Category Archives: travel

June 7, 2013 · 12:13 pm

it takes a village…

all living together in a Victorian townhouse in Toronto

this past weekend many travel bloggers gathered up in the grand city of Toronto, Ontario, for the travel conference known as TBEX. this is was my third time to attend TBEX and while every time the conference gets better and better, this is not why this past weekend will go down in history as one of my favorites.

let’s just start with what do you do when 1,200 people come to town? where do they all sleep? thank goodness Toronto is the 4th largest city in North America! so it seemed there was room for everyone attending TBEX plus those who were merely in Toronto for business or pleasure. i had the good fortune of finding a fantastic townhouse with FlipKey for some of my blogging buddies (most i’ve met & traveled with plus one superstar i knew would fit right in) because sometimes staying together is more cost-effective. BUT let’s be honest, staying together is WAY more fun and you actually get far more quality time and in our case, time to learn from each other as well as play together.

some might be frightened by this scenario. what if the people don’t get along? what if one person is really messy or loud? what if some don’t chip in and help out? yes, there can be a lot of what if’s in this type of situation. first of all, i think it’s important to go into a plan like this knowing that those things could happen and being ok with it. i wasn’t terribly concerned because the other advice i’d give is to know who you are including. don’t leave too many possibilities for loose cannons. all i can tell you is this group was like a utopian state of heaven. as we started to discuss arrivals and departures to the house…things like who will let us in, what do we need to bring, it became crystal clear this was a group of “i’ll do this and you pick up where i left off”. everyone was helping one another and i found this incredibly endearing. it’s one of the things that makes me love these friends even more.

from Stay Adventurous meeting me at the house & doing the initial liquor run. (no one likes to arrive without a possible cocktail in hand) to Travel Destination Bucket List bringing her extra wine glasses to Traveling Ted driving people places & doing the replenishing booze run. then there’s The World Wanderer, Captain and Clark, GQTrippin and one of the two gorgeous Lazy Travelers who all took part in building our “confessional”. we all have a love/hate relationship with Captain for his bartending skills. then i have my lovely Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler who always looks out for me and is the best listener and friend a person could ever ask for. she’ll stay up with you and talk for hours. all the #RWTBEX peeps got a bit of her goodness. and Small Crazy, a kindred spirit to Lola with her love of PINK, props and toys. thank you for being the incredible you that you are! i know we all appreciate those who did the occasional pick up sweep of the place and especially Captain and Clark for doing the check out for us all. i’m telling you, it truly takes a village & this is one that i’d gladly be a part of again and again.

my friends were so appreciative that we had a place to stay together but, truly, i was the lucky one to have so many people i love all together. nothing pleases me more than doing something that makes so many happy. AND selfishly, i got to spend a lot of time with those people who make ME very happy. so thank you #RWTBEX crew for agreeing to stay in our lovely townhouse on Bleecker.

our FlipKey townhouse was nestled in the heart of historic Toronto in the Cabbagetown neighborhood. Cabbagetown comprises the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in North America. this circa 1874 home was in a great location for all our downtown activities. i found the townhouse quite spacious with a perfect blend of original charm and modern touches a traveler would need.

19 Comments

Filed under canada, toronto, travel

Tagged as canada tourism, home rentals, TBEX, Toronto

June 4, 2013 · 4:57 pm

Prepping Tips for the Perfect Vacation

Does planning for a getaway sometimes stress you out? Here’s some helpful tips…

When it comes time to go on holiday, you may be tempted to take a break from the mental chore of planning, but planning in advance can save you a headache once you’re at your destination. While spontaneity is encouraged in a new or beloved locale, putting together a few things beforehand will allow you more time to enjoy your vacation whether it’s a quick trip on the Eurostar for lunch or a few weeks abroad with friends or family.

