The Savvy Traveler :: Carolyn

[trip style = urban]

Carolyn's wayfaring gives frequent fliers a run for their mileage. As a high-flying small biz coach and wife of a pro tennis player, she travels for a trio of reasons: first, to hang with her husband as his 'doubles partner'; second, to see clients and facilitate retreats; and third, for the thrill. A lover of traveling like a local and spontaneous iPad-driven dance parties, I'm itching to officially introduce this month's Savvy Traveler!

1/ Pick your top trip style
[trip style = urban] Wandering in the shadows of skyscrapers is my travel norm because my husband and I are constantly working remotely from major urban centers dotting the world map.

2/ Favorite hotel{s}
For me, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts win a grand slam for luxe lodging around the world. The Four Seasons in Costa Rica's Papagayo Peninsula is my muse offering hiking, beach, whales, snorkeling {all in one day!}. On the opposite side of the court, to experience a place in its prime, I prefer staying in rental apartments so I can live like a local---shopping at markets, eating at the neighborhood bistros and savoring a new hood!

3/ I can't travel without...
- My husband, he's the SAVVIEST traveler I know and the go-to guy for other tennis professionals on the tours---he knows more than most travel agents.
- Unlocked cell phone, so I can swap local sim cards in and out depending on my coordinates du jour.
- iPad; I use it to catch up on the news at home, create photo albums of our trips, and access my music to create spontaneous dance parties wherever we go.
- Sunglasses, they create insta-shade, hide tired eyes and act as a virtual Do Not Disturb sign if I need to nod off inflight.
- A pashmina is a MUST. I use it as a blanket, pillow and head cover to block out the light when annoying people leave the blinds open on overnight flights!

4/ Carry-on or checked bag
Carry-on for my business travel and checked bag when roaming with my husband. I act as his gear “mule” and often bring an empty bag just to carry his extra stuff like clothes, shoes and racquets.

5/ Aisle or window
Aisle. Always. I need the freedom to get up and move around without asking permission.

6/ Favorite quote
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” -Anatole France

More Savvy Travelers
Jesse, I'm With The Band
Jackie, Paris Is Always A Good Idea
Lori, A License To Move

{If you know anyone who should be featured in our once-monthly The Savvy Traveler series, drop us a line!}

[photo via Carolyn]

Virgin Diaries :: Airtight Hair

[trip style = any]

{Editor's Note: Virgin Atlantic’s got the market cornered on runway-ready beauty (pun intended). Intent to find out how flight attendants look hot on high, I flew to London to attend their grooming school, a three-pronged skin, makeup and hair course EVERY uniformed staff—guys and gals—goes through when they sign up, up and away with Branson’s birds.}

Following this week's Virgin Diaries in Sky-High Skincare and Inflight Makeup, the final leg of our journey achieves lift for airtight hair, before touching down on solid ground.

Airtight Hair During Virgin's hair demo, everyone attending the class stood in awe as Helen Kavanagh, Virgin's Grooming Standards Hair Manager, teased, pinned and wound the crew member/model's golden tresses into red carpet territory. Whether she was doing a french twist, voluminous bun or pouffy pleat, each hairstyle clocked in at six minutes flat---six minutes for a gala-coiffed updo! To say she left me in shock and awe is a huge understatement.

Once the demo was over, Helen styled my locks into a pouffy, side-swept do a la Mad Men era. All it took was a little backcombing basics and haircare essentials like bobby pins, spongy hair donuts {Helen is holding one above} and L'Oreal Elnett hairspray to achieve six-minute liftoff.

To get the look, Helen backcombed the top of my tresses, smoothed it over with a brush and secured it with a low, side pony, which she flipped over and weaved through a part just above the elastic. Leaving a few strands out to wrap around and cover the elastic, she wound my ponytail from the bottom up around a squished donut, fanned the hair over it, then pinned it to my head.

Virgin’s Airtight Hair Tips 1/ According to my class and the Virgin manual above, you MUST secure the essential ingredients; a teasing brush, L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray, dry shampoo, suzon hair pins or large bobby pins, non-tear hair elastics and a mesh donut. 2/ A little teasing goes a long way for mile-high hair. 3/ Ladies, wearing your hair up inflight means it won't get messy and dishevelled for landing. 4/ To give it some va-va-va-room before landing, re-tease and spray over flyaways.

Recalling my skin and makeup sessions, I gleaned the grooming day's theme wasn't about spending hours on my roaming routine, but learning the travel beauty basics, plus the best products for the job. Now, every time I fly, I operate by this mantra: WWAVCMD {what would a Virgin crew member do}?

Trip Styler Tip :: As we mentioned late in 2011, Virgin’s birds are flying West {again} this summer. Starting May 14th, a seasonal non-stop service takes flight from Vancouver to London {return}. Yay!

