Blog — Trip Styler
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Scenery + Sizzle: Zion National Park x Vegas

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Zion National Park + Trip Styler

[trip style = steal + active + adventure]

A few months ago, Mr. Trip Styler and I jet-set to Utah {by way of Vegas} for the weekend on an Expedia x US National Parks assignment. 

Our mission: Zion National Park, aka, the perfect trip styled fit since I've had my eye on Utah and its epic national parks for a long time. And, with Vegas being the closest gateway city, the woodland was easy to reach, and BONUS, allowed us to pair a side of sizzle with our trip into the sticks.  

Our five-day, four-night adventure saw us spending three nights in Springdale, UT—a small town cozied up to Zion's South Rim Entrance—and a final night in Vegas. Our plan: Go nuts in nature, followed by a bit of pool time under the desert sun.

Trip Styler Tip: Vegas has a number of non-gaming hotels sans smoke and slots, so YES, it is possible to relax to the max in the Glitter Gulch. My favorite trip style = luxe address: The Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, a hotel that redefines Vegas-chic. 

Here's a rundown of our highly-recommended getaway blending two trip styles I'm crazy over: active/adventure + luxe. {See more photos + hiking suggestions and a stylish packing prescription in the Expedia Viewfinder.}

[All photos taken while on assignment for Expedia x US National Parks' Centennial celebration. Mandarin Oriental pool photo via hotel website. Note: This trip is highly recommended, and if you're a longtime TS reader you know that I reserve the best for TS, and only my hottest picks are published.]

First Look: Cathay Pacific's GORGEOUS New Lounge at YVR

New Cathay Pacific Lounge Vancouver, BC

[trip style = luxury]

See What it's like to fly aboard Cathay Pacific's latest-gen A350 aircraft on the Vancouver --> Hong Kong route! 

If you follow TS, you know Cathay Pacific ranks among my high-flying faves. Any airline that offers lotion in the Economy Class lavatories and has flight attendants who go above and beyond to ensure you have a pleasant flight—even to guests at the back of the plane—hovers at a Cloud 9-level in my trip styling books.

If the economy experience is this nice, imagine what it's like to jet-set in Business Class with Cathay {wonder no more, here's what it's like to fly + lounge in Cathay Biz Class}. 

Having experienced a taste of their Life Well Travelled experience around the globe, including the flagship lounge in Hong Kong, I was ecstatic to learn the Asia-based airline would be doing a top-to-bottom UPdo of their Vancouver lounge, including relocating it to a larger and re-envisioned space, in a nod to the market's importance and key role in the airline's growing business.

Last week I attended the grand opening of the 5,500-square-foot space, and I immediately felt at home with its sleek and woodsy design, floor-to-ceiling views of the coastal mountains, and Cathay's signature: The Noodle Bar.

Outfitted with shower rooms, food to fit every time-traveled guest and a zen physique, I considered asking if they needed an "artist in residence," but I decided I'd wait fly in Business Class again. Up, up and away!

Here's a peek: 

The edited artwork collection is a reflection of British Columbia's local culture.

The edited artwork collection is a reflection of British Columbia's local culture.

Jade-hued ceramic tiles and black harvest tables set the tone for the lounge's designer dining.   

Jade-hued ceramic tiles and black harvest tables set the tone for the lounge's designer dining.   

Wonton noodle soup, a key dish you can find at The Noodle Bar in many of Cathay's lounges around the world. 

Wonton noodle soup, a key dish you can find at The Noodle Bar in many of Cathay's lounges around the world. 

Shower rooms bathed in limestone and minted with brass fixtures and Aesop products offer a spa-like foray into flying.

Shower rooms bathed in limestone and minted with brass fixtures and Aesop products offer a spa-like foray into flying.

