Vacation Rentals :: A Palm Springs Story

With so many unique hotels in Palm Springs, from retro resorts to hip hideaways, I've always chosen a hotel over a vacation rental. But a recent trip to my favourite desert destination inspired me to rent a holiday home rather than share hotel rooms with friends.

Vacation Rentals vs. Hotels

I love the comforts of home, aesthetic variety and neighborhood options of vacation homes. I love hosts who offer restaurant recommendations or touches like a bottle of wine or coffee and tea upon arrival. I love cooking my own meals if I feel like it. I love unconventional spaces like tree houses or Airstreams or houseboats. I love the privacy of my own space. I love living amongst locals in off-the-beaten-path locales instead of hotel strips.

All of this said, I love the ease of hotel booking. I love not having to clean and never having to leave the resort if I don't want to. I love meeting new friends and people watching. I love knowing what I'm going to get and how much it's going to cost. I love ordering food to my room. I love being right in the thick of it with the city on my doorstep.

There are as many great reasons to book a vacation property as there are to book a hotel. That's the ethos of Trip Styler. We have the freedom and opportunity to choose from any number of trip styles for any given trip.

Tips for Selecting a Vacation Rental 

• Establish a budget – Before diving too deep into your research, know your nightly cost {in your own currency, if applicable}. That way you won't be tempted by houses plucked off the pages of Architectural Digest.
• Select a neighborhood – Do you want to walk into town? Do you want a neighborhood with midcentury homes? Consider these elements and make use of Google Maps' Street View feature to get a feel for the area. 
• Decide on amenities – If a private pool is a must, avoid properties with shared pools. If you plan to cook, ensure there's a spacious kitchen and barbecue. Not all houses I looked at had a heated pool, which many assured me was a must-have in the winter.
• Count the beds {and baths} – If the house is Instagram-worthy but only has two double beds for five people, it might not worth the digital likes. Consider who's willing to share beds or take the couch before booking.
• Ask questions – Send Airbnb owners or property managers questions to get a sense of the hosts based on their responsiveness and helpfulness. I confirmed availability and cost and inquired about pool heating, neighborhood and wind factor, as properties on the northern side of town can be quite windy.
• Read the reviews – I'm a huge fan of reviews, but I always take them with a grain of salt. I pay close attention to reviews that mention any issues and how they were handled. Broken heater but owner responds immediately with several space heaters? That's a good sign. The beauty of Airbnb is that you can see a reviewer's photos, rental history and even their own properties for rental.

Things to Know

• Vacation rentals are not always cheaper than hotels – Our Palm Springs house was about the same price as two rooms at the Ace Hotel. 
• Vacation rentals require hours of research – I created a document with details on the all the houses I contacted, including photos, costs, neighborhood, style of home and record of communication. 
• Vacation rentals may be listed on multiple sites at different prices – I tend to research properties on Airbnb because it's the most visually appealing website, but I've never booked on the site {not for lack of trying} for reasons like availability, communication and cost. I found our Palm Springs rental on Airbnb, but booked it with the rental company. 
• Vacation rentals may have hidden fees – I encountered a sneaky fee when I rented our Palm Springs home because I was paying with a credit card. Other hidden fees to look out for include daily pool heating and cleaning fees. 
• Vacation rental owners can be flaky – I contacted about a dozen properties on VRBO and Airbnb and either I never heard back or was informed their calendar wasn't up to date by a third of them. 
• Vacation rentals may require contracts and deposits up front – The beauty of Airbnb is that everything is arranged through the website. Other companies may require contracts to be signed and deposits sent ahead of time or upon arrival in cash or money order.

My Palm Springs Rental Experience

I wanted a midcentury home right in Palm Springs with a heated pool and fun aesthetic. I needed beds for five people and a good kitchen for cooking together. I found 15 properties at our price point, contacted a dozen and shortlisted five. I ended up selecting this property {see photo collage at top of post} from a local vacation rental company. It worked well for our group with three bedrooms, a pool and hot tub, enough pool loungers for everyone, two outdoor eating spaces and two living areas. It was close to the airport, close to grocery stores and about 10 minutes from downtown. Would I rent this house again? Probably not—but only because there are so many properties to choose from and I want to experience them all!

>> View more Palm Springs vacation rentals on my Airbnb Wish List. <<

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Top 5 Vacation Home Rental Sites
Roam+Board :: Korakia Pensione
Road+Board :: Parker Palm Springs

[top photos via oasis rentals except top left of author by @graceyvr, all other photos via airbnb]

Jetset Style :: Jean Jackets

[trip style = any]

I was recently discussing packing techniques with a friend, who was setting off on a five-week trip to Hong Kong, Perth and Bali, when she told me she's not bringing a jacket. "Not even a jean jacket?" I asked. "No!" she replied, after which we discussed that we always pack a denim jacket no matter where or when we travel.

