Master the Art of Packing

Do you have pre-trip packing figured out?

I don't think I'll ever have packing fully figured out. Every trip I take reminds me there's always room for improvement. But I'm up for the challenge, are you?

A Good Packer a) doesn't take much time to pack b) always packs for the climate c) brings the right---and appropriate---amount of clothes

Packing Tips Go Odorless

• Bring a plastic bag or reusable laundry bag to stuff dirty items into throughout your trip
• Pack dryer sheets to place between clothes to keep them laundry fresh

Be Efficient

• Know the weather at your destination, and pack accordingly
• Write a list before you go (and make a note of what you wear and don't wear for next time)
• Assemble and keep a travel toiletries kit in a clear plastic case so it's always ready to go...or send toiletries to your destination

Your Right Foot Forward

• Keep shoes in clear plastic bags so your other items don't get dirtied
• Slip items like underwear, socks and electronic chargers into shoes

Use Your Suitcases's Real Estate Wisely

• Wherever possible, unstructured or soft garments should be rolled instead of laid flat
• Leave out socks, underwear, ties and scarves until the end to fill in packing gaps
• Place belts around the perimeter or your bag

Preventative Maintenance

• Wrap items you don't want to wrinkle in a suit bag, dry cleaning bag or tissue paper
• Don't just throw in combs, brushes or spiky hair dryer attachments, cover them with socks, bags or tissue paper to prevent snags

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[photo by Drew Coffman]

The Travel Sweet Spot

[trip style = sun]

Amid moving this week, I am drooling over November and early December's sunny getaways. I suppose I want what I can't have. Moving = no big travel. But, for those of you who can get away to far-off lands, the prices and options are FAH-BU-LOUS, and a bunch of my friends and family are taking advantage traveling to Bahamas, Mexico, Arizona, California, Hawaii and New York!

The Sweet Spot Travel between November 15th - December 15th, and the first week of January are what I call the travel sweet spot. Pre-and-post Christmas rush means travelers get: a) a great deal, b) more choice {where to go and resorts}, c) to contend with fewer people {ie - getting the best spot on the beach and best pool chair}, d) a rest before or after a busy christmas season, e) escaping the late-fall's rain and cold! Win, win, win, win and win! {Trip Styler Tip: Mark the travel sweet spot on your calendar for next year! Airlines and resorts offer big sales at the end of October/first few weeks of November for travel during this period. Last week I saw flights to Bermuda from Vancouver for $400(inc taxes) and around the same price for flights to Hawaii.}

The Fun Doesn't Stop Here With fall in full-force and winter looming in the near future, I've had a lot of questions regarding trips to Hawaii. If you can't get away during the travel sweet spot, don't worry. Winter sunscapes can still be reasonable too. Travel suppliers are always offering last-min deals, so if you're inclined, pre-plan a week off and see where {in the Caribbean} the wind takes you!

[photo: my own]

Best Photobooks for Travel Memories

Editor's Note: For today's post I've asked photographer extraordinaire, Melia Sorenson to suggest her top picks for travel photobooks. Melia is a shutterbug legend shooting everything from landscapes to wedding bells. See her bio below.

An Obvious Solution In the age of digital photography, there is little need for the traditional 4x6” ‘proofs’ passed around in the days of film. We have Facebook and Flickr; but, for a particularly important collection of images, like those from our overseas adventures, which deserve to outlive a random hard drive failure or account deletion, web-based self-publishing companies are the obvious solution.

Quality for Price DIY photobook quality can be remarkable for the price point—often indistinguishable from ‘coffee table’ picture books from a book store. The online publisher will provide you with free, easy to use software for you to custom design your book. Most will allow for text or captions to compliment your photos in a variety of fonts and formats.

Ease I for one do not relish the adoption of new software, but this is simplicity even by my standards. Once your book is finished it will go into a virtual bookstore with its own identifying link so that you may share the electronic form with family and friends who may also wish to order a copy directly from the site.

Photobooks The companies with which I have the most experience are MyPublisher and Photobook Canada, but Blurb is also extremely popular. Here is a detailed review of these books, as well as others.

Bio Melia holds a bachelor of fine arts from Emily Carr University. She is a Vancouver wedding photographer by summer and world traveler by winter. Recent work, including travel images, may be viewed on her blog.

[photos by melia]

5 Ways to Get the Best Hotel Room

Securing the Best Room Garden or mountain view? Regular room or Jr. suite. Suite or Deluxe suite?  From a consumer point a view there are only a few room categories, but from a hotel or resort point of view, there can be 20+ categories with discrepancies as small as a tree partially blocking a view, the floor or the breadth of bathroom amenities provided.

Obviously, we all like an upgrade or want the best room room within our category. Here are 5 tips to help you secure a higher room category without paying for it!

