Travel + Design, Author at Travel + Design

Europe

5 Spots to Visit in France Beyond Paris

When you think of traveling to France, it’s no surprise that the first thing that comes to your mind is Paris. Affectionately known as the City of Lights, over thirty million tourists visit France’s capital city each year. But next time when you’re voyaging all the way across the Atlantic, why not extend your stay and venture beyond Paris to see more of what makes this country so unique? From standout cities to sprawling vineyards, to historic castles and more, here are some of my favorite spots to explore in France that are easily accessible by train or a short flight. The Cultural Hub of Nantes Explore the vibrant city of Nantes to see the fusion of traditional French architecture (in what was once the capital of Brittany) juxtaposed by the emergence of contemporary art installations found all over the city. This unique city is only a two-hour train ride away from Paris…

Caribbean

Plan the Perfect All-Inclusive Vacation at the Sandals Montego Bay

The Sandals Montego Bay was the first Sandals resort to open in 1981. For the last thirty-eight years, this resort has been breaking the mould in planning your dream vacation by becoming the first Caribbean hotel company to offer swim-up pool bars to be the first to guarantee that every room is fitted with a king-size bed and hairdryer. While these items are a must for any vacation now, Sandals helped to develop the recipe for the perfect all-inclusive experience. The Rooms at the Sandals Montego Bay The Sandals Montego Bay has been transformed into a modern luxurious experience along the beautiful turquoise waters lapping at Jamaica’s most exclusive white sand beach. When it comes to luxurious accommodations, guests have incredible choices – from the new Beachfront Swim-up Suites and Crystal Lagoon Swim-up Suites to the romantic Love Nest Butler Suites®. The new swim-up suites – reflecting refined interior touches –…

Canada

Join in on the Celebrations at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival

This year, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival shines the spotlight on outstanding jazz musicians that have delighted the public for generations. From the soulful sounds of Diana Ross to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Tower of Power, the festival brings together the varied sound of this musical style for and a party like no other. When is the Toronto Jazz Festival? An all-star cast of musicians will headline the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, June 21 – June 30, 2019. Who are the headliners for the Toronto Jazz Festival? The headlines at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival include one of music’s most iconic singers, Diana Ross, as well as multi-GRAMMY winner, singer-songwriter Norah Jones, Cuba’s grand dame Omara Portuondo, heavy hitters Tower of Power, jazz darlings Cécile McLorin Salvant and Emilie-Claire Barlow, and an exciting double bill with Rinsethealgorithm and Ghost-Note! Where is the Toronto Jazz Festival? The TD…

Design

Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

What do you get for a mother who has it all for Mother’s Day? What do you get for the mother who loves both travelling and design-focused items? We’ve rounded up some of our favourite items that are the perfect gift for any mother this Mother’s Day. A crafty activity to do with mom… We are Knitters is a DIY knitting-kit company offers a variety of multi-level kit options. Inside the reusable and recyclable bag, you can find everything that you might need to create your craft project from the needles to yarn. Need help or a little extra teaching? We are Knitters has a great resource of instructional videos available on their YouTube channel. For the mother who is on the road… Let her bring her hobbies with her during her next vacation. The Portable Painter is a hands-free watercolour set that is completely self-contained for travel. When closed it’s about the…

Travel News

Holiday Inn Express Launches a New Express Start® Breakfast Bar

As another way to help you have a better start to your day while travelling, Holiday Inn Express® has rolled out their new Express Start® Breakfast Bar in Canada. The signature breakfast bar now features more than 30 items to choose from, including hot and fresh options, such as fluffy pancakes at the push of a button; freshly cooked bacon, eggs and sausage; and healthy alternatives, such as hard-boiled eggs, turkey sausage and fresh fruit, all available at 100+ Holiday Inn Express hotels in Canada. Holiday Inn Express® Start® Breakfast Bar Our team at Travel + Design had the chance to drop by the Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown to explore their new Express® Start® Breakfast Bar. The newly renovated property is a bright, open and colourful space that is an inviting place to stay within walking distance to some of Toronto’s best attractions. In addition to having a range…

