Trip Styling on a T+L "World's Best" Isle

Ischia Italy Trip Styler

[trip style = sun + beach + food + wine + spa + luxury + steal]

Once in a blue moon your travels feel almost anointed and you encounter a destination that moves you.

For me, this place is Ischia, Italy, a small island an hour by boat from Naples or Capri.  

I'm writing about my "spirit isle" again for two reasons:

1/ I was there at this exact time last yearsipping Rose, noshing on vine-ripened tomato bruschetta, lounging in a spring-fed spa, hanging at beach clubsand I desperately want to return. At the time, I declared to Mr. Trip Styler, "we should come back here every summer," to which he agreed since it's magical, gorgeous, dripping in dolce vita and well-priced. But, alas, it's now "this summer" and we are not in Italy! Well, sometimes life has other plans for you. More on that next week. Eeeeek!  

2/ I just read an article in Travel+Leisure about The Best Islands in Europe in light of their World's Best Awards survey, and Ischia came #1 on the list beating Sicily, Hvar and Santorini! AH, the secret is OUT. Don't go. Ok, go! This accolade is also an exciting confirmation in Trip Styler trend-casting given that I submitted Ischia to Expedia six months ago as a destination to watch in 2016!

[photos by @tripstyler]

How to Pack Like a Pro

How to pack like a pro

[trip style = any]

Think you’ve read about every packing hack under the sun? Think again. One benefit of my job as a Trip Stylist is the access I get to the inner sanctums {aka: suitcases} of the world’s most well-traveled jetsetters.

Not only do their packing prescriptions constantly sharpen my own suitcase skills, but I'm often left thinking "Genius! why didn't I think of that."

Beyond the typical tacticsthink: roll your clothes or transport your earrings in a pillboxhere are the most usable, useful and “ah-ha” packing hacks for your next adventure:

COVER IT
With every mile I log at 35,000 feet, my love affair with the plastic shower cap gets more and more strong because it always has me covered. Get it? Pun aside, I carry multiple hotel shower caps to wrap my shoes {or anything with mess-potential) so my soles don’t soil my garments.

STACK IT
Ever since you started putting clothes in a suitcase, you were probably told to roll your garments, right? WRONG! One of the best pieces of advice I've gleaned on the topic comes from Shaun Huberts, a Canadian musician who spends his life living out of a suitcase. His packing epiphany, which he writes about in his book, How to Pack like a Rock Star, involves arranging clothes in your case as if you’re laying bricks. {Think of it like a fold-roll hybrid.} This way, garments stay ultra-compact, and you can see every single item in your suitcasesans rummaging to find “that” top you want to wear tonight.

STUFF IT
Think of your suitcase like New York City real estateevery available inch of space needs to be maximized. With this, wait until the end of your packing process to find a spot for your socks and undergarments {or anything small and malleable}. Whether you fill a fist-sized space with your small stuff, slot a few extra items into your shoe, or cram essentials in your clutch, wait until all your big items are in your bag first.

WASH IT
When you’re on the road for more than a week, and need to launder a few garments without doing an entire load, skip the sink in lieu of your own DIY washing machine. Armed with a freezer-sized Zip-Lock bag and soap, all you need to do is throw in your garments, add water and dash of soap, seal the top, swirl, and rinse. This method is quick, easy and there’s no mess.
Trip Styler Tip: If you swim on the last day of your trip, and need to store your wet swimsuit in a no-leak pouch, your wash-bag does the trick.

DE-CREASE IT
Sometimes an iron is necessary for stubborn creases, but when your apparel is only lightly wrinkled, hang it in the bathroom while you’re having a shower to loosen the fibers. Once you’ve dried off, place your getup on top of your partially damp towel, loosely roll it, and leave it. Three minutes later, unravel your once-rumpled garment, smooth it with your hands and go!

ASSEMBLE IT
Whether you’re flying private, in a suite aboard a commercial jet, or in seat 75D, you know what products will make you feel good. Sure, the Jurlique amenity kits on Cathay Pacific and the Godiva chocolates on Emirates can help ease you into your journey, but nothing can replace the things that bring you comfort on cloud nine. So to feel really comfortable inflight, assemble your own small kit to slot into your first-class cubby or seat-back in front of you. My high-flying favorites include: pen, toothbrush, travel-sized hand or face lotion, eye cream, wipes or sanitizer, face mask, lip conditioner and tiny notebook.

6 tips for packing like a pro

---> A variation of this article originally appeared in Luxury Retreats Magazine, a publication to which I contribute regularly. <---

[Graphics by @HeatherLovesIt, video by @Tripstyler]

On Camera: Expedia x Disney Cruise Line

Sea days expedia disney cruise line

[trip style = sun + luxury + cruising]

A few months ago I sailed aboard a Disney Cruise with Mr. and Baby Styler. It was a complete vacation for our little family because it combined Mickey-caliber family time with yacht-fabulous adult time.

--> How we {successfully} paired trip styled child x adult travel in one trip: photos / article / video. <--

Having worked on a cruise ship and sailed on many others, I'm really behind what Walt does at sea. So, when Expedia asked meas part of my ongoing relationship with themto host a video they were doing in partnership with Disney Cruise Line, I dashed from Vancouver to Orlando faster than you can say "Ahoy, Matey." 

