Travel Tech :: Selfies Made Simple

[trip style = any]

If you're not into awkward vacation selfies marred by an arm dangling across your snap, or if you'd rather not ask a stranger to take your photo and later find out it's blurry, you need to know about the perfect app for that.

Over the past few weeks my love for my iPhone app, TimerCam {equivalent on Android = TimerCamera}, has been burning bright. Having been in WA on an end-of-summer vacay with Mr. Trip Styler and our pup, and now on Oahu with my sister, this app has been invaluable for marking memories. I recommend you download it in all its freeness. {It was Japan's number-one photography app in Feb 2012 and they're always ahead of the game!}

Unless we're talking about the new Nokia with a 41 megapixel camera, a smartphone is not the ideal tool for capturing memorable moments at landmarks like Australia's Whitehaven Beach or Croatia's Dalmatian coast, but as the saying goes, your best camera is the one that's WITH you.

Trip Styler Tip :: There's a time and a place for vacation selfies. Self-timer camera apps are best used in non-touristy areas where you're sure nobody will snatch your phone {unless of course you're aware of an iLeash, which I am not}.

Here's a recent photo I snapped using TimerCam:

{Ignore my poor choice in bicycle-esque bottoms; I didn't know the moment would strike for a family photo.}

To set up the shot, press on the screen to ensure the light and focus are right, tap the timer [5 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 30 sec] and click the camera icon to start the timer.

More Travel Apps chefs feed – what top chefs like to eat in their own city magicJack – a free calling app Instagram – as a travel tool TomTom – navigate abroad without using data

[photos by @tripstyler using TimerCam]

Roam+Board :: The Sou'Wester

[trip style = budget + weekend getaway + glamping + beach]

Editor’s Note: When I told my friends I was spending my summer vacay at a trailer park, they thought I'd lost my trip styling marbles. In all fairness, my stay-by-the-sea is only part trailer park; it's mostly a collection of vintage travel trailers. Throw in an 1892-built manor and cabin quartette, and you've got the The Sow'Wester.

What As I lined up to check into The Sou'Wester, the Portlandia resident checking out mused to the front desk gal "The Sou'Wester is Portland's Hamptons." As my week away progressed, I discovered her description could not have have been more apt.

Overnighting in the one of 10 vintage travel trailers at The Sou'Wester recalls a time when motor hotels and Spartan Manors---a retro version of today's mobile mansions---topped travel. I feel like I should have packed pearls, a power blue suit and pumps as a sat in my stationary time capsule sipping a tumbler of whiskey listening to eras of records from Johnny Cash to The Beatles to Willie Nelson.

A retro expo seasoned in boho and purist midcentury finds, the Sou'Wester is miles away from a hotel-cation. Indie bands play in the lodge. Artists-in-resident work on projects. Hip families roast marshmallows at fire pits in aluminum alley. Hipsters read classic American literature.

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

A 28-mile long Hampton's-style beach decorated in massive waves and low-bank dunes covered in wispy sea grass is a five minute walk away. Portland's Hamptons indeed. Trip Styler approved.

Where Seaview, WA, three hours South of Seattle by car, or 1.5hrs Northwest of Portland. Don't miss the paved, multi-mile biking/walking/jogging path winding through the dunes. Oh, and you can drive on the beach.

When The summer is your prime opportunity to sun-seek. The rest of the year is famously stormy and foggy---there's 100+ days of fog---but the inclement weather is part of its misty, wind-swept charm.

Who/Why Because you can't resist telling your friends you're vacationing at a trailer park. Think of it this way: it's as if you're rolling with the 'Stones in their tour trailers.

Cost Rates start at $58 for trailers and $68 for cabins and include WiFi and parking. Everything from linens to kitchen utensils to space heaters is provided. BYO shampoo and conditioner, or end up washing your hair with dish soap...

Trip Styler Tip :: No need to knock on the next trailer for a cup of sugar, there's an honor system shoppe where you can pick up flowers, butter, beer, thrift finds and local crafts.

