Yes-No-Maybe-So Hotel Bookings

[trip style = any]

As I sit in my GORGEOUS hotel in Ischia, Italy {above}—which I just extended a few nights!—I'm reminded of the importance of agile travel plans, especially when trip styling in a new-to-you place.

Never having explored the Amalfi Coast, Mr. Trip Styler and I waffled on how many nights we should spend where, and what hotels we should book. Being high season, some of the accommodations we were interested in were already booked, which left us grasping for something—anything—that would work {uh, NOT ideal, nor "trip stylery"}.

Not 100% sold on all of our stays, we ensured most of our bookings were cancellable—a decision that has already proven helpful now that we're on the ground. Case in point: We were supposed to spend four nights in Ischia, three nights in Capri and three nights in Amalfi; however, once we checked into our hotel in Ischia, we knew we HAD TO stay longer {you would too if you saw the use-any-time spa, thermal rooftop pool, and breakfast spread}.

At the same time, I was feeling meh about our Capri hotel, and since we were still within the no-fee cancellation window, we nixed the booking and adjusted our plans on-the-go to: Six nights in Ischia, one night in Capri and three nights in Amalfi. {I tried to adjust our Amalfi nights too, but our no-fee window had passed.} 

After years of travel and situations where hotels either impress or distress, I'm grateful that companies such as Expedia often offer a cancellation option as a filter when you browse. We don't often opt out of travel bookings, but it's nice to have the "yes-no-maybe-so" leeway in certain circumstances. 

[photo via @tripstyler]

UP Your {INSTA} Travel Photo Game

[trip style = any]

I recently read an article in AFAR about how to UP your Instagram game. In it, the travel mag's creative director, Elizabeth Spiridakis Olson, shares her tips for achieving ace snaps every time.

Last night I was going through my photos of Australia from a few years ago, and I realized it would have been nice to have known a few of these tricks back then. I'm not sure how you botch photos of one of the world's most gorgeous beaches, Whitehaven, but I did. 

Elizabeth {@white_lightning} is a triple-threat. Before working at AFAR, she was the art director at Bon Appetit. With her love of travel, food and vintage fashion, her photo advice is totally trip styled! Here are three of her tips, plus a few additions from Trip Styler HQ {@tripstyler}.

Steady Yo Self
"Steady your hand and use the auto-focus lock {hold your finger down on the frame}. Crisp and sharp photos always looks best, unless the blur or action is intentional. Take the extra three seconds to make it perfect."

Trip Styler Tip: In addition to pressing the auto-focus lock every time, we also play around and shoot about 20 photos from various angles to get the best shot. 

Think Outside the Insta App
"Take the photo with your camera, then use editing software...I DO always shoot in the square though, because then the ratios are the same as they are in Instagram...The most valuable new tool in the Instagram app {to me} is the adjust tool, which allows you to make vertical and horizontal perspective adjustments. This will help you a ton if you want perfect lines and angles, but aren’t the straightest shooter."

Trip Styler Tip: Angles are uber important. We love going back to geometry class to perfectly align our photo in the frame.

Go Natural
"Natural light is always best; backlit is almost never great...As for no-nos: In most cases candlelight, dark bars/restaurants, a low-light lamp, etc. will not yield the best results. The photo will likely be blurry and hard to read."

Trip Styler Tip: There are SO MANY instances when we want to capture a candlelit moment or a delish dish in a low-lit room. While I may immortalize the moment to remember the details later, I'll never publish the photo. You have to have the right light.

Related
Pro Tips For WOW Vacation Photography 

[top photo by @tripstyler, all others via @white_lightning's instagram]

Real-Time Translation

[trip style = any]

This is big news, huge news, mega news involving the ability to break language barriers and change travel forever.

As of yesterday, Google released an update to their Google Translate app {iOS // Android} that allows for real-time translation in a conversation.  

Just THINK of the space-age ramifications. Ordering a Bordeaux in Bordeaux just got way easier. Finding un baño in Barcelona just got way easier. Buying a train ticket from Monterosso to Riomaggiore in Italy's Cinque Terre just got way easier.

Video
Curious how well real-time translation actually works, Mr. Trip Styler and I took it for a test drive in Spanish/English. The results are a mishmash of funny, accurate and awkward!