Passports and Insurance

If you plan to leave the country, you will need a passport, and depending on where you’re going or length of stay, you may even require a visa. Because these kinds of documents take time to procure, you should begin the process several months in advance. Even if your journey only keeps you within the country, you may still wish to look into travel insurance. Travel insurance can cover material goods like luggage, but it can also be beneficial for those going abroad in the event of an emergency. Travel insurance can make admittance into a foreign hospital a much easier and affordable process, making it nearly a necessity for those who intend to stay abroad for long or participate in more adventurous activities. I don’t always take out insurance but did for my Cambodia trip.

Being Informed

If you intend to leave the country, there is a good chance you will run into unfamiliar customs in your travels, and if you are not aware of these customs, you risk offending the locals. Read beforehand on the culture of where you are embarking so that you are aware of what you are getting into. Pay particular attention to any unusual laws in the area. For example, it’s illegal in Arizona to shoot a saguaro cactus. It’s unlikely that you’ll be doing much sharpshooting of the local flora, but it’s good to know that doing so is punishable by 25 years in jail. Good advice, that. 🙂

Packing Appropriately

Be realistic about the clothing you will need for your vacation. Choose clothing that is appropriate for the climate and culture where you will be visiting, and choose items suited to the types of activities you will be enjoying. If you plan to stay at a beach, you likely won’t need much formal wear except perhaps for a nice dinner out. If you’re going ice climbing, you can safely leave the shorts at home. While it may be tempting to plan for a host of what-ifs, you will be better served by packing light. Particularly if you are traveling internationally, your luggage will be subject to weight limits, which will necessitate clever packing. HAHA! I break this rule EVERY TIME!

Visit the Pharmacist

Depending on where you’re going, certain medicines or your favorite lotion may not be available. Stock up on these items prior to heading out, but pay attention to size limitations if you are planning to fly to your destination. Travel can bring a host of woes ranging from sore tummies to body aches. Minimise your discomfort by planning for the worst to spare yourself the disappointment of missing out on something you’re eager to do. While you don’t need to grab every bottle in sight, you should at least plan for things you commonly experience to best enjoy your getaway. I ALWAYS prepare for the worst in terms of illnesses on the road. When you don’t feel well, the last thing you want to do is HAVE TO go to the doctor or drugstore!

Money Matters

Your largest expenditures will be your accommodations, dining and transportation, so plan for as many of these expenditures beforehand to allow for more money for tours and shopping excursions. Be realistic in your spending; you will not want to spread yourself too thinly in an unfamiliar setting, so highlight the activities that are most important to you beforehand. If there is a particular activity or place you want to go, but your window of opportunity is small, consider taking a personal loan from a reputable financial institution – Australian readers might want to check out http://www.greater.com.au/. Make sure you have enough cash or travelers cheques with you before you head off as some countries don’t have foreign ATM’s or cash outlets. I’ve never traveled anywhere that I couldn’t find cash but I know there are places that you HAVE TO bring your own.

7 Comments

Filed under travel

May 29, 2013 · 10:13 am

Driving in the English Countryside in the Summertime, YES Please!

Take a Driving Holiday in the UK and Save Money

I’d like to cruise the English Countryside in this baby!

As a huge fan of Jane Austen, it has always been a dream of mine to venture out into the English Countryside and tour it a bit. I can imagine myself looking over a cliff somewhere or touring an old estate and hoping Mr. Darcy will come and find me there. Maybe you have a similar dream or perhaps you’d fancy a few days in Bath, a week in the Lakes or even a complete round-trip of the UK – whatever location sounds the most alluring – all you have to do is jump in your car and drive!

Along with this sense of spontaneity, a driving vacation in the UK means you’ll be able to dramatically reduce the amount you’d otherwise spend on a trip elsewhere. By taking away some of the flight costs and expensive accommodation, you’ll be able to completely design a voyage based around your budget.

Here are my tips for keeping a road trip as low-cost as possible…

But if you cannot find Mr. Darcy try these tips!

Look for cheap car rental

There are lots of reasonably priced car hire firms around meaning you can always get your hands on a rented vehicle for a short while. More often than not there’ll be some sort of money-saving deal available; with a company like Hertz you can even get good deals on insurance too – their ‘supercover’ plan means you’ll get great protection but pay no excess. It’s always worth looking for extra perks like this; you might be the best driver in the whole world, but that doesn’t mean that accidents won’t happen to you.

