10 Travel Tips for Every Trip Style

[trip style = any]

Recently, I've been traveling a lot on planes, trains and automobiles, partaking in a variety of different trip styles: glamping, urban, sightseeing, sun, beach, sailing, luxe and budget. On a recent trip to NYC, I couldn't sleep because I was severely jetlagged just having come home from Australia, so in a sudden moment of 4am inspiration, I started to compile the below list of simple, and {hopefully} helpful travel tips, applicable to any trip style.

10 Travel Tips For Any Trip Style 1/ Smartphone = Mirror If your hotel room has no full-length mirror, which is sadly more common than you'd think, check your outfit by taking a picture of yourself with your smarphone or digi cam. Edit your look based on the picture.

2/ Slip It Always bring washable slippers on vacation. They work well for hotels that don't provide them, as well as keep you cozy on the plane {never, never walk to the bathroom in sox or bare feet}. I usually bring old hotel slippers, which amazingly, wash really well.

3/ Wrap It For those of you who read Trip Styler regularly, you know my deep affinity for pashminas and oversized scarves for travel. Use this multi-purpose wonder as a scarf, plane blanket, beach towel or pool/beach cover-up. Recently, my pashmina also came in handy when I walked home from my Canada Line {Vancouver's airport to downtown train} station post-flight. I wore it like this to protect my head from the rain.

4/ Wipe it You never know when wipes will come in handy. Every time I travel, whether the trip style is adventure, urban or anything in between, there's always an opportunity to use wipes. They are great for cleaning sticky food from your hands, sanitizing anything or having an impromptu shower in the airport's bathroom.

5/ Back-Up Always travel with back-up of your travel itinerary and photocopy of essential travel documents. I use the Tripit app to compile my travel itinerary digitally, but having a physical back-up is great when your phone is about to die, etc...

6/ H20 Stay healthy on the road. For the duration of your entire trip, from lift-off to touch-down, keep drinking water to flush your system. As well, consider taking a daily emergen-c vitamin supplement pack {or like product} to make sure your immune system is in tip-top shape for your cross-border galavanting.

7/ When In Rome This is one of my favourite all-time sayings. It also acts as a call to action for travelers. When abroad, there is nothing sweeter than attempting to live like a local, diving head first into the culture. For example, in New York: walk everywhere, dress-up for dinner and try to find a roof-top terrace to enjoy a drink, or in Italy: eat dinner at 9pm and go for it with the pasta. You can always work off the pounds when you return.

8/ Blend Be yourself and stay true to a version of your style, but try to blend in, so you don't become a tourist target. This is a lot easier said than done, but when possible, not sticking out like a soar thumb will only help your case as a tourist. Practically speaking, I usually observe what people are wearing, and if I like it, buy one or two pieces of clothing as a blending technique and trip momento.

9/ Suggestion Dominos Start with people you trust when asking for travel suggestions in your destination. Once there, if there's a restaurant you like, ask the server or manager where they'd suggest, and so on. Wild card: for true local faves, ask cab drivers or hotel workers where they like to eat.

10/ Let's Get Physical Always get a local map in case there’s no wifi, or your phone dies. Fold it so you only need to look at a small portion every time you take it out. Though I'm a huge lover of all things digital and app-related, having a physical document as a back-up does provide that extra bit of insurance.

Travel App Tuesday :: Vancouver Street Food

[trip style = urban] Street food is getting hotter than picante salsa! All the cool cities have trucks, from NYC to LA and Portland to Vancouver. If you don't believe me, just look to ABC's new hit Friends-like show Happy Endings. Dave, one of the sitcom's main characters owns a street food truck. There's even a Food Network show on the topic {which I'd so rather watch than Man vs Food!}. Now that you're up on your street food pop culture....

It's also trendy for restaurants to expand their kitchens into trucks as well. I was dining at C Restaurant in Vancouver the other night, and the manager told me they're working on a street food truck project. Similarly, La Brasserie's restauranteur has also started a popular food truck, aptly named, La Brasserie Street {twitter link @labrasseriest}.

For those of you who think truck food is akin to those little make-shift BBQs on side streets or markets in Asia, think again. Food trucks are using gourmet twists to lure people outside of restaurants and onto the street! Case in point, one of Vancouver's pioneer and most famous food trucks, Roaming Dragon, serves items like basil lychee lemonade, chicken karaage and fried rice balls.

Here are some apps that will help you stay up-to-date on Vancouver's Food Truck scene:

Vancouver Street Food - See which food carts are nearby, open and most popular. Find up-to-the-minute opening hours, locations, contact information, etc... Requires wifi connection.

Eat St. - Redering results in Vancouver and beyond, Eat St. connects you to the best street food in your city {in North America}. Requires wifi connection.

