The elegant bar at Barton G. The Restaurant
If you live in Miami, or even if you’ve just visited the city a few times, you’ve probably heard of Barton G. The Restaurant. After all, it’s been around for over 10 years, which is a feat in and of itself in Miami. It seems, after 3 years in existence here (especially on South Beach) you’re old news. However, Barton G. The Restaurant, has become legendary on Miami Beach. That is partly because they truly provide you with “an experience like no other” as they describe on their own site. They are known for their extravagantly playful presentations like fried chicken served in a decorative tin chicken and lobster pop tarts served in a toaster. Therefore, it’s the perfect spot to entertain out of town clients or for big group dinners. But they also back up the “wow” with exceptional food and great service. If you haven’t been and are local or a frequent visitor to South Florida, you must go. Barton G. The Restaurant never disappoints.
The Seafood Cocktail, Surf & Turf, Blooming Seabass, and the Sabrina Sundae
My family and I recently dined at Barton G. The Restaurant again earlier this month to introduce my brother-in-law, Ray, to the incredible Miami spot when he and my sister were in town from Dallas visiting for Spring Break. I’ve been lucky enough to have dined at Barton G. before…the first time for a birthday of mine years ago and the second time for my sister’s bachelorette party. So, I knew the excellent night we were in for and couldn’t wait to see Ray’s reaction.
After perusing the menu, which was on an iPad mounted to an acrylic easel, we ordered a round of their Liquid Nitrogen Martinis which “smoke” right in front of you. I ordered the Sin-Sation: Nitrogenized Vanilla Vodka and Rose Petal Nectar Topped with Champagne Served with a Vanilla Vodka and Rose Petal Nectar Pop. You know, something simple.
The Sin-Sation Martini at Barton G.: Vanilla Vodka, Rose Petal Nectar, Champagne, and actual roses.
What We Ate:
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THE SEAFOOD COCKTAIL
- BARTON G. CHOPPED SALAD Seasonal Greens & Herbs with Chopped Egg, Broccolini, Cauliflower, Avocado, Sugar Snaps, Grape Tomatoes, Chickpeas, Gruyere, Maytag Blue, Roasted Sunflower Seeds, Crisp Brioche, Honey Pommerey Dressing & Shallot Vinaigrette
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BLOOMING SEA BASS Sea Bass Baked Papillote Style with Ginger, Tomatoes, Leeks, Carrots. Served with Home Fries & Blistered Asparagus
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THE GREAT AMERICAN FILET Char Broiled 8oz Angus Filet Mignon & Slow Braised Short Rib, Snow Peas & Carrots, Whipped Potatoes, Cracked Pepper Bordelaise
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LOBSTER TRAP TRUFFLE MAC & CHEESE (mine, all mine)
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BACK IN BLACK SKIRT STEAK Blackened 10oz skirt steak, Creamy Kale, Glazed Roots, Roasted Brussle Sprouts, Cotija Truffle & Herb Kettel Chip, Demi
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LOBSTER APICIUS #1 Broiled Lobster Tail with Citrus & Garlic Gulf Shrimp, Roma Tomatoes, Asparagus, Drawn Butter
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WHIPPED POTATOES Buttermilk & Butter
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THE SABRINA SUNDAE Barton “G”iant Martini Filled With a Variety of House-Made Ice Creams & Outrageous Toppings
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CARNIVAL FUN CAKES Golden Funnel Cakes With Fun Dipping Sauces of Chocolate, Strawberry, Caramel Spiced Powdered Sugar & Fresh Whipped Cream
Dunk the Duck Funnel Cakes…which came with a gun and working mini carnival game.
One dish after another was placed on the table in an extravagant presentation not to be believed. I immediately felt the moment needed to be documented and shared with everyone I came in contact with…over the next month. Clearly, I wasn’t ashamed to whip out my camera at the dinner table either. Any tech etiquette I had went out the window starting with the smoking liquid nitrogen martinis. But, I wasn’t the only one. Our whole table was snapping shots. Actually, the whole restaurant. Snap a pic then look around and see who’s watching them snap that pic. God forbid any of us seem impressed…act cool, it’s South Beach. But that’s just impossible when they place this in front of you for dinner.
