One and Done

[trip style = luxury]

Most travel publications, including this one, encourage you to see the world, highlighting must-dos and must-stays around the globe. But, sometimes you need a break, even from the musts.

Last month when I was on The Island of Hawaii with the rest of the Trip Styler crew, we purposefully ended our trip on a relaxed note. I call it the "one and done" holiday, which is code for: We never left the hotel. 

For this one-and-done stay we chose a resort we know well: The Fairmont Orchid, which has a special place in my heart given it's where our son learned to walk, in addition to a perfect set of beach-luxe amenities. Cue an orchid- and succulent-adorned lobby; space to roam; gradual-approach beach; protected swimming lagoon; curvy pool; tropical gardens, expansive grass fields; gorgeous spa with outdoor huts; an excellent Gold Floor lounge serving breakfast, tea and hors d'oeuvres, and staff who remembered us from past visits; "kids eat free" inclusion; and value for dollar when compared to other high-end beachfront accoms {I booked two adjoining rooms}.

Truth be told, staying put felt really, really good given our normal go-go-go pace. In our break from the "musts" we let the sun—and only the sun—dictate our "schedule."

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Video: Fairmont Orchid

[photos taken by @TripStyler] 

Find Festive at these Vancouver Hotels

[trip style = staycation + luxury + food + wine]

Hotels really know how to deck the halls over the holidays. From twinkling lights to star-topped trees to cozy pop-up lounges set up with glee, finding festive is no big feat in Vancouver. Here is where to find an extra dose of magic this Christmas....{See you there} 

Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
I said this last year and I'll say it again, the Four Seasons is Vancouver's ultimate noël hotel {and not just because they are in the centre of the shopping district}. During December this posh urban retreat offers so much in the way of glad tidings, it's enough to make Santa a little jealous. 

Start or end your day with YEW's merry band of holiday sippers, think: Housemade nog spiked with cognac, served in a Christmas Vacation Moose Mug {among other festive cocktails}. Or there's the sparkle-factor: December is "bubble month" meaning there will be a lot of cork-popping with eight bubbles offered by the glass, in addition to sommelier-selected vintage bottles brought out from the cellar.

To make the Four Seasons version of festive last a little longer than your sip or stay, check out the Festive Desk nestled among the Festival of Trees on second floor lobby. Here, housemade stocking stuffers such as macarons, caramel corn, and stollen {bringing the former pastry chef out of retirement to bake} are available for you and yours. And if you really love the person, upgrade your gift to a plush Four Seasons robe...   

Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Baby, it's cold outside, but Reflections: The Garden Terrace, is toasty and warm. As the first winter pop-up for the chic open-air lounge, the elves at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia have transformed the alfresco space into a holiday haven complete with faux furs, outdoor fire pits, strings of light, posies of mistletoe, mulled wine, and fondue {among other Christmassy treats}! Open now until Dec 30, 3-10pm Thursday to Sunday, 4-10pm Monday to Wednesday.

Fairmont Pacific Rim
It's a good thing there is approximately 2km between me and the Fairmont Pacific Rim's giovane eatery + market. If I lived any closer, I'd need a staff of personal trainers to assist me in burning off the calories from daily sugarbuns, aka gooey-fluffy bread with whipped cream in the center. To add a little Christmas spirit to an already spirited treat, giovane has upped their own ante with ho-ho-ho holiday versions of their famed buns, think: pistachio with vanilla bean whipped cream and cranberry-orange. 

[photos via hotels featured]

Montana on my Mind

[trip style = adventure]

{Editor's Note: This is part one of a multipart series on Montana. Check out part two about Whitefish, the state's creative-cool adventuretown.}

Despite its A-list appeal {you KNOW a ton of celebs have estates in Montana, right?}, you don't see too many photos of Big Sky Country splashed across the media, like St. Tropez or Capri. Why? Well, it's very hush-hush. When heads of state, CEOs and stars arrive, they don't parade around in paparazzi-ready outfits or fancy wheels; instead they "get lost" in Montana's 94,109,542 acres of rolling hills, dude ranches and snow-capped peaks. 

Many travel stories talk about the merits of getting lost, proclaiming this is when you'll "be found," or find what you're looking for; rest, relaxation, insight, love, etc... At the risk of being cliché, I had a sense of that foundness. I found peace losing myself in Montana's natural state pairing straight-up nature and good country folk.

Unhindered by mega-cities or shiny anything, I saw why Montanans—both the born and bred and those who've relocated for a reality check and rest—have a deep reverence for their stomping grounds. Sure, private jets come and go, but Montana stays the same, and that's its magic.

Here are a few highlights from my trip a few months ago.

First stop: Missoula with Mount Sentinel in the background.

Wildflowers and views for miles while hiking to the M {see the tiny "M" in the background of the previous photo} etched into Mount Sentinel.

The hour-long hike gently zigzags up the hill, making the trail ideal for an easy-breezy climb or a heart-racing run.

Watching award-winning Native American and First Nations dancers from the USA and Canada at Ninepipes Lodge as they celebrate and prepare for summer powwows. Note that every stitch and piece of their traditional dress is made by hand. 

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. 

Beep beep! All aboard the vintage Red Bus tour—so retro the fleet has been in service since 1914—of Glacier Country. 

Revelling in the views—and making mental notes of which adventures I'd like to come back and do—in Glacier National Park. 