{Can't view this video?}

Details
- For real-time translation, you'll need a data connection, such as WiFi. Available in English to/from French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian.
- You can also type in a translation query.
- Did you know that app also can translate images? Through Word Lens, point your camera at a sign or text block and the app will translate without a data connection. 

[photos and video via @TripStyler]

10 Days > 2 Cities > 1 Carry-On

[trip style = urban + sun]

Last week I jetset to LA, Palm Desert and Palm Springs with Mr. and Baby Styler to escape the West Coast rain and give Baby Styler his first taste of travel {see sitting poolside in a mini speedo}! 

{It was Baby Styler's first flight! We purposely chose a short ride as his first flying experience so we could test his reaction to the skies. I was very nervous how he'd react to take-off and landing; thankfully he was a dreamy traveler.}

Not wanting to give up my obsession with traveling light now that there's there's a baby in tow, all three of us brought carry-ons for our 10-day, multi-city, multi-trip-style trip. While there we experienced every weather pattern {save for snow} from torrential downpours in LA to hot days in the desert to cold spells at night. My small-batch packing got me through all of it, and not once did I feel like I needed to run to the store to pick up something I'd missed.

One jacket, two scarves and a blazer kept me warm during cool Cali nights. I wore my warmer tops, jeans and booties in downtown LA. And in Palm Springs I packed jean cut-offs, tanks, flowy pants and pool cover-ups that double as tops. All in all, I felt I had almost too many options!

Moral of the story: Packing light is easily doable for 10 days, multiple climates and various trip styles. If you bring an edited wardrobe and wear the big stuff on the plane, you'll zip through the airport, unpack and pack up faster and spend less time figuring out what to wear. 

What I packed
- 1 jacket {wear on the plane}
- 1 kimono-blazer* 
- 1 long and lightweight kimono {wear with jeans, shorts and to the pool}
- 1 sweater {wear on the plane}
- 4 tank tops {1 cropped, 1 jersey, 2 fancy}
- 4 tops {2 flowy blouses, 1 chambray, 1 Tulum Embroidered Top*}
- 2 necklaces* 
- 2 scarves*
- 1 dress
- 3 pairs of pants {2 jeans, 1 flowy}
- 2 bathing suits
- 2 pairs of shoes {sandals, booties (+ one pair of washable slippers)}
- 1 purse
- 1 clutch
- 1 pool bag
*items that can be purchased in the Trip Styler Store. Reminder, 20% off everything thru December 24th, use Promo code: TSholiday2014. 

Trip Styler Packing Tips
- wear big stuff on the plane {I wore my jacket, scarf, sweater, chambray, jeans, booties} 
- bring clothes in a complimentary color palette that can be paired together
- big scarves are a great alternative to bulky sweaters 
- limit your shoes, and wear the biggest pair on the plane
- bring a fold-flat tote as a pool bag, or to stuff things into when you're moving hotels or need an extra bag 

{photos by @tripstyler}

Genius Pack Hack

[trip style = weekend getaway]

Editor's Note: We just added a new member to the TS flight crew: Baby Styler! More details to come shortly.

Packing light is not for every traveler and trip, but with many US carriers charging for checked bags, and now Canadian carriers following suit—I'm looking at you Air Canada and WestJet—traveling with a carry-on LITERALLY makes "cents." 

In addition to saving an average of $25 per bag, bringing a carry-on also simplifies packing and unpacking, reduces airport time and guards against the dreaded moment when your bags don't arrive on the carousel. 

Enter the "pillbox packing" method, found online by Nicole, a TS reader and contributor. Used by The Army and a slew of savvy packers worldwide, this one-minute pack hack eliminates anything unnecessary. {Use this method right, and your efficient packing can still be en vogue!}. 

I'm not suggesting you only pack a T-shirt, underwear, toothbrush and sox for your next one- or two-night getaway; however, I was totally inspired by the simplicity of this method, and have decided a few small modifications {ie: bringing a small toiletries case with make-up and skincare essentials, and wrapping a belt, sweater, skirt, tank top or necklace into the bundle} could take this pack hack from wishful thinking to workable, and still allow me to toss it into my tote. See top and bottom photos for the before and after.   

PS - Find the skirt pictured above in the Trip Styler Store!

Related
Overnight {Without the Baggage}

[photos by @tripstyler]