Hosting one of six videos in a series about big questions people ask about cruising, such as "how to maximize the first day" or "how to stay healthy onboard," I presented the reel about "making the most of days at sea." My topic was the perfect Trip Styler fit since I LOVE sailing the ocean blue and taking advantage of all the onboard facilities {aka - the myriad of trip styles wrapped up in one ship}, in addition to the on-demand soft-serve ice cream. 

Video: How to Make the Most of Sea Days on a Disney Cruise {View this video}

Behind the Scenes Snaps

[photos via the Expedia x Disney Cruise team above: @NVRguys  @LeBrunsOnTheRun @MidlifeRoadTrip]

Scenery + Sizzle: Zion National Park x Vegas

Zion National Park + Trip Styler

[trip style = steal + active + adventure]

A few months ago, Mr. Trip Styler and I jet-set to Utah {by way of Vegas} for the weekend on an Expedia x US National Parks assignment. 

Our mission: Zion National Park, aka, the perfect trip styled fit since I've had my eye on Utah and its epic national parks for a long time. And, with Vegas being the closest gateway city, the woodland was easy to reach, and BONUS, allowed us to pair a side of sizzle with our trip into the sticks.  

Our five-day, four-night adventure saw us spending three nights in Springdale, UT—a small town cozied up to Zion's South Rim Entrance—and a final night in Vegas. Our plan: Go nuts in nature, followed by a bit of pool time under the desert sun.

Trip Styler Tip: Vegas has a number of non-gaming hotels sans smoke and slots, so YES, it is possible to relax to the max in the Glitter Gulch. My favorite trip style = luxe address: The Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, a hotel that redefines Vegas-chic. 

Here's a rundown of our highly-recommended getaway blending two trip styles I'm crazy over: active/adventure + luxe. {See more photos + hiking suggestions and a stylish packing prescription in the Expedia Viewfinder.}

[All photos taken while on assignment for Expedia x US National Parks' Centennial celebration. Mandarin Oriental pool photo via hotel website. Note: This trip is highly recommended, and if you're a longtime TS reader you know that I reserve the best for TS, and only my hottest picks are published.]

First Look: Cathay Pacific's GORGEOUS New Lounge at YVR

New Cathay Pacific Lounge Vancouver, BC

[trip style = luxury]

See What it's like to fly aboard Cathay Pacific's latest-gen A350 aircraft on the Vancouver --> Hong Kong route

If you follow TS, you know Cathay Pacific ranks among my high-flying faves. Any airline that offers lotion in the Economy Class lavatories and has flight attendants who go above and beyond to ensure you have a pleasant flight—even to guests at the back of the plane—hovers at a Cloud 9-level in my trip styling books.

If the economy experience is this nice, imagine what it's like to jet-set in Business Class with Cathay {wonder no more, here's what it's like to fly + lounge in Cathay Biz Class}. 

Having experienced a taste of their Life Well Travelled experience around the globe, including the flagship lounge in Hong Kong, I was ecstatic to learn the Asia-based airline would be doing a top-to-bottom UPdo of their Vancouver lounge, including relocating it to a larger and re-envisioned space, in a nod to the market's importance and key role in the airline's growing business.

Last week I attended the grand opening of the 5,500-square-foot space, and I immediately felt at home with its sleek and woodsy design, floor-to-ceiling views of the coastal mountains, and Cathay's signature: The Noodle Bar.

Outfitted with shower rooms, food to fit every time-traveled guest and a zen physique, I considered asking if they needed an "artist in residence," but I decided I'd wait fly in Business Class again. Up, up and away!

Here's a peek: 

The edited artwork collection is a reflection of British Columbia's local culture.

The edited artwork collection is a reflection of British Columbia's local culture.

Jade-hued ceramic tiles and black harvest tables set the tone for the lounge's designer dining.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jade-hued ceramic tiles and black harvest tables set the tone for the lounge's designer dining.   

Wonton noodle soup, a key dish you can find at The Noodle Bar in many of Cathay's lounges around the world.&nbsp;

Wonton noodle soup, a key dish you can find at The Noodle Bar in many of Cathay's lounges around the world. 

Shower rooms bathed in limestone and minted with brass fixtures and Aesop products offer a spa-like foray into flying.

Shower rooms bathed in limestone and minted with brass fixtures and Aesop products offer a spa-like foray into flying.

Details
- Hours: Open daily from 10.30am to 3pm and 8pm to 2am; adjusted seasonally according to the Cathay Pacific flight schedule
- WiFi
- Shower rooms
- The Noodle Bar {don't miss these Cathay signature dishes: wonton noodle soup, dan dan noodle soup and authentic Hong Kong- style fish ball noodle soup}
- The Pantry: serving tapas, meats, cheeses, salads, hot food, fruits and desserts
- The Bureau: Workstations with iMacs and printers
 - Get in: The Cathay Pacific Lounge is available to First and Business Class passengers traveling on Cathay Pacific and members of the Marco Polo Club with Silver Card status or above, and members of all tiers who earn lounge passes and/or their friends and family, including oneworld members with Sapphire status or above 

[photos by @CathayPacificCa and wonton noodle soup shot by @TripStyler]