traveling

More huge savings on flash-travel! Newcomer site: Spire

by Kirsten on June 22, 2011

Spire.com is the newest kid on the block with travel flash-sales

I can’t get enough of flash-sale travel sites. In fact, about 75% of my most recent travels have been, in part, due to these darn sites knowing just how to tickle my fancy and get me to bite! They offer amazing deals that cannot be booked elsewhere. (Yes, that includes Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak… etc)

From Jetsetter, to Snique Away , Vacationist , and VoyagePrive (who btw is now partnering with one of my favorite fashion flash-sale sites, ideeli), a new kid is now on the block…..Spire.

Spire just launched on Tuesday and promises to offer deals on luxury hotels that are at least 30 percent off the lowest rates found anywhere else! Seriously, how can you refuse?!

For those that are unfamiliar, perhaps a bit hesitant to jump into this new way of booking travel, I’ll explain a bit as to how it works.

Most sites offer a small variety of travel sales on hotels, cruises, or full vacation packages for only a few days at a time. Once the deal has passed, it’s gone, and you lost your chance at a great savings. Typically, these sales are restricted to members only and often you have to be invited by another member to join in the fun and savings. (Interested in joining? Use the links above and/or on the side of the page for travel sample sale sites).

Spire is offering something very needed, the chance to cancel or change your reservation with 72 hours after booking, something many of the other sites do not allow. Yes, sometimes there is a catch with these flash sites (albeit a very small one in my humble opinion). You will get charged a $29 fee, but no biggie if it means you get the rest of your money back!

The competition is getting fierce in this industry, and that makes me one happy girl. Competition hopefully equals even better travel deals. Fingers crossed!

Spire also offers a best-deal guarantee, which works in conjunction with their 30%-lower price guarantee. “If you purchase something on our site for $1,000 and find the same offer somewhere else for $1,200, we’ll still give you $100 in Spire credits because we weren’t 30 percent lower,” said Jennifer Gaines, the company’s senior travel editor.

Like I mentioned before, they are up to some fierce competition, many of whom are upping their game at a seemingly rapid rate. Who will hail as the best? I think it’s still up in the air.

Be on the lookout soon for Groupon Getaways, a proposed joint offering between Groupon and Expedia. Expected to launch in the coming weeks, they plan to offer up to 50% hotels in both the US and Canada, eventually including deals on airfare, cruises, and vacation packages. I’ll be waiting to see how this turns out.

What do you think of all these sites? Have you tried them out yet? Are you a huge fan like me? Tell us your thoughts below by leaving a comment!

Love, K.

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Guest Post: Traveling to Italy – Where to Stay and What to Pack, Part 2

by Kirsten on November 17, 2010

The ever-so-fabulous reader Amy H. has provided such a great read on her trip to Italy. With amazing advice and awesome pictures, I am providing you with the second installment of her post! Read on to hear about where she stayed, what she wore, and everything in between! If you didn’t yet get a chance to read Part 1, you can do so here!

From Florence we were off to experience what travel guru Rick Steves calls the “decaying elegance” of Venice. The canals, bridges, palaces and boats make it one of the most visually interesting and romantic cities on earth. While we visited St. Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge, we mostly just walked around and explored. You can walk a wide circle around Venice in just a few hours despite how intimidating the map looks and how easy it is to get lost! Walking is also easy here because there are no cars. We stayed at Hotel Dimora Marciana. The best thing about the hotel was the location (a five minute walk from St. Mark’s)—I found the rooms to be a little dreary and formal and the service to be average.

After Venice we trained to Monterosso, a town in the Cinque Terre which is a string of five fishing villages on the Ligurian coast. This is the birthplace of pesto and focaccia bread. We had some amazing seafood as well. We worked off all that focaccia by walking the trails between the villages. Between the towns of Manarola and Riomaggiore is Via Dell’Amore (“Lovers Walk”). Couples come here and attach a lock to the gates or rail to seal their eternal love. We came prepared with our lock! We stayed at the Hotel Margherita in Monterosso which, according to the owner is renovated every year. Everything looked really nice, but it did have a bit of a paint smell! We had a very nice breakfast and a huge balcony!

