Money Doesn't Buy Style

[trip style = any]

If there's one thing I've learned from life and trip styling around the world, it's that money doesn't buy style {unless you can afford the everyday styling services of Brad Goreski}. Putting this into a travel context, money doesn't always buy a stylish hotel, either. Aka, you don't have to spend $500+ a night to land in a cool pad.

Case in point: some of the most stylish hotels I've stayed in have been $150 or less. Moreover, hit-up über stylish {and exclusive} hotels like the Banyan Tree Mayakoba in shoulder season or on a super sale, and you're singing your way to your vacay.

I get it, stylish means different things to different people. But if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that style is not run-of-the-mill nor head-to-toe one-branded; style is curated, style is personal, style is local, style is unique.

Stylish Hotels {all $150 or less in low season} *If you're considering jetting away for the fall, take note: style can come with a small price tag. You don't need to have a Ritz Carlton budget to wear Roberto Cavalli.

Thailand - x2 Kui Buri note: an all-villa hotel with wifi and champagne breakfast included.

Venice - Hilton Molino Stucky note: I got this hotel on hotwire for $110, the rooftop pool is its crowning glory.

Bonaire - Sorobon Beach Resort note: wifi and an azure bay the temperature of a hot tub included. BYO soap.

LA - Thompson Beverly Hills note: dark and sleek interiors lead to the 'bev hills beach' urban rooftop pool.

Palm Springs - Viceroy Palm Springs note: a multi-pool garden party to cool off in the desert heat.

Scottsdale - Saguaro note: bright, central and savvy with a coffee shop, whiskey lounge and mexican restaurant on-site. done.

NYC - Ace NYC note: up-cycled urban.

PS - if you're interested in finding high-style hotels for less, check out our curated list of travel websites in TS Recommends.

[photos by @tripstyler except hilton and ace, both sourced online]

8 Ways To Extend Summer

[trip style = any]

Yesterday I had an end-of-summer freak out until I realized nature's heat lamp usually blasts heat into late-September AND we're getting into a CRAZY  period for booking cheap fall travel. Here are some local and international ideas to keep the summer sun shining into the fall:

1/ Don't write September off for fun in the sun. Even though every rule in the book is telling you to change everything from the colors you wear to the foods you eat after labor day, resist the urge and stay in the summer state of mind. Fall-schmall.

2/ Sizzling shoulder season. We've written about low season travel deals at length in the past. Travel at a trip style = budget-friendly price for a trip style = luxury getaway. Here are just a few of the deals that have come across my desk in the past day: - Fairmont Mayakoba {Playa Del Carmen, Mexico}: $199/night includes a DAILY $100 dining credit! Book by Aug 23 for stays through Dec 20. - Hawaiian Airlines: Seattle to Maui from $351 return. Book by Aug 27 for travel through Dec 15. - Parker Palm Springs: $169 for stays Sunday - Thursday. Book by Aug 23 for travel Sept 3 - 27. Fall shoulder season usually lands between Sept 3 and Dec 20 in most sunny destinations. Check your destination of choice for some of the year's best deals.

3/ Daycation: book a spa treatment and sit at the pool {like I did Monday}. Most hotel spas allow guests to sit by the pool pre- or post-treatment without an added fee.

4/ Plan a endless summer party. Keep the dream alive with a salmon bake, oyster-shucking fest, beach BBQ or Mexican fiesta!

5/ Visit a tiki bar. It's summer year round in the South Pacific.

6/ Plant yourself on a patio from happy hour until sundown.

7/ Plan an impromptu night away {by monitoring the weather report}. Sunny skies ahead? I hear a hotel pool calling your name. Have you heard of Hotel Tonight? This indispensable travel app is our fave way to book a hotel at the last moment.

8/ Wear white beyond labor day. It's no longer uncouth, plus, when the snow starts falling you can sport a monochromatic look.

[photo by @tripstyler taken in Vancouver at the Westin Bayshore]

A Sky-vival Kit

[trip style = any]

Flying two or three hours is no biggie. Between the water/pop service, one bathroom break and a magazine, you're almost there. Anything over six hours requires a sky-vival plan at 35,000ft. From head to toe, here's how to assemble to ultimate kit:

{See our full story Fodor's Travel including details on how each essential was selected and where to buy it.}

1. Dry Shampoo 2. Eye Drops 3. Sunglasses 4. Smudge-Free Eye Mask 5. Moisturizing Mist 6. Noise-Canceling Headphones {bonus: they double as ear plugs} 7. Collapsible Water Bottle 8. Portable Toothbrush 9. Scarf/Wrap/Blanket 10. Hand Cream 11. Sanitizer 12. Moisturizing Sox

Other Musts {not pictured above} - Pen for customs forms - Tide 'anti-stain' Pen for spot-cleaning that coffee spill - Gravol in case you encounter some bumps

[graphic by @tripstyler]

The Simple Summer Vacation

[trip style = glamping]

There's something refreshing about the simple, local'ish summer vacation.

