Beach & Sun

Roam+Board :: Parker Palm Springs

[trip style = sun + luxury]

{Editor's Note: I chose this property as the first of two stays this week with the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism and it is Trip Styler approved! I will definitely be returning.}

What Harkening back to the Palm Springs Hollywood hideaway era, the Parker is a place of privacy and intrigue. Purposefully unnamed photo shoots and 70's rockers are lost in the grounds away from the public eye. And that was just yesterday. Palm trees towering above guide the way through curvy trails and quaffed, yet bushy foliage. Select openings reveal  grassy clearings with butterfly chairs surrounding a fire pit, a rope hammock {large enough for deux} hanging between twin palms and a chic lemonade stand beside the pool.

When you first arrive at the resort, a dramatic wall of white concrete geometric blocks leads to a grand entrance with tall orange doors. Very Jonathan Adler, the hotel's designer with a penchant for bold, playful, geometric and clashy. Everything is done well with extras like Hermès soap and a plastic access card designed with an antique bronze key and gold ribbon loop.

The Parker is a property that balances the almost impossible task of offering a no-stone-unturned stay with a sense of unfinished business, making first-time guests repeat offenders!

Where Palm Springs, California. Ten minutes away from the airport and three minutes outside of town.

When Any.time.of.year. Weekends are busy with LA's escape and recording artists, but nab a spot in the front row by booking in advance. Winter is popular with Jr. snowbirds and there's a select few who love a spring fling. Locals say the summer is unbearable, but if you can stand the heat and pool time is your only mission, accept it.

Who/Why You are a hat and sunglasses type who is only "seen" when you want to be. Your perfect afternoon is spent playing pétanque {bocci} and sipping spiked lemonade, followed by a rousing game of croquet. At night, lounge beside a circular mid-century mod indoor fire {all that's missing is the sunken living room} with a gin martini---shaken, not stirred.

Cost From approximately $200/night in the off-season, with a mandatory $30/room/night resort fee which includes wifi throughout the hotel, valet parking, gym, steam, sauna, local calls, sparkling water and a morning coffee wake-up call.

{Trip Styler Tip :: If you go to the hotel's spa {PSYC}, ask about the whisky, vodka or gin pre-treatment shot. Follow it up by brunch at Norma's.}

More Roam+Board Sorobon Beach Resort – Bonaire Kura Hulanda – Curacao Hotel Kakslauttanen – Finland The Met – Vancouver Custom Hotel – LAX Bitter End Yacht Club – BVI Sleep On The Water – London A Woodsy Hideaway – Big Sur, CA

[photos by @tripstyler]

The ABCs :: Aruba {Spotlight}

[trip style = sun + beach]

{Editor’s Note: After a short and sweet introduction a few weeks ago, this is the second post in a four-part series about the ABC islands. Today we’ll explore the Aruba’s curvy beaches and towering resorts, next week Bonaire’s sporty and petite demure and the following week, Curacao’s lush countryside and historic city centre.}

“Aruba, Jamaica, oooo I wanna take yah” - The Beach Boys

Even since Kokomo raced up the charts in 1988, I knew I had to visit Aruba. The Beach Boys said it was the epitome of tropical, right?

Aruba is a good intro to the tropics. White sand beaches, check; water sports, check; sand-in-your-toes dining, check; over-water bars; check. Checklist aside, it’s safe, you can drink the water and USD are accepted everywhere. Easy-breezy.

Think of it as a larger-scale and more commercialized Ka’anapali beckoning boat loads of cruise ship passengers and a heaping sand-full of Eastern Americans and Venezuelans resortists.

It’s not an odd occurrence to spot locals breaking out into song and dance for no apparent reason, or quoting the island’s tag line “One Happy Island” at every opportunity. It really is a happy place filled with 100,000+ residents who maintain the island's mojo with their spirit and heart. You can’t help but smile in response.

Stay First decide if you want high-rise or low-rise, high energy or anonymity. Palm Beach hosts multiplex resorts, US chain restaurants, hip beach bars and pier-side dining. Eagle Beach is less crowded with fewer mainland outposts. I stayed at two hotels on the bookends of Palm Beach, the multi-wing Marriott and the 70's-contemporary-casual Westin {see my review here}.

