The Savvy Traveler :: Rachel

[trip style = sun + weekend getaway + luxury]

Rachel is passionate about packing right and bringing the most stylish and apropos ensembles for every trip style. As a freelance fashion writer who has graced the pages of publications like Seventeen.com and Thehuffingtonpost.com, she comes by this obsession naturally. We knew she was The Savvy Traveler's go-to gal for jetsetting in style when we read this: "all the packing advice I came across online was generic and formulaic – not at all the whimsical glimpse into stylish global attire I was hoping for." So she fixed the problem when she started her blog, Suitcase Secrets, where she documents her packing techniques and lists each time she jetsets near and far.

1/ What are your top 3 trip styles and why? 
[trip style = sun + weekend getaway + luxury] I love my home in NYC and think it’s one of the greatest cities in the world, but I get antsy if I don’t head out of town every couple of weeks. Even if it’s just for a couple of days, I love exploring new places and stepping away from my daily routine. Whether it’s trip style = wine touring in Napa to quench my food and wine cravings, trip style = weekending at the W Hotel in Miami for some fun in the sun, or a romantic trip style = luxury getaway to Paris, where my boyfriend and I can stroll through the streets all day and night, traveling is a true treat for me. And when I get to plan an extended trip, it’s even better! I’m off to Italy in a few weeks, and we’re pulling out all the stops to make it a dream trip—first class flights, five star hotels, food and wine tours galore. It’s going to be unreal.

2/ What items are always on your packing list?
I obviously put a lot of thought into each and every suitcase I pack, but some items are so versatile, I never leave home without them. These include:

• Oversized Jee Vice sunglasses
• A pair of skinny jeans from James
• A Tolani scarf
• Intelligent Nutrients bug repelling perfume
• Evian spray
• My laptop and camera
• Goody hair ties and clips
• A pair of Havaiana flip flops

3/ Essential travel gadget or app? 
It’s a toss-up between my computer and camera. As a blogger, I love to document my journeys, and I enjoy looking back on photos from past trips to keep the memories fresh. I also try to stay very connected—the last time I was without my laptop was in South Africa. It was liberating, but also took a lot of adjusting!

4/ Hotel or destination that’s on your radar and why?
I’m normally dying to get to Europe, and have been desperate to go to the south of France for ages, except the timing never seems to work out. Right now I’m really fascinated with staying at the Sofitel Cartagena in Columbia. Between the festive culture, restored colonial mansions and exotic cuisine, I’m pretty excited to check it out. On the other hand, my boyfriend really wants to go to Papua New Guinea. We’ll see which one happens first...

5/ Best trip you've ever taken?
The best trip I’ve ever taken was to St. Lucia and Anguilla back in February. We stayed at Cap Juluca in Anguilla for four nights, and felt so lucky to be able to step out of our suite and straight onto the beautiful white beach. And St. Lucia was seriously magical—we had a breathtaking “sanctuary” with our own private plunge pool at Jade Mountain. There’s no fourth wall in your room, and the views are like nothing you’ve ever seen in your life. Plus, the service was truly extraordinary. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming!

6/ What are your best practices for packing quickly?
While sometimes packing quickly can be necessary, I actually prefer to spend a bit more time prepping, so I don’t have to stress about what to wear once the trip is underway. Sometimes I try on outfit possibilities and photograph things I like, so I can slip them on exactly as-is once I get to my destination. I also suggest packing wardrobe pieces you wear often and love. It’s great to add in new items or extra special garments as well, and if you bring a bunch of go-to basics, you’ll end up with a ton of options during your trip.

{If you know anyone who should be featured in our once-monthly Savvy Traveler series, drop us a line!}

More Savvy Travelers
Tiffany, The Luxury Travel Inspector
Lora, The BC & OR Family Travel Expert
Bryce, The Pilot

[photo via rachel]

Romantic Caribbean :: Luxury {1/2}

[trip style = luxury + beach + sun]

Recently a friend asked about Trip Styler's top picks for luxury and romance in the Caribbean. Knowing sun-n-sand-aholics are in the process of either dreaming about or planning their fall and winter getaways, here's a look at some dashing destinations, each with its own special distinction and awards.

Tomorrow I'll post some trip style = budget conscious romantic Caribbean picks, so there's something for everyone's wallet!

