The 12 days of Christmas! (holiday shopping list!)

....on the sixth day of Chirstmas...



Keeping on schedule is always important for the jet-set. Doing it in style is even more important!
TX (technoluxury) is where Italian design meets German precision. A match made in heaven as far are we are concerned!

The 12 days of Christmas! (holiday shopping list!)

....on the fifth day of Christmas....



Not even a digital camera can compete with the instant gratification of a Polaroid camera! Thanks to a shop in NYC called The Impossible Project you are now only a click away from film.

The 12 days of Christmas! (holiday shopping list!)

....on the fourth day of Christmas...


Bond No.9, one of our favorite fragrance houses have come up with the perfect travel set. They come in your choice of 3 or 6 and are refillable! What a perfect stocking stuffer!

The 12 days of Christmas! (holiday shopping list!)

...on the third day of Christmas...



a moleskine city notebook. Yes we all love the ipad, but this will never require a hotspot or a recharge! Hands up for old school!

The 12 days of Christmas! (holiday shopping list!)

on the second day of Christmas.....

TOCCA's solid perfume which not only smells and looks beautiful, but it comes in a 0.15 oz so it won't get tossed going through airport security!

The 12 days of Christmas! (holiday shopping list!)

Stumped on a holiday gift for that special someone....stay tuned,
Jetlegs is bringing you a wonderful list of ideas.

-On the first day of Christmas.....


Hermès en Voyage scarf. They come in such a beautiful range of colours and patterns, this one is on our list with it's fantastic flag motif!

World Beauty-Turkey

Discovering local beauty treasures when travelling is very exciting!
Check out this amazing soap from Turkey. The Muftuoglu family have been making these little beauties since 1910! A wonderful mix of pure olive and sweet bay leaf oil made right along the Southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey.

RIO: where to stay

Check into this classic establishment where service and style go hand in hand!
The Copacabana Palace built in 1923 is a landmark French Riviera-style palace.
Don't forget to ask for a room overlooking one of the world's most famous beaches!

Getting to Rio

Getting to Rio is a snap! With over 25 international airlines flying into Rio's Galeao international airport there are options galore. Brazil's largest airline TAM is wonderful, with great service!

Destination of the Month: Rio de Janeiro

Rio has to be not only the most beautiful cities on the planet, but also the most sexy!
The city is busy transforming itself for the upcoming world cup in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The time to hit it is now!

off to market

Cologne really has to be the top contender when it comes to Christmas Markets. The city hosts not one but six separate markets over the city. Sure beats trekking to the mall!

jet pack

I have been in love with the Kevin Murphy hair product line for some time now. I was delighted to see they have developed a new travel collection called Jet.Pak. It comes with 40ml Hydrate-Me.Wash, 40ml Hydrate-Me.Rinse, Anti.Gravity oil free volumiser, 50ml Session.Spray and 57ml Fresh.hair dry shampoo!
If the product doesn't hook ya (believe me it will) the slickly designed products (in a cute mesh travel bag) sure will!

Musical Chairs

Perhaps this is the most innovative suitcase ever? This badboy not only totes your clothes but doubles as a handy seat. This little gem's secret weapon is it's built-in speaker system! Musical chairs anyone?

Perfectly Posh!

The Beaufort Bar at the newly reopened Savoy hotel in London has reopened after undergoing a $350-million restoration, by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. With it theatrical Art Deco jet-black walls and soaring alcoves of burnished gold leaf it truly is THE place to sip Champagne!

Performance anxiety

Now we have all been in the situation...you are in a new city and are dying for a toilet. Well check out this one in Lausanne, Switzerland, it's completely transparent (almost..until you push the button)! Check out this video that gives you a quick demo.

Bookish airport!

We now have yet another reason to love Amsterdam's Schipol airport! Now housing the world's first airport Library with 1.250 book, 5 ipads this area of approx.90m2 is a surprising area for airport refuse!

carry-on

I'm not sure what it is about utilitarian style canvas bags, but I just cannot seem to get enough!
Not only do they look great but they are wonderful for travel. The latest to spark my interest is a line from Chester Wallace! The denim one has already been added to my Christmas list!

stopover: Amsterdam!

On a recent trip to Prague, my friend and I found ourselves with a few hours to kill on a layover in Amsterdam. Now as much as I love Schiphol airport my friend who had never visited Amsterdam was eager to explore. Downtown being only a mere 20 minute train ride from the airport we quickly dashed off.

With only 5 hours we knew that we would only scratch the surface, I also knew that the cool area of The Jordaan would offer my friend a good taste of the city.
after a quick coffee and pastry at one of the many great cafes we were off...



