Travel Apps :: TomTom

{This week: enter to win a gorgeous fleur de lis necklace, details here.} If you haven't yet heard of TomTom, it's not the male cheerleading version of pom poms. It's a GPS system, or if you want to get fancy, a dedicated portable navigation device (PND). To be exact, TomTom is actually the world's leading provider of location and navigation solutions with more than 45 million people using their solutions daily. If I'm stuck in the middle of the Sahara desert, I'll want the guys 'n gals behind this company on my side {though I'm not really sure what they'll tell me, turn right at the next sand dune?}.

I've used both Google Map directions and a hand-held GPS on multiple road trips down to the US, and I MUCH prefer the hand-held GPS {borrowed from my Dad, thanks}. For navigating the bazillions of interconnecting highways, it's nice to have turn-by-turn directions that can correct with you in real time if you make a wrong turn.

Now There's An App For That... For a fraction of the price of a hand-held GPS, you can download TomTom to your iPhone, eliminating the need to bring an extra device with you on the road. The app's pièce de résistance is its ability to function without a mobile connection or data plan. In other words, maps and routes are stored in your smartphone's memory. Inevitably, this will save you a lot of mobile roaming dough, so you can spend it on doughnuts and other road-side delicacies.

TomTom App Details

• $59.99 usd
• works with iPhone, iTouch & iPad; apparently it's in development for android, and blackberry is up in the air
• comes with the latest and most up-to-date maps, ready to navigate
• make on-the-fly changes to your own map and benefit from free, verified updates made by TomTom users every day--delivered automatically on a weekly basis and on-demand anytime you want

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Other Travel Apps Don't forget to peruse the other 60+ travel apps we've reviewed from travel first aid, to luxury and boutique hotel finders, to border waits, to trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

• Get Packing
• Picture Translate
• Flightcaster
• Boiling Frog
• PageOnce

Jewels & Jaunts

[See details below on how you can win a gorgeous fleur de lis necklace from Chantale Jewelry Designs.]

Knowing it's not always easy to select and plan the perfect jewels to accompany our outfits for each trip, I've asked one of my favourite Vancouver-based jewelry designers to share her expert tips on traveling with jewelry. Whether galavanting to Paris or Palm Springs, Chantale knows a thing or two about which pieces to bring, and how to transport our delicate decorations.

I've travelled with her necklaces and earrings for the past 10 years, and not one piece has EVER broken. Although times have changed, my once-all-the-rage chandelier earrings must have been packed and re-packed 50+ times, and the intricate, literally bejeweled, multi-piece Swarovski crystal danglies never once broke. This is a testament to the excellent skill and care that goes into to making Chantale's hand-crafted designs, in addition to packing things right!

Jewels & Jaunts 101

1. Wear simple jewelry through security a) so you don't hold up the line by removing multiple pieces, and b) so you don't beep in the metal detector and take a trip to the body scanner!
2. Let your trip style and destination dictate which pieces you'll bring. For example, the jewelry you bring to NYC will on the fancier side, whereas the jewelry you bring on safari will be on the minimal side.
3. If you go away semi-regularly, cut down your packing time by keeping a set of your basic, go-to jewelry cued-up for your next trip.
4. Always pack a long necklace that can be doubled or worn at its full length.
5. Bring pieces that can be worn apart or together for an eye-catching, layered look.
6. Pack your jewelry in little, clear ziplock bags {like the ones used for buttons when you buy a new garment}. Then, pack all your necklaces, earrings and bracelets together in one sandwich-sized ziplock. If you can't fit all your items into this size of bag, you're likely bringing too much. Plus, using clear bags means you can see all your jewelry at-a-glance and it stays organized!
7. Always clean your jewelry with a polishing cloth before you take off, so your adornments don't look dull and drab.
8. When getting ready, make sure your jewelry is the LAST thing you put on. Lotions and potions can damage and dull your treasures and trinkets.
9. Keep your jewelry out of the direct sunlight.
10. Always lock up your jewel-filled ziplock in the hotel room safe.

