TripIt, I love it when you tell me what to do… or where to sit. Introducing Seat Tracker, now part of TripIt Pro. Tell the pros where you want to sit and they’ll notify you when it becomes available. Bam. 

!

Roundup of my favorite things this week –– serious sleeps (let’s glamp!) to sexy sweats (let’s dance!)…
Follow it, don’t judge it!

Moab Under Canvas.
Moab Under Canvas is located on 40 acres 7 miles north of Moab, Utah, just moments away from the entrance to both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. With views across the desert towards Arches, the camp blends into its dramatic surroundings where deep canyons and towering plateaus create a raw landscape of immense power. If you ever wondered what it would be like to really experience the desert, now you need wonder no more. Our luxurious tents offer guests the opportunity to enjoy Utah’s spectacular desert without giving up the comforts of home. This is no traditional camp site.  This is camping as it should be.

Classivity.
Classtivity is home to thousands of classes, easily searchable and bookable by you. From yoga to improv, whatever’s your calling, craving or spontaneous interest, find its fulfillment here on Classtivity. With the Classtivity Passport, you get to try 10 classes for only $49 — and, you have over 100 classes to choose from at over 20 of the best venues in NYC. Let’s go summer. 

Spring Breaks for Grown-Ups.
The kids had their fun, but now that they’re back in class it’s time for a grown-up spring break. Jetsetter has scored savings of up to 25 percent of escapes that range from the sinful (Vegas, baby!), to the stylish (Gramercy Park, NYC) to the sybaritic (Oscar de la Renta’s Tortuga Bay). Just don’t wait until summer to book your stay, because these deals end April 9 at midnight. (Some blackout dates apply.)

#

Somewhere between and box and hard place, cube-conscious hotels have been popping up around the globe. As a Casa De La Flora frequenter, I’m always on the hunt for my next squarescapade. Tablet Hotels has pinpointed some of the best modern, self-contained pods, set in some of planet’s most otherworldly landscapes…

Aire De Bardenas. Spain.
Set at the edge of the desert in Spain’s northern Navarre province, Aire de Bardenas’s prefab pods are designed around the windows, with their views of the wheat fields and wind-scoured rocks outside. The setting, plus nooks with mini-mattresses and lounge pillows, make this possibly the world’s best hotel for getting a bit of reading done.

Hotel Endemico. Ensenada.
From the outside, Hotel Endémico’s hyper-modern “EcoLofts” look like simple wooden boxes, propped above an arid boulder-strewn landscape. But inside they’re impeccably styled in black, white and concrete-grey, with views of the valley below framed by floor-to-ceiling windows.

$

There are certain spots, so near and dear to my heart, that I’ve actually never written about them. And it was a true “no-f-in-way!” moment, when I saw that my friends at Jetsetter.com had beaten me to it. The Library Koh Samui is so unexpectedly un-thai, it’s cool in Koh. A balance between the red-hot pool and the cool-white sand, there’s something about the surprising, techie design that fits right in to any itinerary. And after a few days of thatched roofs and palapas, an iMac inspired den might be just what the khuṇ h̄mx ordered.

Yesterday marked the start of the 29th annual Sundance Film Festival and the time of year when Park City teems with independent filmmakers, art house patrons and such stars as Kate Bosworth, Nicole Kidman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In addition to the slew of world premieres, discussion panels and live performances, there’s equally as much action happening on and off screen at this year’s 10-day fest. Jess B, Assistant Editor of Jetsetter.com previews five titles paired with after-hours spots for discussing them…

Running from Crazy
Two-time academy award-winning director Barbara Kipple is the only person to have won all three of Sundance’s documentary awards for American Dream, and this year she’s going for a fourth. With enriching archival footage, Running from Crazy follows the granddaughter of great American novelist Ernest Hemingway, Mariel, on her philanthropic fight against a family history of mental illness and suicide.

Discuss it over a whiskey at the High West Distillery & Saloon, then listen to the director speak in a 90-minute panel on Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Filmmaker Lodge.

Read More

R

oundup of my favorite things this week…
And this week, it’s a roundup of travel tools that may (or may not) transform the terrain. Take a peek at Peek, Gallivant, Want Me, Get Me, and an app to end them all via Jetsetter.com. Follow it, don’t judge it.

Want Me, Get Me.
Want Me Get Me is a free members-only website that upgrades modern travelers as VIP guests at the world’s top luxury and boutique hotels. It’s backed by some badass boss and board memebers (Tristan Mace, Melanie Brandman with ex-Jetsetters and Gilt-ers too) so expect big things.
 

