Swooning over Stockholm

[trip style = urban + steal + food + wine]

Ever since I started collecting stamps in my passport, I've longed to visit Scandinavia. The fashion, the design, the architecture; need I say more?  

A CRAZY Flight Deal
Back in February, Mr. Trip Styler found a trip style = steal-of-a-deal fare for a nonstop SAS flight from LA to Stockholm for $220USD return. It was an opp we couldn't pass up. So, we packed our parkas, and along with Baby Styler, visited in March. Amazingly, it was mostly sunny and not too frosty, allowing us to spend a ton of time outdoors exploring the city-on-water's 14 islands, part of an archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. 

Real talk: We learned a lot on the nine-day trip; namely that traveling with a 17-month-old toddler who likes to sprint everywhere and is still learning about instruction and boundaries, is not the ideal candidate for an 11-hour flight. While Baby Styler is a rock star traveler with 34 flights under his "wings" and a go-with-the-flow temperament, this time, our airborne adventures proved difficult. {Filing this under my "you live, you learn" drawer.}

The Plan
Instead of hopping between Scandi cities and hotels every few nights, we decided to stay put in Stockholm. Our aim: Travel slowly and get to know the city local-style. 

The Accoms
In keeping with this MO, we booked an apartment rental. Not only did we want a kitchen knowing we'd be hungry at all hours of the day/night as we adjusted to the time zone, we also wanted to immerse ourselves into the culture and be in close proximity to grocery stores and cafes.

We chose well. Our one-bedroom Airbnb was g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s {worthy of Elle Decor}, close to all that is cool, and our hosts were gracious enough to provide a new pack 'n play crib for Baby Styler so we didn't have to lug ours across the Atlantic.  

Most days we ate breakfast in our flat, then ventured out for "fika" {coffee} around 2pm. While this sounds a tad late, we woke up at 11am due to the time change, and once we put Baby Styler down for his morning nap, 2pm ended up being our "hello, world" time. 

Going kookoo for Cafes
To my surprise, aside from swooning over the street style and interiors of every flat I saw advertised for sale, Sweden's cafes ended up being our greatest joy. They are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, mirror each neighborhood's culture and design, and their food and fika is drool-worthy. When we ventured out before 11am, our typical breakfast dish would be strong coffee paired with a kanelbulle {Swedish-style cinnamon bun with extra cinnamon, low sugar, and no icing}, in the afternoon we noshed on a hearty sandwich or a burrata-topped arugula salad with rye crumble and beat purée. Stockholm's food game is strong.

Sophies Canelé

Rosendals Trädgård

Kaffeverket

Café Pascal

Trip Styler Tips
- Packing: We did the whole trip with carry-ons. Mr. Trip Styler and I each had rollaboards, and we carried a suitcase-style backpack for Baby Styler with his clothes, plus a starter kit of wipes, diapers and nappy cream.
- Baby essentials: Pampers, wipes and baby food is easily accessible at any grocery store in Sweden. 
- Bus with baby: One parent can travel for free on the bus with a baby stroller in tow.
- Shopping: Want to dress for Scandi success? Save room in your bag for the Acne Studios {a local and iconic brand} Archive boutique for jeans, suits, dresses, and all that is on-trend.
- Airport transport: The easiest and fastest way to/from the Stockholm Arlanda Airport from Stockholm—even airline employees hop on this service—is the Flygbussarna coach, a 40-min bus transfer service. 

Related
Spotlight :: Stockholm
Stockholm :: Södermalm Guide

Jetset Style :: Scandinavia-Inspired Jackets
Spotlight :: Copenhagen {Part 1}
Spotlight :: Copenhagen {Part 2}
Spotlight :: Helsinki

[photos by @tripstyler]

Video: 5 Steps for Stand-Up Paddling Success

[trip style = any]

Many moons ago, I learned to stand-up paddle {SUP} on vacation. Within seconds I was hooked—core strengthening and serenity, anyone?—which prompted me to paddle on every future vacation involving a body of water.

Eventually, SUP'ing only while away wasn't enough—I wanted to do the sport all the time!—so Mr. Trip Styler and I purchased two heavy-duty inflatable boards we store in our city condo and transport with us anywhere we want to glide on water {each board folds up into a big backpack}.

Fast forward seven years, a dog, and a baby later, and we still love it. While Dog Styler's a seasoned SUP pro, this summer, we're hoping Baby Styler can join in the fun. 

Thinking back to my favorite SUP-sational travels, the most calm and gorgeous place I learned was in the protected ocean lagoon at The Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii Island. So taken by the experience, I returned there on vacation a few months ago and shot this how-to SUP video for the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog.

PS - Don't miss my epic encounter with a curious turtle in the video below!

[photos by @tripstyler]

Travel Etiquette :: Using Airplane Bathrooms

[trip style = any]

I've been hanging out at 37,000 feet a lot lately, and you would NOT believe how many people I spot failing to follow b-a-s-i-c airplane bathroom etiquette. With this, I have a newfound side-mission: Make the world a cleaner and more courteous place, especially in the commode.  

With this, here are some key aircraft lavatory courtesies you should be considering {read: Following} while flying:

1/ Don't go to the bathroom with bare feet or in socks. AH! Wear shoes, or a pair of rubber-soled slippers you can slip into a shower cap post-flight and wash thereafter. 
---> You would not believe how many people I see entering or exiting the lavatories in socks. The response I wish I had the guts to ask these toilet trespassers: Did you bring a hazmat bag for your feet? 

