KinderHop :: Family-Friendly Big Island

[trip style = sun + beach]

{KinderHop is published on the third Monday of every month and written by Trip Styler’s Seattle-based kid ‘n family writer Keryn.}

The Big Island of Hawaii isn’t known for its nightlife or high-rise hotels, Mother Nature’s playground is day-centric leaving plenty of time for a family to explore. Parents will fall in love with the food, diverse activities and endless escapes far from the hectic pace of everyday life. Kids will be thrilled to try their hand at boogie boarding, swimming with tropical fish and building black sand castles. Here's a few of our family's top spots:

Beaching It Kahalu’u Beach Park just south of Kona boasts the perfect playground for small children: rock-protected pools. Bonus: parents can take turns snorkeling at one of the best spots on the island. On the east side of the park, be sure to check out the Wai’opae ponds. Toddlers can peer into the tide pools while mom or dad take older siblings into the deeper pools.

Your little ones will be screaming for more at Kua Bay where the surf is just big enough to do some boogie boarding. Inexperienced swimmers should stick close to an adult. The undertow can be fierce.

For the much younger set, head south to Ho’okena Beach Park for some gentle waves to introduce young riders to the art of boogie boarding and wave jumping.

Hiking Trekking through Volcano National Park is a must whenever you are on the island. If you can spend the night in the area it will give you even more time to fully explore this seismic wonder. Kids will love creeping through the lava tubes and walking around the top of Kilauea Crater. Make sure you stay after dark to see the crater’s smoke glowing bright orange.

Up Close with Nature For a peak at the island’s famous black sand beaches drive down to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach to say hello to sea turtles taking a siesta in the sun. Keep your distance though; state law protects these creatures from sticky fingers {and adults are the worst culprits}.

Eat Let your taste buds take over at Island Lava Java, a breakfast hot spot with a view. Don’t’ be fooled by the beach-bum coffee shop interior; the menu is anything but. Weekends feature a guava bread pudding French toast, which is a hit with diners both young and old. For a little more romance head back after dark to dine by candlelight.

Shopping/ Meet the Locals Stock up on exotic fruits and local wears at any number of farmers markets around the island. The Kona Farmers Market is the easiest to find, but for a true peak into local life head to the Pahoa Farmers Market on Sundays.

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More KinderHop Making Hotel Rooms Work With Kids KinderHop – Meet The Columnist

[photos via keryn of @walkingontravel]

JAL Business Class

[trip style = luxury]

Each airline does executive class a little differently. Companies like Virgin, Singapore Airlines and Emirates excel in over-the top first class service, while US carriers like Alaska and Delta could use a little improvement {<--- speaking from experience}.

I don't normally fly business class, but on my recent trip to Thailand I made an exception involving a Japan Airlines {JAL} executive class seat sale. Ah business class, it's not so much about the semi lie-flat seats, as it is about the lounge access, security lane fast-pass and attentive service---all m-a-j-o-r bonuses when flying an international, multi-leg, long-haul flight!

Trip Styler Tip :: When traveling internationally, make sure the airline you're flying is part of your preferred airline alliance. It would be a shame to waste close to 20,000 miles that could have otherwise been used towards a free trip, as well as get you closer to elite status. For example, the American Airlines air miles I'll accrue from the JAL flights are just shy of getting me to the Caribbean and back during AA's Caribbean bonus period Sept 15 - Nov 15.

Here's an inside look at JAL's Business Class.

