Cathay Pacific: Vancouver to Hong Kong

[trip style = luxury]

Also see 
*What it's like to fly aboard Cathay Pacific's latest-gen A350 aircraft on the Vancouver --> Hong Kong route! 
*A trip styled tour of the Cathay Lounge in Vancouver

With direct flights to New York and Hong Kong from Vancouver, flying Cathay Pacific has been a regular part of my life at 35,000 feet for the past 15 years. For both of these routes, I'm so Cathay-loyal, I won't fly any other carrier because the Hong Kong-based airline flies circles around its competitors when it comes to professionalism, graceful service and attention to detail—have you ever seen a red-suited Cathay flight attendant with so much as a hair out of place? 

While I've always flown economy with Cathay, the more I travel, the more I try and fly business class on transcontinental flights {as a frequent flier, the sleep-tential in fully flat seats is my sky survival}. Traveling to Hong Kong and Thailand in March, I did not have to go through my regular dance trying to sort out which points I could gather or upgrade fees I could fandangle to fly biz. Due to my four-year investment in Trip Styler, I was invited by Cathay to lie-flat in their business class and explore Asia. Obviously, I said yes because I'm already a fan of the airline. 

Before liftoff: Cathay's signature and antioxidant-enriching Original Breeze, combining sour plum tea and cranberry juice with honey, fresh lemon juice and rose water. It's as refreshing as it appears.

After nibbling on a few pre-flight bites in the Vancouver Cathay lounge for an hour, I boarded my bird in the wee hours of the night at 2.25am—the second of two daily, non-stop flights to Hong Kong from Vancouver. I dig this departure time because it fits nicely into the night-versus-day time-zone tango. You get on the plane tired, hopefully sleep, and arrive in Hong Kong 13 hours later at 7am as if you hadn't jumped a calendar day.

While I don't normally drink on flights due to alcohol's moisture-sapping effect, when in business class, you must celebrate with at least one flute of brut. So I did. After settling into pod 20c, cleansing my hands with a hot towel and placing my down comforter over my legs, I was ready to relax for night.

Since I was unable to take photos of myself sleeping, here's one to give you the gist

Knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep immediately, I clicked my TV button and a 15" screen appeared from the depths of my pod. Eyes fluttering in lala land, I half-watched two movies {Dallas Buyers Club and Diana} while nibbling on salad and fine cheese until my lids requested I manoeuvre my chair into the horizontal position. Almost asleep, I remember thinking my seat-bed was wide enough for my starfish-like sleep positions and long enough for a leggy supermodel; turns out it's one of the longest and widest provided on any commercial airline. 

Indulging in on-demand Haagen Dazs {obviously}

As the lights came on, the cabin filled with the scent of coffee and a multi-course breakfast arrived at my pod starting with tropical fruit, a croissant, yogurt and a landing 'elixir' blending papaya, kiwi, honey and mint.  

Fully awake and well fed, I slipped into the lavatory to check for pillow marks on my face and get Trip Styled for touchdown. I was met by a vase of orchids and citrus-scented Jurlique products, which I slathered over my skin while brushing my teeth. Now I was presentable enough for Hong Kong, where I'd spend a few days before taking a flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

Personal amenity kit by agnes b. with products from Jurlique

If you have airline status or fly in business class on a regular basis, you know that airline lounges—especially the flagship locations—are an INTEGRAL part of the jet-set experience, and in some cases make you long for a lengthy layover. 

The Wing

Such is the case with Cathay's The Wing lounge in the Hong Kong International Airport {one of six Cathay lounges at the airport}. At over 4,500 sf including the Business and First Class lounges, The Wing is a modern labyrinth dressed in Carrara marble, live bamboo, Italian leather, warm woods and 24 shower suites.

The Wing has many nooks and crannies. Trip Styler Tip: Explore the entire footprint before settling on a place to sit.

Shower Suite

Three spaces that made me wish my flight was delayed were The Noodle Bar, The Long Bar and The Coffee Loft. The Noodle Bar feels more like a woodsy-sleek and sun-filled restaurant than an airline lounge, and therein lies its brilliance. Though, at a restaurant you pull out your wallet and wait for your food. At The Noodle Bar, you peruse the made-to-order menu and your ramen or char sui bao is prepared in about three-to-five minutes at no cost. 