No flight or security line-ups, just a car. No hoity-toity restaurants, just a BBQ, a general store and/or a roadside fruit stand. No infinity pool, just a natural swimming hole. No resort wear, just the same clothes over and over again. No hair dryer, just air-dried locks or hat hair. No light-polluted night sky, just a starry night. No computer, just a paperback book.

Back to the basics {and the basics feel good}. Have you found somewhere to unwind this summer, even if it's just overnight?

Here are some of life's simple pleasures I reconnected with a few weeks ago when I took a simple, mostly unplugged vacation {aside from instagram, which I just can't seem to escape even though I was in a backcountry "no service" zone---thank goodness for WiFi.}.

Basic 1: The open road.

Basic 2: The treat enroute.

Basic 3: Taking time to stop and smell the roses.

Basic 4: Snapping photos from the passenger seat.

Basic 5: Appreciating old-school signs.

Basic 6: Glamping at Rolling Huts.

Basic 7: Bringing the pup.

Basic 8: Finding a swimming hole.

Basic 9: Creating your own private beach.

Basic 10. Sitting on your balcony from 6pm - 10pm, drinking cheap wine out of a paper cup, while nibbling a baguette and cheese.

Basic 11: Hiking.

Basic 12: Biking for your breakfast {a strawberry scone topped with corse sugar---best I've ever had}.

Basic 13: Visiting a small, historic town {Winthrop, WA}.

Basic 14: Not a basic at all. Finding a chocolate, oatmeal, guinness pie and eating it for dessert. {This trip is looking really unhealthy. It wasn't, but based on the evidence, I understand if you don't believe me.}

Related Take Time For Lunch Old School Summer Vacations

[photos by @tristyler]

Travel Beauty :: The BB Awards

[trip style = any]

{Want more travel beauty? Get your fill the third Wednesday of every month. Lauren, our travel beauty expert, is already whipping up her next concoction post!}

They're what everyone is talking about, yet for some reason most of us don't know what they actually are.

BB creams were first introduced in Asia then in Europe last year; however, they're still something of a mystery. What is a BB cream? Some say it stands for Blemish Balm, others call it a Beauty Balm {word on the street is that they were originally called Blemish Balms, but when they were brought to North America, retailers thought that name didn't sound appealing}.

Overall, this multitasking product provides hydration, SPF, sheer coverage and soothing and healing properties to deliver genuine benefits for the skin and minimize your beauty routine---i.e. they're PERFECT for travel! I'm a little BB cream obsessed, and I tested a number of them to come up with my favorites in several different categories. Check out my BB cream awards below!

1/ Best Sun Protection: Dior Diorshow UV Shield BB Creme SPF 50 With a whopping SPF 50, this BB cream is perfect for those with fair complexions or those who need a high level of sun protection. The formula has a gorgeous silky texture and the perfect amount of coverage.

2/ Most Coverage: Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector This brilliant formula tones down redness and dark circles, providing impressive coverage. It glides on smoothly and eliminates the need for concealer.

3/ Best For Sensitive Skin: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 I was so impressed with how long this BB cream lasted---my skin looked as good at the end of the day as when I first applied it. It's also fragrance free, making it a good option for people sensitive to scents.

4/ Most Hydrating: Dr. Jart + Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25 This fab formula leaves dry skin ultra moisturized and perfectly dewy.

5/ Best Natural Finish: Too Faced Beauty Balm Multi-Benefit Skin Care Makeup This product is best for those looking for light coverage with all the benefits of a BB cream. It's perfect for those days when you want to go "au natural".

6/ Best All Around: Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm I loved this formula, which has more of a matte finish than most other BB creams. It creates a perfect canvas for your skin, diffusing the light and hiding any blemishes or pores.

What's next? CC creams!

I read the other day that CC creams {Color Control creams} are the next generation of BB creams. Doing double duty as skincare and makeup, they offer more coverage than BB creams and include even more skin-nourishing ingredients. Chanel is apparently already working on a CC cream formula...stay tuned for more info!

More Travel Beauty Trish's Travel Beauty Picks How To Prolong Your Gorgeous Glow Nicole’s Exotic Travel Beauty Picks In-Flight Beauty Masks Q&A With OPI’s Founder {Nail Tips For Travel} Heather’s On-The-Road Beauty Must-Haves On-The-Go Teeth Cleaning St. Tropez’ Celebrity Tanning Expert’s Self-Tanning Secrets Q&A With Dr. Murad

[collage by @tripstyler with images sourced online]