2/ If there is a lineup, for goodness sake, be a gentlemen or gentlewoman and hold the door open for the next person. Don't let the springy door close on the next person as they are walking in.
--> I can't even tell you the amount of times someone has let the lav door slam into my face without even batting an eye or uttering "sorry." Oy.

3/ Ladies and GENTS: Always close toilet seat completely when you are done. {Oh, and while you're at it, remember to lock the door!}
--> And, if you're in there for awhile—catch my drift—double-flush to avoid leaving a mess in the bowl. If I had a penny for every time I opened the toilet to find, well, you do the math...

4/ Wash your hands AND drain the sink. The reason you have to drain the sink in the sky is so your dirty hand water doesn't slosh everywhere during turbulence.

5/ If you're traveling with an infant, bring scented, air-tight bags {some airlines supply these, most don't} to put dirty diapers in before throwing them in the trash. 

Finally, if you want to keep extra clean, pump the soap and use your wrists to turn on the tap. Once you're done washing, grab a towel to dry off and open the lavatory door with the towel, THEN throw it in the garbage. This way, you keep yourself and the aircraft a little more sanitary.

Mr. Clean would be proud! 

[photo sourced online via Daily Mail]

Gold service with Silvercar

[trip style = luxe]

Over the past six months I've had a series of car rental situations—far-from-the airport agencies, pushy agents, sketchy buildings, never-ending check-in lines—that have made me loathe hiring a vehicle for my travels.

Enter Silvercar, an all-Audi A4 fleet of rental vehicles with concierge pick-up and drop-off, in-car WiFi and GPS, roadside assistance, included baby seats {based on availability}, gas fill-up for only a $5 fee {+ fuel at pump price} and gold-standard service. Oh, and this is NOT an April fools' joke. 

Just before we left for Santa Barbara two weeks ago, Mr. Trip Styler and I were looking at car rental prices out of LAX and gasped at the higher-than-usual prices. Then we remembered an upscale car rental company we'd heard good things about. We weren't too worried about the price, as they offer heavy discounts for first-time users and incentives for return guests {see below}. Done and done; we'll travel in style {as we do} in La La Land.

Trip Styler Tip: Use this referral code MLNITRQA to earn $25 when you complete your first rental with Silvercar. Also, to get your FIRST DAY FREE, use the code loungebuddy.

Depending on the city—Silvercar is currently in 12 cities across the USA—you go right to the car at the airport and unlock it via the app. At LAX, we were picked up curbside and driven to a nearby facility, where we quickly got an overview of the vehicle. Once we signed out the car via the app, we were free to drive into the horizon, all-wheel drive and all.

PS. As longtime fans of TS are well aware, I only write about things I love, so no, this post is not sponsored. Silvercar is just an easy-on-the-nerves car rental service you NEED to know about. 

[photo via @TripStyler]

Video: Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii Island

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

After my second stay in three years at the AAA Four Diamond Fairmont Orchid, I wanted to show off the unique hotel in a short video {below}. Set over 32 acres of oceanfront along Hawaii Island's famed Kohala Coast, the 540-room resort combines the spaciousness of 24 football fields {approx}, with the seclusion of a boutique escape due to its wide-angle footprint and thoughtfully designed enclaves. 

Complete with all the accoutrements of a high-end property—think: meandering pool, lagoon-style beach, multiple restaurants, spa, tennis, golf, kids club, etc...—the escape has everything you need for a complete stay; so much so, when I visited with the Trip Styler crew {Mr. + Baby Styler} in late 2015 for five nights, we didn't leave the hotel once. We didn't need to. Note: Because we explored the island from its heights to its depths in past visits, this time we opted for c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e relaxation.

Video

Details
Who --> For families, honeymooners and couples who value well-groomed oceanfront stay complete with stunning sunsets, nightly. 
Where --> 45 mins from the Kona International Airport along the Kohala Coast.
Cost --> from $251 nightly + daily resort charge of $30.00 per room per night, which includes self-parking, basic internet access and more...

Trip Styler Tips for a Sweet Stay
* For an easy-breezy stay, consider staying on the Fairmont Gold floor with complimentary lounge access. While this option is a touch more pricey than the regular rooms, it's nice to have a dedicated concierge, breakfast, non-alcoholic bevs, teatime, and nightly appetizers always at the ready—a perk we really relished with Baby Styler in tow! 

* Book a treatment at the hotel's Spa Without Walls. Few spas in the world can open their doors and let nature in. Totally in. This spa is an exception. Here, 14 hales (huts) are perched at the ocean’s edge or atop waterfalls for a tropical take on rejuvenation. While just lying in my hale listening to water flow and birds chirp is almost a treatment unto itself, the Ali’i Experience adds a dose of regal to your relaxation. Designed with royalty (Ali’i) in mind, the 110-minute journey from your hut to Hawaiian heaven calms with a lomilomi massage, cleanses with a locally-sourced herb scrub, and culminates with warm coconut oil cascading down your scalp in an experience so pampered, it’s as though you’re being readied for your coronation.

* Don't miss the Fairmont's happy hour in Luana Lounge from 5pm-6pm daily. Also, every Friday, sample a complimentary taste of the island during Social Hour from 4pm-5pm.

* If you want to use beach gear such as snorkels and stand-up paddleboards for your entire stay, consider an Activity Pass instead of paying per use. Also, there are complimentary cultural hikes, daily arts and crafts and activities available through the hotel's Beach Club program.

* Fairmont president club members {a prog that is free to join} receive $10 off of a beach or pool cabana

[photos via @tripstyler taken while I was a partial guest of the resort, which I sought out during my Big Island visit because I enjoyed it so much the first time I stayed]