Holiday Gift Guide 2013

This post is written by Trip Styler fashion and lifestyle writer Heather.

You won't find a Kindle in our holiday gift guide — everyone else has that covered. You won't find Rimowa luggage or Louis Vuitton city guides either {cha-ching!}. You will, however, find 10 practical and moderately priced gift ideas for avid and armchair travelers. Merry Christmas and happy holidays from Trip Styler!

1/ KILLSPENCER Camera Strap This made-to-order camera strap by Los Angeles leather goods company KILLSPENCER is the perfect accessory for the safety- and style-conscious shutterbug. {$89}

2/ Stephen Kenn Encounter Collection iPad Case This gorgeous iPad sleeve by LA-based Canadian designer Stephen Kenn is crafted from vegetable-tanned leather. It's the ideal case for tablet-toting men and women and a Trip Styler favorite. {$85}

3/ dci Utility Charge Tool A genius device for avid travelers and mobile device users, this multi-charger is the Swiss Army Knife of the electronics world. One arm connects to your computer with a usb and three other arms charge your devices via an iPhone connector, a micro usb and a mini usb. Sadly, no bottle opener. {$16}

4/ Fresh Sugar Lemon Eau de Parfum Rollerball This compact and versatile rollerball is one of my all-time favorite scents. Whether I need to freshen up after a long flight or get energized before my morning coffee, this sweet citrus perfume with notes of bergamot, yuzu, orange blossom and lychee always does the trick. And in a pinch, it's the perfect deodorant substitute. {$23}

5/ Frends Headphones Want to kick up your headphone game? Nothing makes me want to ditch my earbuds more than these jewelry-inspired white leather and rose gold-tone headphones. {$150}

6/ Earth Tu Face Skin Stick Goodbye dry skin. Apply this 100% natural plant-based skin salve to your face, lips and body. Earth Tu Face was created by two herbalists in California and has quickly developed a cult following. It's so popular, this multi-use skin stick is constantly sold out at my local retailer. {$34}

7/ Nike Free 5.0+ Running Shoes These ultra lightweight and comfortable runners in classic black and white are the perfect shoes for travel. Not only can you wear them this winter with boyfriend jeans, an oversized sweater, a toque and a wool coat, you can also wear them to the hotel gym. No need to waste space on extra workout shoes in your carry-on. Customize them online for an extra-special gift! {$100}

8/ Cuyana Monogrammed Leather Tote A step up from the preppy-chic, monogrammed Lands End carry-all, this tote is made from local leather in Argentina and comes in various sizes and colors. Simple, personal and well made. {$150}

9/ Turkish Towel Ideal for the beach, a picnic, the plane and anywhere else you could use this compact, fast-drying cotton towel. I brought one to Croatia earlier this year and used it constantly. Comes is various colors, sizes and styles. {$18-$28}

10/ Restoration Hardware Bag Light Every Christmas Restoration Hardware carries the best items you never knew you needed, like this mini LED light that attaches to the strap of your handbag. Sure to save you the embarrassment of jingling your bag to look for your keys every day! {$8}

Trip Styler Tip: Personalize your presents by printing out your favorite Instagram photos and cutting or punching them into gift tags. DIY tutorial here.

2012 Gift Guides
Now Boarding :: Trip Styler's December Gift Guide
KinderHop :: Gifts For Families On The Go
Tis The Season Of Beauty

[graphics by @heatherlovesit]

It's a Wrap

[trip style = weekend getaway + urban]

Every Christmas season Seattle decks their halls with twinkly lights, iconic "red cup" bevvies and holiday cheer. Not so coincidentally, every year I take my sleigh down to the Emerald City to immerse myself in its red- and green-themed spirit, and play Santa during a hot chocolate-fueled shop-a-thon.

