The updates to this app include automatic language detection. This feature means you can text in real time with two languages and your friend’s texts immediately get translated into the language you’ve chosen. This is perfect for me because I still regularly Skype/FaceTime and email with my host family in Italy who I lived with for a semester while in college. But, because my Italian is rusty (at best), I always end up typing in English and then using a translation website before sending… this app now cuts out a step and saves lots of time, allowing the conversation to flow in real time instead of awkward lags.

But, even better, this new app also saves you when traveling. The “Word Lens” feature uses your smart phone’s camera for immediate translation of street signs, restaurant menus, newspapers, etc. So, if you’re walking down the street and desperately need to know what any type of sign reads, voila! AND, you don’t even need an internet connection for this to work… AWESOME!

We’ve been using it a good bit while traveling (not so much for Vietnamese as it’s not supported, yet), and it’s been very helpful with text messages from Jeffrey’s new phone carrier, reading street signs + menus and more!

image source: google

To use this app, head to your App Store and search for Google Translate. Once downloaded, you can choose to either use your phone’s camera to scan or type into the text box for translation. It’s as easy as can be!

For those of you that know me, you might remember that I suffered through 3 years of high school French classes AND some in college… all to no avail. My brain just shuts down when I try to learn a new language. So, it’s a real LOL that my husband speaks fluent French and can quickly pick up on any language if you give him a few days in the country.

But now, I can rely on Google Translate to get me through my awkward moments and tough times.

Suck it, high school French class. Turns out I didn’t need you, after all.

Image Source: By: Travis Wiens – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The post Travel Trick: New Google Tool for Traveling first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

I came across this artist (aSma is her name) on Etsy while searching for unique gift ideas. I was looking for a personal touch and a fun way to bring all of our travels together in a creative way. When I came across her work, I couldn’t resist.

Example of aSma’s Traveling Couples

Example of aSma’s Traveling Couples

Because traveling is our favorite hobby, I knew this portrait would be even more special because we could include several destinations we had visited together. And, because the combination of cities and countries we’ve traveled is unique to the two of us, this custom painting would be all the more personal. Purchasing was a breeze– I chose the size I wanted, added it to my cart and then, in the notes/comments section, I listed the cities and countries that Jeffrey and I have visited. If you have 4-5 specific cities/countries you want illustrated, just send her those. I couldn’t make up my mind, so I asked her to choose from my list.

Here’s our portrait, with sites from Bali, Paris, Cappadocia (Turkey), Bangkok and Charleston.

The artist, who lives in Dubai, was eager to please and easy to work with. Despite the time difference, aSma answered my emails quickly and thoroughly. The portrait got to me in plenty of time without rush shipping, but if you’re still looking for a Christmas gift, you better get a move on (and double check with aSma to see if she can do some extra rushing…).

Don’t forget! These portraits come in two sizes (8.3in x 5.8in for $29+ and 12in x 9.5in for $78+).

The post Etsy Find: Custom “Traveling Couple” Portrait first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

1) These sunglasses are a) on sale and b) fantastic for each and every face shape. I’m dying for a pair of sunglasses that are nice enough to really keep my eyes shaded but also can withstand the dark spaces deep within my purse. Usually when I travel, I take only my cheap-o pair of sunglasses, but they’ve endured one too many scratches and I’m ready for a new pair! (nordstrom.com)

2) I have been obsessing over Asia lately, and this book would be the ideal tool to help with my research. There are so many cities in Asia that are begging to be explored, and this New York Times book has a unique suggestion for each one. I’ve used the 36 Hours in the US and Canada quite often, and the “closed door dinner” suggestion for Buenos Aires (in 36 Hours in South America) turned out to be my favorite experience of our trip! Bonus: It’s on a sale for only $23.23! (amazon.com)

3) Aren’t you always jealous of the girls at TSA check points that look so put together while you struggle to put your shoes back on? I am. But, with this black passport cover, you can at least look like you’ve got it all together. It’s not too obnoxious so you won’t be embarrassed to pull it out at customs in a strange place. (anthropologie.com)

4) Even though you can sleep in ratty T-shirts at home, I always like fancy pajamas for traveling. These fit the bill perfectly — because who doesn’t love rompers?! (shopbop.com)

