Video: 5 Steps for Stand-Up Paddling Success

[trip style = any]

Many moons ago, I learned to stand-up paddle {SUP} on vacation. Within seconds I was hooked—core strengthening and serenity, anyone?—which prompted me to paddle on every future vacation involving a body of water.

Eventually, SUP'ing only while away wasn't enough—I wanted to do the sport all the time!—so Mr. Trip Styler and I purchased two heavy-duty inflatable boards we store in our city condo and transport with us anywhere we want to glide on water {each board folds up into a big backpack}.

Fast forward seven years, a dog, and a baby later, and we still love it. While Dog Styler's a seasoned SUP pro, this summer, we're hoping Baby Styler can join in the fun. 

Thinking back to my favorite SUP-sational travels, the most calm and gorgeous place I learned was in the protected ocean lagoon at The Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii Island. So taken by the experience, I returned there on vacation a few months ago and shot this how-to SUP video for the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog.

PS - Don't miss my epic encounter with a curious turtle in the video below!

[photos by @tripstyler]

Travel Etiquette :: Using Airplane Bathrooms

[trip style = any]

I've been hanging out at 37,000 feet a lot lately, and you would NOT believe how many people I spot failing to follow b-a-s-i-c airplane bathroom etiquette. With this, I have a newfound side-mission: Make the world a cleaner and more courteous place, especially in the commode.  

With this, here are some key aircraft lavatory courtesies you should be considering {read: Following} while flying:

1/ Don't go to the bathroom with bare feet or in socks. AH! Wear shoes, or a pair of rubber-soled slippers you can slip into a shower cap post-flight and wash thereafter. 
---> You would not believe how many people I see entering or exiting the lavatories in socks. The response I wish I had the guts to ask these toilet trespassers: Did you bring a hazmat bag for your feet? 

2/ If there is a lineup, for goodness sake, be a gentlemen or gentlewoman and hold the door open for the next person. Don't let the springy door close on the next person as they are walking in.
--> I can't even tell you the amount of times someone has let the lav door slam into my face without even batting an eye or uttering "sorry." Oy.

3/ Ladies and GENTS: Always close toilet seat completely when you are done. {Oh, and while you're at it, remember to lock the door!}
--> And, if you're in there for awhile—catch my drift—double-flush to avoid leaving a mess in the bowl. If I had a penny for every time I opened the toilet to find, well, you do the math...

4/ Wash your hands AND drain the sink. The reason you have to drain the sink in the sky is so your dirty hand water doesn't slosh everywhere during turbulence.

5/ If you're traveling with an infant, bring scented, air-tight bags {some airlines supply these, most don't} to put dirty diapers in before throwing them in the trash. 

Finally, if you want to keep extra clean, pump the soap and use your wrists to turn on the tap. Once you're done washing, grab a towel to dry off and open the lavatory door with the towel, THEN throw it in the garbage. This way, you keep yourself and the aircraft a little more sanitary.

Mr. Clean would be proud! 

[photo sourced online via Daily Mail]

Gold service with Silvercar

[trip style = luxe]

Over the past six months I've had a series of car rental situations—far-from-the airport agencies, pushy agents, sketchy buildings, never-ending check-in lines—that have made me loathe hiring a vehicle for my travels.

Enter Silvercar, an all-Audi A4 fleet of rental vehicles with concierge pick-up and drop-off, in-car WiFi and GPS, roadside assistance, included baby seats {based on availability}, gas fill-up for only a $5 fee {+ fuel at pump price} and gold-standard service. Oh, and this is NOT an April fools' joke. 

Just before we left for Santa Barbara two weeks ago, Mr. Trip Styler and I were looking at car rental prices out of LAX and gasped at the higher-than-usual prices. Then we remembered an upscale car rental company we'd heard good things about. We weren't too worried about the price, as they offer heavy discounts for first-time users and incentives for return guests {see below}. Done and done; we'll travel in style {as we do} in La La Land.

Trip Styler Tip: Use this referral code MLNITRQA to earn $25 when you complete your first rental with Silvercar. Also, to get your FIRST DAY FREE, use the code loungebuddy.

Depending on the city—Silvercar is currently in 12 cities across the USA—you go right to the car at the airport and unlock it via the app. At LAX, we were picked up curbside and driven to a nearby facility, where we quickly got an overview of the vehicle. Once we signed out the car via the app, we were free to drive into the horizon, all-wheel drive and all.

PS. As longtime fans of TS are well aware, I only write about things I love, so no, this post is not sponsored. Silvercar is just an easy-on-the-nerves car rental service you NEED to know about. 

[photo via @TripStyler]