Travel Archives | Page 2 of 8 | Blueprint for Style

Lifestyle & Tech

Ready for the Weekend: Camry XSE

I’m going to confess something…. I’ve never really considered a Toyota Camry – until now. I’ll be driving to New York for a brand visit and then going to hang with the family for the holidays…yay! I’m hyped to try this car for a few key features: wireless charging – place your Qi-compatible device on the nonslip surface to charge up wirelessly voice-activated features – advanced voice recognition gives you another way to easily access your navigation system, Bluetooth hands-free phone and Entune®

2015/12/11

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: Carry-on Cocktail Kit

On your next long flight (mine is coming up next week so I’ve already put my order in…), skip the coffee, tea, and soft drinks for a real cocktail! Thank Carry-on Cocktail Kit for creating three lovely travel-size tins to mix a real drink at 30,000. You have the choice of an Old-Fashioned, Gin and Tonic, or Moscow Mule (I chose the later). Ready. Set. Off we go!

2015/10/07

Hotels

On The Road: The Quin Hotel

How many hotels are in New York City? It’s not a trivia question (but if someone knows, please share…) Next question: how many hotels in New York City have Bergdorf on speed dial? Well if you’re lucky enough to stay at the posh Quin Hotel (rooms start at $600/night) then you are ready for real style! The room phones have a Bergdorf button that connects guests to a personal shopper. Enough said…

2015/10/01

Accessories

On The Road: A Shoe That Travels (On Its Own)

Tangier, Morocco. New York. southeastern Spain. Barcelona. Florence. Your Cobra Society footwear (for men & women) may be more well-traveled than you are but you can still own them! Betania textiles handweaved in Morocco. Leather sourced from Barcelona and Florence. All from a 28-year-old designer named Alex Davis. I don’t own them but I’m kinda jealous right now – I want to go to Morocco too!!

2015/09/23

Hotels

On The Road: Burberry Always Available

Claridge’s. The Connaught. The Berkeley. If you can afford the splurge at these top notch London hotels then don’t bother to carry a jacket with you because Burberry teamed up with those hotels to provide its iconic trench coat complimentary for guests to borrow in every suite. Suite prices start around $1,400/night!

2015/09/08

Transportation

#OnTheGo: Let’s Do ALL of Brazil

The airline is Azul, a Brazilian-based airline that has a codeshare with United. Azul is running a BIG special: get a 10-day pass to travel anywhere in Brazil for $299. Or go all out with a 21-day pass for $399. Right now, roundtrip flights from theUS are running about $500. The BIG takeaway: you can get to and all over Brazil for just under $800! If you’re going, here’s my travel checklist to ensure you’re traveling in style…

2015/09/03

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: Food Market in Denver

Acorn. Babettes. Beet & Yarrow. Boxcar Coffee. Roasters. Collegiate Peaks Bank. Comida. Crooked Stave. Jennifer Olson Photography. Slow Food Denver. The Proper Pour. Super Ordinary. Wunder Werkz. Yacht Club. All at The Source…in Denver. It’s supposed to be THE place if you’re a foodie. Not to mention several other hot spots and boutique lifestyle retailers. It’s the Denver version of Union Market!

2015/08/28

scents, Elizabeth & James, black & white

Beauty

On The Road: Travel Beauty Essentials

I’m recently coming off the road from a four-day girls #roadtrip to Connecticut and New York. Compliments of @BuickUSA, we got to ride in style with the new Buick Regal (drove like a dream!). But when I arrived at the destination, I need a beauty pick-me-up and my travel bag wasn’t up to the task. Lucky I had one of my beauty besties with me and she and I hit Sephora like there was no tomorrow…. My new 8 travel

2015/08/05

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: New York City Drug Cocktails

We all love the Big Apple and there’s always something new to discover while moving about the overcrowded, opportunistic city. Next time, head to Stanley’s. It’s a full service pharmacy-meets-wellness kind of bar. Imagine a soda fountain, prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, and a mix of “….teas, sodas, kombucha and coconut water paired with pharmaceuticals…” [departures, pg.60] and you’ve got Stanley George’s creation. It’s at 31 Ludlow St.