My cousin Erin with a giant fork (and Filet) at Barton G.
But that’s the fun. It’s giddy fine dining and totally over the top. So if you’re not careful, you just may be too. Example, Ray’s reaction…
Ray the Knight
But don’t worry. We’ll all act a little silly in this fab estab (our little secret) and then pull ourselves together just in time to walk back out into the serious SoBe scene. Or…just hop in the car and ditch the beach all together like we did. Just don’t forget to take a group shot to remember the night. You’re guaranteed to get a happy one with lots of smiles. Plus, the other 25 pictures you took inside on your phone aren’t of anyone in your party.
Our Barton G. Crew
Word is Barton G. The Restaurant is opening a second location in Los Angeles this Spring 2014. Think it will be a new menu? With new props? Hmm…who’s up for a trip to the west coast to find out? Another chance for a fantastic meal and a good time guaranteed to be had by all!
If you have kids, or know anyone who does, you’ve probably heard by now that Disney implemented a new FastPass+ system for their parks a few months ago. But, more changes were made this week to Disney’s FastPass+ which will benefit those who aren’t staying at Disney Resorts or are Annual Passholders. Starting this week, all Disney Parks ticket holders are able to choose their FastPass+ selections online through My Disney Experience 30 days in advance of their visit. Hallelujah! Previously, only those staying at a Disney Resort or Annual Passholders could do this ahead of time leaving regular ticket holders with the leftover FastPass+ selection to choose from once they arrived to the park the day of their visit.
House of the Mouse
My iPhone Snapshot of Our FastPass+ Selections
Kids on the curb awaiting FastPasses
Once we secured our FastPass+ rides, yes, the process was seamless. Limited maybe, with only 3 FastPasses a day, but seamless. Still, this new FastPass+ system seemed to be best for the Disney obsessed…those who come to the parks repeatedly throughout the year and always stay at Disney Resorts. The only problem? That left plenty of other Mickey-loving individuals out of the convenient new system, including us. Regardless, we still had a magical day at the Kingdom once we got going with lunch among knights, sweet Mickey treats, silliness at PhilharMagic, and a trip Under the Sea.
A Magical Day at Disney
But I think I literally jumped for joy when I heard I could reserve our FastPasses online this week. It’s perfect timing as we are headed back to Disney World in a minute. As soon as I heard, I jumped online, loaded up all ticket numbers for everyone in our party (grandparents are joining us this time), and chose 3 days of FastPass+ rides. Voilá! Time saved already once we hit the parks. The system works like a charm and is actually a bit addicting as you can change your selections as many times as you like. Here’s what your FastPass+ selections will look like on your phone through your My Disney Experience App…
Our FastPass+ Selections…and yes, Ariel is my profile pic. She’s clearly the most fabulous princess.
I’ll test this all out again with these new changes on my next trip and report back. In the meantime, here are a few things to remember about all these new changes at Disney…
- Reserving FastPass+ In Advance: Any Disney Park ticket holder can now reserve FastPasses online 30 days in advance of their trip, Annual Passholders can reserve up to 7 days within any 30-day period—for 1 park per day, and those staying at a Disney Resort hotel can reserve for up to 7 days or the length of your hotel stay (whichever is longer) up to 60 days prior to check-in. So, Disney Resort guests win here.
- My Disney Experience App: If you don’t have it, get it. It’s your lifeline at WDW and gives you almost all the info you need on the park. Plus, through this app and website you can choose your FastPass+ rides or make changes and have note of the scheduled ride times right on your phone. Plus, you get to choose a character as your profile picture. How much fun is that?
- FastPass+ Kiosks: In case you aren’t interested in loading yet another app onto your phone, Kiosks are located throughout the park to make FastPass+ selections or change them throughout the day.
- MagicBands: These bands really are magic….magically convenient as they can give you access to the parks and grant you FastPass+ entrance at your chosen rides. For Disney Resort guests, they are complimentary, can also open your hotel room, and can pay for food and merchandise in the park (with credit card linked) all with one swipe. Recently, these bands have been made available to regular ticket holders and are on sale for $12.95 (plus tax) in the parks…however these versions cannot be linked to your credit card for purchases throughout the park. We still think they’re worth it so you don’t have to dig through your Mary Poppins bag for your park pass each time you enter a FastPass+ line.