This year I was asked by the W Seattle's elves to experience their just-released It's a Wrap Holiday Package. On during weekends until January 12th, the package includes all the fixings for a festive getaway, including: - a Fabulous Corner King room - valet parking {$40 savings per night} - complimentary gift wrapping for three gifts {Saturdays} - a Saturday "Wrappy Hour" at TRACE Bar, seasoned with holiday treats like a snickerdoodle cocktail paired with gingerbread snowflake cookies, and the live sounds of a Grammy award-winning nouveau jazz artist - a $50 gift card from a major credit card company and a $50 gift certificate to University Village---think: Aritzia, Madewell, Mercer, Jonathan Adler, Anthropologie, J.Crew, etc. {per stay} - a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter shuttle to and from University Village {Saturdays} - WiFi <<<< Find FULL It's a Wrap Holiday Package details here >>>>

In my job, I'm lucky enough to spot a world of travel offers, and the reason I'm telling you about this one is because it's festive, fun and cha-ching it offers a good perks {plus the guestrooms have Bliss Spa products and the W's beds are uber-comfy}. As a HUGE fan of experience-based gifts, this is a getaway I'd want to receive under the tree this season.

Trip Styler Tip: At the time of writing, all weekends offered during this package are available. Rates start at $200/night and there's a two-night minimum.

Here's a short video of my Wrappy weekend.

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[photos and video by trip styler taken while as a guest of starwood hotels; view my strict editorial parameters here]

Leaving Las Vegas {Healthier Than I Arrived}

healthy las vegas

[trip style = active + weekend getaway + urban + sun]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to our friends down South! Here at the Vancouver, Canada-based TS headquarters, we toast your fine-feathered cocktail of turkey, beer and football. Enjoy!

When Lady Luck started shaking her sequins and stomping---in stilettos no less---down the Las Vegas Strip, she wasn't thinking about burning calories or reaching 10,000 steps a day. Ye-Old-Days Lady Luck was too busy sipping scotch on the rocks and sucking back cigarettes. Flash forward to today, and modern Lady Luck still chinwags with the same crowd, yet in her time-refined wisdom, she's picked up a healthy trick or two RUNning the Strip.

Like Lady Luck, I've learned a thing or two on the road, and am pretty protective about maintaining my wellness while I wander. With health on my mind, on my recent trip to Vegas, I was surprised to leave healthier than when I arrived. While most people don't travel to Sin City to sip smoothies, eat spinach salads and workout more than they go out, I made it my mission to test wellness on the Strip without sacrificing a smashing cocktail or Michelin-starred cuisine.

Here's how to stay well while under the LV spell:

run the LV strip

1/ Run the Strip Jogging the LV Strip is a thing. Rise and shine early enough in the AM---from 6am to 8am---and you'll see a ton of fit cats chasing last night's calories down LV Blvd. Bonus: most of the hotels blast music, so no is iPod required.

spa in las vegas + detox

2/ Detox at the Spa I've had TREATments at most of the major sp-ahs lining the Neon City's most glitzy stretch. Recently, I re-familiarized myself with these cocoons of calm and wrote about a private Turkish Hammam and other must-soothe experiences in Las Vegas Spa Hopping for the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog.

yoga among dophins las vegas

3/ Yoga among the Dolphins There's yoga, and then there's yoga practiced between a circular viewing area below Vegas' only dolphin habitat. The second you arrive nature's miracle mammals perk up and come to greet you like kids waiting for their parents at the airport. Dolphins dig yoga, so there's a parallel play synergy that takes place as I sink into warrior pose while the pod floats by. Classes are offered Fri - Sun mornings and cost $50 {which also includes a post-yoga smoothie and day access to the Mirage's spa pools and heat havens}.

las vegas MO hotel

4/ Hotel Most travelers I talk to aren't aware that Vegas has a few non-gaming hotels. Translation: no slots in sight! My favorite of the few is the Mandarin Oriental. See my review in Trip Styler's latest Roam+Board hotel feature.

bacchanal buffet caesars

5/ Eat well In the past five years, Vegas has turned into a foodie destination worthy of the 50+ world-renowned chefs whose restaurants season the Strip. Case in point, while I was there, I sipped cognac three feet away from Guy Savoy at his namesake restaurant. One of the newest eateries you "knead" to know about is Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace. Before you write us off for even mentioning a buffet, think of it like more like a collection of nine restaurants manned by chefs who've all worked in Michelin-starred restaurants. Yes there are stations, yes there are 600 seats, but it also boasts a hearty list of awards to back up its baking and made-to-order dishes.

