iPhone Map Trickery

[trip style = any]

When we travel to the US or other international cities it's nice to know how to get from A to B with ease, BUT without a local SIM or international roaming package {$$$}, we have to depend on a physical map or locals' directions. Though this isn't a bad thing---I always carry a back-up map and I'm a huge fan of talking with locals---it's nice to get digital, GPS-enabled directions too, right on the comfort of your own iPhone.

Walking Here's where the iPhone trickery comes in: if you enter where you want to go on your iPhone's built-in map while in a WiFi zone, your phone's built-in GPS will take it from there---even when you bid adieu to WiFi! For example, I needed to get from my hotel to a park this weekend in Seattle {Bellevue, actually}, so while I was connected to WiFi at my hotel, I enabled my current location {photo 1 above} and entered my destination to initiate the map's direction feature {photo 2 above}. Once I left the WiFi zone at my hotel, my phone continued tracking my GPS location showing directions and a blue marker following me between my hotel and the park {photo 3 above}. Note that although my phone appears to have data given the AT&T symbol, I have it set NOT to roam in the USA.

Trip Styler Tip :: you can use this feature for walking, driving and transit, but I don't recommend it for driving as it can get confusing when cruising on foreign, fast-moving roads.

--------------

Driving Since we're on the topic, my preferred means of navigating the spaghetti-strappy highways and byways in the US is to use my iPhone's TomTom GPS app WHICH DOES NOT RELY ON DATA or WiFi. Solely using your iPhone's built-in GPS, enter your destination---be it a hotel, restaurant, park or the like---and TomTom the Tominator will give you step-by-step instructions on how to get there. Tom's a star; he's NEVER failed me and I ride with him a lot! --> Find it via the Apple App Store for $49.99. {One of the BEST travel investments I ever made}.

*Android users {you lucky dogs}: a few months ago Google Maps came out with a feature called Offline Maps, meaning you can save select maps to your phone and your Android's GPS will show where you are with a blue dot.

[Photos taken from my iPhone of Apple Maps in iOS 6, but I also tested a second iPhone running iOS5 and Google Maps. The same steps apply.]

Maui Waui :: What's New In Wailea

[trip style = beach + sun]

Think of a place where wind-swept beaches and lava-laden cliffs interact with Maui's chicest resort cluster. Manicured with the same attention to detail as a Hollywood celebrity, Wailea's five-diamond hotels and mosaic-lined pools glisten in the Southern Shore's sunlight. Here's what's new in this pampered paradise:

Hotel The BIGGEST news from Wailea is the addition of a nouveau hotel to the seafront landscape. Opening in Summer 2013, the Hyatt's hip Andaz brand will take over the former Renaissance Resort. Stripped down to the bones, the 255-room {+ suites and villas} infuses urban styling with swaying palms and cascading pools. Who's in? I AM! PS - rumor has it a Morimoto by Iron Chef Masahura Morimoto will be the hotel's signature restaurant. I've been to Morimoto at the Modern Honolulu {and LOVED it}, and I'm hoping Chef's famous ahi tuna pizza will make an appearance on the menu!

Restaurants Led by Chef Alan Wong, recognized by Bon Appetit as the “master of Hawaiian regional cuisine”, Amasia is one of Wailea’s newest and hottest restaurants. Sparing no expense, this chic evening eatery has streams flowing throughout and sits atop a lagoon in a Japanese tea house brought over piece by piece from Kyoto—even the 800 tonnes of rocks surrounding the East-meets-West dining concept are quarried from Mt. Fuji.

Trip Styler Tip :: Alfresco and au courant, sit at the bar at KO {you'll find the best service there}, the Fairmont Wailea's newest restaurant which recently underwent a 5.1-million dollar renovation. Order the Ahi On The Rocks, an upscale DIY dish which comes with tuna, an orange-ginger miso sauce and a 400-degree F ishiyaki stone to sear the meat to your personal perfection.

Spa Treatments The Grand Wailea's Spa Grande is the largest and most lauded spa in the state of Hawaii. Soothe yourself into island time on a journey through the Japanese-inspired termé hydrotherapy circuit or lounging on the private lanai. At treatment time, go local with the Niu Coconut Muscle Relief massage using e-v-e-r-y part of the coconut---from husk to meat---to exfoliate, moisturize and massage the skin into buttery bliss {$225}, or spring for a tidal wave of a treatment with the 20-Hand Duo Massage using 10 therapists and 100 fingers to perform the "hula wave" on you and your beau {$2000}. Ahh-loha!