While training back to Rome, we made a pit stop in Pisa, checked our luggage at the train station, and walked the mile or so to the leaning tower to get the typical “I’m pushing the tower back up” picture. Corny? Yes. But it is actually really neat to see something so iconic in person. When we got back to Rome we checked back into our hotel and went to dinner. The last day of our trip we had reservations to tour the Vatican Museum, which was pretty amazing. I definitely recommend paying for a tour because you get to skip the (very long) line and you get so much more out of your visit. That night we went to the famous Ristorante Da Fortunato near the Pantheon—the restaurant is featured in my husband’s favorite novel “Beach Music” by Pat Conroy, so it was a must-see. The next day, we sadly flew home!

A few notes about fashion in Italy. What stood out the most were sneakers like Converse (which was a surprise to me), skinny pants or jeans tucked into tall flat boots, and leather. I was so glad I brought my black riding boots for my fall trip to Italy. They were super comfortable and versatile and I felt like they added a bit of fashion to the typical sight-seeing outfit. Because they are bulky, I wore them on travel days. I also took a pair of very comfortable TOMS Shoes, those broken in heels I mentioned earlier, some flat sandals, and my sneakers for hiking. My basic wardrobe consisted of black clothes—a black blazer, black skinny pants, black straight pants, black leggings, long black cardigan, regular black cardigan, black dress, black tights, black and white striped shirt (note: don’t wear this in Venice or you’ll look like a gondolier!), as well as a few colored tank tops, a pair of jeans, a knit grey dress, some scarves, and a waterproof rain jacket. Yes it all fit into a carry-on bag! And best thing I brought along? Dry shampoo! Who has time to wash and dry their hair every day when you are in Italy? If you spend time styling your hair once every three days or so, that blowout can last when you spray your roots with dry shampoo and brush it out. I took along a travel-size bottle of Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo.

And finally, thanks to Kirsten for her guidance—she was right about everything! I felt fully prepared for my trip and consistently felt like I had “just the right thing” in my suitcase at every stop.

Thanks so much, Amy! Let’s hope she decides to write more soon. Great advice, and such a fun read!

Love, K.

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Guest Post: Traveling to Italy – Where to Stay and What to Pack

by Kirsten on November 16, 2010

I’d like all of you to give a warm welcome to Amy H.! She has been a wonderful reader of Traveling Fashionista and just came back from her honeymoon to Italy. Prior to her trip, we went back and forth planning her packing list and preparing her for the trip of a lifetime. Being fashionable was important to Amy, so read on to hear about her amazing adventure – from her outfits to the hotels and everything in between!

My husband and I recently returned from our two week honeymoon in Rome, Florence, Venice and Cinque Terre in Italy. I had the pleasure of working with Kirsten before my trip to design a packing list that would allow me to take everything I needed in a carry-on size bag and still feel fashionable sightseeing!

We flew into Rome and checked into our first hotel, Hotel Raffaello, where we would stay for two nights. This hotel was in a great location—easy walking distance to most tourist sites—had friendly staff and a nice breakfast. We also stayed at Hotel Raffaello two more nights at the end of the trip. While we were waiting for our room to be ready we decided to go visit the Colosseum since it was within walking distance. Actually, we found everything in Rome to be within walking distance if you are comfortable walking—and have good shoes. My airplane (and first day sightseeing) outfit was skinny black pants tucked into black riding boots, a tank top under a Patagonia white travel oxford shirt (with lots of pockets for your money and passport) and a black blazer. We also visited the Roman Forum and Pantheon on this leg of the trip and got started on the massive amounts of food we would eat during this trip—gelato, pizza, and spaghetti carbonara! I recommend packing pants with some stretch in them for Italy!

After two days in Rome we took the train (we had First Class Eurail Passes for the honeymoon) to Florence. We stayed at Hotel Davanzati which was my favorite hotel from the entire trip—and the #1 hotel in Florence on TripAdvisor.com. The hotel was within walking distance of the train station as well as everything you’d want to see in Florence. The hotel had a nice breakfast with made-to-order coffee (cappuccino for me please!), excellent staff, modern rooms, and a candlelit happy hour every night in the lobby with free Prosecco, Chianti, snacks and music. While in Florence we visited the Accademia (home of The David), the Uffizi Gallery, and climbed the Duomo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore) for a spectacular view of Tuscany. One of the best meals we had in Italy was at a restaurant recommended by our hotel called Frescobaldi, owned by a wine family in the region. We had a parmesan and truffle fondue that was amazing and requested a wine pairing with every course.