Our usual M.O. is not staying at a Disney Resort. We tend to choose the more modern hotels partly because we just feel like we need a Disney timeout when we are outside of the actual parks. I get the convenience of the WDW shuttle but this Mommy needs a break from characters after a long day in the park…and from what I understand, your interaction with them at the Disney resorts starts first thing in the morning with a wake-up call from Goofy. But with all of these new changes, it’s pretty clear that staying at a Disney Resort will offer visitors the most convenient & efficient overall Disney park experience from FastPass+ reservations to park purchases…and with two little ones, I’ll all about making life more convenient & efficient. So it sounds like Disney Resorts are in my future. I’ll just have to remember to cancel that wake-up call.
Our 2nd Travel Style Interview of our new series is with Shayne Benowitz, a talented travel and lifestyle writer who contributes to many regional and national magazines and blogs online including VISIT FLORIDA, Modern Luxury Brides South Florida & The Caribbean, SocietePerrier.com, Travel + Escape, and AOL Travel. She’s also the Miami.com Hotels Editor, currently lives in our hometown of Miami, and is one of the nicest people we’ve ever met in South Florida. So, we’re pretty psyched she’s unpacked here for a while. Let’s just hope she stays. Catch this Wanderlust Chameleon here while you can…
Your top 3 travel accessories picks at arrivechic.com are… the Jonathan Adler Travel Journal in Fish Scales, The Euro Traveler, and Bucky 40 Blinks Paper Flower Sleep Mask.
How would you describe your typical vacation style? For example, adventurous, culture-packed, food fest, shopping spree, tour guide scheduled, ohhhm, or poolside/toes in the sand. My vacation style definitely varies. A lot of times it depends on where I’m living at the time and what my day to day lifestlye is like. When I lived in Key West, for instance, I longed for a cultured city experience. I loved booking trips to New York City and I’d fill my days with visiting museums—I love the MoMA and I’m excited for the Whitney’s new location in the Meatpacking District. I have to catch a show on Broadway, and I enjoy shopping, trying new restaurants, bars and clubs, and going to my old favorites. That’s also why I’d take off in the winter to Paris when I lived in Key West. I’d lead a completely different cosmopolitan lifestyle there.
Now that I’ve been in Miami for a few years, even though we have beautiful, tropical weather and the beach, it’s still very much a city lifestyle with lots going on. I long to get off the beaten path and convene with nature. I crave trips to unspoiled and not so densely populated places like Costa Rica or the Bahamas Out Islands. I’ve also had Hawaii on the brain lately. I love any destination that involves the water, and I especially love being active on it, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, boating—if that’s on the agenda, I’m in heaven. I also like to test my nerves with new adventurous activities. I tried zip lining and ATVing for the first time last year, and I absolutely loved both experiences.
So basically, my two favorite types of travel experiences involve either adventure and nature or a big city where I can explore everything from dining and nightlife to fashion and culture. Those are the things that get me excited.
How many countries have you been to? Hmm, let me think. I need to look at a map. Mexico, Israel, England, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Costa Rica, The Bahamas, Curacao, Saint Lucia… I think that’s it, so that’s what, 11?
What’s always in your quart size bag? I hate the quart size bag! Nothing fits in it. I always make sure I pack conditioner, though, because some hotels still don’t have it in the room. And now I’ve got all of my tiny little skincare products that have to come with me, too.
Shayne in Paris
You have an endless budget. Where are you headed and what hotel is lucky enough to have you? Paris is my favorite city in the world, so if I had an endless budget, I’d probably head there and stay for at least a month. I’d like to check-in to the Ritz Paris on the Place Vêndome. It’s been closed for renovations and is set to reopen this year, so I’d love to be one of the first guests back. It’s the epitome of elegance and it has such an amazing history. I had a memorable and funny evening at the Bar Hemingway there years ago and I’d love to return as a guest of the hotel. I’d wait to do my shopping until I arrived in Paris and would head to rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the Bon Marché and, of course, Chanel’s original boutique at 31 rue Cambon. There’s also plenty of jewels to choose from on the Place Vêndome! I think Parisian women have the best style.