Photos {Aluminum alley.}

{Us, trailering.}

{Inside our Spartan Manor trailer.}

{The living room.}

{The record playa.}

{The music selection.}

{The bedroom.}

{Flowers for sale.}

{Sou'Wester's resident dog.}

{Beach near Sou'Wester.}

{In case you want to shower off after the beach. Note that most of the stationary trailers have showers too.}

More Roam+Board Cama Beach Cabins – near Seattle The Pearl Hotel – San Diego The Templar – Toronto Encuentro Guadalupe – Mexico Hotel Havana – San Antonio The Ampersand Hotel – London Mount Engadine Lodge – Canadian Rockies Lava Lava Beach Club – Hawaii Island Ace Hotel – Seattle The Wickaninnish Inn – Tofino The Burrard – Vancouver  Hotel de Glace – Quebec Alcazar Palm Springs – California Jumeirah Zabeel Saray – Dubai Makena Resort – Maui Find more R+B hotels featured here, plus our it list of worldwide hotel picks.

[photos taken by @tripstyler]

Roam+Board :: Cama Beach Cabins

[trip style = budget + weekend getaway + glamping]

Editor's Note: While we normally cover styled stays and plays, summer calls for a more relaxed, chilled out approach to vacation time. Just you, the basics and the beach. With a few weeks remaining in the Pacific Northwest's sunny season, I feel compelled to tell you about a set of 32 seaside cabins I met up with when I was weekending between Seattle and Vancouver. The best part? They start at $52 a night, so bring your Trader Joe's two buck chuck, or go BIG with a bottle of Opus One {I mean, you're saving a bundle on your accoms}.

What Glamping in the cabins at Cama Beach feels like camp, sans counselor. There's a cafe-slash-gathering space that's like a mess hall, central heads {aka washrooms}, wooden boat center to paddle or crab, volunteer-run tuck shop, and grassy field for wide games. All that's missing is a group of guys streaking to the flag pole at 4am. {If you went to camp as a kid, you'll pick up what I'm putting down.}

This woody cabin collective is sunset-situated along Cama Beach State Park's pebble and shell-topped beach, and in true beachfront form, each cabin has a front porch.

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

A living room, kitchenette including fridge, microwave, sink AND coffeemaker, and bedroom round out the most basic space. In case you thought I was kidding about glamping, this cabin type has no bathroom - a central set is a stroll away. Lavatory lovers, don't despair, there are seven deluxe waterfront cabins and two bungalows each including a toilet, shower and sink {plus all the other stuff}. Trip Styler approved.

Friends: if you are reading this, shall we book a bevy of Cama cabins and roast marshmallows by the seaside?

Where Cama Beach on Camano Island, about two hours from Vancouver and an hour from Seattle by car - no ferry required. Once you arrive, a shuttle takes you and your glamping stuff from the parking lot to the cabins.

When The cabins are open year-round and can only be booked---gasp---by phone up to nine months prior to your arrival date: 1 - 360 - 387 - 1550.

Who/Why What's camping? A cabin by the sea is as basic as you'll go.

Cost Rates start at $52 in winter and $69 in summer. Find free WiFi at the cafe perched on treed bluff above the cabins. Dogs are allowed for $15 extra per night. BYO linens, pillows, kitchen utensils and hibachi {or charcoal for the on-site BBQs}.

Photos

More Roam+Board The Pearl Hotel – San Diego The Templar – Toronto Encuentro Guadalupe – Mexico Hotel Havana – San Antonio The Ampersand Hotel – London Mount Engadine Lodge – Canadian Rockies Lava Lava Beach Club – Hawaii Island Ace Hotel – Seattle The Wickaninnish Inn – Tofino The Burrard – Vancouver  Hotel de Glace – Quebec Alcazar Palm Springs – California Jumeirah Zabeel Saray – Dubai Makena Resort – Maui Find more R+B hotels featured here, plus our it list of worldwide hotel picks.

[photos taken by @tripstyler, except top photo flickr/larrymyhre]

Eat Like A Chef

[trip style = foodie]

Food is central to travel. We must eat, so why not eat well? Plus, discovering a decadent dish on the road is akin to travel euphoria, no? {If you don't agree, I implore you to try pear and asiago ravioli in Italy, this dish will change your world}.

Introducing Chefs Feed, a professional palate-powered app dishing the meals celebrated chefs love in their own city! Featuring 500+ chefs and 18,000+ dishes, this 2013 webby award winner gives new meaning to curated cuisine. Think of it like Yelp, version 2.0.

If you live in or are visiting one of the 23 cities currently supported in the app {London, Vancouver, Seattle, NYC, Vegas, SF, etc...}, search chefs' recommendations near or afar for sure-thing eats. For example, in Vancouver, L'Abattoir's Lee Cooper digs the moules frites at Chambar; in Vegas, the Border Grill's Mary Sue Milliken, indulges in the whole fish at Estiatoria Milos. The icing on the cake? The more each chef eats {which is a given}, the more they update the app.