Seats {In the grand scheme of business class seats, JAL planes' various seat pitches aren't the most horizontal, but for an 11-hour flight, anything greater than a 33" economy seat recline will do.}

Food {I've eaten better food in Turkish Airways economy seats, but JAL's unlimited Champagne was a plus.}

Party Favors {Complimentary Vogue, moisturizing eye mask, face mask, toothbrush and slippers. The moisturizing eye mask was the best, and proved really helpful in counteracting the shrivel effect caused by parching airplane air.}

Lounge {Sakura Lounge, Narita. Modern, lots of seating and great sleeping/relaxation spaces.}

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[photos by @tripstyler]

Spotlight :: 24Hrs in Bangkok

[trip style = urban]

{Editor’s Note :: April’s destination focus is Thailand. So far we've covered two hip beachfront hotels a few hours from Bangkok. Stay tuned for more on the Lit! Bangkok and why one of Thailand's B destinations receives an A on our travel report card!}

If New York's the Big Apple, then Bangkok's the Big Mango---sticky, sweet and reasonably priced. An age-old mix of traditional and modern stitched together by an avant garde tailor, combing the city is an intense sensory experience from every angle.

For a fleeting moment, I considered going to Thailand and not sampling Bangkok given my tight schedule and its metropolis magnitude. Mistake. Even for 24hrs, snacking on one of the world's most exotic and cosmopolitan cities is both worthwhile and energizing.

Driven by its 12 million+ industrious and gracious inhabitants, the city hums, hisses and hurries at all hours of the day. For this reason it always feels safe and has something to offer every stripe and budget. High rises with head offices crowd the skyline and street vendors crowd available sidewalk real estate selling crepes, just-cut pineapple slices or pad Thai. Eat on the street for less than $0.50 usd. You'd be surprised at what can be sold out of a cart AND how good it is---Bangkok proves almost anything.

Peel off the Big Mango's protective peel for a taste of a city ripe with flavor! Here's a trip style = urban starting point:

Do Lofty Libations I wasn't going to have a drink at Lebua State Tower {which you might remember from The Hangover Part II} fearing it was too cliché, but our friends convinced us to indulge, and I'm glad they did. Sipping a bev at the glow-bar on the 64th floor will cost you---drinks set you back about $16 usd---but it's a stunning space, one which should be perched upon for the limitless city view alone. Trip Styler Tip :: There is a dress code in effect, no sandals or shorts. And don't get too tipsy and drop your drink {or yourself}, the "security nets" hanging below the glass-enclosed rooftop wouldn't hold more than a penny.

Market Meander If you're in town from Fri - Sun, meander and barter your way through the inner and outer lanes of the superbowl stadium-sized Chatuchak market. It's sweaty, it's over-the-top and you can pick up everything from leather belts to fans to Thai silk. Refuel with coconut ice or a giant chocolate-dipped and sprinkle-covered banana. Men, don't be jealous. Wear clothes you're willing to sweat in and arrive early so you're not roasting like street meat in the midday sun. Easily accessible from the Mo Chit skytrain stop.

Cruise 'n Wat Not Make your way to the Mandarin Oriental's dock and ask the attendant to book you a long tail boat to cruise along Choa Phraya River. Total photo opp! Hire the boat for 15 mins or two hours, and cruise up and down the river's murky waters. Ask your captain to drop you off at one of the gold-leafed and colorfully adorned riverside Wats to view a Buddhist Temple in the centre of the city. Trip Styler Tip :: Many Wats like the Grand Palace and Wat Pho have a strict dress codes. I know this will be a chore, but no booty shorts or shoulder cut-outs, even though the heat will make you want to dress like you're 19 and club-going.

Stay Skip Bangkok's brood of $200+ usd/night luxury hotels in favor of the Lit! Bangkok, priced around $100/night. Located a two-min walk from the skytrain on a side street with hostels, street food and $10 usd massage joints, this modern palace provides a cool, calculated calm from Bangkok's heat and hype. Stay tuned for a full write-up about the Lit! on April 25th.

Getting There From the West Coast, Bangkok can be reached on Cathay Pacific or JAL via Hong Kong or Tokyo. Thai Airways operates a direct flight from LA. Once at Bangkok's airport, skip the 45-min, $15 USD taxi into town and take the express train for approx. $1.50 USD. Within 25 mins you're dropped right in the center of the city. From there, either take a bright pink cab or the skytrain to your hotel. Easy peasy.