Made-to-order ramen in The Noodle Bar

The Long Bar is as it sounds, clocking in at 23 meters. Twenty five seats line the lengthy white-marble slab and when I perched myself at one of the leather bar seats, I found a stash of fresh-baked croissants to pair with my mimosa {it was 8am}.

The Long Bar

The Long Bar morning croissants

Finally, tucked into the far back corner of The Wing, The Coffee Loft is the newest addition to the mega-lounge sporting Foster bar stools, Knoll armchairs, and butter imported from France for the pastry selection. In the morning, real coffee is ground and frothed by a barista, and in the evening, the lights dim and the environs shimmies from cappuccinos to cocktails. And for the record, like on the plane, you can request a Haagen Dazs here, too. Cheers.

The Coffee Loft

The Skinny 

• From Canada: Cathay Pacific offers 17 non-stop flights per week between Vancouver and Hong Kong, and more than 10 non-stop flights per week between Toronto and Hong Kong, plus daily non-stop service between Vancouver and New York {JFK}.

• Approximate Fares: Vancouver/Hong Kong return, Economy Class $1,367, Premium Economy Class $2,321, Business Class $4,926, First Class $9,778.

• From the US: Cathay Pacific offers daily non-stop service to Hong Kong from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York {JFK & EWR}.

• Once in Hong Kong, connect to destinations such as Bali or Thailand with sister airline: Cathay Dragon.

Other Dispatches in this Series
Flying Well :: Cathay Pacific's Revolutionary A350
Style Inspiration :: The Pier Business + First Class Lounges in Hong Kong
First Look :: Cathay Pacific's GORGEOUS New Lounge at YVR
Hong Kong :: Instagram Diary
My Most Beautiful Meal in Hong Kong
6 Hong Kong Hints {that will make you want to book a ticket ASAP} 

[photos by trip styler—some courtesy Cathay Pacific Canada—taken while as a guest of the airline]

Suit Up :: 17 Tips For Stylish Travel

J.Crew has joined forces with filmmaker/cool guy Casey Niestat to promote its newest suit, the Ludlow Traveler, in a three-minute video called Travel With Style. The fast-paced film documents Niestat and the suit as they globetrot 12,000 miles via airplane, skateboard, motorcycle, boat, snowboard and surfboard. All of this while maintaining the suit's wrinkle-free appearance and while offering 17 tips for traveling in style.  

This film is right up our ... aisle.

Like all of us at Trip Styler, frequent flier Neistat believes that we should look our best when we fly. "Air travel is stressful and uncomfortable," he told Fast Company. "A lot of folks think 'Why not be comfy? I'm going to wear sweats and Uggs,' and those people aren't wrong, they just don't hold dignity above comfort. I do."

Here are a handful of our favorite tips from the film:

• Rest {It's the key to healthy travel}
• Change {Transition to a more comfortable outfit in flight, and freshen up before landing}
• Start Early {Don't waste an opportunity; you're only in a moment once}
• Make Friends {Talk to locals and immerse yourself in their culture}
• Wear a Suit {Look your best; you never know when you'll be invited to a soirée}

We don't have to dress to the nines when we fly, but there's wisdom in the words of Niestat. Dress for the occasion. Hold dignity above comfort. Bring skis.

*If you haven't seen his other globetrotting projects, check out Casey's films for Nike, Mercedes and 20th Century Fox. They'll make you want to take off without a plan.

[photo via j.crew]

Walt Disney World for GrownUPs

[trip style = food + wine + spa]

Right now I'm at Walt Disney World for the second time in six months. The irony is, I don't have kids {though I still sing songs from The Little Mermaid in the car, if that counts}?!?

Known to most kiddies as The Happiest Place on Earth, when I was at WDW in October for one of North America's top 15 Food and Wine Festivals, I discovered there's not only a place for adults, there's a secret stash of sips, spas and spectacles for those pining after youth {and its glow}.

Taken by Disney's sophisticated side, I returned home after my first trip and told everyone this: Whether you go as a multi-gen family, a group of friends or with your young kids, there's a ton of fairytale ways to indulge in Walt's lesser-known burrows starting with a glass of sauvignon blanc and ending with a steam bath.    

