Archive for the ‘Features’ Category

When I first began my travels at 18, I did so with two very old, huge suitcases that were literally falling apart and had an old, small leather handle. Being in the petite side, trying to navigate turnstiles at the tube, running to catch trains, and checking in at the airport with such big, unmanageable cases was a nightmare. It took me years of trying different types of luggage from backpacks to weekenders to suitcases to find the perfect set. Now, I literally couldn’t imagine leaving home without them. The first peice of luggage I love and recommend to everyone is the Victorinox Mobilizer NXT 4.0 22″ Expandable Wheeled Upright Suiter ($399). For the past 3 years, this has been my carry on bag on over 300 trips. It has never let me down and still looks brand new despite all the banging it might incur. Why I love this

I first came out to Los Angeles in 2005 when a studio wanted to hire me for work (I had been working in the film industry in Seattle and Vancouver). I was put up in a big, chain hotel downtown the night before my meeting and thought every nasty L.A. cliche there was and wondered how I could ever live here. The meeting went well and I had to start thinking about how, a traveller who liked quieter, green spaces with laid back but sophisticated vibes in cities that were walkable, live in a smog, traffic-run, loud and big city like Los Angeles? Lucky for me, my second night was spent in Santa Monica. Chasing down the red sky on the 10 Westbound, warm air coming through the open windows in November, I felt like I was onto something. Pulling into Santa Monica and seeing that ocean at Sunset almost

Travel should be fun, it should be personal, it should be something you can write home about. After 17 years of travelling around the world, I sometimes forget this. Which is why during a trip home to Europe last year, I had to remind myself. Armed with my camera and FlipCam, I attempted to do some video and take more personal shots and what was created out of that was a short, whirlwind video of it all.

In December 2007 I took on a six-month vacation rental in the charming town, Carmel by the Sea California.  Although it began in the early 1900′s as an escape for San Francisco artist is sees more tourists visiting high-priced galleries instead. But there’s a reason why this small sea-side town keeps people coming – it’s accessible, it’s beautiful and it’s more than quirky. Here are some of the things that make Carmel by the Sea what it is: There are no street addresses. That’s right – no street addresses. Instead of being identified by government issued numbers, homes are identified either by their cottage name (which owners can choose) or by description (SW Corner of San Carlos and 5th, green house three down with the big red door). Explaining this to UPS or places that do not accept P.O. Box addresses can be challenging. It does, however, encourage one to

Despite the increase of gas prices, road trips continue to be popular. They have a certain kind of romance to them which is perhaps why important details and realistic plans are often overlooked; making the trip go from dreamy to nightmare in only two days on the road. How many people do you know, after having come back from a car trip, have said that next time – they’ll fly! However, if you prepare for the trip and do a few modifications while on the road, I promise you a successful trip ahead. And trust me – I’ve learned from experience what does and does not work after having driven across Europe and America several times. And in preparing for my upcoming three week drive across Canada, I’m going to take my own advice! Car safety is one of the biggest issues and often the most overlooked. If you do

With so much talk about travel this week I thought I’d share my favourite places that I’ve stayed. Some of my favourite chains include the Kimpton Hotels and Four Seasons (both of which are very dog friendly and have great loyalty programs). And I’m also liking Westin’s – anything with a Heavenly Bed has my vote! Chateau du Sureau: Perhaps one of my favourites, this privately created and run chateau sits in an unassuming town just outside of Yosemite National Park in California. Upon arrival you are greeted by a personal butler and have run of the chateau and grounds (with just a handful of other guests). The personal service is unparalleled, the food absolutely amazing and the rooms? Hand picked antiques from around the world by the very hospitable proprietess (whose rags to riches story is quite remarkable). The spa is the place to be pampered but the pool

I’ve always been a believer that the best gift is the gift of travel. With my birthday on the 17th of February and my mothers on the 15th, I decided that the best gift to us both would be to take us home to Denmark. For one week we travelled around the country by car and train, visiting old romping grounds, seeing new sites, spending time with family and even taking part in a few local festivities. If a photo is worth a thousand words, here in about a million of them is how much I loved going back to Denmark.