Travel Tips

How to Plan the Perfect Long Weekend Road Trip

The weather is getting warmer, the snow is FINALLY melting and the sun is shining. All of these things mean that the road trip season is upon us. As you’re thinking about your next vacation, taking “mini-breaks” throughout the summer is a great way to have shorter, more frequent adventures. According to a new survey conducted by Aeroplan, almost three quarters (71%) of Canadians say they have taken a road trip in the past 12 months for leisure, and another 73 percent of respondents are planning one in the next 12 months. “Road trips are a great way to see the country, reconnect with family and friends, and make memories without having to travel huge distances or for long durations. Instead of taking one or two long vacations, a mini break allows you to get away and refresh more often,” says Elizabeth Quinton, Managing Director CRM, Optimization and Targeted Marketing,…

Design

Check Out Under Armour’s Most Innovative Product

Looking chic while staying active just got a whole lot better thanks to Under Armour. Under Armour has launched their newest collection, UA RUSH, focused on those with 24/7 fitness in mind. From men’s and women’s fitted tees, long-sleeved shirts, leggings and tights, and a sports bra for women, this collection is made to help you achieve your fitness goals in style and with their biggest technological innovation. What is Under Armour UA RUSH? UA RUSH is designed to be worn at the time of sweat. This scientifically engineered fabric promotes improved performance and energy return. In simplified terms, UA RUSH is intended to provide the same benefits to the body as an infrared sauna. Minerals found naturally in the earth are extracted and broken down into active particles, which are then melded together to form a proprietary blend. The blend is then infused into the fibres that are ultimately…

Fashion

Shop For a Cause at the Share Strength, Shop Beauty Event at The Hudson’s Bay Company

Look Good Feel Better is Canada’s only charity dedicated to helping women manage the appearance-related effects of cancer and its treatment. Each year, over 10,000 Canadian women in over 100 Cancer centres, attend the two-hour complimentary workshops that provide tools and techniques on skin care, loss of brows and lashes, and make-up hygiene aimed to empower women and make them feel like themselves again. Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) host the annual fundraising event held at HBC Stores across Canada in support of raising funds towards LGFB workshops. This year the April Charity event theme is Share Strength, Shop Beauty, beginning April 12 – May 4, offering HBC customers exciting ways to give back to women and teens with cancer while shopping for their favourite beauty and fragrance products. View this post on Instagram You can support women facing cancer like Kim, Natasha…

Design

Canada Goose Launches Limited Edition Nomad Capsule Collection

Luxury outerwear designer, Canada Goose, is launching their limited edition, Nomad Capsule Collection. Knowing the need for spring outdoor essentials from coast to coast, this collection will encourage Canadians to seek adventure instead of shelter in temperamental weather conditions. Engineered with GORE-TEX technology, the Nomad Jacket and the Nomad HyBridge Lite Jacket combine the extreme weather expertise of Canada Goose with modern and cutting-edge materials from GORE-TEX. This technology allows for functionality by providing a waterproof and breathable rain shell. To mark the Canada Goose and GORE-TEX launch, Canada Goose is partnering with two Japanese artists to tell their story through the Language of Rain. The campaign follows Sound Designer, Kouichi Okamoto, as he hunts and gathers the sounds of the elements, capturing the essence of rain in its purest form. The second artist profiled is Calligraphy Artist, Aoi Yamaguchi, who traverses the urban jungle of Tokyo drawing inspiration from…

Design

Justin Timberlake Launches His New Line with Levi’s

Influenced by his hometown of Memphis, the new Levi’s® x Justin Timberlake Spring 2019 Fresh Leaves capsule collection has launched infusing the music and style of his roots into every item. As the second installment of the collaboration, called “Fresh Leaves,” the Memphis-inspired lineup offers updated twists on timeless Levi’s® classics—like fresh leaves on an old favourite tree—making them at once both familiar and new, classic and contemporary blending Justin’s signature style of heritage, hip-hop, rocker, and streetwear style. “Memphis and music have always been a big part of me and it became a huge part of this collection, just going back to the places and things I loved here as a kid.” ,” says Grammy award-winning artist, Justin Timberlake. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Levi’s (@levis) on Mar 31, 2019 at 10:56am PDT Where is Justin Timberlake From? Justin Timeberlake was born in…