Travel {or your Friday night date}, just got a little more tasty. And, this virtual feast is free.

PS - I'm adding this to my essential travel app toolkit.

How It Works - sign in {you have to sign in because chefs are always updating their fav dishes} - select a home city - once you select your home city, browse any city - search chef-by-chef and dish-by-dish - see each chef's restaurant picks on a map - available for iPhone and Android

More Travel Apps magicJack - a free calling app Instagram - as a travel tool TomTom - navigate abroad without using data

[photos via chefs feed app]

Vancouver Summer Sizzlers

[trip style =  sightseeing + spa + staycation] I don't want to jinx it, BUT, we've had a dreamy summer in Vancouver: warm and sunny seasoned with sea breeze. While Sun-couver is hot to trot, I spend a lot of time at home. I mean, who would want to leave one of the world's most gorgeous cities when it's like California outside?!?

Aside from "Vancouvering" by way of hiking the Grouse Grind, riding the Aquabus or lounging at the beach, here are a few more reasons to give the City of Glass a big hug while school's out:

Pop-Up Pianos Coined the keys to the streets, four pop-up pianos are gracing the streets of Vancouver from July 1 - Aug 24. Painted in polka dots and rainbows {literally}, these music makers are giving dabblers and concert pianists a casual, alfresco stage for their craft. There are two installations near my running/walking route, and somebody is tickling the ivories every single time I pass by. Aside from the occasional heart and soul medley, I've witnessed some serious tunes about town, many times with an audience that grows by the note. Visit; it's worth it for the photo opp alone. Beethoven-level music is a bonus.

Food Cart Fest Hanging out in an uber-urban, concrete lot near The {Olympic} Village, Food Cart Fest is making its second annual summer appearance from June 23 - Sept 22. Forming a circle of cuisine around a concrete box, aka the DJ's digs, 20 trucks set up camp from noon - 5pm every Sunday. It's a tasty way to sample Van's street food without roaming the city in search of each truck, like Holy Perogy, The Juice Truck, Mom's Grilled Cheese, Yolk's or Roaming Dragon. There's also a flea market for browsing between bites, and a bouncy castle for kids {bounce first, eat second}. Cost of admission is $2 {VanCity members and children under 13 are free}.

The Spa CHI, Shangri-La's spa has just launched an uber-Vancouver spa package, perfect for recharging your sun-drenched batteries for fall. To date, it is the most exquisite spa I've visited in Vancouver, from the cashmere robes and sheets {so luxurious you want to rip them off the bed and wear them as a scarf} to the spa suites sporting infinity soaker tubs with embedded light therapy. The discreet service is also on another level. The four-hour West Coast Lifestyles package starts with a private yoga class {so Vancouver!}, and is followed by sea kelp soak, body wrap with mud flown in from China and a seaweed facial {or massage}. From $355 for the 'lite' version and $485 for the full version. Bonus, this runs into Spring 2014. {See my Instagram snaps for recent photos of the experience.}

Vancouver Chinatown Night Market Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6pm - 11pm, Chinatown's Keefer street shuts down to perform a quick-change into a standing room-only market. Vancouver has the largest Chinatown in Canada, so it's only fitting! Think of it like a summer vacation to the Far East, plus, most of Vancouver's hottest restaurants are a stone's throw away {if you're still hungry, which is unlikely}. You've got until Sept 8th to pick up dumplings, deep-fried snakes {ok, they're just sugar-topped pieces of dough shaped like a snake}, orchids or cellphone cases.

Trip Styler Tip :: If you want to venture just beyond Vancouver's borders, check the Richmond Night Market, open every weekend and holiday night until Oct 14. Admission is $2.

Grand Hotel I wrote about Grand Hotel at the Vancouver Art Gallery in the Spring, but it's worth mentioning again since it's only on until Sept 15, and the exhibition was nearly SEVEN years in the making. To say I liked GH is an epic understatement, in fact, it left me on a hotel high—higher than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Chronicling game-changers like the 1887-built Raffles hotel to the 2010-built Marina Bay Sands {where people book a room for the sole purpose of perching atop the surfboard-shaped SkyPark’s 150-meter infinity pool}, the multimedia show acts as a lab into hotel life. An adult ticket is $21, but admission is by donation every Tuesday after 5pm.

[photos by @tripstyler, except for CHI where I was a guest of the spa]