Florence is known for its leather goods. I happily purchased leather gloves for myself and family, and splurged on a brown leather jacket for myself (though the price for the quality was a steal compared to what you’d get here). It seemed that all the women in Italy and Florence especially had a leather jacket. And as Kirsten says, it’s the most versatile jacket for travel! My jacket quickly became part of my rotating wardrobe for the trip. When we went to dinner at places like Frescobaldi I wore either a black dress with tights or leggings or black pants with a silver sparkly shirt and a blazer. For shoes I’d wear heels or my tall boots. I took heels that were already broken in, and only wore them for short walks!

To be continued….

Look for Part 2 tomorrow! Thanks so much Amy for such a great post!

Here are some pics of Amy on her trip. Not only does she look completely fashionable, but all of her outfits were comfortable too. A perfect example of how you can plan your packing to accomplish both necessities; chic and comfortable!

Love, K.

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Timeshare Rentals: A Best Kept Secret

by Kirsten on October 29, 2010

Hey everyone, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Redweek.com. They provided this guest post for all of you, and I think you will really learn a lot! Enjoy! Love, K.

The economy is still dictating to many of us when, where, and even whether or not, to take a vacation. The wonderful answer is that you can afford a great vacation if you know one of the best kept secrets: Timeshare Rentals.

Timeshare rentals are a great way for you to have an affordable, budget-friendly vacation, while staying at a luxury resort where you’ll have spacious accommodations and resort amenities.

Yes, you can afford to have a vacation at a luxury resort – Believe it! Timeshare rentals can be up to 50% less than the cost of staying in a cramped hotel room. How luxurious would it be to stay in a “room” that is open and spacious and relaxing. A timeshare is like an apartment, a real home-away-from-home. You have separate bedrooms, a dining area, a living room, a patio or balcony, and a kitchen. And best of all – maid service will clean it, keep it supplied with fresh towels and linens, and even carry out the garbage.

Even more budget-friendly is being able to save money on meals. Most timeshare rentals come with a full-sized, fully-equipped kitchen. That makes it easy to prepare meals so you don’t have to pay high restaurant prices three times a day. And talk about convenience – now you can sleep in, and fix breakfast right there – no more trying to get showered, dressed and out the door just for a bite to eat. And the kitchen makes it easy to have inexpensive, nutritious snacks throughout the day.

You can stay in a hotel with the use of one small pool (often for an extra fee), or stay in a timeshare rental that comes with resort amenities attached. Most resorts have swimming pools, hot-tubs and activities such as tennis and arcade game rooms. Additional activities often include such things as miniature golf, volleyball, and even bocci ball tournaments. You can find arts and craft classes, ice cream socials, and BBQ get-togethers. Depending on the location, you’ll also have direct access to beaches, mountain biking trails, skiing, or theme parks right out your front door.

Budget timeshare rentals in luxury resorts make it possible for budget-conscious people to vacation in Hawaii, stay in the Caribbean, or ski in Colorado. There are even timeshare rentals in big cities. For example, rent a timeshare in mid-town Manhattan and enjoy a fashion week in exciting New York City.

RedWeek.com is all about budget travel. It’s the largest online timeshare marketplace where owners post their timeshares for rent and those looking for budget prices on great accommodations can get a real bargain.

On the RedWeek.com site you’ll also notice that there is a large resource section that can answer many of your timeshare rental vacation questions. So start planning and start packing – the guess-work has been taken out of it – and you now know how your next vacation can be one that is budget-friendly, and luxurious!

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Must-have travel gadget – XShot Camera Extender

by Kirsten on October 13, 2010

For those that travel solo or perhaps with one other person, we all know the perils of trying to take photographs of yourself. Sure, you can ask a passerby to take one for you, but I have found that rarely do they turn out well. Maybe I just have bad luck, but I have a ton of pictures where they cut of the great view behind me, or perhaps they decided a close up of just my face was ideal. Call me crazy, but I like my pictures to display the beauty around me, in addition to me (and usually my amazing bf D).