First we popped into a favorite antique store called Nostalgia. They offer a great variety from all over Europe. What I love is the fact that they offer a large variety of smaller pieces which you can easily tuck into you bag...many make memorable and affordable souvenirs or gifts.


Speaking of bags, just down the street is a wonderful shop called Property of... This Singapore based men's bag company decided on Amsterdam for their European outpost. The shop is in a handsome old canal house. Many of the bags and wallets will also appeal to women with their polished utilitarian/ military twist. I may have been guilty of buying one for a larger carry-on!



With being on a long trans-Atlantic flight our skin could do with some TLC. C. cosmetics was just the place! All the items available here are natural and organic. Many of the cosmetics are from smaller quality "boutique" lines from areas across Europe. If more time allowed we would have been tempted to try one of their treatments!



Before dashing back to the airport we made a quick stop at 't Goede Soet Chocolate shop . Here you can choose from a large variety of homemade bon-bon's made with callebaut chocolate. Your selection of homemade (please try the earl gray!) is packaged in your choice of a beautiful gift box. This beats a bar of airport duty-free chocolate any day!

Check-in (Allen)

NAME: Allen
SPOTTED: Singapore
DESTINATION: Hong Kong
OCCUPATION: Teacher
FAVORITE DESTINATION: The Netherlands
WISHES TO VISIT: Switzerland
WHY HE CAUGHT OUR EYE:
-His urban casual look
-A simple yet comfortable well fitting black t-shirt layered with a nicely textured sweater.
-Slim fit jeans in a mustard hue add a nice hit of colour
-Well-worn leather lace-up boots say comfort and worldliness.
-An over sized military inspired tote allows for ample space as a carry-on

ALLEN'S TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: a reliable well charged laptop, a great book and a PSP is all you need to help any flight fly by!

On the Fly!

Gorgeous! Wallpaper* s tribute to the best flight attendant uniforms through history!

Check-in (Alvaro)

NAME: Alvaro
SPOTTED: Prague
DESTINATION: Toronto
OCCUPATION: Photographer
FAVORITE DESTINATION: Barbados
WISHES TO VISIT: Paris
WHY HE CAUGHT OUR EYE:
-His clean and polished look!
-Hot Ray Ban Polarized sun glasses...great to hide behind after those those red-eye flights!
-Neatly tailored jacket...nothing increases your chances more for an upgrade!
-Stylish and practical scarf...those long flights can be chilly!
-Jack Spade duffel and M0851 shoulder bag...both instant classics and extremely practical.

TRAVEL STYLE ADVICE:
-Get shirts pressed, folded and packed in dry cleaning bags. When you arrive you are set to go, you'll shirts will look crisp and fresh!
-Use a roller bag with a top garment bag section...this helps keeps things in their place.
-All other items....Roll! Keeps out the wrinkles and you can pack more!
-Plan your outfits, you can easily re-work all bottom items.

ALVARO'S TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: Kiehl's Eye Alert! and Muji's mesh bags help keep everything organized and in it's place!

Crazy for Kit Kat!

Japan is obsessed with the Kit Kat bar! apparently there have been over 80 variates created, some which include: maple syrup, melon, vanilla bean, grape, apple, banana, caramel, kiwifruit, azuki, green tea, yuzu and cherry blossom.....yum cherry blossom!

ear candy

Yes we all know about noise canceling headphones and how freaking amazing they are for a long list of reasons. However check out how freaking amazing these Nixon headphones are! The colours are brilliant!

Interview with swimwear designer and make-up artist Cheryl Gushue

(photos: Rick Opiola and Greg Swales)
With summer in full swing and more of us hitting the beach, we thought we should catch up with swimwear designer (and celebrity make-up artist) Cheryl Gushue. Her line, Gushue Swim is super hot and gaining tons of momentum. She was a finalist in the ELLE New Label Show in 2009!


JL: How did you get interested in designing swimwear?
CG: I've loved swimwear for so long, I made it for my barbies. It used to be what I purchased as my memento whenever I traveled somewhere.




JL: What void were you trying to fill when you first introduced your line back in 2003?
CG: What I found back then was that bikinis were sold as sets. It didn't make sense to me that lingerie was sold as separates yet swimwear wasn't. I also found that there wasn't much variety offered in Toronto and since my background was fashion design, I might as well make myself one-of-a-kind designs because I knew exactly what I wanted.

JL: Where do you draw inspiration for your designs?
CG: I draw inspiration from my travels mostly. Concepts come from the style, the vibe, the music, the vegetation and the architecture from the city or beach I visit. Taking all that into consideration, I add my own personal flair to it. I make what I would love to wear. The fabrics also dictate what the concept will be.

