Fashion Friday :: Spring Mini Break

[trip style = weekend getaway]

"A mini break means true love." - Bridget Jones's Diary

Thank goodness for spring. We can all go back outside now. And since most of us don't get spring break anymore (boo!), how about a spring mini break, Bridget Jones style? And yes, I'm referring to the infamous mini break that included the "tarts and vicars" Playboy Bunny debacle. I bet you never thought you could take spring style cues from the delightfully awkward Bridget Jones!

Trip Styler Tip: Ladies and gentlemen, tortoise shell sunglasses and aviators never go out of style. Neither do denim jackets, which are the perfect spring-weight coat. I always bring mine on holiday.

Now what to bring?

Women (clockwise from top left) Acne tag milk denim jacket, ASOS 70s kaftan playsuit, Twelfth St by Cynthia Vincent berkeley tote, Marc by Marc Jacobs below the knee dress, Topshop wendy nude twist wedges, Topshop monk sand soft lace up shoes, D&G sunglasses, ASOS tailored 2 in 1 jumpsuit, Topshop white snake print scarf

Men (clockwise from top right) Ben Sherman ls blazer, Ben Sherman wiltshire shirt, A.P.C. new cure jeans, Nike x Steven Alan shoes, Mosley Tribes x Temple Bags sunglasses

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by fashion blogger Heather.}

Travel Trends :: April + May Lowdown

[trip style = sun + beach]

Depending on what area you're in, Spring Breakers are sizzling in the sun or shredding on the slopes right now. Yet, starting in April---only a few days away---these same hot {and cool} places will be posting off-season prices at significant savings. Mark your calendar, this low season lowdown is sure-fire travel trend happening every year at this time, and in the fall.

Planning Ahead Sometimes vacation time is not flexible, combine this with high season travel and you're handing out $$$ like an ATM. Been there, done that and feel your pain. But, if you have any hint of flexibility, consider planning ahead to take advantage of low season fares in April and May. Whether you vacation avec or sans kiddles, an extended weekend, Easter break or May Long could work in your favor both financially and time wise.

Sample Deals & Where to Find Them Right now I'm drooling over the travel savings I see. Since I'm headed to Oz in less than a month, I can't act on impulse and book any travel between now and then, but maybe you can? With this in mind, here are a few low season travel treats.... Trip Styler Tip :: Mark your calendar. I have. Each year in mid- to late- March, hotels, airlines and online travel agencies heavily discount sunny and ski trip styles for April and May travel.

Overall Deals Expedia.com - save up to 44% off. Book by Apr 20, travel by May 15. Escapes.ca - save up to 50% off. Book by Mar 31 for escapes Apr - June.

Hawaii Expedia.ca - save up to 40% off. Book by Apr 6, travel by Apr 30.

Vegas Allegiant.com - 3 nts/4days, flight, hotel and show tickets from $350. Book by Mar 27, travel May 1 - Aug 31.

London AirCanadaVacations.com - 4nts/5days, flight, hotel, breakfast, transfers, airport lounge access from $1500. Book by Mar 31, depart May 5, 11 or 12.

[photo by @tripstyler, taken in Laguna Beach, California]

Top Picks: Vancouver Travel Show

[trip style = multiple]

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This past weekend I paid a visit to The Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show at Vancouver's recently-built convention centre {west}, which happens to sit right on the water. Gorgeous. Bonus, my fave Vancouver cafe and hotel are conveniently located right beside it: The Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel {see my review here} and Giovane Cafe.

The Goal I attended the convention with a four-fold objective: a) look out for travel trends; b) see which destinations and tour operators are currently targeting the Vancouver market; c) observe who was attending; and d) sleuth the booths that had it going on. With these goals in mind, here are some of the show's opportunities I wanted to pass on to you...

Honorable Mentions Northern Canada [trip style = adventure] Visiting northern Canada has always been on my travel to-do list, but it's been an I'll do that one day type of desire. Yet, visiting the show a few days ago, reps from the Yukon and Northwest Territories drew me in beyond the famous aurora borealis. Many Vancouverites don't think about visiting the North, yet it's as close as a 2-hour flight away. They say "North of Ordinary" and I'd have to agree. Where else can you experience arctic tundra and snow-capped peaks, 24-hour sunlight and an instant gateway to wilderness?

If anyone wants to weekend up North this spring or summer, here's a great taster: Air North is offering air and hotel packages for $575 {all in} including round trip airfare to Whitehorse and two nights accommodation.

Tacoma [trip style = weekending] In Vancouver, we're all about weekending in Seattle. The only time we mention Seattle and Tacoma in the same breath is when we're referring to the airport {ie. Sea Tac Airport}, but there's more to Seattle's southern sister than the airport, casinos and the Tacoma Dome. On my next trip across the 49th, I'm heading to the Museum of Glass. Located right on the waterfront, this contemporary building is famous for attractions like the Chihuli Bridge of Glass, its outdoor glass art, and live indoor glass blowing. Next time you visit Seattle, check out Tacoma, and if you go in mid-September, "do the Puyallup"...Fair.