Stampede! Welcome to Flathead Lake Lodge, a dude ranch and waterfront retreat that's so authentically "western," you wonder if Clint Eastwood will ride by on a horse.

Flathead Lake Lodge, one of Montana's iconic stays, has been welcoming guests since the 1940s.

Learning about horses with Flathead Lake Lodge's head wrangler and her fairytale horse.

"When in Rome." At the ranch I purchased an authentic Stetson felt hat. This fine gent sized it to my head with steam and a steady hand. 

Wearing "the hat" while trying my hand at lassoing.

The sunset of all sunsets over Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi.

[Photos taken by @tripstyler when I visited Montana with a group of travel writers from around the world. As always, I only write about what I LOVE, and I'm already planning my next trip to Glacier Country with the rest of Trip Styl'in crew. Yahoo!]

Lessons Learned - TS Travel Fail

[trip style = any] 

In anticipation of our first getaway with two children under two {AND our dog}—WHAT were we thinking bringing the pup?!? {Sorry Mr. Nacho King}—I painted my nails red, did my hair and put on an extra swipe of mascara. All gussied up for the occasion, I was looking forward to a fabulous foray back into travel following a small hiatus pre- and post-Pink Styler's arrival. With almost 40 international flights and countless hotels under our collective belts WITH Blue Styler in tow, I felt like adding in a newborn and a dog would be no problemo, especially in the context of a local getaway. "We got this," or so I thought. 

The Planned Getaway
Our plan: Head to Whistler, a nearby resort destination, to relax in nature, spend some time in the pool, and let other people do the cooking. What could go wrong?!? I booked something posh with included spa amenities {steam + sauna} in the room rate and service befitting a five-star stay. Two cribs, two mini robes, diapering supplies and dog bowls were waiting in our room. 

The Fail
Turns out, we "don't got this"—at least on the first try. I'll start with the conclusion: We left early {after night no. 1 of a two-night stay} and abandoned a $250/night room. Fail. This happened for a few reasons, but in large part it was due to our failure to book a two-room suite so the little stylers wouldn't wake each other and we could drink wine in hotel bliss. 

To Be Fair
In an effort to be "fair" to our family travel fail, there were a lot of factors at play including Blue Styler getting over sickness, four people being in one room, a chorus of night wake-ups, and a dog who developed a crazy itch while we were there. The odds were stacked against us. We arrived at noon, decided at 6am the next morning the trip was a fail, and promptly left at 9am with red-rimmed eyes and a zombie stride in our step. I'm EVEN MORE embarrassed to admit the Trip Stylers even stopped at McDonald's on the way home. It was that kinda morning.  

Lessons Learned
1. Don't bring the dog {when attempting tester-style getaways}.
2. Do bring two strollers. We only brought one stroller, but having our second stroller for Blue Styler would have helped him sit still in a familiar seat for an extra moment. 
3. Do book a suite. At this stage {as the little stylers are learning to ignore each other in the night} booking a suite or a vacation rental with two bedrooms would have been a good starting strategy. Even with a sound machine to dampen noise, a studio hotel room does not cut it {right now, not forever}. It's fine with one little styler, not with two under two!
4. Choose to see this fail as a WIN. To quote the popular NBC PSA: "The more you know." 
5. Continue to measure life in moments.

All in all, the trip taught us a lot about our current family travel needs and served its purpose as a test trip given we've got a BIG trip booked in November. While I was a bit of a "mess" on the drive back, the situation helped us to appreciate our life at home all the more, and focused our thoughts toward a bunch of exciting changes we've been contemplating. And hey, at least my nails were still red. 

[photo by @tripstyler]

Uh, Travel WOW

[trip style = luxury]

One reason I love having Trip Styler as my near and dear travelog is because I have the honor of detailing trips that are worth the journey AND bringing you along {an opp I don't take lightly}. Over my Trip Styling span, a few airlines, hotels, restaurants and experiences have stood out:

• Bonaire: Learning how to windsurf from the World Jr. Champ {and only finding out about his title mid-lesson} in a salt-water lagoon
• Italy: Discovering an island full of thermal springs and gorgeous everything
• Thailand: Glamping in the Golden Triangle at an elephant conservancy
• Canada: Catching a salmon and eating it for dinner at a remote fishing lodge
• Dubai: Indulging in a hammam treatment at one of the Middle East's most spectacular spas
• Morocco: Stand-up paddling at the edge of Sahara Desert where its dunes meet the Atlantic Ocean's edge
• Austin, TX: Eating up the incredible food and restaurant design that add spice to the it city 
• Lanai: Exploring my spirit hotel and island
• Hong Kong, London and Dubai: Flying 'high' with airlines such Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates which excel at service and style

I started recalling my travel wow moments when I saw a video made by Casey Neistat, a "power" YouTuber with more than 4.7 million followers. He just flew Emirates' business class for the first time and documented the whole thing. His reel reminded me of everything I loved about my Emirates travel wow experience—mattress on the life-flat seat when you go to bed, Godiva chocolates at turndown, in-seat massage modules—and why I'm saving my Alaska Airlines points for a business class ticket with Emirates {an Alaska partner} to the Maldives.

Please enjoy his travel wow moment, and remember: If you ever save your airmiles or splurge on a special ticket, never {EVER} go to the airplane's bar in socks {like Casey}.