Split the cost

If you’re concerned about the rising cost of fuel – and let’s face it, this is undoubtedly going to be one of the most expensive parts of your trip – then consider asking more people to come along for the ride. If there’s a big group of you you’ll be able to share the expense (and the driving responsibility), and ultimately take some of the hassle out of those pricey petrol garage pit stops. Not only will the additional numbers be able to help out with fuel, but food and general day-to-day expenses too – just remember, the more people: the less you pay!

This is probably a better size vehicle for the narrow English roads!

Consider alternative accommodation

Although you won’t have to shell out on hotels abroad, staying in the UK doesn’t automatically mean all types of accommodation will be cheaper. Quite the opposite in fact! So make sure you figure out the economy alternatives; search out B&B’s and guesthouses as opposed to bigger hotels, you’re likely to come across much lower rates than in larger chains. But for an even further reduction in price, go camping! If you’re looking to save money then you won’t get anything cheaper than sleeping under the stars…

Map out your journey

Despite a road trip offering up a certain amount of freedom, it’s still worthwhile mapping out a loose journey plan. From finding out the shortest route to the most cheap and cheerful roadside restaurants, having a plan will help you avoid unnecessary expenses. Similarly, it’s highly advisable to invest in a decent navigational device. Unless your map reading skills are absolutely stellar, there’s a good chance you’ll get lost without one, which will consequently result in further fuel costs, time wasted and arguments started! You don’t have to spend a lot; shop around for low price sat navs in places like Halfords, Auto Trader and B&Q; it’ll certainly save you a whole lot of hassle!

Why not consider a trip in the UK this summer? With some of the most beautiful countryside and the most historical cities in the world, there’s no reason to book a holiday elsewhere. Hop in your car and head off!

17 Comments

Filed under england, travel, united kingdom

Tagged as car hire, car rentals, england tourism, travel UK

May 27, 2013 · 11:50 am

stepping out of my comfort zone…in Miami

yes, in my favorite Miami – i faced a comfort zone challenge

you hear all the time about travelers pushing themselves outside their “comfort zones”. i think Lola often comes across as fearless & confident (which is mostly true) but i do know something about comfort zones. for example, last year when i went to Cambodia. it was the first time i’d been to Asia. the first time i went to a third world country. the first time i did a Habitat for Humanity house build. the first time i took flight longer than 10 hours. all these were certainly comfort zone challenges for me. ones that i’m glad i faced because the result was so rewarding. the story i want to share isn’t quite like that but it was a comfort zone challenge nonetheless and one i think a lot of women face.

on my last trip to Miami, i was running a super fun swimwear contest on my website with the amazing luxe swimwear store Orchid Boutique. their flagship store is located in South Beach and since i was going to be in Miami anyway, i thought it would be great to check it out and show off some of their styles to help promote the contest. sounds reasonable, right?! except that meant i had to try on the swimsuits and not in the privacy of my own dressing room. i agreed to ‘model’ them and be photographed…something i’m not exactly comfortable with. after all, i’m no Sport Illustrated swimsuit model and i bet even those women struggle with being on display for photos.

BUT i will say it wasn’t as bad as i thought it was going to be. NO i didn’t go on a crash diet or start exercising every day the month prior to my Miami trip. those things are just too difficult for me these days with the traveling lifestyle i have. AND my travel lifestyle makes me far more happy than when i ate carefully and exercised all the time. i’m not poo pooing being healthy. i do enjoy exercise & being in good shape but i think there is a balance. i was always critical of myself and would have been terribly uncomfortable having my photo taken in a swimsuit even in my top fitness form. SUCH A SHAME.

