Party Like It's Your Birthday

[trip style = budget conscious + luxury]

Make it a Practice If you're going away to celebrate a special occasion, or if that occasion falls during your getaway, remember to tell your hotel or resort. Whether you're booking a trip style = budget conscious or trip style = luxury accommodation, you should let the property know what you're celebrating. Most hotels would love to enhance your stay with simple touches, so it's worth emailing or calling them in advance with details.

Speak Up Over the past 10 years, I've learned to speak up when there's a special occasion. 90% of the time, hotels will go the extra mile, providing a little plate of cake or chocolates for a birthday, or champagne or berries for an anniversary.

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams Whether you're staying at a motel or a high-end resort, tell them about your occasion. For example, my husband and I were travelling last month around the time of his birthday. Over a two-night period, we stayed at a simple hotel and then an ultra-luxe resort in Australia's Whitsundays. His birthday fell on the check-out day from one property and the check-in day at the other, so we told each hotel. At the first hotel, my husband simply wrote in a comment field when booking "It's my birthday!" and there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us in the fridge with an accompanying birthday note. At the second resort, I emailed them in advance, and there was another bottle of champagne waiting in the room. Cheers!

They may not always rise to the occasion, but give your hotel {or restaurant} the opportunity to do something nice when you're celebrating a milestone at their property. Over the years, I've been given champagne, wine, fruit plates, signature tea, chocolate, cake, biscotti, etc... Say something---you might even get a room upgrade!

Related It's the Little Things {Special hotel treats} 5 Ways to get the Best Hotel Room It Never Hurts to Ask {Speaking up in your travels}

[photo by @tripstyler]

Travel Trends :: Bed Bug Proofing Your Hotel Room

[trip style = any]

One unfortunate travel trend that never seems to go away is bed bugs. They are everywhere, from campsite yurts to hostels, and 3-stars to ritzy retreats. Bed bugs are travelers too, spreading on birds, bats, humans and suitcases to name a few culprits. They also travel well given their ability to live for 6-12 months without food.

The Nature of the Beast Though bed bugs are everywhere, and their infestation levels go in ebbs and flows, being in Australia's Whitsundays {think multiple backpackers on party boats with bunks} and NYC recently reminded me it was still a big problem, and will forever be a problem. It's the nature of the beast. Like Lauren mentioned yesterday in her Travel Beauty feature, I too saw big groups of protesters outside hotels. These people weren't kidding around, they even had a Macy's Day parade-sized bed bug prop. As the scene was intended, it made my mind wander and my body itchy just thinking about it.

About two years ago I got serious about the prevention and detection of bed bugs, going through a routine every time I check into a hotel room, stay in a yurt, etc... Here are some precautions I use based on the wisdom of others who have experienced the bugs and written about them before me:

Bed Bug Proofing Your Hotel Room

• Before you even book, check to see if the hotel you're thinking about reserving has been listed in the Bed Bug Registry {a user-generated site noting bed bug detection areas in Canada and the US}.
• When you enter your hotel room, lock the door and place your luggage on a stand in or near the bathroom---not near the bed, furniture or curtains.
• Even if you're tired, don't throw your belongings---even an innocent little scarf---on the bed or a chair.
• Immediately conduct a 2-minute investigation of the room to look for reddish brown bugs the size of a small apple seed and droppings the size and appearance of pepper flakes. Note that bed bugs like to hang in groups.
• Check: on and behind the bed's headboard {I always start with this, and get eye level with it in order to see critters more accurately}, foundation, box spring and dark crevices as well as the furniture.
• If you think you spot bed bugs, smell the area. They are known to have a musky sweet scent like almonds.

Dealing With Bed Bugs

• If you think you see bed bugs, speak the hotel immediately, and DO NOT accept a room near the potential infestation site.
• Get the BedbugLogic Protection & Treatment Spray like Lauren talked about yesterday in her Travel Beauty post to remove any bugs you think may have got near your gear or clothing.
• Once you get home, if you still suspect bed bugs, vacuum and steam clean your suitcase {not in your house} and wash clothes and dry on the dryer's hottest setting to kill all stages of bugs.

Finally, I will leave you with this: when you travel with a carry-on, there is less chance for it to come in contact with other bags {and bugs!!!} if it is always with you.

[photo by Medill DC]

Dealing with Jet Lag

[trip style = any]

Whether your time change is 3 or 17 hours, dealing with jet lag is not fun---especially when sleep is so closely tied to health. Some people can sleep anywhere at any time, but if you're not one of the chosen few (I'm not!), here are some strategies to help you deal with jet lag. A special thanks goes out my elite travelling friends Kathryn and Christina {literally, they both have elite status} for contributing to this post...