Win This Chantale has provided this gorgeous, hand-made {and apprpriately Canadian} necklace for one lucky winner to nab. Here's how you enter: 1) Comment on this post and tell us your favourite piece of Chantale's Jewelry, AND if you haven't already, "Like" the Trip Styler page on Facebook. 2) For a second entry, share any Trip Styler post on Facebook with friends and tell us about it in the comment you leave (per step 1). 3) For a third entry, follow @tripstyler on twitter and RT this: RT @TripStyler to learn how to win a fab necklace from Chantale Jewelry Designs & traveling with jewelry 101 http://ow.ly/3ENC1 Winner will be announced at the end of THIS week, on Friday, January 21, 2011. *Open to residents of Canada and the US.

{Thank you to all those who entered. Katherine KW, you've won and we've contacted you via Twitter!}

[photos and jewelry by Chantale Jewelry Designs]

Mexico Redeemed...

[trip style = sun + beach + luxury] {more pics below}

The Lure Most Canadians and Americans with any penchant for travel have made it down to Mexico at least once. The shining sun, saucy spanish language, vibrant culture, beachfront homes and all-inclusives lure us away from dark and dreary winters. Except for a stop-over in Cozumel, I've always kept my Mexi visits to the Pacific Coastal side, visiting San Felipe (on development trips), Mazatlan and Acapulco. Since my husband and I were almost attacked in Acapulco 5 years ago {thank goodness for my leftover bag from dinner which turned into a weapon of mass no destruction to ward off our 20-something perpetrators}, I wasn't too keen on returning.

Another Chance But I had to give Mexico another chance, it's the Canadian way. We've all had bad travel experiences right? Hoping that a trip on the Caribbean side would redeem my relationship with Mexico, I booked  5 nights at the Fairmont Mayakoba thinking the property looked pretty nice and newish, but not having any clue what I was getting into. {See my review of the Fairmont Mayakoba here.}

The Journey Last Friday, our direct {and reasonably-priced; $522 return} WestJet flight from Vancouver arrived into Cancun about 5.30pm. {Trip Styler Tip = when booking short vacations, always try to secure a direct flight, it enhances your experience by giving you more time at your destination and less time in airports!}. Racing towards Playa Del Carmen by taxi, I was impressed with the condition of the road, number of police checkpoints and mammoth resort entrances on our Formula 1-like journey. I think our 24-year-old taxi driver cut the commute time in half given his Mario Andretti tendencies and 140km/h speed. Then his speed fittingly slowed to a meandering pace, and we came face-to-face with the Mayakoba's statuesque, backlit onyx front gate, surrounded by perfect and poquito palm trees. Based on its upscale and modern design, I knew it wasn't just any resort.

Mayakoba Mayakoba is a sprawling, lush, manicured and master-planned, Spanish-owned resort development 10-mins from Playa Del Carmen. Its front entrance looks different because it's unlike any other development in the area with a series of canals connecting 3 stand-out, luxurious hotels on the property: The Banyan Tree, The Fairmont and The Rosewood. Case in point, Tory Burch just tweeted from The Rosewood 8 days ago. Looks like I just missed her. Too bad really, we could have talked totes and tequila poolside.

Mexico, I'm sorry it took me so long to return. I hope to learn more about your culture, talk more with your locals, eat more of your guacamole, drink more of your cervezas and run more on your beaches sometime soon. Until next time, hasta la vista {see you later}.

I would recommend any of the resorts at Mayakoba, and it just so happens one of my favourite Private Sale travel sites {Jetsetter.com} is offering 3145sf, garden pool villas at the ultra-luxe Banyan Tree for $390/night. Although this price tag might seem expensive, the service is unreal and each suite comes with a private infinity pool and breakfast.