Jean jackets are, of course, the Official Jacket of Travel™. I'm only partially joking as the two things you're guaranteed to find in my suitcase are jeans and a jean jacket no matter where I go. It truly is the all-season staple that survives all trends and thrives in all climates.

Speaking of trends, if we can learn anything from fashion week runways and street style this year, it's that denim is back: denim on denim, colored denim, printed denim, ruffled denim and oversized denim. While you can never go wrong with a classic look, the biggest trends in jean jackets this spring are distressed and embellished denim.

Styling tips

• While the clock runs out on winter, transition your jacket to spring by layering it under a wool coat.
• Add dimension to an all-black or all-white look with a denim jacket.
• Channel Kelly Kapowski in a cropped and colored jean jacket.
• Add structure to a dress or feminine skirt with a cropped or oversized jacket.
• Roll or scrunch up the cuffs for a casual, relaxed look.
• Button up the jacket all the way to wear it as a shirt.
• Pair a denim jacket with heels and a bold clutch for a polished look with personality.

GUYS :: Layer a denim jacket under a tailored blazer or over a chunky sweater. Wear it with anything from wool pants to navy chinos, with a buttoned shirt or a Breton striped tee.

Left to right: Acne Studios tram bleach jacket, Zara oversized denim jacket, Madewell the jean jacket, Current/Elliott the oversized trucker jacket 

Left to right: APC brandy jacket, J Brand x Rob Pruitt hand-painted jeans jacket, Etoile Isabel Marant abril embroidered jacket, Lee denim jacket rider slim fit

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Jetset Style :: Ode to Boyfriend Jeans
Jetset Style :: Everyday Travel Totes
Jetset Style :: Scandinavia-Inspired Jackets

[streetstyle photos via collage vintage, stockholm street style, we wore what, majawyh, wylde splash news, elle.com, style.com; menswear photos by tommy ton & robert spangle]

Joshua Tree

[trip style = active & adventure + weekend getaway]

It's hard to explain Joshua Tree to someone who's never been; it's a magical desert landscape that must be experienced because words can't describe this strange and surreal corner of the world.

"Somewhere in America, about two and a half hours inland from the Los Angeles sprawl is another America, a stranger one. There's a long tradition of people coming out here to get away or to simply get weird. And once you're past Palm Springs and into the high desert, people start to vibrate at a different pitch than they do elsewhere." [No Reservations: US Desert]

Joshua Tree is a dusty and desolate community about an hour from Palm Springs, where new age spiritualists, artists, musicians, hippies, hikers and even Marines (thanks to its proximity to the world's largest Marine base) coexist. 

Neighboring Joshua Tree National Park houses the Mojave and Colorado Deserts and is known for its eponymous trees, ancient rock formations and pop culture prominence. You may remember the episode of Entourage in which the gang took a trip to the park for another type of "trip" on a search for clarity. And I have to mention U2's iconic album, The Joshua Tree, which was inspired by American desert landscapes, physical as well as metaphorical and spiritual, though not Joshua Tree itself. Bono chose the title on a trip to the Mojave to shoot album photos. The band came across a single Joshua tree about 200 miles from the park and the tree inspired the title and the album packaging.

Legend has it that Joshua trees were named by Mormon travelers in the mid-19th century who believed the trees looked like Joshua lifting his hands in prayer. These Dr. Seussical trees can live, incredibly, for hundreds of years. 

Driving through Joshua Tree National Park

Visiting Joshua Tree

After three visits to the 800,000-acre park, I've barely scratched the surface and have kept primarily to the paths well traveled. While it's an excellent day trip from Palm Springs, to really experience the park, you need to camp or stay nearby.

If you only have a day, enter from the Joshua Tree gate and explore Jumbo Rocks, Arch Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden and Keys View. The high desert is known for its extreme weather, so remember to pack accordingly {good shoes, a hat, an extra layer, lots of water}. A one-day vehicle pass costs $15.

The Shadow Mountain Band at Pappy & Harriet's

Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace

Drive five miles off Twentynine Palms Highway, down a winding, lonely road, and you'll feel like you've traveled back in time to the Wild West. Built in the late 1940s by Hollywood stars like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, Pioneertown is an 1870s western town that served as both a film set and a small community with a motel, a bowling alley and a cantina. While the film crews have long departed, the cantina remains and houses an epic roadside bar that promises "live music, great barbecue and good times." 

I loved this desert watering hole so much that I visited twice on a trip to Palm Springs earlier this month. The perfect place to cap off a day at Joshua Tree, listen to live music, order a bourbon and eat a rack of ribs with fellow hikers, LA hipsters, bikers, baby boomers and desert dwellers. If you want to sit and eat, reservations are recommended on weekends {there was a two-hour table wait on the Saturday night we visited}. Pappy & Harriet's is a come-as-you-are bar that might be my new favorite place.