{Sometimes I approach jet lag with fear and trembling because if I don't get enough sleep, I get sick within a day or two. Yet, recently I've learned to take a figurative jet lag chill pill . If I can't sleep on the plane, I either watch a movie and relax, or close my eyes and rest. When I was in NYC this weekend, I was still adjusting to a concert of time zones from Sydney to Vancouver to New York, as a result, one night I feel asleep at 5am. Thankfully, I didn't get sick and just "went with it" sleeping in until 10am.}

Jet Lag Strategies

• Christina gets into her new time zone right away, switching her watch and phone to the new time as soon as she gets on the plane.
• Close your window shade.
• At all cost, try and sleep on the plane during night flights. Noise-cancelling headphones and a serene playlist are helpful for this. Kathryn, who travels back and forth between Vancouver and Hong Kong for work, told me that even if she sleeps on and off for six hours during a 14-hour flight, it makes a big difference.
• Find out if the flight is full, and if not, select a seat in the back of the plane where less people are likely to book. You might score a three-seat section you could use to curl-up and get some zzzzzs.
• If you can't sleep on planes, take the rest approach. Watch a movie or close your eyes and count sheep. {Trip Styler Tip: For a more natural approach, whether I'm at home, on the plane or in a foreign land, I take a calcium magnesium pill to help me sleep. No kidding, for me, it works better than sleeping pills because calcium has a calming effect.}
• Drink lots of water on the plane to keep hydrated {though, I limit my water intake while I sleep so my rest isn't interrupted by hourly visits to the bathroom}. Normally I try and fill an empty water bottle post-security so I have a water with me at all times on the flight.
• This one's a no-brainer, but avoid stimulants like caffeine inflight. Once you get to your destination {especially if it's morning}, go for it.
• Even if you're tired when you get off the plane, try to follow the patterns of the new time zone as soon as you arrive, eating and sleeping as usual.
• Don't think about what time it is at home.
• Getting a minimum of 5 hours (for the bad sleepers out there) those first few nights is key to adjusting quickly.
• I once read that Gap Adventures' CEO works out before and after flying on multi-hour flights. Working out energizes you for a flight, and if you're head-bobbingly tired upon arrival, can instantly wake you up.
• Once home, after a rest day of sleeping in and getting laundry done, get back into your home routine as soon as possible.

If you have any tried and true jet lag cures or therapies, add your comments below!

[photo by ChrisDag]

A Royal Honeymoon Hideaway

[trip style = uber luxe + royal]

Yesterday morning when I read initial, what almost seemed like leaked reports about Kate and Will's honeymoon I was disappointed. I know they are the hottest Royals since Shy Di, meaning cameras and opinions follow them e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, but after sharing their wedding with an estimated audience of 2 billion, couldn't people just give them a break? Just for a few days?

Initial Reports Yesterday morning, reports indicated someone from tourism Seychelles {an Indian Ocean archipelago off the east coast of Africa and a destination on my travel bucket list}, confirmed The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were indeed returning to the destination, albeit not likely to the same resort, where they vacationed post break-up in 2007. At this point, I can't tell if the initial info leak was a big no no {and someone's gonna get it}, or if it was all part of the plan. Either way, now that the cat is out of the bag, will a bazillion paparazzi storm each of 115 islands in the Seychelles in search of the pair? I hope not, though I suspect US weekly and OK Magazine will post honeymoon bathing suit shots, like, asap!

Why If I'm so keen on the couple having a media break, why am I writing about it? Since the story's out, and is timely and relevant to aspiring jetsetters, I felt I could talk about it. After all, I'm sure we all want to know what constitues trip style = royal!

Trip Style = Royal Where does a Prince and Princess honeymoon? Prior to the wedding of the century, speculations swirled about destinations such as Kenya {where Will proposed}, Necker Island {Sir Richard Branson's vacation home island}, Jordan, the Caribbean and Lizard Island in Australia {a place we almost stayed, though I think they would have been more secluded here}.

At the time of writing, no one knows exactly where they are honeymooning, but here's what Canada.com reports: "the couple are said to have chosen an exclusive private island {in the Seychelles}, with only a handful of secluded 4,000-a-night villas. Described as a "Robinson Crusoe" island, each villa has its own personal chef and butler." USA Today thinks this masked island might be Fregate, a private, eco-minded retreat 4-degrees south of the equator with only 17 villas.