I’m a huge believer in not buying trinket souvenirs for a couple of reasons; first, they hardly ever support the local economy and second, you hardly ever use them (when was the last time you used that plastic playing card set turned keychain?). But I do believe in bringing things home from your travels; living souvenirs. Danes love their candles; they burn everywhere from public sidewalks to windowsills. To remind me of my recent trip to Denmark and incorporate the calm and beauty they provide, I bought two different candle holders from two of Denmark’s best known designers – Georg Jensen (stainless steal tea light holders) and Royal Copenhagen ( Mega Tea light Porcelain holder). I bought them from the boutiques instead of a department store or design house; there’s something special about doing it that way, especially since they wrap it up for you so lovely (a little present

Tax Day will soon be behind us – whew! – and it won’t be long before hard-working wage earners across the country begin receiving their much-anticipated tax refunds. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, nearly one-in-five (19%) of U.S. adults who are getting a federal, state or local refund this year plan to use “some” or “all” of it on pleasure or vacation travel. If a trip to the mailbox means a bundle from the government, we’d like to suggest a thoroughly indulgent, personalized travel experience to put your refund toward: a Buyout Package from some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts. Whether for an exclusive wedding, a family reunion, or a couple of days of superbly serviced privacy for the two or more of you, a hotel or resort buyout is the ultimate in exclusivity. Imagine an entire property to yourself – or yourselves, should

Do you know the best cafe for the perfect mousse in Paris? Vancouver’s best spa? Where to snag the best couture clothing on the cheap in New York? London’s most luxurious hotel? How to sail the South Pacific on a dime? Where to get fancy in Los Angeles or get outdoors in Seattle? Sydney’s harbourside hotspots? How to get chic in Chicago? Girls Guide to City Life does. Created by noted travel writer and web-celeb Alex Beauchamp, Girls Guide to City Life fills a void in the travel market by sharing professional articles and reviews of the world’s major cities in girl style, by local travel-writers passionate about where they live. From cheap eats to expensive treats, Girls Guide to City Life delivers the online need for city information that is fresh, honest and detailed. Written by women for women, our articles share information like girlfriends, dishing finds over cocktails

The locals’ intimate connection with the sea likely began when Squamish and Musqueam peoples first dipped their paddles into Burrard Inlet’s rich waters. Yet visitors to Vancouver’s harbour tend to distance themselves from the ocean, although boating is sometimes easier (and more scenic) than driving crowded streets. The easiest, quickest and most inexpensive way to cruise Vancouver’s waterways is the False Creek Ferry and Aqua Bus system. Shuttles range in price from $3 one way to a $12 day pass, and connect passengers with the water as well as Vancouver’s hot spots such as Granville Island and Yaletown. If a tour is what you’re after, these companies also provide half-day tours around False Creek. However, Harbour Cruises offers Vancouver’s only narrated tour of the inner harbour as well as spectacular sunset dinner cruises. All three tours, show off Vancouver’s West End, Stanley Park and a wide range of shore birds,

In the late 1700′s Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford and one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting, experienced a sinking feeling in the late afternoon. Inviting friends to join her for a fortifying additional afternoon meal (small cakes, bread-and-butter sandwiches, assorted sweets and, of course, tea) she unknowingly created the tradition of Afternoon Tea. When the British immigrated to Victoria British Columbia, they brought the practice of afternoon tea with them and it has been a tradition in the city ever since. The majestic lobby of the Fairmont Empress Hotel has been serving afternoon tea since 1908 (in the beginning, tea was $1 and a room with a harbour view was $7) and now serves its world-famous tea more than 100,000 times a year. Tea here begins with fresh seasonal berries followed by an offering of delicate tea sandwiches and plump scones with homemade strawberry preserves and thick cream. As guests