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To say “please” in French, you say “s’il vous plait”….click on the audio above on how not to say it!

For the next two weeks we will be posting from the road.  

We are going to Paris, Cannes and Marrakech…..so stay tuned for tons of exciting tips from the go.

As my darling husband would say “we’re off like a prom dress”!

If you are like me, you travel with black luggage….like 90% of travelers. It’s not that I fear color, it is more because I hate seeing grimy suitcases, and I know if I got a cool color it would look gross after a few trips.

In order to identify my plain old bag coming off the plane I always mark the bag in a unique way…. wether it be a chihuhua shaped luggage tag, or a hot pink bow….I always dress my bag up for its voyage.

Above is my suitcase ready to go…..with an obnoxiously large bright blue luggage tag……won’t be missing this bag!

Intrepid Travel is having a last minute deal on their Golden Triangle tour of India.  They are now offering 20% off the trip departing on October 20th.  For more info go here….

Since I will be making a stopover in London on the way to Paris, I thought I would pick an amazing British artist for the travel tune of the week. The song is “American Boy” by Estelle featuring Kanye West.

The Hotel d’Aubusson in Paris is the perfect marriage of ultimate luxury hotel and quaint boutique inn. 

The d’Aubusson is very centrally located in Saint Germain only a few blocks from the Seine and close to the bustling Latin quarter. 

The service of this hotel parallels that of any five star hotel, but retains the personal touch of a small inn.  

From the Hermes bath products to the sumptuous breakfast offered in the gorgeous inner courtyard….your stay here will never be forgotten.

Visit hoteldaubusson.com for more information

My favorite thing to eat in the south of France is Soupe de Poisson…..and since I will be there in a few days, I thought this would make the perfect recipe of the week…..bon apetite!

Soup:

3 tablespoon(s)  extra-virgin olive oil

2 large (about 2 pounds) Spanish onions, halved and sliced

2.5 pound(s)ripe tomatoes

Read more »

Yearning to get away from the daily grind?  Want to go back to your roots, but don’t know how?

The answer is not in a bottle of hair dye, no, the answer is in a tipi!

In the heart of the Welsh mountains (UK), lies a cluster of tipis and yurts called the Eco Retreat.  What differentiates this from just plain old camping is that this place if more of a modern life detox center.

Your stay here is about becoming one with nature and includes Reiki healing sessions along with guided mediation and a visit to the Center for Alternative Technology.

For more info visit ecoretreats.co.uk

Dream of doing a cross-country road trip, but gas prices have crushed that dream?  

Your answer has arrived in the form of a mork&mindyesque vehicle (if you don’t know who Mork & Mindy are, please google them now)……the Aptera (greek for “wingless flight”).

The Aptera is the vehicle of the future….on a 2-4 hour electric charge (costing $1-2) you can go 120 miles.

A hybrid version is in the works as well that will go 300 miles on 1 gallon….making roadtrips cheap again.

The electric version is slated to start production this fall, and they are currently taking $500 deposits on the vehicle which will only cost around $27,000.

For more info visit aptera.com

Watch a video on the Aptera at HipCompassTV …..followed by an episode of “Mork & Mindy” for your viewing pleasure!

Have an old mismatched sock in your drawer that drives your inner “neat freak” crazy?

Well give that poor old sock a second chance on your next trip……no I am not saying start a new “wear only one sock trend”….instead use it as a last minute packing aid.

Socks (especially the thick gym type) make a great pocket camera cover or sunglass case, and prevent the items from getting scratched by other things in your bag.