2015/07/27

Travel

Girls Road Trip to Wyebrook Farm

Wyebrook Farm – you’ll love it! A 360-acre sustainable farm that grows just about everything you need to have a delicious meal! Along with four girlfriends, we did the 118 mile trek to Honey Brook, PA and collectively, fell in love. Separately, we’ve all planned return trips too!! You’ll love it because it’s a breathe of fresh air. You can walk the grounds to see the pigs eating (bacon!!!), the herb garden, watch the cows roam, or head to the

2015/07/20

Food & Restaurants

On The Road: Buenos Aires’ Secret Staircase

Buenos Aires is known for its meat and rightly so. It’s so yummy, tender and tasty. Their newest addition for the city of foodies is cheese thus, the go-to place is Bar du Marche. Bar du Marche is in the city’s Palermo Hollywood neighborhood. Argentina already has great wine so throw in the cheese and it’s a marriage made in heaven. Chillax long enough and, of course, you’ll need to order a steak. Here’s what to do next: look

2015/07/09

Summer

Are You Ready For The 4th?!

I consider Memorial Day, the 4th, and Labor Day weekends the quintessential “holiday” weekends that warrant lots of pre-gaming to avoid looking too contrived. I’ve culled all three long weekends down to five items. Here are my caveats: Memorial Day weekend – it may not be warm enough so you’ll need to substitute the breezy cover-up for a more, sweater-like option. Gotcha covered! PLus bring a rain hat Labor Day weekend – I’ve rarely run into an occasion where it’s

2015/06/26

Hotels

One For The Road: Cuba

Are you going? Well before you pack your bags, here are a few items to note: stay at Hotel Nacional de Cuba don’t think you’re just going……you still need a fairly legit reason to get past official channels skip internet; it’s not readily accessible plan to go to the Partagás cigar factory will they still hand roll the Partagas No. 5 apparently you’re supposed to do the Tropicana go with euros in hand (not USD) Enjoy! Side note: those impossibly

2015/05/26

Accessories

Jumping Up And Down To Get Ready For A Beach Vacation

My sister and father are ready to choke me but, I’m barely back three weeks from Dubai, Thailand and Vietnam, and already I am planning another getaway. I think the planning part is exciting but also a great way to escape the current soggy weather currently happening in DC… I was tooling around on another blog which happens to be one of my favorites, Le Catch, and I saw this bag (available at Henri Bendel). Immediately loved the colors and

2015/05/14

Accessories

Travel Too….Southeast Asia: Three Essentials

I spent 1/2 month (18 days to be exact) in southeast Asia between Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Saigon. I loved it and while not immediately, I’m going back because it’s warm, super inexpensive, laidback, and has good eating! I worked with Lands’ End before leaving to coordinate on a few essentials for the trip and I had a fairly long list. I found three items that I would have been hard-pressed to be without while there: Starfish slim leg pants

2015/04/14

Food & Restaurants

Travel Too….Vietnam: Let’s Talk Fa-la-la-la-la Vietnamese Pho

Pho, pronounced “fa” or “fuh”, is a traditional Vietnamese soup with flavorful garnishes. I had it as part of just about every meal while in Vietnam and I’m now a fan (wink, wink Maggy)! It’s traditionally made with beef but chicken or pork can work too. Try it, be amazed and…it’s healthy!

2015/04/13

Hotels

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Baan Ratchiangsaen

On a scale of 1-10 for…. cleanliness: 97 modern-ish: 9 inside noise level: 4 (you can hear everything; the walls are thin) staff friendliness: 7 (they seemed to have been “Americanized” which means they weren’t as hospitable) location: 8 (the street starts out shady but it’s literally one block from the south entrance of Old City) American standards (we’re travel snobs): Once you get to the hotel, you will be pleasantly surprised with the decor and that they speak quite

2015/03/30

Transportation

Toot-Toot, Hey, Beep-Beep

Donna Summer said it best and while she was talking about “Bad Girls“, the same can apply for the various modes of transportation in Thailand. Check out how you can get around Chiang Mai and if you saw my Instagram then you know I tried at least two of these!!

