Not every hotel stay rates five stars. Eliminate or elevate questionable travel digs with these four essentials for those who are easily skeeved (me!).
1. Bedbugregistry.com. Check this Web site to see if your hotel has a history of infestation. Ew.
2. Hotel Sanitation Kit. Travel-size germ killers in a handy plastic pouch.
3. Flip flops for the shower. Fend off foot fungus in slimy showers.
4. Silk Dream Sack. Slip into this instead of suspect sheets. Comes with matching pillowcase.
Whether it’s a romantic 10-day trip to Paris or a family weekend getaway to the Poconos, the Luxe Lady wants you to travel smart and in style.
The first thing to pack is peace of mind. It just takes a little prep work. Research your destination, create an itinerary and share it with someone in case of any emergencies. Make sure your credit card company knows you will be traveling. Otherwise your fraud protection may kick in while your souvenir shopping.
Upload your GPS with maps of the area you’re visiting. They are just as helpful for walking as for driving.
Download travel applications to your smart phone or ipad. I love the one that gives you wait times for Disney World rides in real time. Need free calling? Set up Skype.
A few days before the trip, start packing. If you’re packing lots of shoes (who me?) or gear such as snorkel equipment, ship ahead to your hotel.
“Pack This!” Pads keep me from forgetting my toothbrush.
"Pack This!" Pads
For your carry-on or weekend bag:
I used to pack enough makeup for an entire Vegas showgirl lineup until I discovered the Chanel Collection Essentielle palette. It covers eyes, cheeks and lips. All I add is a waterproof eyeliner and mascara. There are travel-size palettes available from many brands at all price points.
Not every destination includes the complimentary robe. The Solitude micro-fiber bath wrap doubles as a pool cover up. It’s lightweight and rolls up tight for packing.
Who wants the hassle of transferring boutique brand toiletries into containers? Check out – 3floz.com. I especially like the Go Smile Jet Set tooth whitening travel kit and Supergoop Sunscreen Swipes in SPF 30.
Spiegel’s Travel Collections by signature style offers absolutely brilliant collections of travel-friendly outfits and accessories based on style and destination. Think Garanimals for grownups who globe trot.
Create an emergency kit of Shout It Out wipes, Band Aids, pain reliever, Benadryl and any prescription medications you may need. I always throw in ear plugs for the plane and noisy hotels, too.
Speaking of planes, here are a few more things you may want to pack:
· Inflatable travel pillow.
· Cashmere wrap (keeps you warm on flight and in air conditioned restuarants).
· Snacks. Airplane food has taken a nosedive.
· No Jet Lag homeopathic pills.
· The Lights Out REM sleep mask (doesn’t smear eye makeup and allows for deep rapid eye movement sleep).
For your checked luggage:
· TravelPro luggage from Macy’s (25 to 30 percent lighter than same-sized traditional luggage – great for women who over pack – who me?
· Sturdy, Bright Luggage Tags. I can’t believe how many people rely on the ones provided by the airline. They are paper and can be easily torn and lost. Bye bye bag.
At your destination:
You’ve seen the TV news specials with the blacklights. Enough said.
· Flip flops for the shower.
· Silk Dream Sack sleeping bag for hotel bedding that is suspect. Matching pillowcase.
· A compact, flat, automatic umbrella that won’t blow inside out.
What are your favorite travel items and tips?
Just in time for June weddings, here are some creative honeymoon gift suggestions from Laurin Sydney in her book “Why Bother, Why Not!” Skip the registry with these stand out ideas.
1- Have flowers, wine or champagne delivered to their destination.
2- Prepay for a private tour/tour guide.
3- Give them a spa gift certificate for two at their honeymoon hotel.
4- Tell the couple that you would like to cover their honeymoon photo costs and create an album for them. (Luxe Lady note: Beautiful leather albums are available at Exposuresonline.com.)
5- Keep the honeymoon going after they get back home by giving them an annual membership to a local museum (or theater/orchestra tickets).
www.carlashes.com
Just when you’ve finally mastered your own smoky eye, there’s makeup for your car. You can purchase stick-on lashes ($27 per pair) and crystal eyeliner ($20 per strip) for car headlights at carlashes.com. Luxe or ludicrous?
I’ve always had a thing for Tudor mansions. It’s the result of watching Masterpiece Theatre as a child with my parents (only one TV in our house). So when I paged through the winter edition of Smart Luxury Travel magazine, Blantrye in the Berkshires caught my eye. Listed as one of their 2010 Smart Luxury Award Winners, this Relais and Chateaux-approved* hotel is located in Lenox, Massachusetts. It was built by millionaire businessman Robert Warden Paterson and his wife Louise in 1901. Wealthy families such as the Vanderbilts and Carnegies had nearby summer “cottages” as did authors Melville, Wharton and Hawthorne. It’s the type of place where I imagine one might play a lot of croquet.