1} St. Lucia Jade Mountain: This luxury, architectural wonder sits atop a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and foliage-covered hills. Frequently mentioned in Conde Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure as one of the most romantic resorts in the Caribbean, there are no rooms at this resort, instead they have sanctuaries. Enough said. Cost: from $1,050/night

2} Jamaica Golden Eye Resort: Golden Eye is aptly named; it's where the writer of the James Bond series penned much of the fictitious hero’s adventures. It was purchased by a music producer {the British founder of Island Records} and re-opened last year with A LOT of buzz. With 11 beach or lagoon cottages, its fanfare continues. Cost: from $495/night {Trip Styler Tip: Golden Eye is currently on offer via Jetsetter, one of our recommended travel flash sale websites, for $295/night. It's a members-only site, so join here and act quickly!}

3} Bahamas Kamalame Cay: Celebs and honeymooners have chosen this tucked-away, barefoot-chic resort since 1998. Meet for meals in the Great House at night and laze on your private veranda by day. Just a short jaunt from Nassau's resort-lined shores, three miles of your own private and deserted beach await. Cost: from $395/night

4} Antigua Hermitage Bay: The discerning vacationer will appreciate this award-winning and highly acclaimed property. This all-inclusive resort redefines the North American impression of a luxury all-inclusive---no logoed pools, white columns, Teppanyaki restaurants or large-scale buffets found here. Cost: from $703/night

5} Turks and Caicos Amanyara: Sleek and secluded, this resort evokes a sense of harmony with nature where the understated contemporary design blends into the edge of the Caribbean. Voted one of the 100 best hotels in the world by the UK's Sunday Times Travel Magazine. Cost: from $1,200/night

Related Tips For Planning A Caribbean Vacation Hidden Hideaways

[photos via mentioned resorts]

Tips For Planning A Caribbean Vacation

[trip style = beach + sun]

This week the steel drums are clanging, the dreadlocks are bouncing and the sun is shining....in our world. Why? For most of the week, we're going to be talking about the Caribbean. Today we list tips and considerations for planning a trip to de islands and on Wednesday and Thursday we'll share our top picks for luxury and wallet-friendly romantic getaways.

The zillions of islands and cays that span 2736km in the Caribbean Sea beckon everyone from boaters to Beyonce and bevvie lovers to beach bunnies. Visit St. Barth's at Christmas and you're likely to spot more celebs than at The Grove {outdoor mall in LA} on a Saturday, or opt for something a little less opulent and stay on the less developed shores of The Turks and Caicos. Regardless of which trip style or island's geography you enjoy most, here are some thought starters for planning your future getaway under the jungle's canopy or the shade of an umbrella in the Caribbean.

Considerations

• Non-stop flight? If so, here's how to find direct flights on a month-by-month basis out of your home airport.
• Family fun, girlfriend getaway, mancation or couples trip? Book yourself into the right resort and it's bliss, end up at the wrong resort and your vacay could be a miss.
• Want an all-inclusive or a la carte experience?
• Mega resort or boutique property?
• Stay close to town or go castaway style?
• Adventure junkie or beach break?
• Saver or spender? The Dominican Republic and Jamaica tend to have the best values, due to a high influx of flights, whereas harder-to-reach islands are often harder on the pocket book

Tips

• Choose your travel dates wisely, mid-December to April is high season, yet there's usually a small lull in resort occupancy just after New Year's, so this can be a reasonable time to travel in winter.
• Bring small USD bills for tipping.
• Don't expect North American customer service, each island has its own distinct culture and this will come out---for better or for worse---at each resort.
• if you want to save money, consider doing a vacation rental, but stay near a town centre so grocery pick-up is easy
• Know in advance about extra fees and incidentals. Most resorts will charge a daily resort fee unless it's included in your price. Furthermore, some countries charge a departure tax, only payable in cash.
• If you have 5 days or less, opt for a direct or one-stop flight to maximize time at your destination. In addition, bring a carry-on so you can go from plane to pool in a flash.
• Get to know the country you're visiting as well as their entry and exit requirements, for example, in Cuba you need physical proof of your medical insurance to enter the country.
• We all remember sunscreen, but most people forget bug spray! With the dense topical foliage surrounding most beach regions, bugs and sand fleas like the beach just as much as you do!  I've been the the Caribbean more times than I can count, and generally the bugs aren't bad. The only time I was badly, badly bitten by noseeums---to the point of getting swollen ankles---was in the densely forested mountainous region of the Dominican Republic.