Peek.
Peek offers up high quality experiences, handpicked by experts. Explore travel guides, “perfect” day itineraries and then book direct through their platform. If you find a better price elsewhere, they’ll match it and refund the difference ala Walmart. With an ex- Arts.y and Gilt Grouper leading the charge, Ruzwana Bashir has attracted both Jack Dorsey and Eric Schmidt as investors, as well as Khosla Ventures and SV Angel. 

Jetsetter Now.
Jetsetter Now features same-day, mobile only deals at rates of up to 60% off. Deals will initially be offered in Jetsetter’s top seven markets: New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Boston and Chicago, subject to hotel availability. What makes Jetsetter Now unique is that the hotel’s name is a mystery (which Jetsetter says provides greater discounts), and each property is Jetsetter-Verified, which means it’s been vetted and reviewed by a Jetsetter employee to meet the company’s standards.

Gallivant.
Gallivant is a new online publication for men who seek the best places to stay, shop, eat, drink, and be merry. Think of it as Uncrate, but for places instead of products. Not relegated to fancy-schmancy restaurants or upscale hotels, Gallivant curates the places real men want to frequent, introducing them to hidden gems and old standbys alike from across the world. Yeah bro. 

Travel Tuesday: Virgin America on Gilt City
We all know how I feel about a play date in a plane… And there’s no better way to hit the high skies than in one equipped with mood lighting, touch-screens and seat-to-seat messaging. Fly like an elite traveler with an instant upgrade to Main Cabin Select  from Gilt City. Priority check-in, extra legroom, free premium entertainment, and complimentary food and drinks on demand - because the Sir Richard Branson brand wasn’t already sleek enough. 

Travel Tuesday: NU Hotel, Brooklyn

In case you find your self boppin’ around the boroughs…
A short trip across the East River from Manhattan, Brooklyn is exploding with hipster bars, Michelin-starred restaurants and chic boutiques. Located at the nexus of four neighborhoods — Downtown, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens — the four-story NU Hotel, which opened in 2008, makes a great base for exploring both boroughs on a dime. NU Hotel is one of Brooklyn’s first environmentally responsible hotels, meaning this place is as light on your conscience as it is on your wallet. Green features include dimming light switches, organic linens, lead-free paint, cork flooring and biodegradable Eartherapy bath products that leave you smelling like fresh cedar… Get your Read On.

Need a dose of culture with your city break? Nikki Ridgway highlights five of the most buzzed-about summer art events in New York, Madrid, Chicago, Kassel and London, and where to bed down in each destination, on Jetsetter.com

NYC: 
THE SHOW After runs in Madrid, Paris and London, the Yayoi Kusama retrospective opens at the Whitney Museum of American Art on July 12. With works spanning the six-decade career of Japan’s most prolific artist, expect the avant-garde artist’s signature Infinity Net paintings and polka dot–covered spaces. Go now for a sneak peek of the Fireflies on the Water installation on the ground floor.  

THE SLEEP Have a New York moment at the Chanel-inspired Surrey Hotel between Madison and Fifth Avenues. Dine with the power players at Café Boulud, head to the rooftop for Central Park views or admire the 30 original artworks hung around the hotel.

Read More

Travel Tuesday: c/o Maidstone Hotel, East Hampton
Flee on the fourth… After a knockout makeover from Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljungberg, this old Hamptons standby has gone completely boho. A curatorial attention to detail is on display throughout the 19 rooms and trendy restaurant, where amenities both modern (iEverything) and funky (vintage prints) coexist. With a commitment to sustainability and a fashionably modern aesthetic, the Maidstone is as Scandinavian as the complimentary hand-painted clogs in every room.

World champ and Surfrider Foundation ambassador Stephanie Gilmore hops planes between the best surf breaks on the planet for a living. Alex Pasquariello snagged some tips for Jetsetter.com

What advice do you have for novice surfers?
Start on a thicker longboard so it’s easier to stand up and feel the motion of the wave. Surf a beach with small, rolling waves at first and don’t be scared to go across a wave instead of straight down it - the face of the wave is a lot easier to ride than the white wash. And above all, have fun! 

Do you have favorite waves?
So many. My home break of Snapper Rocks off of Rainbow Bay on the southern end of Queensland, on Australia’s Gold Coast. Farther south, the beaches of northern New South Wales are also insanely beautiful. And Honolua Bay, Maui, and P Pass, Micronesia. The rest are secret!