Blantrye is lavishly decorated in a traditional English style with antiques, oil paintings, tapestries and many yards of chintz. An all-season destination, there’s plenty to enjoy there this winter: snowshoeing; winter BBQ; oysters served on snowballs; Sunday afternoon tea; hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows and ice skating. Before dinner (jackets and ties required), owner Ann Fitzpatrick Brown offers guests champagne and canapes before a crackling fire. She also selects books and movies for each beautifully decorated guest room. For photos and more information, visit blantyre.com. With rooms starting at $675 a night, it’s not a bargain in my book but could make for a gilded getaway.
*Relais and Chateaux is an international association of individually owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants. The group has strict admission criteria. Prospective and current members are evaluated by the group’s five C’s: Caractère, Courtoisie, Calme, Charme et Cuisine.
1- Get cultured. Take a community, college or online course in a subject that interests you. At winespectatorschool.com you can enroll in a 12-week certification course for $39 and learn about wine tasting, food pairings or regional differences.
2- Host a movie party. Rent a DVD and build a theme party around it. “Hot Tub Time Machine” lends itself to 80s flashback fun. Tell everyone to wear their shoulder pads, big hair and neon colors. Have a post-movie game of Trivial Pursuit 80s edition and play your old cassettes.
3- Head for the hills. It always seems cooler at the mountains. Check out luxury bargain specials at Shermanstravel.com. They’re currently offering a sweet summer deal in Telluride.
Eagle Rock Resort in Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountains, offers an Arnold Palmer designed golf course, an Aveda spa, equestrian center, tennis courts and hiking trails. For $207 on weekdays and $226 on weekends, you get beautiful views at the Lodge with $100 spa gift certificate and a round of golf. For more information, go to eaglerockresort.com.
4- Stay cool at a spaaah. Visit spafinder.com and click on the tab for spa deals. Enter your zipcode for discounts at salons and spas in your area.
5- Sip in style. When it’s hot as heck, be sure to stay hydrated. To add a little natural oh la la to your water, try a pitcher with fruit infuser. You can find them at QVC.com.
Here’s a little tip for all your iced beverages. Freeze some of the beverage you’ll be drinking in ice cube trays ahead of time. That way melting water won’t dilute your drink. Try it with your lemonade, vodka or a mix of both.
6- Mosey into a museum. Visit a luxe lady from history. In Philadelphia, Cleopatra – The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt – is at the Franklin Institute now through January.
7- Plan an August or September getaway. Travel drops off and discounts kick in at the end of summer when kids head back to school. Check out Shermanstravel.com for their European luxe list for discounted late summer trips.
8- Make the mall your air-conditioned mecca. Take advantage of summer sales on timeless classics but avoid trendy items that will be out of style by next summer. Window shop for fall fashions and make a wish list. After you take inventory of your fall clothes, refer to your list and fill in the blanks.
9- Give a room a luxe look. Completely empty out the room so you can see it with fresh eyes. Evaluate each item as you take it from the room. Do you love it and use it? If not, it goes. Create a staging area with the keep items. Shop your house for accessories and furniture to freshen the room up for free. Then move things back in from largest to smallest. Layer in the luxe, by addressing all your senses. Try adding a lightweight throw in a pretty pop of color, fresh flowers, accent lighting, soft music and a bowl of fresh fruit or chocolates.
10- Tune in to tune out. If you’re a mom, hire a mother’s helper for a day. Then, hit the farmer’s market for fresh strawberries. Don’t forget the whipped cream. When you get home situate yourself on the sofa with your big bowl of berries and whipped cream. Tune into Lifetime or any guilty pleasure. Now that’s indulgence.
What do you get when you combine a starry sky with a five-star stay? It’s called glamping – glamorous camping. If you love the great outdoors but enjoy a few amenities, take a look-see at the luxury camping trips starting at $180 per night on Shermanstravel.com.
My favorite: “Montana: All-inclusive Glamping Package for Four from $3,255 – Experience an authentic backcountry adventure in Montana, among the rolling hills, teeming rivers, and majestic mountains that once captivated Lewis and Clark. Located in a picturesque valley along the Blackfoot River, The Resort at Paws Up provides guests with an unrivaled luxury Western-style experience with a range of activity choices from horseback riding to fly-fishing and whitewater rafting. Stay in a secluded “tent-suite” and experience glamping (glamorous camping) at its finest. The Last Best Glamping Package includes 3 nights’ accommodation for the entire family in a posh 2-bedroom tent, all meals, including a chuckwagon dinner cookout, plus fly-fishing lessons, visits to nearby Garnet ghost town, and all transfers, taxes, and gratuities. The offer is available through the end of September and costs $3,255 for a family of four.”
That’s less expensive and more appealing than a recent trip to Disney with my family of four for a long weekend!
This site and magazine is jam packed with tips and deals on every type of world-wide travel. It’s easier to navigate and less overwhelming than competitors. I just wish I’d discovered Shermanstravel.com before booking this summer’s travel plans.
