Blog — Trip Styler
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Travel Apps :: Get Packing!

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packing list travel appsToday I'm going to write about an unusual packing companion. It's a travel app you wouldn't think to download for its packing list prowess, yet is free and the usability fantastic. But first, the back story... A few months ago my apps disappeared from my iTunes account. Long story (cue the violins). The saddest part was I lost some of my beloved paid-for apps like my $4.99 Tetris, as well as my $2.99 Packing Pro.

When I realized my go-to packing companion was gone, I remembered that Kayak's fantabulous do-everything-that's-travel-related app has a decent packing list feature. So, rather than re-downloading and paying for a packing app, I created a "sunny extended weekend getaway" list for free.

Details Even though you can't organize Kayak's packing list by topic (ie - clothes, toiletries, etc...) it has pre-loaded lists, flexible editing, sorting and the ability to tick off items as you pack them. If a free version isn't going to cut it for your constant round the world trips, spring for the most highly acclaimed packing app on the market: Packing Pro ($2.99), or the less feature-rich but still pretty great Packing (+ To Do) list for $0.99.

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Other Travel Apps Don't forget to peruse the other 50+ travel apps we've reviewed from travel first aid, to camping, to border waits, to trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

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A Slower-Paced Whistler

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A slower-paced winter Whistler [trip style = active + adventure + ski]

Aside from the occasional cozy, curl-up by the fire evening, winter in Whistler is normally defined by racing to the lifts, racing down the hill and racing to après. I love each of these qualities, after all, they make Whistler what it is: the multi-award winning, world-famous winter wonderland that just so happens to be in Vancouver's backyard. But I recently discovered a slower-paced Whistler.

It seems like there are 3 kinds of Whistler enthusiasts: a) the wake up early and go to bed late, do everything visitors b) the I'll take my time doing the things I love visitors c) the I'm just there for the scene visitors I think I'm 55% A, 40% B and 5% C.

cross country skiing whistlerOn weekends, I normally indulge in fast-paced Whistler: attempted first tracks, ski/board your brains off pre-crowds, hot tub, eat and repeat. But over New Years, I discovered a slower-paced Whistler full of sleep-ins, late-morning snowshoeing, naps, nice dinners out and cross-country skiing. Over the holidays, this Whistler provided the perfect balance of exercise, peaceful treks into the snowy hills and great times dining out with friends. Although I was kicking myself for not doing figure 8s with friends down the top of Blackcomb and basking in the above-the-trees bluebird-day sun, there's something to be said for a little R+R amid the activity.

snowshoeing whistlerFor me, this came in the form of some incredible snowshoeing experiences (thanks to a tip from friends) and my first foray back into cross-country skiing in 17ish years. During one of the busiest holiday seasons at Whistler in a long time, the sheer breadth and depth of terrain made both these experiences peaceful versus the holiday and weekend congestion I'm used to on the downhill slopes.

Next time you head to Whistler in winter, take a cue from the slow cooking movement and don't forget to take time to relax a little and discover the peace of a slower-paced approach.

PS - Slower-paced Whistler also happens to be less expensive. Snowshoeing at Lost Lake and the Callaghan Valley costs between $8 - $10 and cross-country skiing is $20 (not including rentals).

PPS - Spending an afternoon or apres-ing at the girl-and-guy-friendly-outdoor-fire crackling-sauna-steam-and-hot-and-cold-pool-plunging Scandinave Spa is also another way to live a slower-paced Whistler. See pics and details here.

[photo by moi, taken at Lost Lake in Whistler]

2011 Travel Resolutions

2011 New Years Travel Resolutions Last year I posted my 2010 travel resolutions as a means of keeping my travel on task and inspiring you to do the same! I look at travel resolutions as a means of improving our travel experience and planning for destinations that have been on our radar.

Looking ahead, here are the Trip Styler team's resolutions for travel. What are yours?

Trish - Editor

  • Use points & upgrades wisely
    • Airline points - I just booked a trip from Vancouver to the ABC islands (Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire) next fall for 25,000 airline points return. This is a big deal because:
      • if you're going to use airmiles, you might as well maximize them, ie. go to the farthest point within your points/destination allowance
      • there's a loophole in the American Airlines travel reward chart that makes it cheap to travel to the Caribbean in hurricane season, a flight that would normally cost 35,000 points each way
      • the ABC islands are, for all intents and purposes, outside the hurricane belt, so the chances of being in a major storm in November (when I booked the travel) are very slim
    • Hotel upgrades - Last year I didn't take advantage of any of my Fairmont President's Club (Fairmont's loyalty program) upgrades and I missed out. So, this year I'm going to take advantage, and am starting today at the Mayakoba in Mexico's Riviera Maya. I'm paying for a base room, but with my suite upgrade certificate, I'm being upgraded to an 1,100-sf signature casita suite with indoor and outdoor shower!
      • Trip Styler Tip :: every Fairmont hotel has different policies and blackout dates as far as upgrades, and some properties like the Mayakoba provide much better value than others. Look into a few properties and suss out the options before making your decision.
  • Travel somewhere by train - Ever since I took an overnight train from Paris to Venice, train travel has been on my mind. The train scenes from The Tourist movie only fueled my desire to wine, dine and watch the scenery from a glass-topped train car even more. I'd like to take a train to San Francisco and make the travel portion---versus just the destination---part of the experience.
  • Seek out pet-friendly hotels for local travel - This year I started trying to bring my dog with me each time I did a local trip. As much as @nachoking loves his kind and loyal babysitters, he can't be left sans family too much; plus, he travels really well! This past year's pet-friendly stays were at the Fairmont Olympic, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Fairmont Empress, Westin Bellevue and Ace Portland! They all worked out well, so more local getaways are planned in 2011!
  • Destinations
    • Plan a European ski trip - I stress plan because I'm not sure I'll be able to pull off skiing in the Alps this winter, but I'm keen to keep it on my radar and get to know the Euro ski and après scene a little more intimately!
    • Plan a trip to the Turks and Caicos.
    • Tour Washington's wine country.
    • Stormwatch and surf---not at the same time---in Tofino, BC while staying at the rustic yet elegant Wickaninnish Inn.
    • Finally visit Australia and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef - This has been the trip that my husband and I have been dying to take, but something always seems to come up - not this year if I can help it!

