T+L's Travel Hotspots :: 70s, 80s, 90s & 00s

[trip style = any]

This month Travel+Leisure Magazine celebrates its 40th anniversary. Recently they reminisced about destinations, hotels and travel trends that were "hot" through the ages. Here are a few of the highlights from decades marked with disco, moonwalking, voguing and babies boogying to Bootylicious {on YouTube}.

'70s Wearing polyester, bell-bottomed pantsuits, there was a five-year period {1977-1982} when Americans flocked to Cuba; then the doors were closed. The two destinations on jetsetters' hotlists: Burma {also referred to as Myanmar} and Iran. In Mexico, Acapulco was still hot to trot before its slump, while Cabo's popularity was growing and developers were breaking ground in Cancun. Finally, Mickey and the gang set up shop in Florida when Disneyworld opened in the backwaters of Orlando.

'80s Excess was on the rise and along with the high-cut, neon spandex fitness trend, luxe health retreats followed suit. Speaking of suits, power suits gave way to power dining and the foodie travel trend started to sizzle. Crocodile Dundee drew visitors en masse to Australia's coastline and outback in search of kangaroos, crocs and shrimps on the barbie.

'90s Like voguing, volunteer vacations {aka voluntourism} became en-vogue and Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were opening their doors to adventurous vacationers, while a lucky few were lounging in newly built over-water, thatched-roof bungalows in the Maldives and Seychelles.

'00s The desert utopia known as Dubai moved up Travel Editors' must-visit lists along with the world's tallest hotel, sand skiing and palm-shaped, man-made islands. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, the green movement spurs ecotourism and Buenos Aires is a steal while Europe is a splurge.

[images in collage sourced online]

Roam+Board :: Hotel Kakslauttanen

[trip style = glamping + active & adventure + sightseeing + ski]

What
There's the Arctic Circle and then there's 250km above it. With a suitcase full of thermal underwear and down-filled jackets, today's Roam+Board is traveling towards polar bears and polar dips. With 40 log cabins Hotel Kakslauttanen is open year-round, but if you're going to travel to the ends of the earth, you might as well trip style = glamp in an igloo! Open December/January---whenever it gets cold enough---to April, the Igloo Village has 20 thermal glass domes {read: that don't frost over or fog up} and a snowball fight's worth of snow igloos to give guests a frigid, first-hand experience.

Where
Finland. Hotel Kakslauttanen is 1085kms away from Helsinki. If you want to get there quickly, fly from Helsinki to Ivalo {via finnair or norwegian} and take a 35km {$33} transfer to the hotel. If you've got time and want to see the Finnish landscape---saunas and all---ride a train/bus combo.

When
During the Aurora Borealis viewing season {late August - April}. Though it's never guaranteed you're going to see the night skies flow like Joseph's technicolor dreamcoat, the hotel rings a signal bell when the Northern Lights are visible.

Who/Why
You're a modern-day Christopher Columbus, exploring the earth's far reaches in search of a green and pink-hued night sky and the world's largest smoke sauna.

Cost
Two people can stay in a glass igloo for $477 and a snow igloo for $472 in winter. Add $36 per person/day for breakfast and dinner. Don't worry, for this price, they won't leave you out in the cold, every glass igloo is equipped with a toilet, sink and luxury beds. Plus, in the words of the hotel: "on every evening a hot sauna and a refreshing ice hole are waiting for you." Hmm, ice hole. I can handle cold plunges, but polar dips are another story!

Trip Styler Tip: Most people choose to stay in a glass or snow igloo for one night and in a cabin, starting at $338/dbl occ, for remaining nights. Why? All cabins have showers and personal saunas...

More Roam+Board
The Met - Vancouver
Custom Hotel - LAX
Bitter End Yacht Club - BVI

[photos assembled by @tripstyler via Hotel Kakslauttanen]

TS's Experience Whistler :: Scandinave Spa

[trip style = spa]

Last week we swooped into a three-part series on extraordinary Whistler experiences by way of Ziptrek Ecotours. This week we brush up on our Nordic bathing skills at Scandinave, and next week we’ll venture into wine cellars and frosty rooms to sample Whistler’s food and beverage marvels.

Hot, cold, relax. Repeat. Hot, cold, relax. Repeat. Hot, cold, relax. Repeat... This toxin-eliminating outdoor bathing ritual is one of Whistler's über experiences inviting the mind, body and soul to purify and relax. And since it's Whistler, do so looking out at Ansel Adams-worthy mountaintop scenery.

Long used in Nordic countries as a regular wellness tradition, Scandinave Spa has brought the bathing sequence to a secluded rainforest by way of a 20,000 square foot spa. With fir, hemlock and cedar trees insulating you in every direction, a rosemary-scented sauna, eucalyptus steam bath, brisk waterfalls and relaxation solariums cleanse the body and skin, and improve circulation. Think of it as a mini health retreat.

During my first visit, I set aside the whole afternoon to sit, dip and sprawl in hammocks and Adirondack chairs, beside crackling fires and meandering streams. In round three of the hot-cold-relax sequence, I got stalled in relax mode. Sitting on a pale wooden chair under the glow of a heat lamp, I dozed for an hour and a half, waking every so often to the sun peering through the clouds. Coming to, I knew the sequence was complete. Relaxation achieved.