so why was it not so bad? well, for one, the gals working at Orchid Boutique are there to build you up and help you find a swimsuit that looks great on you. it was like shopping with your best friends. i really appreciated their support and input. in fact, i even tried on and bought one swimsuit i thought i’d NEVER look good in all thanks to their knowledge base of the different lines & my body type. i couldn’t have had a better bikini shopping experience, and ladies, i know you know that is REAAAAALLY saying something. we all pretty much hate swimsuit shopping and are so cruel to ourselves during the process. i left Orchid Boutique 4 bikinis richer and smiling from ear to ear.

other reasons this experience was less painful…my friends supported me during the process of publicly posting these photos for the contest. i appreciate them too for that. BUT the biggest reason it was OK is i decided i had to be OK with it. i committed to modeling the swimwear so i might as well smile, own it, and have fun. and that is what i did. despite being a good 10 pounds heavier than i’d like to be, i just decided to be kind to myself and not worry any more. i gotta say it was very liberating and i hope to adopt this attitude about other things in my life. i don’t know if this comfort zone challenge story is any help to any of you out there but i hope it is. we are all our own worst critics. it would be great if we could all be less hard on ourselves. maybe we’d all smile more and have more fun more often.

XO – Lola

26 Comments

Filed under fashion, miami, travel

Tagged as comfort zone challenges, miami, orchid boutique, travel

May 24, 2013 · 4:24 pm

Fun & Fine Dining in Las Vegas

Vegas is fit for the King & Queens

I’ve never made it a secret that Lola likes her VIP treatment. One place that comes to mind for VIP’s is Vegas. As I mentioned, I’m hoping to finally experience the Vegas pool party scene this summer. Another VIP perk I love about Vegas is all the great restaurants located there. Casino property owners know that visitors to Las Vegas want the best of the best and that includes the best in fine dining. Over the last decade, Vegas has earned a solid reputation as having some of the best fine dining in the world. If you are heading out to Sin City sometime in the near future, check out our list of restaurants you must visit in Las Vegas.

Tournament of Kings

While not a restaurant, the Tournament of Kings is certainly the most unique dining experience that you will have in Las Vegas. While you eat a medieval style dinner consisting of roasted chicken, soup, and other fare, you are entertained by a medieval style jousting tournament. It is Las Vegas’ version of dinner theater and appropriate for the entire family.

Bright Strip Lights. One Crazy & Delicious City!

Delmonico

If you are a fan of Food Network’s Emeril Lagrasse, then you have to make a stop at Delmonico Steakhouse in the Venetian. Emeril is the head chef at this properties and this place not only serves the best cuts of steak in town, but also has numerous dishes that you will not find at any other steakhouse. Each dish has Emeril’s special touch and the decor is straight out of the 1970’s. Groovy baby.

Michaels

The only non-Strip restaurant on our list, Michael’s at the South Point Hotel and Casino is a trip back into Victorian times. The restaurant has a complete Victorian style and the staff provides black-tie service that includes tableside preparation of meals. South Point is located about 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, but is definitely worth the drive.

Show Me the Money!

Picasso

The Bellagio is known for having the best of everything in Las Vegas from gambling to entertainment, and even food. Picasso is not only the crown jewel of Bellagio restaurants, but it is also the standard that fine dining is measured by in Vegas. Amazingly, close to 85 percent of the original staff from when the restaurant opened 20 years ago still works at the property. Chef Julian Serrano has put together a magnificent French-Spanish menu in a property accented by classic pieces of artwork from Pablo Picasso.

Top of the World Restaurant

If you want a view of Las Vegas that you will not see anywhere else in the city, then a trip to the Top of the World Restaurant is a must. Located at the top of the Stratosphere, the restaurant rotates 360 degrees to give a ever-changing view of Sin City. To be honest, the food here is about average in comparison to most Vegas restaurants, but the views make up for what the food lacks.

Who couldn’t love all the foodie fun that Vegas has to offer?! I hope I will still fit into my swimsuit so I can enjoy the pool party scene too! 😉

6 Comments

Filed under travel, vegas

Tagged as foodie, las vegas, top restaurants, vegas restaurants, vegas tourism