5) The holidays are the perfect time to visit old friends and, luckily, most of my friends live just a few hours away. I’m planning a few weekend trips to celebrate the season with them, and what better to pack in than this super-cute weekender bag? The quilted pattern on this all black bag adds an extra bit of glam without being over the top. Plus, it’d fit perfectly in an overhead bin for visits with friends who live an airplane ride away instead of a drive. (nordstrom.com)

Featured image source: By: JD Hancock – CC BY 2.0

The post TUESDAY’S TOP 5 first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

To recap, this amenity kit is made by world-renowned luggage brand RIMOWA and includes eau de cologne, body lotion, lip balm, comb & brush, comfort socks, earplugs, eyeshade, toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash. And, this kit has been honored with two awards by “TravelPlus Airline Amenity Bag Awards”: The TravelPlus Readers Award for Most Innovative Bag Design (Gold) and the Best First Class Unisex Amenity Bag/Kit (Silver).
 
Our winner of this giveaway is @amber4miles. Congrats to @amber4miles and thanks to everyone else who entered our giveaway!
 
We’ll have another one soon, so stay tuned!

The post Winner of Our Recent Blog Giveaway: FREE THAI AIRWAYS ROYAL FIRST CLASS AMENITY KIT first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

1) Although Thanksgiving is thought to be a purely American holiday, I found this fascinating website detailing how other countries around the world celebrate the harvest holiday. For example, did you know that, in India, Thanksgiving is widely known as ‘Ladin’ or ‘Ladainha’ and is typically celebrated by Christians in the Goa region. Check it out! (thanksgiving-day.org)

2) The perfect holiday shopping guide with something for everyone, especially the traveler. A Mexican Cookbook? Yes, please! (victoriamcginley.com)

3) Did you know that Black Friday and (especially) Cyber Monday deals carry over into travel booking? It’s not the first thing you think of, but there are plenty deals to be found — including $7 rooms all over the US on Hotel Tonight AND a whopping 55% off the majority of 2015 at Turtle Beach in Barbados. Perfect treat for finishing all your Christmas shopping early? I think so. (hoteltonight.com AND fodors.com)

4) The best way to snag great Cyber Monday deals is to avoid exhausting Thanksgiving travel woes. Here’s some tips from the folks at Travel Channel on how to simplify your Thanksgiving travel plans AKA the busiest travel week of the year. (travelchannel.com)

5) After your big Thanksgiving meal is the perfect time to snuggle up with your family and dive into Netflix. One of our favorites lately has been Ricky Gervais’ 2010-2011 An Idiot Abroad series. If you’re a big fan of travel, I think you’ll find it extra-funny. And who doesn’t love dry British wit? (netflix.com)

Featured image credit: By: Satya Murthy – CC BY 2.0

The post Tuesday’s Top 5: Thanksgiving Edition first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

This amenity kit is made by world-renowned luggage brand RIMOWA and includes eau de cologne, body lotion, lip balm, comb & brush, comfort socks, earplugs, eyeshade, toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash. And, this kit has been honored with two awards by “TravelPlus Airline Amenity Bag Awards”: The TravelPlus Readers Award for Most Innovative Bag Design (Gold) and the Best First Class Unisex Amenity Bag/Kit (Silver).

By: lkarasawa – CC BY 2.0

The winner of this giveaway will be picked and notified by email one week from today – on Friday, November 28. There are many ways to enter; see below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Check out a few of our Thai Airways and other airlines trip reports:

Thai Airways A380 Royal First Class – TG 921 Frankfurt-FRA to Bangkok-BKK
Thai Airways B772 Royal Silk Class – TG 431 Bangkok-BKK to Denpasar, Bali-DPS
Thai Airways Royal First Lounge and Royal Orchid Spa – Bangkok-BKK
Lufthansa Boeing 747 First Class – New York JFK to Frankfurt FRA (LH 405)
Air France Business Class Review – AF #9 JFK-CDG

The post Blog Giveaway: Free Thai Airways Royal First Class Amenity Kit first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

I realized that travel shoes were important — especially ones that could get wet. And, with the beginning of the fall season, I’ve been on the market for a good pair of waterproof flats. Ideally, they’ll look like normal flats — but just won’t get ruined if I get caught in the rain.

I’ve found two pairs that fit the bill, both with good reviews. I’d wear both of these flats in rain or shine, so they’re easy to pack for trips when you’re mixing and matching your way through a carry-on.

