All-Inclusive Month :: Introductions

[trip style = all-inclusive]

To some people, all-inclusive vacations conjure up ideas of men in bright yellow bathing trunks playing volleyball; women in high-cut neon tankinis; crowded beaches with a billion loungers; watered-down bevs; bikini contest entertainment; cheesy white columns everywhere; and logos plastered on beach chairs, at the bottom of every pool, on napkins and probably your bedspread. I may or may not be speaking from experience...ok, I am! Yes, these types of all-inclusives exist, but no, it isn't what all packaged vacations are like.

Each friday this month we'll feature a range of all-inclusive topics to help you get to know this trip style a little better, and once you do, decide if it's right for you. A list of all our upcoming topics can be found below.

Getting Over Stereotypes The biggest point I want to get across over the next month is there is a multitude of luxury categories, exclusivity levels and destinations associated with all-inclusives, and although this trip style may not be for everyone, at least consider it. During my quest to continue to discover great getaways, I've stayed at more than a few all-inclusives---some worth forgetting, some worth writing home about. A few of my stays perpetuated the above-mentioned stereotypes, while others were a true vacation treat. From these experiences I've learned to be highly selective while I search for an all-inclusive and choose a resort/brand that I know will match my preferences {more on that next week}.

The Good and the Bad On the positive side, my all-inclusive honeymoon in Negril, Jamaica was an incredible experience complete with sunset cruises on Princess Grace's honeymoon yacht, nightly champagne bottle room service, included manis and dining at the only 5-diamond restaurant in the Caribbean {at the time, 6.5 years ago}. The resort continually exceeded my expectations. On the flip-side, there was the resort we visited in the Bahamas, which had high highs and low lows. Despite experiencing the most fun New Years EVER, because of the intense service fluctuations, I couldn't recommend it to others until management sorts a few things out. Either way, I won't be going back unless they foot the bill...  At  this resort we witnessed events like: 'Jim', who after one too many 'Miami Vices' consumed in the main pool's hot tub, yelled "bombs away" and took a runningjump into the dirty towel receptacle {on wheels}, which by way of knocking over a few pool chairs, almost flew into the pool. Stay classy 'Jim.'

Benefits Aside from the 'Jims' of the world {who you may or may not want to encounter at your next all-inclusive}, one of my favourite activities at an all-inclusive is leaving my passport and wallet in the safe and turning my brain off. Staying at these types of resorts involves tough decisions: wakeboard or suntan, margarita or pina colada, squash or racquetball, sushi or local fare...Here are some of the other benefits: Pay up-front, don't pay again {aside from tipping depending on your resort} Leave your wallet in the room's safe and enjoy Eat at different restaurants every night {depending on your resort} Be as active or inactive as you want Be as invovled or uninvolved as you want Be as social or anti-social as you want

All-Inclusive Month :: Coming Up Friday, Feb 11th - All-Inclusive Matchmaking! Finding the right fit Friday, Feb 18th - All-Inclusive vs Non-Packaged Vacation Monday, Feb 21st - From the Archives :: All-Inclusive Tricks of the Trade Friday, Feb 25th - Fashion Friday :: Rockin' the All-Inclusive

[photo by @tripstyler, taken at Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica]

Healthy on the Road :: A Mindful Return

Last month, Healthy on the Road challenged you to take time out to check in on your next trip. “Vacating” completely from physical, mental and spiritual health while on the road leaves you feeling sluggish when the vacation is over and the reality of returning home hits.

The Challenge The specific challenge, aside from mindlessly laying poolside or playing paddle ball on the beach, was to try and engage in at least one hour of renewal---physically, emotionally and spiritually---each day you were away. To make this happen, throwing some semblance of routine into your travels was they key to complete renewal. Unless you’re travelling for business, this routine thankfully doesn’t involve getting to work on time or juggling a million errands, it’s more of a daily rhythm that your body will thank you for.

A Mindful Return Let’s take a look at how applying mindfulness while away can have a huge impact on the state you return home in.

Moderation Over-consumption of food and alcohol is a common problem when travelling (though, while away it sure doesn’t feel like one!). The typical reaction once home: either continue the trend, thrust oneself into some fad diet or detox program, or feel deflated by lack of self-control. So here’s a challenge that can be considered a part of the daily travel renewal challenge: while away, enjoy the delicious food and drink in moderation, but also indulge in loads of the healthy fare. This will naturally bring moderation into your daily routine, without feeling like you’re depriving yourself.

Sleep Get some sleep!!! It has a huge effect on what we eat and a lack causes us to crave those short-term, energy-boosting carbs. While away, try your best to catch some good ZZZs, and depending on your time-zone, wake around a similar time as you would at home (but no need to rush out the door!).

A Rest After a Rest When you return home, build in 4 days to a week to get back into the swing of things. Your body will thank you, because as funny as this sounds, most of us seem to need a rest post 'restful' vacation. Continue to get a lot of sleep, and focus on moderation in your eating.

Be Inspired Bring some inspiration from your travels into your home kitchen (mmm...homemade salsa!). Once home, resist jumping on some crazy diet train, or making promises to yourself that are too big to keep. Aim to eat and drink less of what you know you shouldn’t, and engage in daily physical activity. It’s really that simple: a sure-fire way to re-calibrate the body after one too many coronas or a few too many helpings of guacamole!

{When she’s not training clients or being trained by her dog Zuzu, Leah writes Healthy on the Road, published the first Thursday of every month.}

[photo by oksidor]

Top 5 Vacation Home Rental Sites

[trip style = budget or lux]

Renting a vacation home—or holiday home as our European friends call it—is an immersive experience. By sheer virtue of staying in a home, villa, condo or flat, you delve into your destination's beat, saying adios to hotel culture and hola to local culture.