2015/03/20

Hotels

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Mona Chiang Mai Hotel

cleanliness: 9 modern-ish: 8 inside noise level: 7 (you can hear everything!) staff friendliness: 8 (the main gent is friendly and knows english; everyone else knows not-a-lick so communication is a problem) location: 5 (it’s more in the city and away from Old City so I’d say more authentic but the street/alley it’s on is a bit sketchy but I left my moped and it was there in the morning) American standards (we’re travel snobs): 6 I found the

2015/03/19

Hotels

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Jira Luxury Boutique Residence

On a scale of 1-10 for…. cleanliness: 9 modern-ish: 9 inside noise level: 5 (you can hear everything; the walls are thin) staff friendliness: 9 (I didn’t know there was a 300THB key deposit on check-in and she said “just bring it to me later”) location: 7 (I was ok walking into Old City but it’s a little ways away….with my bike rental though, no sweat!) American standards (we’re travel snobs): 8 You’ll check-in and be very pleased overall…as long

2015/03/18

Events & Happenings

Southeast Asia: Thai Massage

Thai massage is also called Thai yoga massage as it’s based on a 2,500-year old Ayurvedic-based body science developed by Buddha’s doctor, Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha. It’s basically like an assisted yoga session where the massage therapist moves your body into various positions and massages along energy points called “sen”. Enough of that ~ I’m sure most of you heard that it’s painful. The truth is a good massage therapist doesn’t hurt albeit, it’s not like a Swedish massage, you will come

2015/03/17

Fashion

How To Pack for ‘Hot & Humid’

I’m ten days into my working vacation in south east Asia (Thailand and Vietnam) and the temps have been hovering around 90+ degrees with 90% humidity. It can be hard to maintain your cool in that land of heat (unless you’re dressing for the beach). To make it “haute” in the hot and humid climates, abide by these 4 rules: Natural fibers are best because they allow a bit more movement – silk, cotton and linen… Don’t go too fitted.

2015/03/16

Travel

Top 5 Travel Products

After 42 hours, 37K feet (x 2), 3 countries, 82+ degrees and 90+ in the daytime, I settled in at my hotel and slept harder than you could possibly imagine. I also had a chance to go back and see what items I found indispensable and I have five products that I will never travel without. Learn from my angst… Kleenex splash ‘n go moist wipes – sometimes you just don’t know when you’ll see fresh water and sometimes you’re

2015/03/11

Fashion

Bangkok, Thailand: What They Wear

Technically, right now is the beginning of the hot season (March to June) and we’re leaving the cool season (November to February) so balmy weather in the 90s in the prevailing tone….love it after the #snowoverit in Washington, DC. That said, Bangkokian are an amazingly humble people so, as you walk the streets and ride the metro/BTS train, you will not see lots of ‘pomp and circumstance’ but rather lots of color and warm weather clothing. Three style trends I’ve

2015/03/10

Fashion

Day 1: Bangkok, Thailand

I’m not even gong to bore you with the nonsense that transpires upon my arrival to Bangkok. Suffice it to say that I am here! I slept like my life depended on it and that what it felt like after being up for almost 36 hours…. So today was Sunday and that means it’s all about the Chatuchak/Jatujak Market ~ which is open on Saturdays and Sundays and houses everything from pots, pans, shorts, food, t-shirts, cutlery, leather bags, glassware,

2015/03/09

Our Blog

News, Articles & More

Ready for the Weekend: Camry XSE

On The Road: Carry-on Cocktail Kit

On The Road: The Quin Hotel

On The Road: A Shoe That Travels (On Its Own)

On The Road: Burberry Always Available

#OnTheGo: Let’s Do ALL of Brazil

On The Road: Food Market in Denver

On The Road: Travel Beauty Essentials

On The Road: New York City Drug Cocktails

Girls Road Trip to Wyebrook Farm

On The Road: Buenos Aires’ Secret Staircase

Are You Ready For The 4th?!

One For The Road: Cuba

Jumping Up And Down To Get Ready For A Beach Vacation

Travel Too….Southeast Asia: Three Essentials

Travel Too….Vietnam: Let’s Talk Fa-la-la-la-la Vietnamese Pho

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Baan Ratchiangsaen

Toot-Toot, Hey, Beep-Beep

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Mona Chiang Mai Hotel

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Jira Luxury Boutique Residence

How To Pack for ‘Hot & Humid’

Top 5 Travel Products

Bangkok, Thailand: What They Wear

Day 1: Bangkok, Thailand

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