[photos by @tripstyler]

Roam+Board :: Hotel De La Paix

[trip style = beach + sun + affordable luxe]

{Editor’s Note :: April’s destination focus is Thailand. Last week we featured a modern, all-villa resort 3.5 hrs from Bangkok, and today Hotel De La Paix! PS – I just left this resort on Monday and it’s ultra TS approved!}

What Without a big brand name or travel editors' hot pick location, Hotel De La Paix is grandiose-chic with big-picture pizzaz. Upon arrival you are met by massive white marble stairs, which lead to a modern, open-air lobby looking over a reflections pool covering the vast length of the property.

At every turn this swish stopover is refreshing and edited, knowing its target market with p-r-e-c-i-s-i-o-n. Catering to the younger jetsetting crowd {not a lot of seniors here}, each room has its own wifi router, Apple TV, ambient chill music and 12ft ceilings with a 2 x 3ft rain shower cascading from above {<-- somewhat shaky video, but hopefully you get a refresher}.

Foodies will love the international breakfast buffet with its carrot muffin shooters, fresh honeycomb, and grilled bananas with coconut sauce, in addition to all the regular brunchy suspects. And don't even get me started on the resort's tropical vanilla signature scent gently permeating from the hallways right through to the in-room shower amenities.

Keep Hotel De La Paix on your Thailand radar. This luxe, meticulously kept property is manicured like a Thai Royal.

Where Just before Hua Hin, Thailand at Cha-Am Beach, two hours from Bangkok. A one-way car transfer costs $115.

When High season spans November to February with cool and balmy weather {33 degrees C “feels like” 45}. Shoulder season is mid-September to October and mid-March to April with hotter weather and less predictable precipitation. Low season is May to August due to ultra-hot and rainy conditions, but usually you get a bit of warning before a short-lived torrential downpour!

Who/Why You're an international vagabond who likes the taste of Thai city life, but doesn't want to be stuck between bars and massage parlors in the middle of town. You bring your iPad to the pool with you and appreciate the small touches, like oversized loungers with enough space to put your beach bag and scatter your beach paraphernalia.

Cost Rooms start at $140/night in high season. Includes comet-fast wifi, an elaborate breakfast buffet, a shuttle into Hua Hin, mini bar {with beer} and morning yoga.

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More Roam+Board X2 Kui Buri - Thailand Ecopod Boutique Retreat – Scotland The Saguaro AZ – Scottsdale Arizona Biltmore – Phoenix Llipimpac Guesthouse – Cusco, Peru Postcard Inn At Holiday Isle – Florida Keys Nira Alpina – Switzerland From ice hotels to Anna Wintour’s steal-of-a-deal holiday escape, find all featured R+B properties here.

[photos by @tripstyler---see additional shots of Hotel De La Paix via Trip Styler's Instagram]

Tech Tuesday :: Instagram For Android

[trip style = any]

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This is kind of a big deal. In 2011 we declared our love for Instagram, a photo editing and sharing tool with a massive early adopter buy-in {read: one million-plus downloads in three months}. Last week the online photo 'club' got a whole lot BIGGER. Previously only available for iPhones, the app just opened its membership to Android users too, AND as of yesterday afternoon, it was purchased by Facebook for $1-billion USD.

Think of Instagram like an all-photo Facebook, sans melodramatic status updates. Just pics that can be enhanced with 12 vintage-to-saturated filters and shared with your friends on Instagram, then pushed to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social sites.

How It Works After downloading the app, take a picture, apply a filter and share it with friends, fam and/or the world. At its core, the photo filters offered in the app are a lot like camera bag‘s {featured May 4th, 2010}, but Instagram takes it a step further and integrates heavy sharing capabilities like finding and following friends who are using the app {similar to fb & twitter}, sharing photos on major social networking sites and commenting on others’ photos. The app is as much about snapping photos near and far, as it is about sharing.

PS - Find Trip Styler {@tripstyler} on Instagram.

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[photos via @tripstyler's instagram]