Roadside rock formations

Cholla Cactus Garden

A cholla cactus and Skull Rock

Jumbo Rocks and sunset at Keys View

Sunset at Keys View

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

[photos by @heatherlovesit & @graceyvr]

Travel Beauty :: Concealer Map

[trip style = any]

When I fly I wear minimal make-up over maximum moisturizer because while I love to travel, I don't love the drying effects of recycled plane air on my skin. Before a flight, I slather heavy moisturizer on my face, followed by concealer, mascara, loose powder and lip balm. During the flight, I drink plenty of water, reapply lots of lip balm and mist my face throughout the journey. Before landing, I touch up my concealer so I can hit the ground running.

Thus, the topic of the day—what kind of concealer do we need and where should we apply it? Selection and application can be overwhelming, but we have a few tricks up our sleeves. We've even created a concealer map to help you put your best face forward.

Types of Concealer
Make-up artists suggest that women should own two basic types of concealer: a light-reflecting pen or fluid, and an opaque stick or cream. Believe it or not, they do different things; the former brightens while the latter covers.

Primarily meant for under-eye circles, pen or fluid concealers also work wonders around the nose, lips and shadowy areas of the face. They’re thinner than normal concealers and work well on dry or wrinkled skin because of their moisturizing and illuminating qualities. Meanwhile, opaque concealers are best for concealing blemishes, scars and redness. 

Where to Apply
There’s no magic formula for concealer application. We all have unique face shapes and concerns. Though, here are a few universal helpful tips for concealer application that we've tried and tested on the jetway {and we KNOW work well}.

• Lightly apply concealer to under-eye circles with a brush or your ring finger. Try two simple application methods:

1. Apply to dark circles only, from your inner eye to below the middle of your pupil. Avoid a large half-moon shape.
2. Draw an upside-down pyramid from your lower eyelid to your cheekbone.

• Use a light-reflecting concealer on your brow bones and on the inside corners of your eyes to appear more rested. 
• Give eyebrows extra definition by tracing them in concealer and then blending the lines with your finger. 
• Sharpen and correct a cat eye by swiping concealer above the flick of your liner.
• Save space in your travel make-up bag by using concealer as an eyeshadow primer. Apply with a brush to avoid depositing oils from your fingers to your eyelids, and set with loose powder.
• Create the illusion of plumper lips with a dab of concealer in the center of your lips.
• Apply concealer around your lips for a crisp edge that makes bright lipstick pop.
• Lighten the larger areas of your face by applying light-reflecting concealer to your cheeks and forehead, and then contour with bronzer or foundation slightly darker than your skin tone.

Application + Product Tips

• Remember that less is more. Don’t apply too much product to your brush; you can always build coverage.
• The secret to even application is blending. Use your fingers or a fluffy eyeshadow brush on larger areas of your face, and a small eyeliner brush on smaller spots like blemishes and scars.
• Start with primer and follow with foundation or tinted moisturizer before applying concealer. Finish with a light dusting of powder.
• We love YSL’s famous Touche Éclat pen, but this miracle worker is a highlighter, not a true concealer. Apply to the inner corners of your eyes, along your cheekbones and—if you don't have dark circles—under the eyes in place of concealer.
• For a list of products, check out make-up artist Lisa Eldridge's suggestions. She also provides a fantastic concealer tutorial.

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

[face map by @heatherlovesit, outline via google images]

Jetset Style :: Everyday Travel Totes

[trip style = any]

I've mastered the art of carry-on travel with one simple trick: maximizing my personal item size. I push the limits on dimensions and place my heaviest items, like shoes and toiletries, inside my tote, and I stash a clutch inside for evenings and small outings.

But this column isn't just about function; it's also about fashion. And a beautiful, well-made black tote will never go out of style. Consider bag features like inside/outside pockets, zipper, handle length, cross-body strap, flat bottom and type of leather. Remember to spray the bag before use, condition it annually and store it in its dust bag when not in use.

GUYS :: This trick isn't just for women; men should travel with a versatile—and hands-free—canvas messenger case or small backpack. 

I've selected six black leather bags that are versatile enough to take you from plane to promenade in any city and climate. Chief Trip Stylist Trish recently purchased the Clare Vivier tote above in Los Angeles and I have my eye on the handmade kenza tote by Montreal-based The Stowe.

1/ Clare V. simple coated-leather tote, 2/ The Stowe kenza tote, 3/ Madewell glasgow satchel, 4/ Building Block business bag, 5/ Ampersand as Apostrophe sideways tote, 6/ Mansur Gavriel large tote

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Jetset Style :: Ode to Boyfriend Jeans
Jetset Style :: Scandinavia-Inspired Jackets
Top 10 Travel Essentials :: Fall Weekend Edition