Details
- Hours: Open daily from 10.30am to 3pm and 8pm to 2am; adjusted seasonally according to the Cathay Pacific flight schedule
- WiFi
- Shower rooms
- The Noodle Bar {don't miss these Cathay signature dishes: wonton noodle soup, dan dan noodle soup and authentic Hong Kong- style fish ball noodle soup}
- The Pantry: serving tapas, meats, cheeses, salads, hot food, fruits and desserts
- The Bureau: Workstations with iMacs and printers
 - Get in: The Cathay Pacific Lounge is available to First and Business Class passengers traveling on Cathay Pacific and members of the Marco Polo Club with Silver Card status or above, and members of all tiers who earn lounge passes and/or their friends and family, including oneworld members with Sapphire status or above 

[photos by @CathayPacificCa and wonton noodle soup shot by @TripStyler]

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Swooning over Stockholm

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Sweden + Trip Styler

[trip style = urban + steal + food + wine]

Ever since I started collecting stamps in my passport, I've longed to visit Scandinavia. The fashion, the design, the architecture; need I say more?  

A CRAZY Flight Deal
Back in February, Mr. Trip Styler found a trip style = steal-of-a-deal fare for a nonstop SAS flight from LA to Stockholm for $220USD return. It was an opp we couldn't pass up. So, we packed our parkas, and along with Baby Styler, visited in March. Amazingly, it was mostly sunny and not too frosty, allowing us to spend a ton of time outdoors exploring the city-on-water's 14 islands, part of an archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. 

Real talk: We learned a lot on the nine-day trip; namely that traveling with a 17-month-old toddler who likes to sprint everywhere and is still learning about instruction and boundaries, is not the ideal candidate for an 11-hour flight. While Baby Styler is a rock star traveler with 34 flights under his "wings" and a go-with-the-flow temperament, this time, our airborne adventures proved difficult. {Filing this under my "you live, you learn" drawer.}

The Plan
Instead of hopping between Scandi cities and hotels every few nights, we decided to stay put in Stockholm. Our aim: Travel slowly and get to know the city local-style. 

exploring stockholm with a baby

The Accoms
In keeping with this MO, we booked an apartment rental. Not only did we want a kitchen knowing we'd be hungry at all hours of the day/night as we adjusted to the time zone, we also wanted to immerse ourselves into the culture and be in close proximity to grocery stores and cafes.

We chose well. Our one-bedroom Airbnb was g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s {worthy of Elle Decor}, close to all that is cool, and our hosts were gracious enough to provide a new pack 'n play crib for Baby Styler so we didn't have to lug ours across the Atlantic.  

Most days we ate breakfast in our flat, then ventured out for "fika" {coffee} around 2pm. While this sounds a tad late, we woke up at 11am due to the time change, and once we put Baby Styler down for his morning nap, 2pm ended up being our "hello, world" time. 

airbnb sweden
fireplace airbnb sweden
dining room airbnb sweden
bedroom airbnb sweden
grocery store food sweden

Going kookoo for Cafes
To my surprise, aside from swooning over the street style and interiors of every flat I saw advertised for sale, Sweden's cafes ended up being our greatest joy. They are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, mirror each neighborhood's culture and design, and their food and fika is drool-worthy. When we ventured out before 11am, our typical breakfast dish would be strong coffee paired with a kanelbulle {Swedish-style cinnamon bun with extra cinnamon, low sugar, and no icing}, in the afternoon we noshed on a hearty sandwich or a burrata-topped arugula salad with rye crumble and beat purée. Stockholm's food game is strong.

Sophies Canelé

Sophies Canelé

Rosendals Trädgård

Rosendals Trädgård

Kaffeverket

Kaffeverket

Café Pascal

Café Pascal

Trip Styler Tips
- Packing: We did the whole trip with carry-ons. Mr. Trip Styler and I each had rollaboards, and we carried a suitcase-style backpack for Baby Styler with his clothes, plus a starter kit of wipes, diapers and nappy cream.
- Baby essentials: Pampers, wipes and baby food is easily accessible at any grocery store in Sweden. 
- Bus with baby: One parent can travel for free on the bus with a baby stroller in tow.
- Shopping: Want to dress for Scandi success? Save room in your bag for the Acne Studios {a local and iconic brand} Archive boutique for jeans, suits, dresses, and all that is on-trend.
- Airport transport: The easiest and fastest way to/from the Stockholm Arlanda Airport from Stockholm—even airline employees hop on this service—is the Flygbussarna coach, a 40-min bus transfer service.