Travel App Tuesday :: Hail A Taxi

[trip style = urban] Today we're talking taxis. An app-tastic way to hail them.

{Taxis are on my mind because I'm headed to the Big Apple tonight. Though it's not my practice to hopscotch across time zones {Australia->Vancouver->New York} within a 3-day period, the hubs was going, we were able to get Nacho King {our dog} a sitter and secured Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tickets, so how could I say no?}

What if there was an easier way to hail a taxi, by just tip-tapping an app?

Now there is. Here are some options for Vancouver, elsewhere in Canada or your next trip to the US of A:

Free Taxi Apps Taxi Now This Vancouver start-up has taken hailing a taxi to the next level with GPS. Simply pull out your phone, see which taxis are nearest to you, hail one and watch it drive to you. Testing this app, the map showing which taxies were nearest to me crashed twice, but worked a third time. I love the idea behind this app, and will definitely use it next time I need a cab. Works best in: Vancouver, Canada with drivers in Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa quickly signing up too. Available for: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android

Taxi Magic As one of the most celebrated taxi apps, Taxi Magic is the first online booking service to integrate right into taxi dispatch systems. In major US cities where this app works best, find a taxi based on your location, track its arrival and charge the ride to your credit card. Note, this app also has web and text support if booking online or via text is more your thing. Works best in: major cities in the US as well as tap-to-call fleets in 4000 US and Canadian cities. Available for: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Blackberry, Android, Palm.

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Other Travel Apps Every Tuesday we feature a new travel app. Don’t forget to peruse the other 70+ travel apps we’ve reviewed from travel first aid, to luxury and boutique hotel finders, to border waits and trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

• Groupon
• Travel Apps Nominated for a Webby Award
• Whistler Blackcomb Live
• Room77
• mileBlaster

Jetset Jingles :: Australia

{Editor's Note: I just got back from Australia and can't wait to share pics, trip styles and tips every Friday this month. To kick things off, May's Jetset Jingles features tunes from a few familiar artists, all hailing from Oz.}

Australia: known for its Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbour, Kangaroos and Koalas, Crocodile Dundee and home to AC/DC, Kylie Minogue, Keith Urban, INXS, Empire of the Sun and other musical talents. Hits like “Don’t Dream It’s Over” (Crowded House), “New Sensation” (INXS), “Highway to Hell” (AC/DC) and the classic 80’s pop-aerobic “Physical” (Olivia Newton John) all blasted their way up and out from the land Down Under and became worldwide hits. And who can forget Men at Work’s “Down Under”? It’s such an iconic Oz tune that we could almost call it Australia’s unofficial theme song. Today, Australian artists such as Jessica Mauboy, Birds Of Tokyo, Jebidiah, The Potbelleez, Angus & Julia Stone and The Temper Trap are hitting the Australian Charts as well as carrying on the tradition of iconic Aussi sound all over the globe.

If you can’t escape to Oz right away, why not pretend? Head down to your nearest beach, toss some shrimp on the barbie, throw a boomerang (don’t forget to duck…) and blast the Aussi playlist I created below. With a mix of classic Oz hits and current singles, you’ll feel like you’ve just taken you’re very own getaway. Happy Listening.

1. Down Under - The Best of Men at Work: Contraband 2. Disappear - The Best of INXS 3. Something So Strong - null 4. Get Outta My Way - Aphrodite (Deluxe Experience Edition) 5. Somebody Like You - null 6. Hello (Radio Edit) - Hello - Single 7. Standing On the Shore - Walking On a Dream 8. Love Lost - Conditions 9. Contact High - Moment Bends 10. Plans - Birds Of Tokyo 11. Big Jet Plane - Down the Way

Listen to the Australia Playlist here.

{Jetset Jingles publishes once monthly and is mixed and mastered by Nicole, amateur DJ by night and movie maven by day.}

[photo by @tripstyler taken of the Opera House in Sydney]

Fashion Friday :: Tribal Inspiration

{Editor's Note: Next week, May 2-6, Trip Styler will be conducting "research" in Australia while living like a castaway and hanging with turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. We're back at it the following week with our regularly scheduled content, and each Friday in May we'll feature a different destination on Australia's East Coast. Find out more about my Australia trip here.}

"If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain."