Finally a product came my way that I was SO excited to review. The XShot camera extender is the answer to this common problem – and so simple to use! Extremely lightweight, this product attaches to any compact digital camera or hand-held video camera so that the photographer behind the lens can be part of the special memories they capture. They have a few versions to choose from including a pocket-sized version, an iPhone version (soon they will be releasing a version to fit the iPhone 4.0), a kayak mounted version, and their original 2.0 version.

I was totally amazed at how easy it was to use and how you can’t even tell that you’re holding the extender in hand! It really looks like someone took the picture for you! Here is a pic of me and my bf D., it was his birthday and I took him on a surprise visit to the Mendocino coast in California. (More on that later!) Forgive the picture, it was shady on our terrace that morning, so the lighting is a bit off. Oh, and I hadn’t put any make-up on either – so no giggling!

In the picture above I was using the XShot Pocket Extender. As you can see, you can’t even tell I was using it! In addition, you can also use the tripod socket at the bottom of the rod and set it on a big tripod for additional height should you so desire.

For the technical side, here are the specs (for pocket size):

Extends to: 30.5″ (77.5 cm)

Closes to: 6.5″ (16.5 cm)

XShot weight: 5 oz (142 g)

Max Camera Weight: 1.25 lb (570 g)

Not Made for SLRs

Buy the XShot Pocket Camera Extender here!

For the 2.0 version:

XShot Weight: 5 oz (142g)

Extends to: 37″ / 94 cm

Closes to: 9″ / 22.9 cm

Max Camera Weight: 1.25 lb (570 g)

Buy the XShot Camera Extender 2.0 here!

This is a must-have travel gadget for all traveling fashionistas. Simple to use, lightweight, and takes up little to no space in your luggage. Finally – you too can be in all of your photos while traveling!

Love, K.

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Space Savers – Going Green with Shop Miss Malaprop

by Kirsten on October 8, 2010

When traveling becomes a larger part of your life, particularly my own, I have learned that “going green” and purchasing items that are both eco-friendly and fair-trade, are imperative to sustaining a better life for everyone on this planet. This is why I am happy to share with you a new website that I think many of you will appreciate.

Mallory started ShopMissMalaprop.com to share some of her favorite handmade products that she has found from a variety of different artists and designers. This came after a few years of featuring such items on her blog, something she could feel good about recommending to her family, friends, and readers. Her goal is to become a conscious consumer – she wants to know where it came from, who made it, how it was made, and what it is made from. In her online shop, she shares this information, so we too can make informed shopping decisions.

I was lucky enough to get to try out one of the products she features on her site, a reusable bag that comes in array of bold prints and patterns from b.b. begonia. It’s a perfect bag to bring traveling, and can also be used on a daily basis when at home! Here is a bit of some information about b.b.begonia:

Based on the belief that “going green” does not mean sacrificing style, b.b.begonia is proud to offer reusable shopping bags in a wide range of beautiful, fashionable prints. b.b.begonia eco-friendly products are designed and developed in Winnipeg, Canada and manufactured in China under fully socially-compliant, fair wage and fair labor conditions.

Reusable bags have become a huge part of many people’s daily routine. They are carried to the grocery store, left behind in our cars for that “just in case moment”, and now are a must-have item for our travels.

Here are a few photos of the bag I chose from b.b.begonia, it’s fun, sassy, and I love how much stuff it holds. As you can see from the photos below, it shrinks down to just about nothing, and yet when fully opened, is pretty substantial in size!

Isn’t this bag totally adorable?!? I love it and know you will too!

ShopMissMalaprop.com not only has these great bags, but she carries SO much more. Even better – a portion of all proceeds from sales on her site, and in person, currently go to The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies to help with their wildlife rescue efforts related to the recent Gulf of Mexico BP oil spill disaster.

A wonderful site to support, and a big kudos to Mallory for sharing this with me, and now YOU!

Happy Shopping!

Love, K.

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Getting kinky on the airplane

by Kirsten on October 7, 2010

Ok, you dirty-minded people, it’s not what you think! Truth be told, traveling gets us kinky. Neck kinks, back kinks, spasms, sore muscles, it can be a nightmare. (I told you it wasn’t what you thought!)

