Roam+Board :: Lava Lava Beach Club

[trip style = beach + sun]

{Editor's Note: I'm in Hawaii (the Big Island) right now enjoying the black sand beaches and frothy surf, so I'll be taking a small break from TS and microblogging on my Editor's Diary instead. We'll be resuming our regular flight schedule next Wednesday. Mahalo!}

What I had a hunch I'd love the Lava Lava Beach Club before I even arrived, based on the name and logo alone! Having just spent the past few days at this recently opened, four-cottage Hawaiian retreat, my suspicions were correct---and then some.

Hanging out at the south end of a bevy of beach hotels beside the miles-long Anaeho'omalu Bay, this cabin quartet on a 10-acre, beachfront plot is a distinct departure from the typical Hawaii resort set.

Though the essence of a Hawaiian vacation is to spend the majority of your time outdoors, the cottages' contempo-aloha interiors make you want to split your day between beach, bed and shower. In a nod to its tropical terrain, each cottage has a personal lava wall-enclosed outdoor shower that spews water out of a bamboo spout! The cottages are open-concept and comfy with original art from artists like Mike Field hung throughout, making the orchid-adorned space feel like your own personal beach retreat.

The kind of place where you start and end your day in a bathing suit---not much else is required, so pack light---the only other must-have is the lava lava, a traditional Polynesian article of clothing {aka. a sarong}, but that's provided for you to keep. Mark my words, the nine-month-young Lava Lava Beach Club cottages will soon start to grace best-of lists, starting here. Trip Styler approved!

Trip Styler Tip :: If you like being right near the action, book cottage one, beside the Lava Lava Beach Club restaurant. If you'd rather go sight unseen, book cottage four.

Where Twenty minutes north of the Kona Airport {KOA}, between an 1859 lava flow and a white sand beach in the Waikoloa resort area along the Kohala Coast.

When December through March is Lava Lava's high season. Whale season is January to April. Sunset season is every.single.day.

Who/Why You like the idea of being near the action, but a little removed. Seven-pool resorts with swinging bridges and 15 restaurants are your nemesis. You'd rather sip Kona coffee in the AM and Longboard Lager in the PM while turtle and whale watching from your lanai.

Cost Rates hover around $450 per night year-round and include WiFi, parking, use of a SUP, a bottle of red wine {best sipped at sunset}, and nightly bevies and appies delivered to your cottage at 5PM. Each cottage is outfitted with a king bed, a double day-bed-come-couch and a kitchen.

More Sand-In-Your-Toes, Cottage-y R+B Sorobon Beach Resort – Bonaire Find more R+B hotels featured here, plus our it list of worldwide hotel picks.

[photos by @tripstyler taken while hosted by the Lava Lava Beach Club]

KinderHop :: Stay Sane Traveling With Young Kids

[trip style = any]

KinderHop is written by Trip Styler’s Seattle-based kid ‘n family writer, Keryn.

Jetting around the world with your offspring is an incredible, life-altering experience, but it can also be exhausting leaving you wondering why you ever got on a plane in the first place. Family holidays don’t have to be stressful; you just need to include a few basic ingredients (ok, five) in your recipe for a successful trip.

Remember: Parent time is just as important as family time when you travel (and always).

1/ Go Big If your budget allows, book a suite. While the kids go to bed, unwind in the other room clinking glasses with your sweetheart in front of a crackling fire, watching the stars come out on the lanai, or <insert your perfect moment here>.

2/ Stay Realistic Nothing will ruin your super-organized trip like a derailment in plans. Setting realistic trip expectations (or even below what you expect to accomplish) will make the bonus moments all the more delicious.

3/ Plan Downtime As much as we all want to pretend we have the stamina of our teenage selves, we don’t, and neither do our kids. If you are trying to check off as much as possible on your holiday, when will all of that rest and relaxation come in? Plan downtime at the hotel pool or park into your itinerary, so you won't need a vacation from your vacation when you return.

4/ Trade Alone Time Maybe dad wants to play a round of golf and mom craves the spa (always, obviously). Swap some alone time so you both get a break from the kids!

5/ Splurge On A Sitter After a standout day sightseeing, pre-plan a sitter so you can paint the town red (or something like that). Many resorts and hotels offer trusted babysitters, and when they don’t, ask if there is a local service in town they  recommend (I've tried both options, which is why I'd recommend them as possibilities).