Name the top 3 destinations on your travel bucket list? Australia: I’d love to explore everything from the cities of Sydney and Melbourne to the beaches, the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef. Greece: Sailing through the Greek Islands has been a long held travel wish of mine. Galapagos Islands: This is a new one on my list. I just think it would be cool to go to such an unspoiled place with so many endemic species.
What specific accessories or Beauty products/tools do you never leave home without? I’m pretty low key, but I never leave the house without lip balm. I like Fresh’s Sugar in Rosé, and I always have a nice lipstick or gloss with me, too.
Describe your favorite travel shoes. The best shoes I’ve ever bought are my gold Prada ballet flats at the Bon Marché in Paris. They’ve stood the test of time, they’re sporty and stylish and super comfy for trekking around a city all day.
Shayne in Chicago in her gold Prada ballet flats.
What restaurant would you fly to just for dinner? That’s tough. We have so many great restaurant options right here in Miami. Maybe I’d fly to New York to meet friends at Lupa in the West Village or go back in time and have one more meal at Pastis. I’m sure there are newer, cooler restaurants, but I’ve had great memories and great meals at both places.
What’s the last fabulous thing you discovered when traveling? I guess I discovered just how much I loved Costa Rica last year. There are some destinations that just resonate with you on a deeper level that you can’t even really explain with words. It’s like chemistry. And I felt that there. I have plans to return in June for a weeklong surf camp and I’m totally stoked!
Something you’ll never be caught doing when traveling is… Being rude to people. I think traveling is such a joy, and it’s a joy to discover new cultures and also to see people on vacation out of their element. Traveling is a privilege and I love seeing people in their unguarded moments of bliss on vacation. Family vacations growing up had a lasting impression on me and were a big part of my family’s bond. I think that’s why I’ve gravitated towards tourism and travel because I know how great that feeling is.
What is the best travel gadget you own? I guess my iPhone. It’s nice to have a handy map in your pocket and the New York City subway app is cool. I’m not too gadgety. I’d like to invest in a nice camera, though.
Biggest travel pet peeve? I hate packing and I hate the stress at the airport. I can’t relax until I’m waiting at my gate on time for my flight’s departure.
Your best travel tip? Follow your heart and your wildest dreams. Pick one at a time to make a reality.
Most memorable thing you’ve done on vacation? Fallen in love.
Where in the world would you like to live next? Oh my gosh, that’s a great question. My life has been ruled by that question every few years. I’m happy to say that I’m super content in Miami right now and there’s no destination lingering on the horizon. I always think I could live in New York again or maybe head back to Cali where I’m originally from. I also like the idea of Hawaii.
Shayne in Miami with no sight of a destination in the horizon.
Your friends are headed to Miami. What hotel are you recommending? That’s a tough one. We have so many amazing hotels in Miami, but they’re crazy expensive. The nice thing is, you can take advantage of their gorgeous décor, great restaurants and nightlife without actually staying in them. If it was my besties, I’d just say come bunk with me. Otherwise, I love The Raleigh. The Fontainebleau is always fun, too. The W is close to where I live and absolutely beautiful. My dad came into town a few weekends ago and we got him a room at the Loews which was fantastic. Boutique hotels are great, but I’ve also got a special place in my heart for big resorts. The best time to stay in one of Miami’s fancy hotels is during the off season when prices are low.
Who are your favorite travel writers or travel bloggers? There are so many and my eyes are constantly peeled for new ones. I like Ryan Gargiulo of Pause the Moment, Doug Mack is a friend of mine, The Everywhereist has a cool voice, Courtney Scott with Travelocity is killing it, and he’s not a travel blogger or writer, but an amazing fine arts photographer, Corey Arnold takes amazing photos of commercial fishing in Alaska. He’s my favorite thing on Instagram.