Thanks to a genius product known as t spheres, this painful problem can become a lot less of an issue with a very simple fix. I know I love them, and you will too.

t spheres joins together two of the best senses – if you can even say one sense is better than another – our sense of smell and touch. These two little balls of pleasure are life-savers for all the traveling fashionistas out there. To put it simply, two small massage balls are provided in a tiny pouch and they emanate heavenly aromatherapy-infused scents. I was lucky enough to to try the “Perk Up” version which mixes grapefruit and peppermint to help you improve concentration and circulation – ideal for a long flight.

They were amazing. Instantly they relieved the pain in all those spots that you just can’t seem to reach, and even better, you don’t have to coerce someone to give you a massage – you can do it yourself!

It’s as easy a placing t spheres on the floor to give yourself a foot massage. Place it against the back of your chair or a wall to massage the kinks out of your back, or put them beneath your hips to help alleviate the pressure of sitting for such long periods of time.

I am not the only one that loves t spheres, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Brooke Shields, Rita Wilson, and many others, are huge fans. They have been featured in Lucky Magazine, Shape Magazine, Nylon Magazine, and on DailyCandy.com, amongst many others.

I won’t be traveling without these babies ever again, and you shouldn’t either. Save your self the aches and pains, and treat yourself to a bit of heaven – even if you are stuck on a plane for 10 hours. You’ll thank me – and t-spheres, later.
Pick up a set of t spheres here!
Love, K.

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Know Before You Go: Average Cost of a Mini-Bar Soda Around the World

by Kirsten on July 14, 2010

Most of us already know to avoid the mini-bar at all costs. The items are ridiculously priced and usually you can find a local store to pick up some snacks and drinks to have on hand in your hotel room. But what about those times we are temped? Perhaps we are dying for a jolt of caffeine and would love to have a chilled Coke or Pepsi. Is it worth spending the money? It may be, but take a look at the various prices of a Coke out of a hotel mini-bar across the world. You may re-think your choice dependant upon your destination!

The average cost of a soda from a mini-bar across the world:

Paris – $11. 76
I am not at all surprised that Paris tops the list. Known for their pricey food, high cost of living, and expensive hotel rates, this soda is outrageously expensive! My suggestion – skip the soda and get a nice drink down the street at an outdoor cafe. It probably will be cheaper and a good reason to sit and people watch!

New York – $7.10
Another expensive place to visit, the cost of a soda from the mini-bar reflects the high prices of the area. Definitely a lot better than Paris, but still ridiculously high, you can easily buy a bunch of six-packs for the same price of one! Skip!

Tokyo – $5.68
Although it is known that in Asian countries the dollar goes pretty far, I am surprised to see how pricey this small soda is! Tokyo is a bit more expensive than other cities in the country, so that may account for some of the cost, but still pretty shocking. Again – pass on the mini-bar!

Sydney – $5.12
I never knew that Australia was a pricey place to visit as well as to live until just recently, so the high cost of a Coke is not surprising to me when taken from a hotel mini-bar. I wouldn’t dream of paying this much for a soda!

Buenos Aires – $4.76
A place I am dying to visit, Buenos Aires is known for its beauty, chic city life, and warm people. Not so warm – the cost of a soda from the mini-bar! Wow. Knowing you can get a delicious meal for fractions of the cost of what we expect in the States, this surprises me! Definitely skip the mini-bar and go to a local spot for a drink and/or food. You will be surprised how far your money can go in Buenos Aires!

Cape Town – $2.63
I may think about spending this on a soda, until I remember that this is outrageously expensive, STILL! For one can of soda? I don’t think so. I guess if I was really, really thirsty I could take the leap, but in normal situations, I’ll pass.

What do you think of these prices? Are you willing to pay the price when desperate? Or would you skip it? Leave a comment with your thoughts below!

Love, K.

PS – I just love Travel + Leisure mag. When I saw this tidbit of info, I knew I had to share it with you! Thanks T+L!!

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Tips on how to get a great deal on a cruise

by Kirsten on July 12, 2010

Cruises are one of the best ways to save a lot of money traveling and at the same time give you the chance to visit a variety of locations. Some people love the idea of cruises, others hate them. It is all a matter of personal preference. No matter what, cruising is a fun and great travel alternative.