JL: Many people struggle finding the right piece of swimwear.
Can you offer up any tips?
CG: Find the separates or one piece that suits your shape and body type and stick to it. The idea is to give your body the best proportions. Colours and patterns can make or break your look too. It's like finding that perfect pair of pants and buying them in three colours.

JL: What can we expect from your Spring 2011 collection?
CG: I've gone to a few beautiful, high-end hot spots in St. Barts, Barbados and Bahamas since my last collection. I've taken lots of photos. Living in those super hot temperatures has given me some great new ideas (and reminded me that I am indeed an island girl). I can't tell you everything but let's just say that it will be a very fresh and light collection.

JL: Not only are you an amazing designer but also a super talented make-up artist and a keen traveler. Do you have any make-up or packing tips that you can provide for those on the go?
CG: You wouldn't want to take packing tips from someone who still manages to take three pieces of luggage on a one week beach trip, so... I will give you a make-up tip for all the hot weather we are enduring. Ideally you want to keep your look and application as light as possible. Use tinted moisturizer with a sponge (to use less product). Apply matte bronzer with a highlight brush (less heavy bristles uses less product). Also, use waterproof mascara since you are sweating more and engaging in a little water activities. It's all fun and games if someone dunks you in the pool until you come out looking like Alice Cooper. Also, don't pack your entire make-up collection. Take only the basics... and enough to make a smokey eye.

JL: Okay, if you were stuck on a deserted island with British make-up legend Pat McGrath, what would your must-have items be?
CG: If I were stuck on a deserted island (I would probably like that) Pat McGrath and I would be hanging out and talking about how we would parish without our great lash mascara, SST tinted primer and moisture kick and my NARS gloss in Chihuahua... and I would also need a few cases of smartwater. Dehydration is so unflattering!

jetlegs in the media!

Thanks to the folks at Elle Canada for the shout-out!
http://www.ellecanada.com/video/the-elle-word/1058

it's in the bag!

And you thought you had trouble packing light? My friend, celebrity make-up artist Diana Carreiro gives us all a little peek into what she needs to pack in order to get the job done!
Check it out www.dianacarreiro.com

Best beach towels

Before you hit the beach this summer make sure that you have packed one of the seasons hottest towels!

trailer park

Retro caravans have really come back into fashion...or some may argue they never really left.
Is this is the hipsters answer to a summer home? I let you be the judge.
Check out mycoolcaravan.com. There are tips, advice and damn it, they even have a crazy cool coffee table book!
Trailer parks never looked so attractive!

BONUS: Icelandic Foodie tip!

Icelandic savory and sweet foodie tip: be sure to pick-up Pylsusinnep mustard (pictured and used at Bæjarins beztu pylsu) and the adult rhubarb treat Rabarbia (sweet!).

48 hrs in Reykjavik!

While volcanic news from Iceland may be cooling off, the countries capital, Reykjavik is hotter then ever! Although fantastic to visit anytime, summer is the most ideal as you can take advantage of the extended daylight...Yes it's true! The sun doesn't set in the height of summer due to the countries northerly location.

Here's a helpful list to help you make the most of a short jaunt to the tiny city that (in the summer at least) just doesn't sleep.

EAT:



If you arrive early and need a hit of caffeine, head down to the waterfront to Cafe Haiti.
This cozy place serves the best coffee on this island.




Mmmmm (located at Laugavegur 42) is a great place to grab a relaxing and healthy lunch. The menu board is full of daily fresh specials which range from soups, wraps and delicious hot homemade dishes. The decor is simple with a noticeable Scandinavian influence. The ample supply of magazines and newspapers make you feel welcome. And if you're not careful, you may find yourself spending an entire afternoon in this charming place.




Tapas may not be the first thing that comes to mind when exploring the world's most Northern capital, but once you step foot in Tapas Barinn you'll know that you've made the right choice. Offering not only a menu with delicious Mediterranean flair, this is the ideal place to sample some more exotic Icelandic specialties such as smoked puffin with bluberry brennivín sauce. Remember that tapa sizes are ideal for those who may not be culinary adventurous. Tip: Tapas Barinn is open late (1am on weekends) so it makes a perfect place for those who would like to eat right before hitting the cities famous night scene.




Feeling peckish and need a snack? Do as the locals do and hit the famous Bæjarins beztu pylsu (located at Pósthússtræti 101 ) which translates to "the best hot dog in town" Apparently famous past customers such as Bill Clinton and Lars Ulrich of Metallica think so! Tip: make sure to get the works....The crispy fried onions are what make the dog!


SLEEP:



Hotel Borg stands out as the real winner amongst boutique hotels in the city. This art deco hotel (built in the late 1920's) does a fantastic job of mixing old character with modern comfort. The location overlooking Austurvöllur Square is a wonderful place to begin your exploration. Don't forget to try their outstanding restaurant, Restaurant Silfur where lunch is a real treat. The lobster soup with fried Icelandic langoustine and mussels is a must!