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Other Travel Apps Every Tuesday we feature a new travel app. Don’t forget to peruse the other 75+ travel apps we’ve reviewed from travel first aid, to luxury and boutique hotel finders, to border waits and trip itinerary management. Here are the most recent:

• livingsocial escapes
• Free Wifi Finders
• Hail a Taxi
• Groupon
• Travel Apps Nominated for a Webby Award

Tea, Tim Tams & Tides

[trip style = cruising + sun + active] {more pictures below}

For as long as I can remember, I've been a little obsessed with Australia's Whitsunday Islands. Tales of tropical bush, endless sandbars and sun-soaked waters filled with a gazillion fish was embroidered into the fabric of my wandering self. Like a child, I even added some of my own imaginary touches to the stories, like bands of wild white horses running along Whitehaven Beach. It was settled. If I ever made the transcontinental trek to Australia, sailing the Whitsundays must be on my itinerary. So, it came to be earlier this month.

Almost Cancelled I'm not going to sugar coat this: I was PETRIFIED to go sailing. Not because I'm scared of the water or boats---I LOVE the ocean---but after my wild trip returning from Wilson Island the day prior, in a moment of seasickness-induced insanity, I almost cancelled my upcoming Whitsunday sailing trip. The ocean was so rough on the way back from Wilson, my skin turned a shade of 90's-inspired pale green, and I started making luxuriant decisions to charter a helicopter to the mainland and cancel any further boat activities for the rest of my Aussi trip. Once I felt better, I realized I may have overreacted just a little.

Sail Away One day later, armed with a bevvie of meds---including a slow-release sea sickness patch that made me a little high and unable to read anything up close---we boarded a 46-foot, $1.6 million dollar sailing catamaran at Airlie Beach. It was almost sunset and were were on a tight schedule chasing the end-of-day light, so when we met our skipper, there were a few quick hellos, the swift removal of shoes {certain shoes can make you slip on a sailboat's surface} and we were off, literally sailing into the sunset.

The Boat The boat had a gleaming white exterior, sails that soared and an interior that mingled rich woods and plush cream seating. Nestled into the opposite end of each pontoon, there were four rooms with included baths, and just below deck an indoor eating area and galley with outdoor overflow seating. Aptly, there was a barbecue fitted to the stern of the boat which was used the first night to grill chicken.

Chill Thankfully, everyone on our sailing vessel was on island time, perfectly chilled-out like a good rose. We ate together, drank together, hiked together and snorkeled together, and if you think that's a little too close for comfort, oddly it wasn't. Our two-night itinerary provided the right mix of sightseeing and sailing, and the size of the boat lent itself to a tried and tested dose of togetherness and solo moments.

Tea, Tim Tams & Tides After hiking up to a Whitehaven vantage point, we sailed near the famed beach to stand-up paddleboard and stroll along the never-ending shore. Whitehaven holds up to, if not exceeds the way it appears in pictures. Its sand could easily be mistaken for the sugar---think Splenda consistency---you put in your morning coffee. And though I didn't see any of my imaginary white horses running down the beach, I may have seen a unicorn... :)

The remainder of the voyage at sea was met with an island-esque sandbar that appeared and disappeared with tidal flow, dolphin pods swimming by night, snorkeling in hidden coves---one of which I swear I saw in the movie Knight and Day---and an impromptu {and apropos} tea and Tim Tam ceremony {Tim Tams are a world-famous, chocolate-covered Australian cookie often eaten with a cup of tea}. I'm not sure what we were celebrating during this ceremony of sorts, though with all our adventures above and below water, this simple moment was probably the finest.

What to know

• Most Whitsunday sailing trips provide food, but you must bring your own alcohol.
• Even if you don't get seasick, bring medication like Gravol. If you get really motion sick, talk to a Pharmacist ('Chemist' in Aussie speak) about the Transderm-V patch or something similar.
• Depending on the season, you'll have to wear a stinger suit or wetsuit in the water to guard against jelly fish stings.
• Regardless of the season, you may feel tiny stings from other creatures while swimming in the ocean.
• Choose a sailing trip that matches your trip style. Whitsunday Sailing Adventures or Sailing Whitsundays are good places to start.
• If you prefer to explore in style, charter a mid-size motor yacht.

Pictures {The boat.}

{The indoor seating area and galley.}

{Our cabin, with a small standing/changing area in front of the bed.}

{The attached bathroom/heads. The faucet turned into a shower.}

{Whitehaven Beach, view from above.}

{Whitehaven Beach.}

{The "disappearing" sand island, aka, One Foot Island.}

{View from the boat of One Foot Island.}

{Sunset.}

{Drinking tea and eating Tim Tams.}

{Last day, the view.}

Australia Month Planning a Trip Up Australia’s East Coast JetSet Jingles :: Australia Spotlight :: Syndey Ultimate Urban Adventures & the Sydney BridgeClimb Heavenly Huts :: Wilson Island Tea, Tim Tams & Tides :: Whitsunday Islands {today} thirty-two and a small q :: Hamilton Island {friday}

Fashion Friday :: Festival Style

[trip style = sun]

We all know that music festivals go hand in hand with denim cut-offs, boho style and beer gardens, but did you ever think about how they go hand in hand with portable toilets? I didn't until I found out that next year's Glastonbury Festival would be cancelled due to lack of toilettes. Why, you ask? Because the London 2012 Olympic Games needs them all. Well, to be exact, they need lots and lots of potties and police, thereby making them unavailable or too expensive for Glastonbury. Now that your music festival trivia is out of the way, let's talk fashion.