Shayne sailing off the coast of Florida
What shouldn’t be missed when visiting South Florida? I would say make your way down to Key West and get offshore on a boat. Go snorkeling with my crew at Fury Water Adventures. We have the third largest reef in the world. It’s an amazing place unlike anywhere else and you can totally unwind and be yourself.
We loved that snapshot of Shayne’s travel style. Now if only we could get her to elaborate on that “most memorable thing” she’s done on vacation. Stay tuned for our next Arrive Chic travel style interview soon. Interested in being featured for our new Travel Style Interview Series? Please email us directly at info(at)arrivechic(dot)com.
Swine Southern Table & Bar, Coral Gables
On a recent Monday, I had lunch with an old friend of mine that I hadn’t seen since the day I graduated high school. Literally. It’s crazy how people can be such a part of your everyday life and then from one day to the next, they’re gone and you could possibly never see them again. Thanks to Facebook though, my friend Randall and I reconnected online and decided to grab lunch and catch up on the last…well, we’ll just forget how many years it’s actually been since we were roaming the halls together in high school in Miami.
We decided to meet at Swine Southern Table & Bar in Coral Gables. I wasn’t upset about that. I had previously had their mouth-watering 14 Hour Smoked Brisket when my mom had Swine catered at her house and my repeated attempts to dine there had all been cancelled and rescheduled…or dodged – I think some of my girlfriends don’t have the stomach for the whiskey & bacon themed menu. But, I never have shied away from a hearty meal and “Bacon” might be my middle name.
Our meal was rich and layered and juicy and unexpected and candied and perfect. Okay, and maybe a bit filling. I only had a bowl of cereal for dinner that night. But it was the best lunch I have had in a long time in Miami and I can’t wait to go back. My suggestion? Go hungry and make sure you leave room for dessert.
Our Swine Lunch: deviled eggs, the burger, mac & cheese, brussels sprouts, & warm sticky icky bun
What We Ate:
Deviled Eggs with chive, bacon crumble, and pickled mustard seed
1855 Black Angus Burnt Ends with fried cornbread and Kansas City molasses mop (I still don’t know what this is but it was delicious)
The Swine Burger of short rib, brisket, and smoked pork blend
Mac & Cheese with 5 cheeses, bacon, and a crispy crust
Crispy Brussels Sprouts with green apple and bacon vinaigrette
Warm Sticky Icky Bun with maple-bourbon toffee syrup, pecan cream cheese, candied smoked bacon, and sweet potato “pie” ice cream.
Yeah, no calories in that meal. But worth every last one. Everything we ate was delicious but my must-haves would be The Swine Burger and the Warm Sticky Icky Bun. What a great way to start off the week, with a fantastic lunch out on a Monday. What’s even better? Tasty leftovers to take home with me. The best part of all? Connecting again with a great friend that I’ve missed having around for so many years. And he’s now a new foodie friend too!
Swine Southern Table & Bar is located at 2415 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables, Florida.
Since everyone’s gearing up for Spring Break, we’ve decided to put together a “Spring Break Beauty Set” for our March Travel Giveaway. We suggest entering this contest as these goodies are pretty great travel accessories, if we do say so ourselves. Need it now? Find it all at our e-boutique, ArriveChic.com!
Refresh yourself mid-flight, on the beach, or poolside with the Evian Facial Spray Trio. Once you’ve tried this, you’ll never travel without it again. This travel trio includes three 1.7 fl. oz. atomizers of natural mineral water from the Northern Alps. This heavenly facial spray not only relieves dry skin, but also helps set makeup, and removes perspiration, salt water, and chlorine. Fair warning though, the unexpected may lean in a little bit closer to catch that cool mist too.
Evian Facial Spray Trio
Next, we’ve included the Supergoop! SPF 30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum. This award-winning, lightweight SPF 30 travel suncare serum for the face counteracts the signs of aging and is perfect under make-up. This 1.7 fl. oz. travel size serum absorbs easily into the skin, protects your face & neck from IRA (infrared rays) – PA+++ for highest UVA protection, and can be used alone or under makeup as a primer. Save space in your travel bag by packing beauty products that are multi-purpose like this Supergoop! Serum that is anti-aging, moisturizing and a sunscreen all in one product. The bonus? It smoothes fine lines and wrinkles and is free of oxybenzone, parabens and fragrances…and who doesn’t love that?