Here are 8 tips on how to save money booking a cruise:

Choose the best timing

Luxury cruise lines recommend that you book as soon as possible. Often they will schedule their sailings as early as a year and a half in advance and will offer fantastic specials for on-board ship credits, buy one get one free, free airfare, free transfers, and rates often up to 60% off. For the larger ship lines, such as a Carnival Cruise Line, the last minute specials seem to be the best. I know this makes some people nervous, but its worth it! Keep your eyes open as travel seems to be stabilizing a bit, which means you may see prices go back up and normalize again.

Find a travel agent that specializes in cruising

This is a tough one for me as I like to have complete control of my travel bookings, a do-it-yourself kind of girl! But, travel agents can often have special relationships with cruise lines and can have access to better rates as well as get you perks like on-board credits or excursions while on your trip. Take a look at the cruise line’s website and find their list of preferred travel agents. Use this as a method to compare and contrast your research. If they find the best deal, you both win! Remember, you don’t have to book anything with them should you not be happy with what they find! Very little risk.

Choose your itinerary based on season

Cruise ships move from one location to another during different times of year to be available for the peak seasons travel. While they reposition, you can often find a great rate on a particular itinerary. Shoulder season is another great time of year to get a good deal on cruises. It will require a bit of research, but can save lots in the long run. Don’t give up your beach vacation or your Alaskan cruise if that’s your dream…. but it is a good idea to keep in mind if you have a flexible destination preference.

Pick your cabin carefully

It is not necessary to choose a room in the center of the ship with no windows to get a savings. Often moving down one floor or to a different part of the ship can save you as much as a few hundred dollars! Talk to your travel agent or cruise sales rep to determine the layout of the ship, what works best for your needs, and where you can save on money.

Pay attention to airfares

There are times you may find a cruise that looks too good to be true. The price is right and you are ready to go. Unfortunately the airfare to get you to the port may be extremely high. Cruise lines negotiate special fares with airlines early on. This means that the price could be great months in advance but as it gets closer, the airfares can drop, meaning the cruise line no longer has the best rates for your flight. Compare and contrast the flights both with the cruise line and on your own, and select whichever is cheapest!

Book your next cruise while you are still on the ship

It has long been known that you will get a special rate when you book your next cruise while still on the ship during your current cruise. They can often offer hundreds of dollars off the next trip as well as special credits and added perks.

Sign up for loyalty programs

The same is true for cruise lines as is for hotels and airlines. If you sign up for their loyalty programs, you will be first to hear about specials and fare alerts. Well worth the extra few emails!

Pay in advance and research insurance options

If you pay in full, often they will provide a discount of up to 15%! Also look into insurance options so that you can get a refund in case of emergency. This can be health related, job related, weather related etc. Ask the company about what their insurance covers and determine if they offer a price guarantee. This way if the price drops, you can be protected and receive that same benefit back!

Do you have any special money saving tips for cruises that you would like to offer? Leave a comment below! I would love to hear your ideas!

Big thanks to Travel + Leisure for helping come up with these awesome tips!

Love, K.

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Should I exchange money in the United States or at my destination?

by Kirsten on June 29, 2010

I often get questions from people that I think are beneficial for everyone to know. From this point forward, I will be posting these great questions as I receive them, and keeping them all together in a great Frequently Asked Questions section! Please feel free to send me an email to kirsten@travelingfashionista.com for any questions you may have, and we will be able to have a great comprehensive guide for all to enjoy!

For today’s question:

Should I exchange money in the United States or when I arrive to my destination?

Great question! It is definitely recommended to exchange your money when you arrive to your destination rather than at your bank at home. Unless you are traveling to a very remote area where ATMs will be few and far between, generally the exchange rate will be much better abroad. At nearly every foreign airport you can find an ATM with a better exchange rate than your personal bank in the States. This is true even after factoring in the fees (about $3 plus the 1-3% currency-conversion fee, on average) that will be assessed by your bank for withdrawing money abroad.

Should you feel better having a little bit of local currency on hand prior to your arrival, I would recommend getting about $100 exchanged at your bank prior to your departure.

Make sure to avoid converting your cash at the hotel or airport exchange kiosks where they tend to offer the worst rates!

Love, K.