Note: if you've ever been to Vegas and seen the glass installation in the Bellagio's lobby ceiling, consider this your taster for what you'll see at the Museum of Glass.

Philippines [trip style = sun] You hear a lot about Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, but not much from fellow travelers about the balmy Philippines, comprised of 7,107 islands. I'd like to visit Samal island and stay at a pearl farm-turned-beach front resort, the Banaue Rice Terraces, and other locations soaked in natural beauty.

Iceland [trip style = adventure + spa] If this doesn't make you want to go to Iceland, I'm not sure what will: soaking in a geothermal pool by day, eating a gourmet meal in the eve and watching the northern lights by night. Nature and culture at its best. You'll also be interested to know that you can get a direct flight from Seattle to Reykjavik, and by flying IcelandAir to Europe, you can stop over for a thermal bath at no extra cost.

No Limit Expeditions [trip style = adventure] The above picture is taken of a tent on top of a Land Rover Defender, your partial accommodation for a No Limit Expeditions trek. Cool. Makes my walking trek to Machu Picchu seem pretty basic. Specializing in boutique overland travel in Central America and beyond, No Limit combines hands-on adventure with luxe lodges, gourmet fare and safari-style camps. They had me expedition + boutique + luxe lodge + gourmet... I'm so in. Check out upcoming journeys to Alaska, Guatemala and Belize.

PS - The Whistler Bungee exhibit was lively, fun and interactive. No, I've never considered bungee-ing, except maybe for a milestone birthday, but don't hold me to that.

[photo by @tripstyler of the No Limit Expeditions exhibit]

Travel Apps :: HipMunk

Contrary to the catchy name and graphic, the HipMunk travel app is not a game involving hipster chipmunks, but an awesome flight search tool. I know, there are a lot of flight search tools, so why would you use HipMunk over ITA or Kayak? If you're a visual learner, then HipMunk's a great option for you. Rendering flight search results in a visual, timeline format, it sorts flights primarily by agony---a score that combines price, duration and number of stops.

Using it for my upcoming trip to Australia {see example below}, the flight results clearly show price, carriers, timing and layovers. Note Air Canada is the only non-stop flight. No, it's not the cheapest, but it's the least painless given it's direct.

Details

• Use HipMunk flight search through their app or their website
• Free
• Works with iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad
• When asked about app development for Android and Blackberry, HipMunk noted it was "possible"
• Book through the app or finish the transaction on HipMunk's website by entering a unique code

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Other Travel Apps Every Tuesday we feature a new travel app. 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 and trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

• Mad Libs
• Travel Etiquette
• Jetsetter
• Metr0
• Google Translate

From the Archives :: Always Carry 1s

{Today's From the Archives post was originally published Feb 4th, 2010, and is the last entry in March's Travel Etiquette feature. The reminder to always carry USD one dollar bills {or the local equivalent} when travelling is rooted in travel etiquette because, like it or not, thanking those who help you with words and action is deeply embedded into North American societal expectations...}

Based on recent experience, my newest travel resolution is: Thou Shalt Always Travel with Multiple US One Dollar Bills. I know, I know, I’m Canadian, but it’s not like the rest of the world appreciates the loonie and toonie like I do. With our strong dollar, maybe one day they will?

On-Demand I'm not suggesting you walk around with a wad of cash sticking out of your pocket in Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous form, but, carrying enough ones so you can always tip on-demand is the mark of a discerning traveler.

Second Time's a Charm? The mental news flash leading to this resolution occurred one year ago in Jamaica when I only had seven $1s in my possession. Even though I was going to an All-Inclusive that doesn't allow tipping, there's always incidentals like transport which isn't included. Second time’s a charm? Another experience I had was in Maui, sitting in a rental car shuttle bus back to Kahului Airport (OGG). On the ride, I realized I didn’t have any ones left; all I had was a toonie. Wanting to at least thank the driver AND knowing that the Canadian and US dollar were pretty much on-par at that point, I handed over my toonie. The driver was gracious, but I know he thought I was out to lunch. Unless you're tipping in Canada, no one wants a coin. {Trip Styler Tip: Go the bank before your trip and ask for multiple dominations of small bills for tipping rather than expecting you'll be able to make change with your bigger bills once at your destination. Alternatively, sometimes {Canadian} banks only have a limited supply of US cash, so visit at various intervals throughout the year, in order to accumulate a little package of $1s for travel.}

100% Let your mind rest on vacation. Go to the bank before you leave to make sure you have enough one dollar bills... a) so you're never in a lurch, and b) to thank people for their service 100% of the time.

PS - One of the BEST travel apps for tipping etiquette is by our friends at Frommers. It not only suggests what you should tip in every country, but helps you calculate it!

Related Plane Etiquette Hotel {Guest} Etiquette Tipping Etiquette Etiquette Apps

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[photo by photosteve101]