 Hunter Original Ballet Flat, $125

Hunter Original Ballet Flat

Hunter Original Ballet Flat

First up, we have the Hunter Original Ballet Flat. These flats are on sale for $125 at Nordstrom and Zappos, with other not-so-cute versions at Neiman Marcus and Amazon. Both the nude (found at Zappos) and black (at Nordstrom) colors are perfect for pairing with jeans, skirts or dresses and dressing up or down. And, we all know that the Hunter brand is a trusted, tried and true rain-friendly shoe. While they’re a bit on the expensive side for a plain rubber flat, it’s an investment that will last a while. These shoes only come in full sizes, so order accordingly.

 Melissa + Jason Wu Jean Cut Out Flats, $105

Melissa + Jason Wu Jean Cutout Flats

Melissa + Jason Wu Jean Cutout Flats

I found these waterproof flats a few months ago (on ShopBop and Amazon here) and fell in love. THEN, by some stroke of good luck, I found them over on Gilt.com for only $59!!

They are the perfect travel shoe. Reviews rave about how comfortable they are (huge must) AND they bring back the 90’s fad of jellies. I couldn’t get enough of jellies in the ’90s, so I’m pumped that they’re back. But, remember the gross smell of jellies? Melissa + Jason Wu has tried to cut back on that plastic-y smell, so they’ve added a perfume to the shoe that just doesn’t quite cut it. It smells more like a 12 year old’s perfume (but then again, it is a jelly…?). On the flip side, it’s your shoe, so who’s going to be close enough to smell the perfume? These cute waterproof shoes only come in whole sizes, too and, although most reviewers said to size down, I found sizing down cramped my foot, so I’ve ordered one size up.

BOTTOM LINE:  One of these shoes is sure to fit your needs for a comfortable flat to wear on a trip each day even when it’s raining.

The post Best Waterproof Flats For Travel first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

Although I’m definitely not a work out every day type of girl, I’ve recently been enjoying exercising more than ever before.

Jeffrey and I spend most of our days when we’re traveling walking around all day long exploring new places. But, I’ve been checking out several different apps to help me keep exercising when we’re on the road — and I’ve even been using them a lot at home lately.

Here are the two I’ve really loved so far. For me, these apps give me a solid workout, but don’t leave me stranded and closing the app halfway through because I can’t get through it or can’t understand what I’m supposed to be doing (which makes me lose interest… fast).

1. Seven

Seven is a free app that only takes 7 minutes to complete and the only equipment needed is a chair. With 12 different exercises, you’ll be sweating by the third exercise, but the time passes quickly. And, it’s voice-prompted so you can complete the entire workout without ever having to look at your phone. The free version includes full body exercises such as push ups, squats, lunches, tricep dips and planks, but you can purchase more focused workouts (such as Upper Body, Lower Body, Core, Fat Burn, Strength, etc.) for $1.99 each. You can set reminders for your phone to buzz you first thing in the morning or later on in the day if you still haven’t completed your workout. Try out the Seven Month Challenge:  complete the 7 minute workout each day for seven months. Bonus:  with each month that you don’t skip a day, you earn a new workout.

2. Nike Training Club

I’ve had Nike Training Club on my phone for several years now and it’s always surprised me how great these workouts are. With lots of variety and choices, there’s something for every woman with this app. First, you’ll choose if you want to “Get Lean,” “Get Toned,” “Get Strong” or “Get Focused.” From there, you’ll choose your level of fitness (beginner, intermediate or advanced) and finally you’ll choose your workout, based on focus areas and the amount of time you have (the workouts range from 15 minutes to 45 minutes). My favorite part about this app is the variety and then, once you’ve chosen your workout, the easy-to-follow instructions (if it’s your first time doing a move, you can click to view a video with more details). Although you’ll need to do your warming up before you press start, each workout walks you through some cool down minutes at the end.

What do you think? What do you guys use to stay in shape while on the road?

BOTTOM LINE:  Traveling and living in a hotel isn’t a good reason to skip working out (although I used to make it an excuse). Check out these two FREE apps on your phone for easy-to-do home or hotel [...]

The post Best Exercise Apps For Traveling first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

In addition to your weekend apparel (here’s my suggestion for what clothing to pack), I like to add a few little things to my carry-on that make my flight (or drive) a little more bearable. If you’re looking for a good weekender bag, check out my suggestions here.