Or, in spirit of this month's Fashion Friday, Mohammed must go shopping. {Bear with me!} One of my favourite things about travel is shopping. Not shopping as a pastime, but shopping for special items native to the country or region I'm visiting. Often nothing is more treasured in one's closet or home than items purchased around the world. But if you love a style, and can't get to the source (say...Africa), a substitute is acceptable. This month's post is dedicated to travel-inspired tribal fashion, which is the perfect easy-breezy look for spring and summer, both at home or abroad.

Trip Styler Tip: If an all-over tribal print is too "Hello world!" for you, go for bright fabric bangles or a bold printed handbag instead. A great thing about tribal prints is that they tend to be medium-sized graphics; tiny prints can make you look bigger, while large prints can end up wearing you and not the other way around. Fellas, tribal prints aren't just for the beach - go tribal under a blazer or denim shirt this spring.

Now what to buy? Women (clockwise from top left) Forever 21 tribal drawings linen jacket, We Are Owls tribal cashmere and silk blend scarf, Lauren Manoogian hoop necklaces, Pepe Jeans silk printed dress, Felicity Brown tribal print tank, Forever 21 tribal cuffed short, Marc by Marc Jacobs frida flag dress, Theodora & Callum biarritz wedge sandal, Mat & Nat santogold handbag, House of Harlow 1960 tribal drop earring, Loeffler Randall x Suno erin lace-up wedge, Karen Millen tribal print clutch

Men (from bottom left) Burkman Bros oxford ikat short, Vilebrequin tribal art swim short, ASOS front panel printed tank, American Apparel afrika fine jersey t-shirt, Burkman Bros india ikat pullover

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by fashion blogger Heather.}

Healthy On The Road :: Make Any Trip Style Healthy

[trip style = any]

For every trip style, there are many fun and exciting ways to stay healthy. If you really want to treat yourself to a vacation that returns you home healthier than when you left, consider a more active trip style; perhaps one that involves an adventure or a chance to try an activity you've always wanted to experience. Personally, I would love to head to Central America and spend a couple weeks at Monty’s Beach Lodge in Nicaragua: surfing, relaxing and giving back to the local community. Sounds pretty healthy to me!

Regardless of whether your trip style of choice has healthy renewal built in or not, any one can be infused with energy. It might take a little more intention on your part, but it’s so worth it! Here are some ideas:

All-Inclusive Last month Healthy on the Road shared the importance of putting some routine into your all-inclusive experience. With anything you need and want at your fingertips, this trip style can leave you feeling refreshed or gluttonous. While you’re spending time planning out your meal reservations on day 1, why not devote some time to planning out an activity schedule? Check out the classes being offered at the fitness centre, find a pool that accommodates laps or deep water running, or choose a time to walk or run on the beach.

Beach Walking or running on the beach requires you to use (and therefore burn!) about twice as much energy compared to doing these activities on hard surfaces. It's delightful to walk barefoot on the sand, but for walks that amount to anything more than a stroll, wear a good pair of shoes to avoid problems like shin splints. Sport sandals, like Tevas, are a good option if you don’t want your sneakers to get soggy in the tide. And don’t forget about sun protection---waterproof/sweatproof sunscreen, a hat, a light quick-drying shirt and a bottle of water are musts when you’re active in the sunshine!

Camping & Glamping This one seems easy to me, especially if you’re anywhere in beautiful British Columbia. Opportunities to hike, walk, ride, paddle and explore await you outside your tent, trailer or yurt! Before you pick your destination, think about some of the activities you'd like to do. For example, some destinations are known for fantastic hikes, while others might boast incredible biking.

Cruising Like the all-inclusive trip style, the decision to stay healthy while cruising is yours. Looking at the glass half full, there are many opportunities to embrace health. Bottomless food and drink and lounging await you, so be sure to visit the delicious salad and seafood buffets first, rather than load your plate with fried, fatty food. The elaborate evening meals are wonderful, but you don’t HAVE to order desert EVERY night---try every other night, or better yet, sharing one dessert with your travelling companion. In terms of getting active, like I mentioned earlier, make some plans on day 1: join a fitness class, walk the decks, take the stairs and choose active excursions.

Spa Mind, body and soul retreats are becoming very popular, and for good reason: they will leave you feeling fabulous. Mani/pedis, massages and facials are a delightful treat, but your heart, joints, soul and mind need some pampering too. Consider visiting a spa that embraces a holistic approach to wellness with good workout facilities or daily hikes and healthy fare.