More KinderHop Exploring New Foods Abroad International Views On Family Travel Time Zones, Jet Lag & Kids Transitioning From Couple To Family Travel Back to School Seattle Shop ‘n Stay How To Keep Kids Occupied On A Plane Family Road Tripping Tips How To Pack Less With Kids In Tow

[photos by @walkingontravel]

Roam+Board :: Ace Seattle

Ace Hotel Seattle + Trip Styler

[trip style = budget conscious]

What
The Ace Seattle is a trimmed-down trendsetter who took up residence in an old maritime flophouse, converting its brick walls and hardwood floors into a 28-room hotel that feels more gallery than guesthouse.

The first member of the Ace Hotels quartette (the other members reside in PDX, PSP and NYC), the Ace spares guests from the frilly and unnecessary, offering a stark white space accented by nature-infused photomurals---think: white horse galloping through a field---and organic elements like wooden stumps, terrariums and re-purposed furniture.

Euro-meets-utilitarian rooms are stripped down to the essentials in a way that makes you want to sketch them for an art class. Bathrooms are large and industrial-esque as top-to-bottom whitewashed tiles make the stainless steel fittings pop.

While the Ace can run a lot cheaper than most Seattle stays, don't mistake its stark price tag and design as a penny pincher's paradise, but rather a place where artsy types mingle in minimalist bliss. Trip Styler approved!

Where
On the edge of downtown Seattle (read: where there are a ton of it restaurants), the Ace is perched three blocks above the Elliott Bay waterfront.

When
Spring and summer host Seattle’s high season due to their easy-breezy warmth, yet visitors flock to the urban jungle year-round.

Who/Why
The thought of a garden-variety stay with a dollop of blah is...well...you'd rather not. Stark spaces outfitted with just what you need (rather than a bunch of things that aren't useful) is your version of luxury.

Cost
Rates start at $109 per night and include WiFi and breakfast (DIY waffles and Stumptown coffee, anyone?). Two room types exist: deluxe rooms feature their own bathrooms behind large-scale pivoting doors, while standard rooms come with a bed, sink and access to a shared (regularly cleaned) bathroom down the hall. Furry fellows can tag along too.

More Roam+Board
Ace NYC - New York
Ace PDX - Portland
Find more R+B Seattle hotels featured here, plus our it list of worldwide hotel picks.

[photos by @tripstyler]

7 (+ then some) Girlfriend Getaways

[trip style = beach + sun + urban]

This week I compiled a list of seven girlfriend getaways for the feature article in Fodor's Travel, calling out how going away with the gals is often talked about and rarely booked (if only Dr. Oz would tell us it's vital to our health.)

Zeroing in on female-friendly map coordinates as "close" as Austin, TX and as far as Dubai, I highlight trip style = beach + urban destinations across the globe. Find out why these hot spots made my list: Montreal, Austin, Oahu, Jamaica, London, Melbourne and Dubai.

If I'd had an unlimited word count, these close-by beauties would have made an appearance: Whistler: Ski or hike, then top it off with a soak at this Finnish outdoor spa. Seattle: Urbanity beside bodies of water = waterfront stunner. Portland: No sales tax + the US's culinary and cocktail frontrunner. Palm Springs: Duh! Boutique, midcentury hotels galore recalling Hollywood's heyday. Phoenix: 330 days of yearly sun, pools and miles of hikable terrain.

What destinations top your "maiden voyage" list?

[photo by @tripstyler]

Fash-Packing :: THE Winter-to-Spring T-Shirt

[trip style = any]

"The right tee can make every outfit cooler and every trend more manageable." - Emily Current & Meritt Elliott // via the perfect t-shirt tutorial on WhoWhatWear

I have a t-shirt crush. Why is this topic Trip Styler-y? Because this tee has somehow transcended my trip styles making it into my suitcase on every trip {read: 6} I've taken since January 1st. For this tried and tested reason, I thought you might be interested in the versatile tee. Sporting an on-trend tulip silhouette, the design, flowy jersey and loose fit take it from plane to pool, and hotel room to restaurant.

One Shirt 10 Ways Because I'm all for packing pieces with punch (read: that double or triple my travel wardrobe), here's a few of the ways I've been wearing it: - with skinny jeans, ripped jeans, patterned jeans or waxy jeans - with a fitted leather skirt, or short flowy skirt - tucked in, or half-tucked in the front (left out at the back) - under a demi-blazer or a motorcycle-style leather jacket - as a pool cover-up For examples of all these styles, visit Trip Styler's travel style board on Pinterest or see Travel Staple: The White Shirt.

Find It The Wilfred Capucine T-Shirt is available at Aritzia for $50.

PS - If you're really into double duty travel wear, check out these reversible camo/green jeans I just got from Target.

Want more travel style? See our regular Fashion Friday column.

[graphic by @tripstyler, shirt shots via aritzia]