Target recently started carrying the Honest brand and this 2 oz. hand sanitizer (for $2.99) is the perfect travel size. We all know how germ-y airplanes can be and I’m always hoping I remembered to pack hand sanitizer each time I’m reminded how disgusting all plane bathrooms are…

This EOS lip balm (shown here in Sweet Mint) comes in an assortment of scents that will always remind you of summertime. Perfect for throwing in your bag, this balm will keep your lips smooth despite all the dry air on your plane. You can pick up EOS lip balm in most grocery check-out aisles or from Ulta here for $3.49.

These Aveeno makeup removing wipes are perfect for removing your makeup right before a long flight. It’s always refreshing to go makeup-free for a flight, then reapply at your destination. These wipes contain soothing chamomile and won’t aggravate even the most sensitive of eyes. Purchase these wipes for $6.99 at Aveeno.com or at most CVS, Rite Aids, Wal Marts or grocery stores near you.

Don’t want to break out your electric toothbrush in the airport/airplane bathroom? I don’t blame you. Try this Colgate Travel Toothbrush from Walgreens instead. It folds and is only $2.19!

One last beauty product you need to include in your carry-on is the versatile NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. This stuff is like a smoother lip stain – and perfect to apply when your plane’s wheels hit the ground. For only $6, it’s a steal at nyxcosmetics.com.

I am addicted to these Madagascar Vanilla Almond Kind Bars (you can get a 12-pack on Amazon for $16.56). If your in-flight meal is truly unappetizing or you’re looking for a quick snack, stash one of these bars in your carry-on and the protein-packed snack will tide you over until you get to your destination.

Airplanes are always freezing cold, so it’s smart to pack a scarf that can double as a blanket. Try one of these from Anthropologie:  the Valreas Kimono and the Zagori Scarf are both $68 each.

As always, if you’re checking a bag, don’t forget to add all of your essentials to your carry-on in case your bag gets lost somewhere along the way. Many suggest packing your prescriptions and nice jewelry in a small case, that way, even if your carry-on is taken [...]

The post Top 7: Carry-On Travel Essentials first appeared on Weekend Blitz.

I just picked up a great pair of cognac sandals on sale at Gap (they’re completely sold out online, but a similar style is listed below) and it feels like I’ve been walking on air. The walk-ability of your shoes is super important when traveling, so I’ve found a couple other shoes that may fit the bill… and still look cute in your pictures.

These T-strap sandals are the perfect summer shoe. And, they have the same sole as my new Gap sandals, so I can vouch for their comfort. These sandals will go with anything, so you can wear them all day and then for a casual night out, too. At just $29.95, they’re very affordable and you can choose between off-white, indigo (pictured here) or black straps.

These slip-on sneakers are all the rage these days, and I love this blush pink snakeskin option from Joie Kidmore. The reviewers on Piperlime are raving about how comfortable these shoes are — and the good news is these are much more stylish than Toms:  these aren’t your grandmother’s slip-ons! If you’re just dying for a pair, be prepared to shell out $190 – double if you want them in black AND pink.

Don’t want to spend $190 on pink snakeskin? I don’t blame you. Check out this similar pair at Gap for just $49.95.

These black ballet flats are anything but generic. First of all, they’re made by Cole Haan, a brand widely known for their quality craftsmanship and comfort. Reviews say they “fit like snuggly slippers” and are easy to break in… sounds like great travel shoes to me!  And, with Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale going on now, they’re 30% off at $116.90.

But the real reason why I picked these? They’re waterproof!! After completely ruining a pair of snakeskin flats on my honeymoon after I walked through the rain all day, I’m a big believer in taking at least one pair of shoes with you that you don’t mind getting wet. If only I’d had these with me then…

These $45 Van’s sneakers from Madewell are perfect for sight-seeing in the summer.  Comfortable and low-key, these shoes (which come in off-white and navy) are perfect with a pair of shorts and a graphic tee or even a maxi dress.

If you’re more of the real sneaker type, check out these Pumas (now on sale for almost half off at just $36.00!) I’ve had my eye on these for quite some time, looking to kill two birds with one stone:  gym shoes when I’m at home and lightweight tennis shoes while I’m traveling and find myself biking, hiking and more. I snagged these as soon as they went on sale this week. Sometimes you really do need a sturdy pair of tennis shoes. I love these because they’re neutral and don’t scream “I’m an American [...]

The post Top 10 Best Women’s Walking Shoes for Travel first appeared on Weekend Blitz.