Here's a peek into Walt's grownUP world, cheers.

Spa
First things first, adult Disney has several spas, sans a Mickey silhouette in sight. There are two full-service spas at WDW; the first I recommend is Senses - a Disney Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, an oasis of calm layered in earthy tones and textures. Contemplating the spa pre-visit, I half expected to be met by a Mouseketeer masseur for my massage. My assumption was totally off. In reality, my attendant was as calm as the cucumbers covering my eyes, and his movements akin to lapping waves. Arrive early or stay late to extend the treatment in a heated chaise, whirlpool or steam room. A similar concept and design sensibility abounds at Senses - A Disney Spa at the Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, though here, there's an added glitz in the form of Murano glass chandeliers and silver-toned mirrors. I visited this spa yesterday with my mom for a mani-pedi, and we were luxuriating a total of four hours between our detail-oriented and indulgent nail work, and the steam-whirlpool-lounge relaxation area.

Lounging atop a heated chaise at Senses - A Disney Spa

Haute Dining
While I'm a huge fan of DOLE Whip, and Mr. Trip Styler can't get enough of Disney corn dogs, neither we nor our waistlines can survive on these park staples alone. Enter a world of upscale dining tucked behind the parks' buffets and concessions. My premier pick is Monsieur Paul in France at Epcot. Entering near the foot of the Eiffel Tower coupled with views over the Seine only adds to the haute couture and cuisine. My other top picks include: La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico, Spice Road Table in Morocco and the Rose & Crown Pub in England.

Dining at Monsieur Paul

Imbibing
As a Disneyland gal—a mostly dry park—drinking at Walt Disney World was an EPCOT-sized revelation. I could NOT believe you could drink at Disney, to the point where I asked several insiders the question 20 different ways to make sure I understood Walt's alcohol policy correctly. Case in point, the first thing I did when I arrived in October is wander out from my hotel to Disney's BoardWalk and order a cold brew at 11pm. When the park opened the next day, I hightailed it over to Epcot's World Showcase and sipped a flute of Champagne from the France Pavilion {a mini version of the City of Lights}, followed by a shot of tequila in Mexico, and so on. 

Trip Styler Tip: Epcot has 11 mini countries from Canada to Morocco in the World Showcase, each offering their own local bevs and bites. These mini cities are my Disney happy place {and a way to teleport yourself around the world in minutes}. 

Sipping Champagne in France

Spectacles 
Fireworks, usually reserved for special occasions, come standard at WDW. Every night the sky erupts in bright bursts with shows taking place at both Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. There's even a Disney outpost of Cirque du Soleil {La Nouba} if you'd prefer to pair the circus with your Cinderella experience.

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show at Epcot

Festivals 
Throughout the year WDW hosts a bevy of adult-oriented events ranging from world-class food and wine events to an annual marathon every January {WDW is the size of San Francisco}. I'm with Mickey and my mom right now for one of the parks' largest undertakings, the 21st annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival {Mar 5 - May 18, 2014}. To give you an idea of the scale, this event boasts 30 million blooms and carries a staff of 24,000 who work year-round to grow, trim and prepare the florals and finger-sized, garden-fresh fare, some of which is grown in Epcot's greenhouses. 

21st annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Quiet Pools
Some WDW resorts such as the Beach Club and the Yacht Club have quiet pools, meaning you can break in bliss. 

[photos by @tripstyler taken as a guest of Walter E. Disney]

Jetset Style :: Spring Fashion

In nature, a sure sign of Spring is an Instagram feed jammed with cherry blossoms {#notcomplaining}. In fashion, Spring trends don't stray too far from the blooms. Think of this season's floral trend as a form of urban camouflage amidst the blossoms. Spring also gives you permission to trade in black for white and boots for classic slip-ons {aka the fastest shoe for clearing airport security!}. To top off your Spring look, grab a pair of mirrored sunglasses, which I've seen popping up everywhere from the streets of Stockholm to the beaches of the North Shore. These four key styles will have you looking fresh this season, whether your plans include jetting off to Jakarta, road tripping around Reykjavik or pub crawling through Portland.