Eat
  • On a Pier: The Pelican Nest's service and cuisine are approchable with vintage scuba helmets and fishing nets hanging from the rafters above. Drink at Bugaloe Pier where surprisingly stiff mojitos are served at happy hour from 5-6pm.
  • On the Beach: Moomba Beach Bar & Restaurant is one of the best beach bars in the world according to CNN, or try Flying Fishbone just outside of town.
  • With Locals: The Aruban Chef serves up island fare like calco stoba {conch stew} and fresh fish!
  • Behind Palm Beach: The Italian-owned Amore Mio {no website} kneads, spins and bakes melt-in-your-mouth, thin-crust pizzas in a modern, lively setting.

Do Walk along the non-resort stretch of Palm Beach beside fishing huts, surfers and a shipwreck, learn to kiteboard at the Aruba Kitesurfing School or take in a game of beach tennis---one of the country’s most popular sports---behind Moomba bar!

Getting There Direct service from Toronto, Miami, NY and Boston will whisk you away. From Vancouver, get yourself to one of these depature points to start humming Kokomo.

Related Roam+Board :: Sorobon Beach Resort {Bonaire} Roam+Board :: Kura Hulanda {Curacao} ABCs {An Intro} Jetset Jingles :: The Caribbean

[photos by @tripstyler, taken in Aruba last week!]

Roam+Board :: Sorobon Beach Resort

[trip style = sun + beach + active & adventure]

{Editor's Note: In observance of the Canadian national holiday (Remembrance Day) on Friday, we will be publishing Roam+Board today, and taking tomorrow off. See you Monday.}

What Thirty clay-roofed and whitewashed oceanfront chalets {aka chalet-looking duplexes} are clustered around a white sand beach overlooking a knee- to waist-deep sandy bay that goes for three kilometers in each direction. The beach bar of your dreams serves as the central hub of activity, complete with bar stools, wooden banquettes with multi-coloured throw pillows and white triangular sails to shade from the sun. The basic rooms have everything you need for the tropics: a hammock, air conditioning, big fan, door and window screens, and to top it off, an outdoor shower that spouts water out of a conch shell. Life is good at the Sorobon Beach Resort, and having just stayed there, it is Trip Styler approved!

Where Bonaire. Sorobon is only 10 minutes from the Island's main airport, Flamingo International. The resort will pick you up if pre-advised of your arrival time, or you can take a taxi which costs $20. Getting into Kralendijk, the country's capital city, takes 13 minutes by car. Only European carriers have direct flights into Bonaire, so to get there from North America you must transfer through Aruba or Curacao, then take Insel Air or DAE {the two largest carriers bookable online} into Bonaire.

When The weather in Bonaire is inviting all year, but when you go will depend on why you're going! Bonaire is typically known for diving, which can be done anytime of year. Windsurfers love the island in June and July when the wind is strongest. The rainy season is in November, and this also happens to be when the mosquitoes are worst. You don't notice them in the day, but unless there's a big wind at night, dining al fresco can result in polka dot effect. Mosquitos are the least present January to March.

Who/Why Your idea of the perfect getaway is bringing more bathing suits than clothes, walking 10 steps from your cabin to the ocean and sitting at a beach bar with a bottle of Bright {The ABC Islands' local beer} watching the sun go down.

Cost Beach chalets start at $120/night on Kayak.com. Includes free wifi in the open-air lobby area as well as free parking. Note, the rooms have fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms, but you must bring your own soap!

{Trip Styler Tip :: Most people rent cars in Bonaire in order to drive to dive sites (with more than 87 official sites scattered throughout the island), go to restaurants and get groceries.}

More Roam+Board Kura Hulanda – Curacao Hotel Kakslauttanen – Finland The Met – Vancouver Custom Hotel – LAX Bitter End Yacht Club – BVI Sleep On The Water – London A Woodsy Hideaway – Big Sur, CA

[photos by @tripstyler]

Jetset Jingles :: Caribbean

[trip style = beach + sun]

{Editor's Note: Jetset Jingles publishes once monthly and is mixed and mastered by Nicole, amateur DJ by night and movie maven by day.}

Many things come to mind when I think of the Caribbean: white sandy beaches, tropical breezes, otherwise stylish men thinking they can get away with wearing white linen pants, and of course, the sometimes cheesy, somewhat dated songs that quickly become the soundtrack of your trip style = beach + sun. You know the ones I’m talking about: the songs that so perfectly complement the laid back and relaxed island time mentality embraced by every island from Jamaica to Nevis, the ones you already know the words to, and the ones that will help ease you into the no problem mon attitude one can’t help but adopt while unwinding beachside.