Trip Styler Tip: While I'm not a huge Starbucks fan, if you want to eat a healthy snack on the go, Seattle's coffee institution can be found around every corner offering a bevy of fresh-prepared and reasonably priced snacks mingling fruit, veggies, cheese and nuts.

[photos by @tripstyler]

Spotlight :: Amsterdam

[trip style = urban + sightseeing]

This post is written by Trip Styler fashion and lifestyle writer Heather.

Forty-eight hours in Amsterdam is not enough. It's not enough time to eat street waffles, stroll past romantic canals, visit brightly colored tulip fields, drink Heineken in Vondelpark, gaze at stylish cyclists, take in the city's museums, or put your finger on exactly what makes Amsterdam so cool. This spring I took advantage of KLM's free stopover option while traveling from Vancouver to Barcelona. Best decision ever.

Eat
Amsterdam is full of chic restaurants, street eats and gorgeous cafés. Foodie must-eats include Vlaamse frites {Belgian fries covered in mayonnaise}, stroopwafels {two thin, warm waffles filled with caramel syrup} and Dutch pancakes {huge, thin pannenkoeken or small, icing sugar-covered poffertjes}.

A Dutch take on Italian and Spanish: pizza at Mazzo and tapas at Mercat, two popular restaurants from Amsterdam's IQ Creative group.

The most stylish café in the city. Linger over espresso and design books at Roomservice inside Hôtel Droog, an Amsterdam design shop, gallery, café, one-room hotel and collection of boutiques. Trip Styler approved!

Trip Styler Tip: Looking for coffee and a place to rest and recharge? Be careful what you ask for. Coffee shops and cafés are not the same thing in Amsterdam {coffee shop = marijuana / café = coffee}.

Stay
Hotels in Amsterdam are among the most expensive in Europe, but it's possible to find a stylish stay that won't break the bank. Look for a hotel inside the canal ring if location is your top priority. I stayed in the trendy Jordaan neighborhood, which was the perfect spot for a solo stopover. For a uniquely Amsterdam stay, look for a houseboat.

Hotel The Exchange and The Lloyd Hotel and Cultural Embassy {pictured above} are unique properties that offer rooms from 1 to 5 stars {Amsterdam's answer to the Ace Hotel chain}. The former is a small hotel steps from the train station with rooms designed by fashion students; the latter is a 100-year-old building---once an emigrant hotel, a prison and artist studios---in the up-and-coming Eastern Docklands neighborhood.

Do
I could have easily spent a week touring this extremely liveable city. I'll say it again: 48 hours is not enough. I'm already plotting my return.

I barely had enough time to explore Amsterdam's delightful 17th-century city center on two feet. Two wheels is a different story, and happens to be Amsterdam's favorite mode of travel. Bicycles are easy to rent and fun to ride. Bonus: the city is flat and covered in 400+ kilometers of bike lanes! Visit Amsterdam Noord and the Eastern Docklands if you're on two wheels.

You can really get your culture on in Amsterdam. Don't miss out on the big four: the Stedelijk Museum {pictured above}, the Anne Frank House and the recently reopened Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum {pictured at very top}.

Trip Styler Tip: If you plan on visiting more than two museums, choose one of the three multi-museum passes offered in the city.

A good way to restrain your shopping habits is to visit Amsterdam with only a carry-on to your name. Whatever you buy, you carry around Europe for three weeks! That didn't stop me from exploring The Nine Streets, a boutique-filled shopping area in the canal ring, De Bijenkorf department store for Holland's version of Nordstrom, The Frozen Fountain for crazy-cool furniture and home accessories and the Target-like HEMA for everyday essentials.