I've rented about five vacation homes over the past few years, and it's a trip style I enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE staying at hotels, but by escaping the destination's hotel bubble, suddenly you're living in someone else's shoes, shopping where they do, eating what they do and doing what they do. That's the beauty of a vacation home; you can live like a local or spend a night or two cooking and doing the things you'd do at home. Your choice. Either way, here are five holiday home rentals sites that should be on your vacation rental radar.

5 Vacation Home Rentals Sites

VRBO
Specialty: From cabins to condos to castles, Vacation Rentals by Owner features more than 150,000 property listings in 100 countries. This for-rent-by-owner pioneer, and one of the most-visited sites in the industry was founded 15 years ago and aquired in 2006 by HomeAway {featured below} and continues to operate as an independent brand.
Regions: Worldwide listings with an American focus {have used and would recommend}

Airbnb
Specialty: Airbnb targets in-the-know, design-conscious folk who are looking for stylish and unique accommodations from private islands to private yachts, and villas to VW vans. Searching for lodging in Paris or on a stationary plane is easy with their collection approach to listing rentals. Grouping like rentals together in collections by theme or location, you can see what you might want to rent from a worldwide or city perspective. Bonus: I love the instant book feature, which practically eliminates the need for a host to manually OK the booking.
Regions: North America, Europe and exotic locales {have not yet used, but look very forward to trying many of their listings, like this off-the-grid house...amazing!}

HomeAway
Specialty: With over 540,000 vacation home rental listings in 120 countries, HomeAway has the world's largest collection of online rental homes. Enough said.
Regions: North America, Caribbean, Europe, South America, Central America, Africa {have not yet tried}

AlluraDirect
Specialty: World-class ski resort-focused vacation rentals specializing in British Columbia, Canada at mountains like Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks and Big White. Speaking from personal experience, this site is the place to book a mountain getaway!
Regions: BC, Canada {have used and would recommend}

OwnerDirect
Specialty: With a largest presence in BC, Owner Direct knows a thing or two about winter and summer West Coast escapes! Headquartered in Kelowna, BC, this Canadian vacation rental company is a leader in matching up owners and renters, as well as last-minute deals.
Regions: BC, Florida, Hawaii and California plus a few other listings worldwide {have used and would recommend}

Bonus: Inspirato
The new kid on the block is a vacation rental site with a twist. Launched this month and created for the luxury market, Inspirato offers exclusive private villa vacations with personalized concierge service at significant discounts in 40+ destinations in Europe, North America and the Caribbean. Deals are viewable to the public, but only members—who pay an initial $9,500 fee and then an ongoing yearly $2,500 fee—can book.

[photo credit: Airbnb]

Travel Apps :: Airbnb

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Have you ever booked a vacation rental condo or home? Although this trip style is slightly less pampered than a hotel stay, a vacation rental offers other freedoms like having your own kitchen, staying in a unique accommodation and dabbling in the local scene.

Attracting more design-savvy units and hip travelers, Airbnb, one of the newer, kitschier vacation rental sites, has just launched an app which I happen to like as much as the website!  In it, you can search from 8000 cities and 170+ countries to find a private apartment or private island. One of my favourite features within the app is the categories it lists when you first start searching: Top 40, Oui Oui Paris, Unique New York, Planes Trains and Automobiles, I love Glamping, etc...

{Stay tuned for more info on Airbnb and other holiday rental sites tomorrow in our Vacation Rental Round-Up.}

Airbnb App Details

• Free
• Works with iPhone & iPod Touch. I'm told a mobile site is being developed this quarter which will serve other mobile platforms; once this is done the company plans on developing an app for the iPad and android.
• Book a space through your iPhone
• Use "Find a place, tonight!” for last-minute availability
• Message guests and hosts directly from your phone
• Access your upcoming itinerary, complete with directions to your destination
• A 'daily deal' feature has been added, which could be cool, but it is still in beta testing, so look out for future updates in this regard.

Other Travel Apps Don't forget to peruse the other 60+ travel apps we've reviewed from travel first aid, to luxury and boutique hotel finders, to border waits, to trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

• Book Crazy
• TomTom
• Get Packing
• Picture Translate
• Flightcaster

Spotlight :: Portland {part deux}

Portland has a way of making return visitors. The foodie town I visited only two months ago beckoned me back {by way of a duvet cover, but that's a whole other story} to sip more coffee, savour more food and save the tax on a few petite purchases.

Only 6 hours from Vancouver, BC, weekending in Portland is a treat. Some choose to get there by racing down road warrior-style ignoring any of nature's calls, whereas, I suggest making the journey down part of the trip by stopping along the way in Bellingham and Seattle to break up the drive.

Video

The above 21-second video is a combo of pictures from Portland part one and part deux. To slow down the speed, drag your curser over the status bar. Trouble viewing the video?

PDX Highlights {most pictured above}

• Breakfast at Mother's Bistro & Doug Fir{vintage-woodsy restaurant by day, serious music venue by night}
• Drinking coffee at Stumptown & Coava{try one of their amazing 3-minute slow-pour coffees from their specially developed kone coffee filters}
• Happy hour at Clyde Common{2 words: fried chickpeas}
• Dinner at Irving St Kitchen{don't miss their butterscotch pudding with caramel sauce and creme fraiche}
• Shopping at Anthroplogie, Canoe & West Elm

Needless to say, I'll hopefully return for round three sometime soon. Whether in spring, summer, winter or fall, don't miss Portland's unique neighborhoods, bike accessibility, charcuterie platters, bourbon-esque drinks or indie music scene.

Related
Spotlight Portland {part one}
Ace Portland
Vancouver to Seattle Must-Stops

[photos snapped by @tripstyler, @heatherlovesit & @nachoking]