[photos by @tripstyler (as well as one from Virgin's crew grooming mag) taken when I was a guest of Virgin Atlantic in London]

Roam+Board :: Makena Resort

[trip style = beach + sun + budget conscious]

{Editor's Note: This is the final post (for now---there's always time for Maui), in our four-part Maui Waui miniseries exploring the tropics by way of boutique hotels, budget stays and big-name resorts.}

What
Makena translates to “a land of abundance and plenty” in Hawaiian, and this 1800-acre version of Hawaii is on full display at Makena Resort, a quiet, lush and sprawling ode to super natural Maui. Within minutes of arriving at the removed resort, I hit the beach {priorities, right?} and true to the translation, spot a turtle as I'm snorkeling just offshore.

Reinventing the face of the 80s-built Maui Prince, the hotel’s new owners graced the 310-room space---in the multi-millions---with retro-nouveau injections like reimagined circular pools accented by citrus-hued umbrellas and seven free-to-use cabanas, and restored mid-century furniture throughout.

One feature that makes the hotel really special is its shape and uber use of indoor-outdoor space. Every room has a lanai and from every lanai there's an ocean view. At night I take advantage of my seafront setting and fall asleep with my balcony door open to the sound of the wind rustling the palms and the crashing ocean waves. Ahhh.

Where
Makena, Maui, five minutes South of Wailea and a 30-minute drive from Maui’s main airport {OGG}.

When
Maui’s 25-degree C average temperature attracts visitors year-round. High season tends to revolve around major holidays/breaks like American Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break and summer. Visit in fall, Jan/Feb and late-spring for fewer crowds and cheaper rates.

Who/Why
Budget-conscious travelers who don't want to sacrifice setting or style, and score on amenities like a sugary-sand beach with super snorkeling, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course, tennis club, multiple restaurants and open-air beachfront spa to name a few.

Cost
Rates start at $209 and include self-parking, WiFi, pool cabanas, and a complimentary shuttle service that takes you to and from nearby Wailea. NO RESORT FEE! Oh, and every room has a fridge.

More Maui
Maui Waui :: What's New In Wailea
Roam+Board :: Napili Kai
Maui Waui :: Paia
Another Side of Hawaii
Finding the Modern in Waikiki

[photos taken by @tripstyler---except arial shot courtesy makena resort---while exploring Maui as a guest of the hotel]

Postcards From Puerto Vallarta

[trip style = beach + sun + weekend getaway]

Hola from Puerto Vallarta, the friendly city taco'd between Mazatlan and Acapulco on Mexico's West Coast. Less than a 4.5-hour flight from Vancouver, I'm not sure why my travels haven't taken me to this city saturated in colour and local warmth before now.

Since I'm on location until I fly home tonight, here are few photos as an aperitif---think of them as your guacamole before the full Mexi fiesta {full details about the town, the restaus and the hotels, as well as why I'm here coming your way on TS shortly}.

Hasta luego, Trish

PV Postcards {My hotel, Marival Residences and World Spa}

{Lush and historic Puerto Vallarta}

{Tableside deconstructed guacamole before it's sliced and diced to a chunky perfection}

{Fiesta in Bucerias}

{Sunset in the Riviera Nayarit - a crescent-shaped, far-reaching, sandy bay dotted by villas and resorts, a half hour from Puerto Vallarta}

[photos taken by @tripstyler while a guest of air transat/nolitours in puerto vallarta]

Find Your Calling

[trip style = benevolent] {video is below}

Three weeks ago I did the opposite of what 99.9% of travelers do in Mexico {read: sip salt-rimmed margs on the beach}---I revisited a place that completely changed the course of my life.

When I was 15, I had the opportunity to visit San Felipe {a little town at the top of the Baja} on my spring break to help build a clinic. The project was significant because the fishing town is isolated and only reachable via a a three-hour, straight-as-an-arrow highway from Mexicali. Without a proper clinic in town, people were dying on the side of the road while trying to reach Mexicali for acute care.

Along with a team of teens from Vancouver, BC, I chiseled concrete, dug trenches and painted to help give the residents something everyone should have access to, but many in the world do not, basic medical care.

I went down with the idea that I'd help the 'poor people' in Mexico. After all, they lived differently than me: in houses constructed with plywood scraps, built on sand, and surrounded by fences constructed of barbed wire and prickly cactus. I could NOT have been more misinformed. I have the locals of San Felipe to thank for changing what I care about, how I spend my time and how I spend my money. To them, I am FOREVER grateful.

Expedia recently got wind of my story, so I went back to San Felipe with a camera team. It is my HIGHEST honor to have revisited the place that disrupted my worldview and changed my course. The just-launched two-minute video is part of Expedia's new campaign: Find Yours.

Eighteen years ago, I found my calling---something I do quietly behind the scenes, but is probably one of the most important parts of my life---find yours.

Can't view this video?

ps - stay tuned, behind-the-scenes photos of San Felipe to come on Friday! And, one other video has been made about Dave & Deb finding their harmony, check it out!