This month’s playlist was created especially for Trip Styler Editor-in-Chief  Trish’s current trip to the ABC islands. Enjoy your trip Mr & Mrs Trip Styler and happy listening readers…

Song List 1/ Jammin' - Exodus (Deluxe Edition) 2/ Don't Worry, Be Happy - Best of Bobby McFerrin 3/ Hot Hot Hot - Steel Drum Island Collection: Hot Hot Hot & More On Steel Drums 4/ Three Little Birds - Exodus (Remastered) 5/ Kokomo - Sounds of Summer - The Very Best of The Beach Boys 6/ Day-O (Banana Boat) - Island In The Sun 7/ Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley & The Wailers: Gold 8/ In the Summertime (feat. Rayvon) - The Boombastic Collection: Best of Shaggy 9/ Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Number 1's: '70s Pop 10/ Pressure Drop - The Very Best of Toots & the Maytals

Playlist {Can’t view this playlist? Click here.}

More Jetset Jingles R+R Summer Staycation Camping Tunes Aussi Songs Best of Coachella Turbulence Calm

[photo by @tripstyler taken in Curacao]

Roam+Board :: Kura Hulanda

[trip style = urban + sightseeing // beach + sun]

{Editor's Note: This property is Trip Styler approved. I just spent four days at Kura Hulanda, and did so on my own dime. Per our editorial policy, complimentary stays are always disclosed.}

What Two unique boutique properties; a city hotel and spa, and oceanfront lodge and beach club. Both members of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the Kura Hulanda properties offer the most ideal Curacao experience; city culture and country calm. Hotel Stay in a completely restored Dutch village, now a UNESCO world heritage site and hotel in the centre of Curacao's main city, Willemstad. Winding cobblestone streets connect each room with sturdy hardwood floors, antique furniture and marble bathrooms. Cool down after sightseeing under a waterfall splashing into a palm-covered eco pool, or on a cushioned lounger. Lodge At Kura Hulanda Lodge you don't stray far from overhanging trees and the coral cliff coastline. Offering a refined, tranquil beachside atmosphere versus hoity toity mega resort, the location, facilities and staff allow you to fully unpack your bags, body and soul. Leave your big jewels and fancy clothes behind, you won't need them when you're dining alfresco under a palm-roofed restaurant or snorkeling in the aquamarine waters below.

Where Curacao. The hotel is in Willemstad, the country's oceanside capital. The lodge is 45 mins from the hotel {30 mins from the airport} in the small town of Westpunt. A shuttle service {with two arrivals and departures daily} connects the two properties. Via taxi, to/from the airport to the hotel is $25, and the lodge is $60USD.

When Year round. How can you dispute an annual temperature of 27 degrees Celsius? With the humidex, 27 feels like 40! Sweaters aren't even required at night. The Caribbean's traditional hurricane season {june 15 - Nov 15} brings some rain, but because Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire are below the main hurricane belt, the storms are normally short-lived---to the tune of 10 minutes or three hours. Note that November is typically the rainy season, though I was just there and the skies were blue. To secure the best prices, visit at the tail end of hurricane season and before Christmas {Oct 1 - Dec 15}, or after March. Case in point, the hotel was just offered on Jetsetter {my fave travel flash sale website, featured in TS Recommends} for $70/night---one of the best values in the Caribbean.

Who/Why You're part culture-buff and part sun-seeker who loathes standard-issue hotel stays.

Cost Rooms start at $137 in the hotel and $115 in the lodge with a low season discount. Includes free + {fast!} wifi {everywhere in the lodge & main square at hotel}, plus a daily transfer between the hotel and lodge. {Trip Styler Tip :: Stay at both the hotel and the lodge for the full Curacao experience. If you have a week, do a 2/5-night split.} 

More Roam+Board Hotel Kakslauttanen - Finland The Met – Vancouver Custom Hotel – LAX Bitter End Yacht Club – BVI Sleep On The Water – London A Woodsy Hideaway – Big Sur, CA

[photos by Kura Hulanda & @tripstyler]