Related
Fashion Friday :: Cycle Chic
Fashion Friday :: White Chucks
Travel Trend :: Pod Sleepovers

[all photos taken by @heatherlovesit]

Carry-on Creature Comforts

[trip style = any]

While flying the skies at 40,000 feet---from where I pen this---I'm reminded of a few simple things that can change your personal flight path from turbulent to terrific. I call these travel creature comforts, and I cart them whether I'm flying in econo or biz class. While lie-flat seats and first class pods do come with extra travel doodads like moisturizing eye masks {thanks JAL}, seats-slash-massage chairs {thanks Emirates} or down comforters {thanks Virgin Atlantic}, nothing can replace---not even a flute of Dom---the things you love and need. Here's what I swear by in the sky!

Trip Styler Tip :: Always keep a carry-on comfort kit packed so it's ready to go when you're frazzled with last-minute trip prep!

1/ Non-scented hand cream I coat my hands and arms pre- and mid-flight and dab a touch beside my eyes when my skin starts to feel crunchy and dry. Ultra-moisturizing, high-quality hand cream can mean the difference between sapped and supple inflight skin {read: plane soap and cabin air are uber-drying}. Trip Styler loves: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment {$15}

2/ Earplugs or noise-cancelling earbuds For those times when you just want to doze off or drown out the noise around you... I can't tell you how often I slip in my earplugs or buds; they're often the make-or-break item between a peaceful and frenzied flight. Trip Styler loves: 3M Foam Earplugs {$1}

3/ Scarf or shawl Airplanes' heating and cooling systems often operate in extremes: frigid or hot. Personally, I get cold on every single flight---it's like the Arctic up there. Instead of schlepping a down parka on the plane, I bring one or two pashminas or shawls, which double as blankets, hats or neck warmers to keep my temperature regulated. Trip Styler loves: Nordstrom Cashmere-Blend Wrap {$80}. Note: I also suggest traveling with a cheaper wrap---one you can throw around and not fret if it gets snagged or dirty.

4/ Water bottle I was just on a four-hour flight and was offered a glass of water ONCE. Dearest airlines: we're people, not camels! To ensure I have enough H2O, I always bring a collapsible water bottle to rehydrate inflight. Once I drink it dry, it takes up zero space in my bag. Trip Styler loves: Vapur Travel Anti-Bottle {$10}

5/ Toothbrush Whether you have cat-tongue from not drinking or eating for a few hours, or just noshed a plate of mystery airplane food, brushing your teeth before landing is the 40,000-ft equivalent of a shower. Trip Styler loves: Colgate Wisp Mini-Brush with Freshening Bead {$5 for 16}

6/ Mints It helps to follow up the aforementioned toothbrush with a mint for long-lasting fresh breath. Trip Styler loves: Altoids Curiously Strong Mints, Cinnamon - Pack of 12 {$20}

7/ Sox 'n' slippers For any flight over four hours, I bring socks and washable slippers to keep my feet warm. Don't go to the lavatory barefoot or only wearing socks -- slippers or shoes are a must! Trip Styler loves: Hotel slippers---wash after use and air dry! {free}

8/ Eye drops To keep my peepers full of pep, I throw in eye drops at the flight's end to combat the dry and red-rimmed effects of flying. Trip Styler loves: Visine Maximum Redness Relief {$6.60}

9/ Eye brightener My makeup artist friend told me I had to get a MAC nude eye pencil to rim the inside of my eyes -- the waterline -- so I look human {vs alien} after a long flight or jet lag. Trip Styler loves: MAC Chromagraphic {Nude} Pencil in NW20 {$29}

Honorable Mentions Hand sanitizer, eye mask or sunglasses, dry shampoo

/\/\/\/\/\ What are your inflight musts? /\/\/\/\/\

[graphic by @tripstyler; photos sourced online]