{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. Note that this month's Healthy On The Road is being published one week early, because next week Trip Styler will be doing "research" while living castaway-style and hanging with turtles on the Great Barrier Reef.}

Related The 20-min Exercise Itinerary Active, Relax, Repeat Healthy DIY Plane Snacks Hotel Room Exercises {You can do in your underwear}

From the Archives :: Seeking Seattle in Spring

[trip style = weekend getaway + urban + sightseeing]

{For this month's installment of From the Archives, I've chosen a post about exploring the Emerald City in spring. With a focus on the weekending trip style, I highlight where to stay, where to stroll, plus some out of the way local faves for brunch, dinner and drinks. I hope it inspires! PS - if Seattle's weather looks good, it's always easy to get last-minute hotel reservations, so what are you waiting for?}

Good weather; check. Great hotel; check. Weekend with no plans; check.

Although I’ve been to Seattle many times, this time was different. This time I wanted to be a tourist, yet avoid tourist traps. So, I did my own kind of sightseeing. The kind that allows you to see a city for what it really is {with hands-on experiences}, and who it really is {sharing it with locals}.

Stay Stay at The Fairmont Olympic {see my detailed review here}, the Pacific Northwest’s only AAA, 5-Diamond Hotel. Although the Seattle area has other great hotels like the swanky W, the understated Ace, or the posh Four Seasons, staying at the Olympic immerses you in Seattle’s past. Open since 1924, this iconic hotel’s old-world charm is a stark contrast to the city’s west coast architecture and laid-back vibe. I love the hotel's complimentary drop-off and pick-up service to restaurants and attractions in the area, the Parisian take-away cafe and the milk and cookies given out when you bid adieu and pick up your keys from the valet.

Do/Eat Coffee/Neighborhood Walk/Breakfast Not sure if it was the coffee culture or the crisp, spring morning, but I was raring to go at 7am. Talk about making the most of the day. First up, driving 10-mins outside the city centre, I grabbed a coffee at Verite and walked around Madrona, an adorable, yet sophisticated neighborhood. The peace of the morning, the sunrise sparkling over the water, the scent of blooming flowers and the mix of modern and Tudor-style homes made my morning picture perfect {no joke---see pics below}. After a jolt of caffeinedecaf, I walked down the road from the coffee shop and put my name in at Hi-Spot Cafe, an always-busy brunch spot. *Make sure you order something that can be paired with their amazing raspberry jam. It’s so good that once I’d eaten my jam-smothered English muffin, I hid myself from other restaurant patrons and savored the rest of the jam with a spoon.

Pier/Pike Place/Starbucks We all know Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks, the little coffee shop turned worldwide, caffeinated sensation. But, did you know that the first-ever Starbucks is located near Pike Place Market? But first, the pier. Walking along the pier is not only a quintessential Seattle experience, but in doing so, you’ll also pass shops, restaurants, the Seattle Aquarium and the SAM Olympic Statue Park. Once you’ve had your fill of wind-in-your-hair, ocean-front walking, head up the hill to Pike Place Market. The eclectic and thriving mix of vendors may wow you as much as the famed fish tossing. Once you’ve watched the fish throwers launch the local catch at each other like Seahawks quarterbacks, head to the original Starbucks [1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101] to grab a java or drive 5 mins to the newest Starbucks concept for some wine & cheese.

Lunching and Shopping One great way to see the downtown core is to lunch 'n' shop. There are multiple restaurants in the shopping district, so stop into any of them to fuel-up with food so you can let-go with cash. To get your shopping fill, visit the flagship Nordstrom or gaze at the Chihuli [instigator of Pacific Northwest glass movement] installation in Barneys.

Evening Dinner and Drinks Don’t miss Black Bottle, a corner eatery and watering hole whose industrial design and downtown vibe makes the flatbread taste better than it already is. Cap off the evening with a bevvie at Zig Zag Cafe. When I told the Fairmont driver where I was going, he said “Zig Zag has the best bartender in the city.” Perfect! This out-of-the-way resto-lounge has grown by word of mouth and loyal clientele. At 8:30pm it’s dead, by 11pm it’s so busy I can’t hear myself speak. A special thanks goes out to my server for her drink suggestion. The French 76 is now in my cocktail hall of fame book—which I should really start.

Related Grande Beer with a Shot of Chardonnay YVR to SEA Must-Stops