{Biking to the beach}

{Fairmont Mayakoba beachfront pool}

{Run or walk forever in either direction}

{One of Mayakoba's meandering rivers}

{Cenote - a well with exposed rocky edges containing groundwater typically found in the Yucatán Peninsula}

{Looking toward the Fairmont's adult pool and La Laguna Restaurant}

{Bouquet of roses given after dining at the Banyan Tree's Tamarind restaurant}

{Rosewood beachfront villas}

{Secluded beach 'beds' beside the Rosewood}

[photos taken by moi in the Playa Del Carmen area, Mayakoba, Mexico}

Travel Trends :: Quickie Teeth Whitening

Time-intensive teeth whitening systems are old news, but recently I've noticed a movement towards simple, quick, touch-up style whitening---the perfect solution to maintaining your pearly whites while sipping pinot noir in Napa or cafe negro grande in Caracas.

Got 10 seconds? Or even 2 minutes? The new breed of mini teeth whitening aids can be easily placed in your carry-on luggage, tote or clutch for on-the-go smile brightening. As such, these travel-friendly smile brighteners will be making an appearance in my luggage soon. What about yours?

Wipe it Enjoy that night out with friends, then slip into the toilette and wipe off the red wine stains to reveal your sparkling smile. Cost: between $7 - $12 for 20 Wine Wipes.

Stick it The Cosmetic Cop has come out with her own breath-freshening, teeth touch-up stick that only takes 2-minutes to use. Cost: between $15 - $22 for Paula's Choice Brighten Up.

Brush it Go Smile, a legacy teeth whitening brand, has created a teeth whitening maintenance travel kit. Simply use this toothpaste to clean teeth and maintain your pearly whites. Cost: from $12 for Go Smile Jet Set Travel Kit.

Hidden Hideaways

[trip style = budget + luxury + sun + beach] Sometimes hotels come across my desk that cause me to stop what I'm doing and attempt to live vicariously though the travel eye candy-like pictures. The next 3 hotels are in this category. I drool just thinking about them. Rather than boasting 10 pools, 12 restaurants and a zip-line, they are small, secluded hideaways. Places that you'd actually want to unplug and just be. I haven't visited any of them yet, but they are all on my travel bucket list. Prepare to be dazzled by secluded bliss...

Yelapa Casa Pericos, Mexico Last year, when our friends told us tales of their balmy adventure getting to and staying at this tiki meets swiss family robinson meets woodsy chic abode, I just about died. Here is their account: Yelapa, a sleepy little town of about 1000 people across the bay from Puerto Vallarta, is a place where life slows to a crawl. The town can only be reached by boat, most typically from Puerto Vallarta. Here there are no cars and accommodations come with neither TVs nor phones. The slow pace of life was hammered home as we spent the better part of a day watching the construction industry at work. We were lying in our hammocks sipping drinks on the beach while locals attempted to load rebar onto a burro (for the record that is not an easy task). Restaurants in Yelapa are a family affair which generally consists of a few tables in someone’s house or backyard. We stayed in a beautiful palapa {the hotel} built over the ocean that was open to the elements. This gorgeous little town offers days spent on the beach, beautiful walks to waterfalls, great food and little else. A perfect slice of paradise to get away from it all. Cost: $95 - $295

Royal Plantation {Fowl Cay Resort}, Bahamas Staying in one of only six villas on a private 50-acre island in the Bahamas is a trip I'd settle for, and I think you would too. Couple this escapist experience with white-sand beaches, a personal boat, all the beach-front and ocean activities you could imagine, plus included food and bevs, and you've got yourself a pretty fabulous hidden hideaway retreat! Book a house or book the island, you decide. Cost: From $1285/night (based on double occupancy; includes activities, food & bev)

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia When I see pictures of an architecturally stunning, idyllic retreat with infinity pools overlooking aqua waters and tropical peaks, let's just say my interest is peaked. Designed by a Canadian architect now living in St. Lucia, Jade Mountain is constantly being recognized by travel publications "best of" lists. One day in the future, I'd like to put it on my own "best of" list! Cost: From $950/night

[photo credit: Yelapa Casa (Yelapa town - Steve) Fowl Cay & Jade Mountain]