Related Content Packaged VS Unpackaged Vacations All-Inclusive Tricks Of The Trade All-inclusive Month :: Introductions All-Inclusive Month :: Matchmaking Don’t Judge an All-Inclusive until Day 3 {7 Reason to Wait to Evaluate} A Redo trip {What to do when an all-inclusive experience goes belly-up} Update on my Redo Trip {An overview of the highs and lows of the Sandals WhiteHouse}

[photo by mdanys]

Roam+Board :: Bitter End Yacht Club

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

{I've come across this far-flung, understated luxe property a few times over the past year, and when a friend asked about Trip Styler's top romantic Caribbean picks (publishing next week), I suggested The Bitter End Yacht Club---partly for the barefoot elegance, partly for the GORGEOUS bedspreads.}

What Barefoot by day, boat shoes by night; Bitter End Yacht Club {BEYC} is a boater's dream. Maybe the wind-in-your-hair, zinc-on-your-nose lifestyle's not your thing. Not to worry, hike in the tropical canopy, relax in the Conde Nast Traveler World's Best-rated spa, heat up in the sun or cool down by the pool.

Where Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands {12 miles from Tortola, 30 miles from St. Thomas and 75 miles from Puerto Rico}.

When Winter is the resort's high season with the rates to show for it. Nightly prices are most reasonable October 17 to December 19 and in the spring. The resort goes on hiatus in August, September and early October.

Who/Why For luxury adventurists who want to sail a Hobie Cat into the sunset and don't mind the two to four flights, plus a 30-minute water taxi/ferry required to reach BEYC. Bring the kiddies, there's even nightly outdoor movies.

Cost Prices are based on double occupancy and start from $500 per night for a garden villa and include 3 meals per day. Book a 7-night package with a few extras for $3500.

More Roam+Board Sleep On The Water in London A Woodsy Hideaway In Big Sur, CA.}

[images via BEYC]

A Spot Of Tea

[trip style = staycation + sightseeing + weekend getaway]

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea." - Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

With a white napkin draped over my lap, and my thumb and index finger gingerly locked around the tea cup's handle, I rest and indulge in a famous tradition. As a matter of function, not fashion, my pinky extends outward as I sip a spot of tea at the West Coast spot for tea.

Taking tea in Victoria's Fairmont Empress tea lobby feels like a right of passage. Being invited to what some would call a ceremony is like I'm trip style = sightseeing, peering into the rituals of another time. But instead of standing for hours with a recorded history lesson on an audio set, I'm comfortably seated in the same chintz-covered seat as the ones who came before me when the tradition first started with the hotel's opening in 1908. Even the gold-rimmed china's design is the same today as when it was first introduced for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1939, and the tables sitting between every vintage wing back chair are crafted with floorboards from an early 1900s refurbishment.

Tea service begins with a glass goblet of blueberries, not a cup of tea. We must wait for the piece de resistance, no? Feeling tropical---maybe it was the sun streaming through the windowpanes---I choose the Kea Lani Orange Pineapple blend. Its Hawaiian flavours make it seem as though the pianist is strumming on a ukulele with a plumeria behind her ear. When the three-tiered feast is placed on our small table, I am brought back to the present and the piano keys continue their dance.

Admiring my mid-day meal, it's clear you are supposed to work your way up, starting at the bottom. The healthiest tier happens to be the most savoury, with finger sandwiches filled with egg, cucumber and mango and curried chicken---crustless of course! The middle tier acts as the breather, counterbalancing the beginning and end with a pot of clotted cream, raspberry jam and a firm raisin scone. Staring at the stacked plates of treats, I could not help myself, I had to sample the top tier's pink fondant-wrapped checkered cake, and chocolate tulip first. Once the tempting taster was out of the way, I could resume normal behaviour and work my way up.

After four cups of tea and three tiers of food, I'm done. I didn't know afternoon tea could be so filling. Now I understand why the 7th Duchess of Bedford, credited with popularizing the afternoon tea trend in London, sent out invitations requesting "tea and a walking of fields." Good thing Beacon Hill Park is just around the corner!

Tea Etiquette*

• There are three types of tea: afternoon tea is taken with finger sandwiches and pastries, high tea at 4pm with hot food, and royal tea is served with a glass of Champagne.
• Do not take tea lightly, dress up for the occasion.
• The raising or extension of the pinky is not just for show, but to counterbalance the tea cup.
• Never loop your fingers through the handle, nor grasp the base with the palm of your hand.
• Fold in milk and sugar, do not stir.
• Do not leave your spoon in the cup.
• When not in use, place the tea cup back in the saucer.
• Milk is served with tea, not cream.
• When serving lemon with tea, slices are preferable, not wedges.

Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress can be enjoyed year-round and starts at $47 per person. Special menus and prices are available for kids.

PS - Experience tea's treats from another side. The Fairmont Empress offers kids under 16 the opportunity to apprentice with their award-winning pastry chef, and leave with just-made goodies, a chef hat, personalized apron and certificate to take home!

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*Source {photos by @tripstyler}