SHOP:



A design savvy shoppers dream, Kisan's Iceland outpost (they have another location in NYC) stocks a large array of items selected from all over the world. From clever children's toys to über stylish clothing, you're sure to find a souvenir that even the biggest design snob will adore.




Jewelery junkies will go nuts at Orr (located at Laugavegi 37). Designed and handmade by Kjartan and Astþór Orr, this duo's designs are so unique the window display of rings alone will have you wondering why you only have ten fingers!


DAY TRIP:



Located between the airport and Reykjavik, The Blue Lagoon really is a must! There's no other place on earth that feels so much like another planet. The blue thermal pools located amongst the lava fields, are so warm and relaxing you could spend hours floating and unwinding. If you find yourself in need of a little extra TLC, book yourself a massage or one of the spa's many treatments. TIP: Don't forget to take advantage of the free silica mud mask located around the edges of the large lagoon. This same product sells in the gift shop for $100 USD!

mice type

Last year Royal TNT commissioned Richard Hutten to develop a stamp for the 75th anniversary of Dutch book-week. They must have fallen out of their seats when he came back with a stamp in the form of a 3 by 4 centimeter book....the first ever! The cost.... € 2.20, what a bargain!

snail mail

These google map envelopes are super cool. Perhaps it's a bit of a renaissance for snail mail?

Check-in (Susanna)

NAME: Susanna
SPOTTED: Prague
DESTINATION: Amsterdam
OCCUPATION: Hair and make-up artist
FAVORITE DESTINATION: Prague
WISHES TO VISIT: Fuji
WHY SHE CAUGHT OUR EYE:
-Her smart and casual chic street style...work that military jacket!
-Amazing studded Marc Jacobs bag...style and function!
-Great glasses...just because those contacts need to come out for the flight doesn't mean you can't rock a pair of great specs.
-cozy cool hat
-Black Patent Birkenstock sandals
TRAVEL STYLE ADVICE:
-Always wear cozy, natural, soft fabrics
-Scarfs are a must for cold airplane cabins
-Wear a great jacket
-Pack more than you need....squishy clothing items that you can roll make sure they all fit into your luggage.
SUSANNA'S TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: Bose noise canceling headphones.
INSIDER BEAUTY TIPS: Airline cabins are very dry, so keep your skin moisturized. Susanna's favorites: Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour cream and Jack Black lip balm.

Guest blogger George Christodoulou's mini NYC architectural tour

My pal George Christodoulou from onetravel.com makes sure we don't miss a beat with his three must see buildings in NYC...

New York is a very large city that dates back the birth of the nation. Today New York remains one of the most advanced cities, always on the search for new and exciting trends and styles. On the other hand, there are many structure that date back a century or more that many tourist and natives pass without realizing the history they could experience. It is the juxtaposition of historical architecture with the trend setting culture of the city that makes it a wonderful place to explore.



The first well known piece of architecture to note is the Federal Hall national memorial. It was built in order to replace the old city hall standing in the same place for about 50 years. The structure you see now replaced it. The old building was where George Washington took the oath of office and where New York conducted its functions as the first Capital of the nation. Once razed, it was replaced with the new Federal Hall and it served treasury functions and as a memorial and museum. The architecture used was Greek revival, which was popular in the early to mid 19th century. This style was a symbol of true Greek democracy and helped offer homage to the values being adopted from the Ancient Greek and Roman traditions. Most characteristically noted about Greek revival are the columns and intricate trim adornments.



Next on our tour, we pass by Roosevelt's childhood home. Roosevelt was born in 1858 and lived in this house until he was fourteen. The home was then rebuilt in 1919, but as a replica that used the same style with modern day materials so it would last as a reminder that the area was a thriving residential area until the rich moved uptown and it became a commercial zone. The Georgian style of the house is evident with the uniform structure and use of symmetrical ornamentation and window placement.



I could go on forever describing the architecture of the city, but instead, I will leave off with an example of modern day architecture. A great new wonder of New York, the new Bank of America Tower, is a great wonder of modern architecture. Topping out at 54 stories, this building was designed using modern day style. Basically, this style is very complex and uses many different architectural theories, engineering capabilities, modern artistic design, as well as historical designs. As you can see in this building, you can see the use of curves and a spiral shape.

The change of architecture through time in New York is amazing. Taking a trip solely to view the different buildings and styles can be an enjoyable experience in itself. Through hundreds of years of development and change, the mixed bag of style continues to change while maintaining the essence of the past. If you would like to visit New York to learn more, use onetravel.com for Cheap Flights