More Maui Roam+Board :: Napili Kai Maui Waui :: Paia Another Side of Hawaii Finding the Modern in Waikiki

[photo 1 and 3 taken by @tripstyler while exploring Maui with the island's CVB; photo 2 courtesy Andaz; photo 4 courtesy Spa Grande]

The $2 Beach Bag

[trip style = sun + beach + all-inclusive + cruise]

Bagging the right beach bag is key to traveling light and in style. It took me over a year to find the perfect one: my fold-flat navy and white striped Baggu, but recently I found a close second that rung up as $2 at the till.

I didn't mean to be disloyal to my tried-and-tested Baggu, but in a moment of last-minute packing desperation {at 11pm before a 3.45am wake-up for a recent flight to Maui}, the cute, already-in-my-purse and virtually weightless $2 bag shown above and below won. It helps that it matches my favoured beach cover-up. After highly successful debut in Maui, the $2 bag came with me to Puerto Vallarta last weekend as well.

Will I give up my trusty Baggu for the cheap and weightless thrill that is my newest travel obsession? Not a chance, but when space is limited and cutting down on even the slightest bulk is helpful, the cheapie bag will be my travel BFF.

Buying A $2 Beach Bag I purchased my bag{s} at Daiso, the two-storey Japanese you-didn't-know-you-even-needed-that store that sells everything from water dumbbells to fako iPhone cords to collapsible dog bowls. Located in Richmond, BC {near the Vancouver Airport}, plan to spend an afternoon because 10 minutes won't cut it. You have to uncover its weird and wonderful wares in hefty time chunks, and while you're at it, grab a bubble tea. {I wish this pic showed more of the bags, but there were some cool prints. I got the upper and mid left red and blue bags. No Daiso or like stores in your area? A) you'll have to visit Vancouver, or B) bag a bag online.

Mah-jor Disclaimer Though the bags are lightweight and have the general-ish shape {NOT PATTERN} of a grocery tote, I'm not suggesting you interpret my advice as "I'm just going to bring my President's Choice or Trader Joe's grocery sack on vacation." No grocery bags allowed for travel!!! Finding the right beach/plane-to-pool bag takes time, so I'm just giving you a variety of options and ideas along the way.

Related How To Bag A Beach Bag Fashion Friday :: Life's A Beach

[photos by @tripstyler]

Postcards From Puerto Vallarta

[trip style = beach + sun + weekend getaway]

Hola from Puerto Vallarta, the friendly city taco'd between Mazatlan and Acapulco on Mexico's West Coast. Less than a 4.5-hour flight from Vancouver, I'm not sure why my travels haven't taken me to this city saturated in colour and local warmth before now.

Since I'm on location until I fly home tonight, here are few photos as an aperitif---think of them as your guacamole before the full Mexi fiesta {full details about the town, the restaus and the hotels, as well as why I'm here coming your way on TS shortly}.

Hasta luego, Trish

PV Postcards {My hotel, Marival Residences and World Spa}

{Lush and historic Puerto Vallarta}

{Tableside deconstructed guacamole before it's sliced and diced to a chunky perfection}

{Fiesta in Bucerias}

{Sunset in the Riviera Nayarit - a crescent-shaped, far-reaching, sandy bay dotted by villas and resorts, a half hour from Puerto Vallarta}

[photos taken by @tripstyler while a guest of air transat/nolitours in puerto vallarta]

Fashion Friday :: Life's a Beach

[trip style = sun + beach]

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

My Instagram feed has been filled with images of first snow this week from friends across the country. I imagine after a few mornings scraping their windshields, the novelty has worn off and those friends are already online bookmarking tropical destinations, hoping to swap their parkas for pareos and their boots for bikinis.

Even on the rainy West Coast, I'm dreaming of trading my umbrella for a tiny drink umbrella, preferably in a coconut, at a swim up bar, surrounded by surfers who speak very little English. Before I get carried away with an Ally McBeal-style daydream, I must remind you that the perfect styles for your sunny getaway are on sale now. And it makes sense that if you buy the perfect sandals or swim trunks now, you'll just have to find somewhere to wear them soon...right?!

Now What To Buy? Women (clockwise from top left) Rodebjer petite swimsuit {sale!}, We Are Handsome dutch frilled swimsuit {sale!}, Heidi Merrick carp tunic {sale!}, Osborn sandalia black sandal {sale!}, Miu Miu plunge-front swimsuit, Topshop chunky oversize sunglasses, Target braided hat, Madewell toe-strap boardwalk sandal, Zimmermann frill rash guard {sale!}, Lemlem bella patio dress

Men (clockwise from middle) Warriors of Radness coastal trunk {sale!}, Wings + Horns shorts {sale!}, Filippa K t-shirt {sale!}, Warriors of Radness renegade pullover {sale!}

More Fashion Friday Romantic Caribbean Resort Wear Falling for Portland Runway Style