out balcony, WiFi, daily breakfast, lunch at Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub, bike rental and dinner at one of many local restaurants like Alta Bistro. The details (package available until Sept 29, 2013). Rates for two start at $1,138. I'm micro-blogging about the experience as I go, so check out Whistler and check in with me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Vine.}

I was recently researching a story for Fodor's on the most beautiful road trips in Canada, and the Sea-to-Sky stretch between Vancouver and Whistler came up in a ton of publications. Hugging granite cliffs, the road winds through ancient forests and practically kisses the sea. And don't even get me started on the glacial vistas---there's a reason there are so many roadside viewpoints.

Yesterday I took the same journey from an alternate near-angelic angle. Boarding a 14-seat seaplane in Vancouver, I literally traveled from sea to sky above the namesake highway. Cresting at cloud level, the seaplane floated at the top of peaks so sculpted and white, they appeared as though they were decorated by the Cake Boss using a fancy frosting tool.

Flying low above glaciers giving way to deep green valleys divided by frothy slivers (aka. raging rivers), Canada's wild took on a whole new point of view. Pairing this journey with a luxe weekend is the icing-formed peaks on the cake.

Trip Styler Tip :: You can enter to win this Fly-In/Fly-Out Package here (just click on the contest tab). The contest closes Sunday, May 26.

Vancouver's Harbour Air Terminal

Video - Taking off from Vancouver

Video - Landing in Whistler

Pan Pacific Village Centre Lobby {Note: there are two Pan Pacific properties in Whistler}

Video - My room at the Pan Pacific Village Centre

[Photos by @tripstyler, taken while as a guest of Pan Pacific Whistler. See my 'view' on what I write about here.]

I Just Called, To Say, I...

[trip style = any]

"I just called, to saaaaaaaaaay, I loooooooove you. I just called, to saaaaaaaaaaay how much I caaaaaaaaare..." - Stevie Wonder

There's something to be said for proper conversation. Clearly, Stevie Wonder agrees.

When emailing or iMessaging your loved ones on vacation isn't enough {or typing on a tiny screen is making your digits tired}, there's always the option to talk on the good ol' phone, for FREE, sans international calling plan.

Recently my sister was in Croatia and I was in Austin. We talked the whole time via iMessage, but when our conversation demanded more than short-burst updates, we called from opposite corners of the globe for a proper gab.

If you want the *option* to call someone you care about while traveling, here's how to do it:

The 411 :: Making Free Calls From Your Smartphone On Vacation 1/ Find WiFi 2/ Download the magicJack app for free calls to U.S. and Canadian phone numbers, or any magicJack phone number anywhere in the world {iPhone // Android} 3/ Make the call {no sign-in required}

PS - Google Talk is another complimentary way to call regular phone numbers from your computer, and Skype-to-Skype calling is still free.

Have you had success with any other free calling apps or services? Do tell.

[photo of/via @tripstyler]