The Skinny

• Who:  Adults 19+
• When: Every day of the year---rain, shine, snow or ice---from 10am-9pm, excluding Christmas day. Baths open at 10am, massages start at 9am.
• How/Cost: The Scandinavian bathing ritual costs $58 and doesn't require a reservation. One of the best spa values in Whistler is to reserve a Swedish, RMT or other massage starting at $135 {sometimes the 9am slot is $99} and the baths are included!

Trip Styler Tips :: Bring flip flops for walking around the change rooms and between bathing experiences. Stay three hours for full relaxation benefits. Follow the spa's quiet rules [it makes it more relaxing for everyone]. My favorite times at the spa are when the least amount of people are there: the first and last few hours of the day! Finally, this probably goes without saying, but you need a bathing suit....

[photos by @TripStyler]

{Disclaimer: I've been to Scandinave 25 times, had 10+ massages, and paid my own way each time but once.}

Travel Beauty :: Pink Ribbon Beauty

[trip style = any]

{Editor’s Note: Announcing our BIGGEST giveaway yet! Enter to win two nights at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and two Scandinave Spa Whistler bath passes. Takes less than one minute to enter. Contest closes Oct. 26, 2011.}

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We've already touched on hotels supporting pink, and now we turn our attention to all the amazing limited-edition promotional products beauty companies launch just for this cause! It's the perfect time to look good while doing good! Here are some of my favorites:

Alterna Limited Edition Caviar Overnight Hair Rescue for Breast Cancer Awareness, $15 skinstore.com This 1oz. travel size version of their award-winning overnight hair treatment keeps hair looking and feeling incredibly soft and healthy with pure indulgent Caviar Extract. The company is giving 5% of proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Estee Lauder's Limited-Edition Elizabeth Hurley Pink Ribbon Collection, $24 esteelauder.com This totally chic pink clutch and gorgeous pink lipstick is just what I'd take on a weekend getaway. The clutch is perfect for a night out---fits my lipstick, keys and credit card---and best of all, 20% of sales goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Jane Iredale Roses & Lollipops Lip Duo Locket for Breast Cancer Awareness, $30 nordstrom.com I'm a sucker for beauty product/accessory combos and this keychain locket is so adorable. The 2 chemical-free glosses are sheer and beautiful. Jane Iredale is giving an impressive 100% of proceeds to Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

Michael Kors Breast Cancer Awareness Perfume Gloss Rollerball, $18 beauty.com This fabulous 2-in-1 product combines Michael Kors' Very Hollywood fragrance (a blend of mandarin and gardenia) and a natural glossy lip tint. Perfect for saving space in your travel beauty bag! A percentage of proceeds go to breast cancer research.

{Want more travel beauty? Get your fill the third Wednesday of every month. Lauren, our travel beauty expert, is already whipping up her next concoction post!}

More Travel Beauty On-The-Go Teeth Cleaning St. Tropez’ Celebrity Tanning Expert’s Self-Tanning Secrets  Pre-Trip Primping NYC’s Best Beauty Dr. Murad Interview The Best Fragrance For Each Trip Style Q&A With tarte Cosmetics Founder Quickie Teeth Whitening

[photos of products sourced online]

TS's Experience Whistler :: Giveaway

[trip style = weekending + spa]

{Editor's Note: This month we're doing a three-part series on extraordinary, year-round experiences in Whistler, BC. To give you a literal taste of what we're talking about, we're excited to announce a trip style = weekend + spa giveaway!}

The Giveaway {a $575 value}

• 2 Scandinave Spa Whistler Scandinavian bath access passes {valid Sunday - Thursday, until Aug 2, 2012}
• 2 nights at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler {valid until Dec. 15, 2011, subject to availability, non-transferable, double occupancy}

How To Win

1. If you haven't already "liked" the Trip Styler FAN PAGE on Facebook, you must do so {note, liking this post doesn't count for entry}
2. Share the following italicized message with your friends by clicking the SHARE link under any Trip Styler post on FACEBOOK: I have entered to win a two-night Whistler getaway at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler & two Scandinave bath passes via Trip Styler. Join the fun, details here: http://goo.gl/RfPwF
3. Complete your entry by leaving a comment on any TripStyler.com WEBSITE post telling us you've entered! {ie - see 'leave a comment' link below}

Bonus Entry 1 - Join our daily {m-f} email list and activate your email {top right}. New sign-ups only please. Bonus Entry 2 - Retweet the following on twitter: I entered to win 2 nights @FairmontWhistlr & 2 @ScandinaveWhis bath passes in #Whistler {Via @tripstyler} Enter: http://goo.gl/RfPwF

Details Open to residents of Canada and the USA 21 years or older. Entries will be accepted Oct. 18 – 26 {until noon}, 2011. Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced after noon PST on Oct. 26. After prizing notification, winner has two days to make contact.

[photos by @tripstyler & @FairmontWhistlr]