Supergoop! SPF 30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum
Just because you can never have enough sunscreen, and this line is so fantastic, we’ve added the Supergoop! SPF 50 Antioxidant Infused Sunscreen Day Cream to the Travel Giveaway: Spring Break Beauty Set too! This daily protection is not only for your face but also your body and gives you a bit more protection with SPF 50. It’s shine-free, comes in the perfect 2.4 oz travel size, and is water resistant. This Supergoop! product is also free of oxybenzone, paragons, and fragrances and won the Indie Beauty Award by Cosmetic Executive Women in 2012.
Supergoop! SPF 50 Antioxidant-Infused Sunscreen Day Cream
Finally, we can’t leave you without a bag to put it all in! So, here’s the Scout Packin’ Heat Cosmetic Bag in Kellie Green Pickler. This large cosmetic bag measures 9.5″ W x 8.5″ H x 3.5″ D so there’s plenty of room for these beauty products and all of the other make-up you plan on packing. It has a zip top closure and soft structure so it can also pack flat in your suitcase. The best part? The coated cotton exterior is water-resistant and easily wipes clean in case your shampoo explodes. Plus, it can also double as a bikini bag and store your wet bathing suit if you head straight to happy hour from your day at the beach!
Scout Cosmetic Bag in Kellie Green Pickler
Enter to win these fun travel accessories now before the contest ends at 11:59 p.m. on March 31st! Good Luck and Happy Spring Break!
Welcome to our new series of Travel Style Interviews simply called “Arrive Chic with…” We asked Christine Kirk, Founder and CEO of Social Muse Communications, if she’d join us in being the first featured. She kindly obliged and we are thrilled! After all, she’s a well known Luxury Travel Social Media Guru (@LuxuryPRGal), founder of twitter chat #luxchat, and she’s a LA Correspondent for Forbes Travel Guide…and did we mention fabulous?
Your top 3 travel accessories picks at arrivechic.com are… The Black Velour Eye Mask with Ear Plugs, the Real House Weaves Weekender Tote, and the Evian Facial Spray Trio
How would you describe your typical vacation style? For example, “adventurous”, “culture packed”, “food fest”, “shopping spree”, “tour guide scheduled”, “ohhhm”, or “poolside/toes in the sand.” It totally depends. I never take one type of trip over and over. Some are relaxing by the pool/on the beach vacations where I never leave the resort, others are more adventurous/seeing the sights trips where I’m barely at the hotel and am out exploring the destination. I love both types of trips equally.
How many countries have you been to? 20…that I can count! Some of my all-time faves? England, Vietnam, Italy, France, Thailand, and China.
What’s always in your quart size bag? 3 oz. size bottles of Kiehl’s amino acid shampoo and conditioner, luxury body lotions I’ve accumulated like Acqua di Parma, Asprey, and BVLGARI from luxury hotels I’ve stayed at in the past, and 3-4 different kinds of lip balm. I’m always losing them and you can never have too much lip balm. And my weakness – my massive supply of Chanel and Laura Mercier beauty products. I always pack too many beauty products.
You have an endless budget. Where are you headed and what hotel is lucky enough to have you? If my budget was endless, I wouldn’t just travel to one destination. I’d plan a trip around the world and stay at only the world’s finest luxury hotels – my go-tos are any Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, or Dorchester Collection hotels.
Name the top 3 destinations on your travel bucket list? Ireland/Scotland (I’m counting those as one), the Maldives, Greece.
Christine in Nevis, Paris, London, & Maui
What specific accessories or beauty products/tools do you never leave home without? My DryBar hairdryer. I have stayed in some of the most luxurious hotels in the world, but no hotel hairdryer can hold a candle to my personal hairdryer. It’s a must-take on every trip.
Describe your favorite travel shoes. Wedge sandals for tropical destinations and knee-high boots (either flat or stiletto) for colder climates.