Where have you eaten well on the road?
I went fishing with chef Ludo Lefebvre off Hawaii’s Big Island recently, and he took me to his pop-up restaurant, LudoBites Nine-O at Four Seasons Hualalani to cook up the catch. I have never tasted anything like it. I still can’t decide which was best - the just-caught lobster with caramelized pineapple or the vanilla bean panna cotta with black caviar and caramel sauce.

Tell us about your work with Surfrider Foundation
We’re mistreating our oceans, and Surfrider Foundation is at the forefront of the effort to educate people about it, and I’m honored to be part of it. We have 120 events taking place in more than 20 countries for International Surfing Day on June 20; check out the Surfrider Foundation website to see if there are any events at your beach.

Read More

#

I rarely hold anyone to any standards. How can you know the rules of the road if you don’t drive on it? Like cab-cutting in NYC, spitting in the TLV, bringing pastries in the DAC or looking down in PVG, every place should come with a list of manners, or in some cases, maneuvers.
In Tokyo, tradition is a tall order… so here’s how to not get fired as a foreigner

Slurp yo’ noodles.
Do exactly what your mom to you not to do. The whole point of slippery spaghetti is to eat them super fast, and very hot. So get on with your loud self and embrace the slurping sound. If you’re silent, the Ramen master might take it as a sign of dissatisfaction - so beware and be loud. 

Saved by the Subway.
Don’t even think about taking a cab; Japans rail system is nothing short of sheer brilliance. The uber effecient subway and train system in Tokyo is quite possibly the best invention on earth. For those traveling to more than one city, opt for a Japan Rail pass (7 days, 14 day etc.). It’s worth it. And unlike the swipe and go systems in the US, the JR machines check-point you twice. So save the stub for the way in, and out. Most likely at some point you’ll pay the wrong fare - the Japanese machines can confuse almost anyone. Just go to the Fare Adjusment counter, you cant miss it. And believe me, the guards won’t miss you.

Go Nude.
Nothing does it for me quite like a warm body of water, and Japan is full of them. Onsens, or hot springs, are a huge part of the tradition and culture. But don’t even think about that tankini; Onsens are for nudist only! So strip and sit down (sorry, no nude photo of me here).

Kill your cell. 
Despite being super tech savy citizens, Tokyo can be eerily quiet. You will rarely hear a cell phone conversation, and certainly not one on the train. When riding the rails in Japan, you should turn your phone off when near Priority Seats, keep it in silent mode when in other areas, and refrain from talking on the phone at all times. After all, thats what sexting is for.

Shoe Styles.
Some eating and drinking establishments in Japan offer “zashiki”-style seating where you must remove your shoes when entering. So snuggle in sans sneakers, it’s semi-liberating.

Noteworthy Notes:
Cab doors close automatically, so refrain from slamming them shut. 
Eat all of your food, which isn’t exactly difficult when it’s super delicious
Don’t tip, it can often be seen as rude, or that you’re a silly tourist.
If you’re not an adventurous eater, learn the word for vegetarian. But honestly, just don’t be a vegetarian. 

@

This members-only refuge in a converted warehouse in the Meatpacking District attracts a cool crowd of arty and media types plus the odd celeb (hello, Justin Timberlake), and has 24 capacious bedrooms. A stay here gives you access to the club’s restaurant and newly refurbished bar, with velvet banquets, a wood-burning fireplace and fresh, contemporary art — plus the Cowshed spa, rooftop pool and 44-seater cinema.

Soho House New York — part of the London-based Soho House group, a private members’ club — covers more than 45,000 square feet of an old warehouse building in the Meatpacking District. The comfortable sixth floor space, which comprises a restaurant, drawing room and two bars, serves as living room, office and party pad for its members, an international crowd from the media, music, fashion and movie worlds. There’s also a cinema with leather armchairs that shows new releases (booze is permitted), a library and a rooftop pool, which is heated to 80 degrees in winter. 

The 950-square-foot Playground has plenty of seating and an egg-shaped bath. Bedrooms have exposed brick walls and wooden floors, and range from 325 to 950 square feet — immense by New York standards. I couldn’t decide whether to dive into my free-standing bathtub or the baroque kingsize bed first. Statement pieces anchor each room: an Asian-inspired mural, a heavy green desk and a ’50s velvet couch gave mine a bohemian, British vibe. 

Read More