A Prediction Over the next few weeks, the Seychelles will suddenly reappear on every travel editor's hot and must-go destination list. There will be ''royal" vacation packages, t-shirts and an endangered animal will likely be named after one of them. Would you splurge on an uber-luxe royal-esque retreat in the Seychelles?

[photo by Fregate Island of Fregate Island Villa, Seychelles}

Travel Essentials for any Trip Style

[trip style = any]

There are a few items that make always make an appearance on my packing list, regardless of the trip style. Whether it's a weekend away, a sunny send-off or a European sightseeing excursion, I've put together a list of packing necessities that make it into my bag 100% of the time. Aside from cash, sunglasses, bathing suit and documentation, here are my travel essentials for any trip style. What are yours?

Travel Essentials for any Trip Style An Extra Bag A little white cloth bag always takes up residence in my purse for day-to-day shopping, but it has also come in handy while traveling. I've used it to protect my behind when sitting on the grass in front of the Canadian Parliament buildings in Ottawa, as well as an overflow bag for extra clothes or Tar-Yay {Target} purchases while weekending in the US. For longer journeys, I throw my Longchamp Le Pliage bag into my carry-on as a plane-to-pool tote or I-shopped-more-than-expected bag...

Pashmina I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again: a big scarf or pashmina is a lifesaver while on the road. Use it to keep warm, add an extra pop of colour or style to an outfit, or as an in-a-pinch blanket when the plane's recycled air is a little too cool. I even have a friend who used hers as a serong and beach towel while in South East Asia. In that case, maybe you'd have two, one for warmth and style and the other for beach.

Lip Stain I'm a big lip gloss fan---my friends will confirm this---but when it comes to packing for any trip style, a lip stain will go in my bag first. Why? With lip tints you can lightly apply a natural-hued colour for day and with a few more passes, a more intense colour at night. In other words, one lip stain allows multiple day-to-night looks. And when the colour lasts for 4 - 8 hours, you don't need to worry about re-application. My current go-to tint is $6 stain from Joe Fresh. Add a little vaseline to the mix and you're good to go...

Vaseline What doesn't vaseline do? It's the travel beauty workhorse, acting as an intense moisturizer for dry hands, feet and elbows, an on-the-road under-eye moisturizer and brightener {especially helpful for combatting the plane's dry air}, an eyebrow sculptor, lip gloss, etc....

Nail Buffer For long trips, manicures are out. After 5 days my once red nails go from class to trash. Since gels or acrylics don't work for me either, any trip longer than a week requires a buffer {available at any drug store}: a great way to keep nails looking smooth and naturally shiny---almost like you've applied a coat of clear polish. Before you go out at night, re-buff nails with the "shine" side for a natural glam look.

iPhone/Macbook Air I put these two electronics into one category because they are both essential and both computers. And aside from an off-the-grid camping trip, they are my faithful travel companions. Here's why: my iPhone allows me to send and receive texts and phone calls {if needed}, connects to wifi for email and simple internet usage, takes pictures and stores apps {my first travel 'love'}. My brand new 11" Macbook Air is small and light enough to throw into my purse, and helps out when my iPhone's 2" screen just doesn't cut it.

Disposable Slippers I'm a take-my-shoes-off-on-the-plane kinda gal and the only way to make that classy is to bring washable slippers along for covering socks or bare feet. They are also helpful when your hotel doesn't provide slippers. Trip Styler Tip :: Next time you're at a hotel that offers slippers, take yours home and transition them into your travel slippers. Despite their disposable nature, hotel slippers wash well.

Emergen-C A little over a year ago I started traveling with little packets of Emergen-C {available at most drug stores in Canada and the US} to help keep my immune system strong for times when flights, time zones and uncomfortable hotel stays negatively impact my sleep. So far, taking one a day while on the road has worked well for my travel health. I take the packets with water at least a week before I leave and during my trips.

Gum / Pearly Whites Clean teeth and minty breath make you feel fresh. Instead of schlepping out my toothpaste and brush while in a plane bathroom, at the airport or after an intense meal, I use Pearly Wipes {a circular, super thin pad soaked in baking soda, salt & peppermint oil} to freshen and whiten my teeth. Bonus: Pearly Wipes come in a mini travel-friendly compact. Follow this up with a mint or gum and you're good to go.

Wipes Wipes are a girl or guy's best friend for travel. I once used them after a 4-hour downhill mountain biking journey in Peru to remove head-to-toe dirt when my hostel's shower didn't work. Aside from use on big adventures or while camping, they're great for keeping hands sanitized and doing mock showers on long traevel days.