What restaurant would you fly to just for dinner? Mango Restaurant at the Four Seasons Nevis in the West Indies of the Caribbean. Jutting out over the turquoise water with a table for two at sunset, I’ve never seen a more romantic restaurant setting in my life. My husband and I left a piece of our hearts there.
Something you’ll never be caught doing when traveling is… Disregarding or disrespecting the local customs or people. I see so many tourists bulldoze their way around cities, not paying attention to the small nuances of the local customs. They come off as rude and totally oblivious. I try and research in advance what time the locals have dinner, how they dress for certain circumstances, and plan my activities and clothing options accordingly. One of my favorite things about travel is to learn something about someone else – about how other people and cultures do things.
Christine in Vietnam
What is the best travel gadget you own? My iPad and iPhone. I couldn’t (and don’t) leave home without them. They are my GPS, my email, my connection to home and my business, my on-the-go resource for information about my flight, hotel, and destination.
Biggest travel pet peeve? People who dress in their pajamas when traveling. Just because we’re getting on a long haul flight does not mean I need to see you in your jammies. Please leave that for the privacy of your own home. There are ways to be comfortable AND stylish when traveling. There was a time when ladies and gentlemen would dress up for the occasion – travel was a privilege and people paid their respects. It’s sad that we live in a time where travel has become so un-special to some people that they can’t even be bothered to get dressed for the occasion.
Your best travel tip? Use social media to connect with a hotel in advance of your stay. So many hotels are active on social media and are more than happy to help you make your Spa appointments, dinner reservations, or even arrangements for an in room amenity, all in advance of your actual arrival.
Since you know luxury, who are your favorite designers? DVF, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Gucci. I love shopping at Saks, Berdorfs, or Barneys – where I can find every designer I love all in one place!
Most memorable thing you’ve done on vacation? Staying at the Four Seasons Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle. This is where Thailand, Laos, and Burma meet all weaved together by the Mekong River. We rode elephants, bathed and fed baby elephants, stayed in climate controlled luxury “tents” with outdoor showers overlooking the Mekong, had a couples massage at the Spa’s open-air treatment rooms of jungle, and dined on local cuisine. Interacting with and actually riding the elephants on a daily basis was a dream come true and something I’ll never forget. If luxury is about an experience, then this was the ultimate luxury experience.
Christine in The Golden Triangle
Where will the first stamp be from in #babyboykirk’s passport? I love this question! While I don’t know yet, I’m guessing it will be somewhere in Europe or Asia. One of the reasons I’m most excited to become a mother is to share the world with my son and expose him to different cultures, people, and cuisine. My parents instilled a passion for travel in me, and I intend to do the same with my son. The world is such a vast and diverse place and I can’t wait to be his tour guide!
Favorite person/company (clients excluded) to follow on Social media channels? @ForbesWoman @RichardBranson @RandiZuckerberg any @FourSeasons hotel @TechCrunch @FastCompany @Bergdorfs @LuxuryDaily @ForbesTravelGuide @Fodors
What’s the most exciting thing happening for the travel industry on social media now? Luxury hotels pride themselves on their 5-Star service while a guest is on property, but those that are using social media right understand that that 5-Star service now begins before a guest sets foot on the property and even well after a guest has left. The level of personalized connection that many hotels are making to their guests using social media is truly exciting – and is changing the definition of luxury.
Being the Social Media guru that you are, do you ever unplug on vacation? Not really. I can’t remember the last time I went on a trip – including a “vacation,” where work wasn’t part of it for at least a portion of the trip. Plus, I love sharing my travel experiences with my audience on social media, so unplugging is (happily) impossible. And I truly wouldn’t have it any other way.
We loved getting the skinny on Christine’s travel style. Plus, we now have a few new places on our itinerary thanks to her! Stay tuned for our next Arrive Chic travel style interview soon. Interested in being featured for our new Travel Style Interview Series? Email us directly at info(at)arrivechic(dot)com!
Meet Ashley
Former NYC fashion industry girl, forever traveler, foodie at heart, and now Mom in Miami. My blog, Arrive Chic, covers the style I find in everyday life both on the road and at home, often with my two energetic little boys in tow.