What better reason to travel than live music? And what better reason to dive into your parents' clothes from the 70s than a festival? Festival fashion has always been pretty hippie inspired. Maybe because there's an inherent homage to Woodstock and Deadheads in festival history. When dressing for a festival, you have to think practicality first. What's the forecast? What are the grounds like? How long will you be on your feet? How much do you want to bring in and out with you? What is forbidden inside the gates?

Clothing Comfort and style. Ladies: denim cut-offs, tank, tunic, midi skirt, roomy cropped t-shirt. If you opt for a skirt or dress, you may want to wear little Lycra shorties underneath. Gentlemen: long denim cut-offs, rolled khakis, tank, t-shirt. And don't forget an extra layer for cooler evening sets!

Footwear Boots were big at Coachella this year, and traditionally galoshes are big at Glastonbury due to muddy conditions. Other footwear choices include flip flops and beaded sandals, but stay away from anything with a heel - even a wedge. And sneakers or Toms are always appropriate for ladies and gents.

Headwear & Eyewear Fedoras are popular picks for guys and gals because they shield your face, and they're not so big that you knock hats with your neighbour. Other looks to try: a panama, a boater (Anne of Green Gables-style hat), or a floppy straw hat. OR you could fashion your evening scarf/cover-up into a turban. And don't forget to protect your pupils. Festivals are a great excuse to try out trendy styles like candy-coloured, cat-eye or round frames.

Bags You don't want to bring anything that will weigh down on your shoulder. You also want to be hands free in case it's appropriate to throw some diamonds in the sky. Oh, and safety first! Keep your valuables in front of you.

Trip Styler Tip: Lockers can be a festival lifesaver, according to Nicole. They enable you to store any non necessities that don't fit in your small cross-body purse, hip sack or backpack, like sunscreen, a footwear alternative and a warm layer. Check in advance if the festival you're attending has them. For example, Coachella and Bonnaroo have lockers, while this weekend's Sasquatch does not.

Now what to wear? Men (top to bottom from top left) Saturdays collett stripe boat neck, Saturdays tommy chino short, ASOS clubmaster sunglasses, Vans canvas authentic classic, Rag & Bone panama fedora, Polo Jeans chambray shirt

Women (clockwise from top middle) Madewell chambray sightseer skirt, Ralph Lauren keyhole printed sunglasses, Babooshka boat neck oversize, Rag & Bone wide brim beach hat, American Gold gold dust kimono, Tristessa tiered skirt (vintage), Carolina K hanging gardens tank, ASOS printed dress with split sleeves, Madewell garment-dyed midi shorts, ASOS wide headband scarf

More Fashion Friday Tribal Inspiration Spring Mini Break Resort Wear Cozy in the City

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

Travel Trends :: Mini Guidebooks

[trip style = multiple]

We've all read the Lonely Planets, Rick Steeves, Frommers and Moon travel guidebooks of the world. Heck, we might even have a wack of old editions, circa 1997, collecting dust on a bookshelf. Not surprisingly, guidebooks are going compact, like Smart Cars. Following the trend of minifying everything from airline meals to gadgets, guidebooks have shrunk too. Maybe the classic 1989 Disney movie, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, was ahead of its time?

Paperbacks There's still a time and a place for larger format paperback guidebooks, after all, with every new year comes an updated edition. Almost every time I've traipsed onto foreign soil, I've read a guidebook before departing. Why? Because I want to be educated on the destination's customs, history, neighbourhoods, hotels, must-sees and restaurants, to hit the ground running and avoid being a tacky tourist. I just wish some of these guidebooks had pull-out sections that I could bring abroad rather than the whole book!

Mini Guides People seem to want smaller, low-profile guides they can bring with them on holidays that can slipped in and out of their cross-body bag or backpack without drawing too much attention. Something light and functional, versus big and bulky. Something concise and concrete, versus longwinded and wordy. With this in mind, here are two mini travel guides leading the charge:

LUXE City Guides: LUXE isn't for everyone. Its penmanship is sassy and its suggestions are saucy. All in all, it's a fun gen-X and Y-targeted guidebook about the size of 3 credit cards stacked on top of each other, telling the who's who, where to go. I've used LUXE's guides for Sydney and NYC, and have been impressed with the fantastic and frank stay, eat and do suggestions. > Books from $9.99 usd, and 12-book box sets from $110 usd. > There's an app for that: free for 'lite' version, $5.99 for full version.

Louis Vuitton City Guides: Even if Louis' monogrammed brand of luxury isn't your thing, don't dismiss the guides, even if it's just for their well known illustrations alone. With 30 European guides, the Fashion House has also come out with editions for NYC, LA, Miami, Tokyo, Kyoto and Mumbai. > 9-Book, 30-city box set from $150 usd.

And don't forget, if you're really set on traveling light, there's always an app for that with most guidebook publishers joining the app craze.

More Travel Trends Ultimate Urban Adventures Curated Luxury Hotel Lists Choose Your Own Adventure Your Extended Backyard