Lauren - Travel Beauty Contributor My travel resolution is to FINALLY visit the Hotel Isle de France in St Barths. I've been wanting to visit for over five years and literally visit the website once a month. This year, I'm going to go! (Even if I need to get a 2nd job to pay for it...) Editor's note: wow, like I needed any prompting to visit St. Barths. This intimate bungalow retreat looks amazing. Love the white asthetic against the crystal blue water and swaying palms backdrop.

Leah - Travel Health Contributor My travel resolution is pretty simple this year: to become a strong enough skier to go back-country ski touring for a week with good friends.

Heather - Travel Fashion Contributor I've never had much time off work for vacations, so I've usually stuck to "sure thing" travel - the places I know I'll enjoy, where the weather---and the shopping---will be good. This year, I want to think outside the travel box and try something new, maybe somewhere they speak another language. Which isn't to say I won't end up in Palm Springs again, but that's my happy place. While I've never even been to a movie theatre by myself, I'd like to travel somewhere alone this year, get a NEXUS pass and finally visit Portland (not to mention Japan, Buenos Aires, London, Italy, Croatia, Scandinavia, Napa... but that's a lot of years of resolutions).

[Photo by moi, taken at the Sandals Royal Bahamian]

Healthy on the Road :: Complete Renewal

Healthy Travel + mental renewalUse your next trip as an opportunity to renew ALL of you!

Aside from business travel, many of us travel to get away from it all. It is our hope that when we return home, we will feel refreshed, renewed and ready to tackle whatever life throws our way. Unfortunately, more often than not, our mini vacations can leave us feeling kind of blue on the journey home.

A Great Start It’s only natural to mourn the loss of lazy days on the beach or the chilled-out version of ourselves. Perhaps a renewed outlook on life is not exclusively reserved for the 19-year-old, globe-trotting, soul-searching traveler? Perhaps it is something that can be embraced by all travelers? The simple act of getting away from our busy lives and routines is a great start.

Time Out to Check-In Unfortunately, just like we often make the mistake of breaking from physical activity when we travel, our emotional and mental health can also suffer if we don’t take some time out to check-in.

A Challenge With this in mind, on your next trip, I challenge you to escape completely, recognizing your health and wellness is bigger than your physical fitness; it also encompasses mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Most philosophies of life value all four dimensions, and recognize the necessity of a taking care of all of them in order to live life to the fullest.

What Inspires and Uplifts You? Mental and spiritual renewal is very personal; it draws upon whatever it is that inspires and uplifts you. Some find renewal listening to music, others find it walking along the beach, listening to the quietness of a winter snowfall or prayerfully meditating. It is different for all of us.

Finding Renewal Wherever and however you find renewal, go there and do that for at least one hour. This personal hour will have a huge impact on every other hour of your trip, including your sleep. Building your physical, spiritual and mental strength will, among other things, enable you to better handle the daily challenges waiting to greet you when the trip is over. And when you return home, try to keep up the habit {of escaping and finding renewal---even for only a few mins} and watch your overall health soar!

{When she’s not training clients or being trained by her dog Zuzu, Leah writes Healthy on the Road, published the first Thursday of every month.}

[photo by Trish]

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Trip Styler Hotel Reviews

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Trip Styler's hotel reviewsIt's always nice to know if a friend or someone you trust, liked or disliked a hotel you're thinking of visiting. This way, you know if it's worth the visit, mirrors your preferred trip style, or is the perceived value you're seeking.

Beyond the free travel tips and hints provided at Trip Styler, over the past two years, we've also been working behind the scenes to meticulously review 60+ hotels---all of which are recent, not reviews from 4 years ago. Given we don't regularly post about the specifics of our hotels stays, we wanted to let you know we're always doing reviews with your future stay in mind.

Aside from the current list below, you can easily access the constantly updated hotel list by clicking on the Trip Advisor icon at the top right of the site!

Top 3 Hotels & Why Sorobon Beach Resort, Bonaire [review] Why? "To describe Sorobon Beach resort as ‘basic beachfront bliss’ doesn't even do it justice. The warm staff and well-kept facilities make it feel as though you’re visiting your friend’s island outpost where there are only a few orders to the day: hot beach, cool dip, snooze under palapa, watch geckos scurrying around; repeat."

Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Kenya [review] Why? "The scenery you see in the Mara is like you are watching a National Geographic high-def program, but it's real, and you're part of the show! Coupled with the luxury rooms and service at the Mara Safari Club, this trip was one of the highlights of my travel experiences!"

Wilson Island, Australia [review] Why? "Picture a place where fine wines mingle with coral sand, gourmet fare compliments shabby island-chic decor and each morning you wake up looking out toward an ocean that sparkles. Wilson is an eco-retreat that’s worth the splurge. With only 6 tents and an off-the-grid feel, the Island is the perfect host to the traveler who wants an idyllic Swiss Family Robinson retreat with extra, thoughtful perks like a champagne at sundown with fine cheese, crudites and crackers."

All Hotel Reviews

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[photo by @tripstyler, taken at the Wailea Marriott]