5 Hotel & Resort Check-in Strategies Call ahead Calling ahead is a triple-threat. A) it confirms your reservation, B) it introduces you to the hotel and C) it gives you an opportunity to make any special requests in advance, so the hotel isn't scrambling to accommodate the day you check-in.

Look nice I hate to say it, but play the part. Hotel room assignments beyond your initially booked category are subjective, completely at the mercy of the staff member checking you in and occupancy rates. Because hotels want the floors with nicer rooms filled with people who 'look the part,' do the 'math' for them.

Arrive early Even though your room *may* not be ready until the standard 3pm check-in time, I've been able to get a room as early as 8am depending on the hotel's occupancy. Moreover, arriving earlier allows you to 'get in there' before the room roulette begins as the masses check-in!

Power of suggestion Even with a loyalty program membership, sometimes check-in staff don't see the full snapshot of your loyalty or recent activity, therefore, it's important to gently and nicely remind them of your allegiance and how often you've stayed with them or a partner hotel.

If all else fails There have been lots of times I haven't been upgraded. 99% of the time it doesn't bother me, but if you get to your room and die a little inside, say something! Put on your PR hat, take your bags to the font desk and ask for different room. Usually the hotel will oblige if they aren't fully booked, especially if you provide a good reason.

A Personal Story I have many stories of being upgraded or not, but one that illustrates a few of the above points comes from a stay at the Mariott Wailea. I booked the property through Priceline, so knew I wasn't going to get a room with a million dollar view. Knowing that within the lower room categories, there are rooms with NO view, and those with partial views, I gently asked if there was an opportunity to stay in the best room within the category set.  The resort obliged and we had a 5th-floor ocean view for $120/night.  Not too shabby for Wailea, Maui.

PS - Remembrance day is a National Canadian holiday observed every November 11th, as such, there will be no content published tomorrow. Stay tuned for Travel Trappings :: Cruising on Friday.

Related Content It Never Hurts to Ask :: Speaking up in your travels

[photo: mine]

Vancouver to Seattle Must-Stops

[trip style = weekend getaway]

I can't even count the amount of times I've travelled (by car) between Vancouver and Seattle and back again. Along with my husband, we now have the trip down to an art! Too bad there isn't a car version of frequent flier miles. Whether you're crossing the 49th parallel for a flight, shopping, to visit friends or a weekend getaway, here are my tried and tested must-stops.

YVR --> SEA Must-Stops 1) The Border (Nexus) The Nexus lane is fast and efficient, 95% of the time. Spending $50 and investing two hours to apply and interview for Nexus makes border crossing, dare I say, somewhat dreamy. Otherwise, check out the border line-ups with one of these border wait apps, or indulge in orange tic-tacs at the Pacific Truck Crossing's duty-free store to legitimately jump the line and save yourself a lot of time.

2) Gas Filling up once you cross the border is a no-brainer. Gas is about 20-25% cheaper in the US, regardless of the exchange rate because the price differential is almost entirely related to gasoline taxes. So why not fill up?

3) Avenue Bread What this simple take-away or eat-in cafe lacks in decor, it makes up for in food quality. Their freshly baked bread is what they're known for, but in my humble opinion, their two most delectable dishes are Avenue Eggenues (a fresh-baked english muffin and egg breakfast sandwich, with add-ons like cheese, spinach, bacon, avocado and tomato) and the BLT&T with rosemary bread, add avocado. Where to find it: The location with the most atmosphere (pictured above) is 3 mins off the I-5 highway in historic Fairhaven (the last exit before you exit Bellingham.)

4) I Wanna Moka I have never been served coffee by friendlier, more bubbly baristas. Either they LOVE their jobs, or they're on a constant caffeine high. But seriously, this drivethru coffee bar is where it's at. And yes, their 'mokas' are good. Where to find it: Also, just off the Fairhaven exit, you won't be able to miss I Wanna Moka.

5) Optional but highly suggested: Trader Joes and/or Target. Trader Joe's, a more fun, boutique alternative to Whole Foods has everything from Two Buck Chuck ($3 bottle of bin-end wine) to fun treats, fresh flowers, great to-go salads, the best tasting sugar and salt-free peanut butter on the planet and a host of other groceries. Whether you're driving to Seattle for a flight or shopping, it's a great place to grab healthy snacks. Where to find it: The Bellingham store is just off the I-5 highway and conveniently across the street from an Avenue Bread (not the location I mentioned above).

What don't we need at Tar-jay? This weekend my husband found a great fall essential for $6, the grey waffle shirt. Need I say more? Well, I will: shopping at Target makes me wish I had a hobby/storage room to keep all the sometimes silly, but sometimes awesome seasonal stuff I find. There is no store like it in Canada. I always stock up on their allergy medication, toiletries, white platters, designer-collab clothing lines and wine (costs 50% less than in Canada). Where to find it: In Bellingham at Bellis Fair Mall, or in Marysville just off the I-5 highway.

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PS - Introducing our Travel Beauty, Travel Fashion and Travel Health Contributors!