Men: Acne Studios roc satin trouser, Nudie Jeans fairtrade organic t-shirt
Women: Gap 1969 legging skimmer jeans, Acne Studios patti blouse

Men {left side}: Illesteva leonard round frame sunglasses, Oakley frogskins
Women {right side}: Acne Studios sunglasses, Wildfox classic fox deluxe sunglasses

Women: Creatures of Comfort tomlin dress, Zara floral sweatshirt
Men: Engineered Garments pocket square, Beams Plus linen popover

Women {left side}: Sam Edelman becker slip-on, Givenchy skate shoes
Men {right side}: Vans brushed twill slip-on 59, YMC slip-on plimsoles

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Weekend in Palm Springs

[trip style = sun + food + luxe + spa + active]

When I’m in need of a major dose of Vitamin D, I retreat into Palm Springs’ sunny embrace. Steeped in enough swagger and style to outlast the coolest cats in town—just about every big-name celeb has had a brush with Hollywood's first love, including the newest recruit, Leonardo Dicaprio—its effortless cool delivers from dawn till dusk. Here's where to lounge like an A-lister in the desert sun.

Trip Styler Tip: For full details, check out my styled suggestions in 48 hours in Palm Springs for the Expedia Viewfinder.

Day One

Breakfast

• Norma's for alfresco dining fuelled by complimentary smoothie shooters
• King's Highway order an iconic date shake with vanilla bean gelato in the former and upstyled Denny’s
• Cheeky's for the bacon flight alone {and the owner’s fave: crispy buttermilk waffles doused in salted butter and syrup}

Mid-morn
Stroll along North Palm Canyon Drive into the Uptown Design District to browse furniture stores akin to midcentury museums, and while you're in the place that popularized poolside cocktail parties, play the part in a scene-stealing dress or striped seersucker suit from desert-based designer Trina Turk---a shop so legit, you're offered a chilled mimosa upon entering.

Noon
Check into Korakia Pensione, and if your room isn't prepped—check-in is technically in the later afternoon—cool off under the shade of an umbrella beside one of two saltwater pools at the Mediterranean-inspired retreat.

Mid-aft 
Replenish your sun-scorched electrolytes at the Lemonade Stand deep in the citrus grove at The Parker Palm Springs. Sit and sip a muddled lemon bev of your choosing at the chic white marble bar, or under the shade of a tangerine and yellow umbrella. And since you’re on vacation, head a few steps leeward to PSYC {Palm Springs Yacht Club}, a nautical-themed spa offering a co-ed dipping pool and boozy pre-treatment shots.

Drinks
Since you’re already at The Parker, saddle up to the six-seat Mini Bar for a tipple.

Dinner
Satisfy your stomach at Birba, an alfresco pizza and pasta place warmed by the wood-burning pizza oven and a bevy of outdoor fireplaces. Birba is my first dinner stop every single time I lollygag in Palm Springs.

Day Two

Breakfast
Korakia Pensione includes breakfast in one of the most gorgeous settings in the Coachella Valley: a spot next to a fountain under the shade of orange trees. Bite into a rotating menu of dishes like rustic potatoes paired with eggs and multigrain toast.

Mid-morn
Since Palm Springs and modernism mingle in the same circles---it's home to the country's largest concentration of the throwback structures and style---check out some of the homes that have helped to make the city famous. Look up Robert Imber at Palm Springs Modern Tours or stop by the Palm Springs Visitors Center for a $5 map of Modern Palm Springs. Both the DIY and hosted tours are excellent; choose one based on how much time you want to spend drooling over design.

Early-aft
The San Jacinto Mountains, visible from nearly every sun-scorched vantage point, beg to be conquered. Rev your heartbeat and score a killer view of the Coachella Valley hiking one of the many trails that start along the edge of town. Talk to your hotel concierge for a list of nearby trailheads.

Mid-aft
You're in Palm Springs, so spending time by your hotel pool is not only encouraged, but expected.

Dinner
Toast your last night of desert decadence at one of Palm Springs’ most iconic addresses, the ever-hip Purple Palm Restaurant and Bar. Named in a nod to the hotel’s original owner—a mob boss and member of the Purple Gang—the elegant eatery is perched next to the Colony Palms Hotel pool.

[photos by @tripstyler, except mini bar via Parker Palm]