My Spring/Summer 2013 Holiday Beachwear Picks

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Spring is in full swing and the summer is just around the corner.  If you haven’t already purchased this year’s bikini or swimsuit, then chances are you’ve got an eye on a few options.  In celebration of the warmer weather and upcoming summer holidays, I’ve scoured the internet for my top summer vacation fashion picks.

Summer 2013 is all about mid-century retro glam, color blocking, strips and bright and cheery hues.

Starting from the feet up, here are my top picks:

1. Havaianas Top Flip Flops ($18.00 from Zappos)

havaianas

Havaianas has perfected the quitessential flip flop and infused a bright splash of color into their current line. Offering classic style, quality, comfort and a rainbow pack of colors, it’s a must-have for anyone heading to the beach this summer.

2. FitFlop Due Canvas in Sunflower (also available in Hibiscus and Super Navy, 75 GBP from FitFlop)

fitflop

When I saw these cute canvas shoes for sale at the mall I immediately fantasized about where them on a Mediterranean cruise, or a Greek island think.  Just think how nicely these sunflower cuties would look against the white-washed homes on Mykonos. Ideal for a quick jaunt into town or walking along a beach promenade, these FitFlops are ultra comfortable and also come in Hibiscus (red/pink) and Super Navy (dark blue).

3. Antique Embroidered Kaftan ($76.00 from Accessorize)

white_kaftan

This delicate white embroidered kaftan will add a dash a glamour to your summer beach wardrobe. The little white dress is everywhere this year, making this kaftan even more bang on trend. It’s incredibly versatile and would look just as great over a swimsuit as it would for a steamy summer night out.

4. ASOS Stripey Cut About Maxi Beach Dress ($26.60 from ASOS)

striped_maxiASOS is quickly becoming my go-to clothing outlet. The London-based company scours the globe for hot trends and designs its own pieces accordingly. This stripey maxi dress is casual and bright with a hint of shimmer. I’m packing it next to my embroidered kaftan on my next beach vacation.

5. Feather or Not Scarf ($11.99 from ModCloth)

scarfIf there’s any I learned from living in Europe, it’s that scarves are to be worn at all times of the year.  This lightweight offering by ModCloth can add a nice pop of color do a bland outfit and a touch of sophistication for a night out.

6. Oh What a Sight Sunglasses ($11.99 from ModCloth)

sunglasses$11.99 to add some retro glam to my outfit? Yes, please. These super cute, super fun and super mid-century glasses are ueber cool and a great bargain.  Pair with a loose fitting blouse, high waisted short and espadrilles for the ultimate mid-century-on-holiday look.

7. San Diego Hat Company XL Brim Sunhat ($44.00 from Zappos)

summer_hat

When it comes to sunhats, I say go big or go home.  This extra large and floppy offering by San Diego Hat Company is perfect in so many ways.  The ultra wide brim will help protect your face AND shoulders from harmful UV while you look effortless chic.  Perfect for lounging on the beach.

A Photo Tour of Lower Normandy

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The moment I first arrived in Lower Normandy following a lengthy ferry ride across the English Channel, my first instinct was to exhale. After spending months cooped up in the choking density of central London I felt a sense of relief from being in the presence of open fields and grazing land. My moment of zen didn’t last long as I was on a tight schedule. Lower Normandy, as it turns out, is a bit of a logistics nightmare if you are traveling without a car. Depending heavily on public transport, I set out to explore three items from my travel “bucket list” – Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day Landing Sites and the Bayeux Tapestry.

Mont-Saint-Michel

I caught my first glimpse of Mont-Saint-Michel on the 2-hour train ride from Caen to Pontorson. It exposed itself for a brief moment behind a cluster of drab storage warehouses, giving me and a sprinkling of other tourists on the train a preview of what was to come. Following a short bus ride from Pontorson, Mont-Saint-Michel revealed itself in full view. The result of over 1000 years of construction, this fairytale abbey is perhaps the most photogenic spot in all of France.

View from within Mont-Saint-Michel

The abbey was built at the top of a small island just off the coast from the mainland in a shallow sandy bay. During high tide, water fills the bay and transforms the landscape, making Mont-Saint-Michel appear as a castle floating in the sea. Unfortunately I missed high tide during my visit, but that didn’t take anything away from Michel’s beauty.

Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey

Mont-Saint-Michel is still an active abbey and a small group of nuns reside here year round.

Nun climbing the Abbey steps

Even at low tide on a cold and gray morning, the views from the top of Mont-Saint-Michel are stunning. The photo below shows the elevated road from the mainland to Michel as well as the surrounding bay.

View from Mont-Saint-Michel

Below the abbey is a maze of densely packed streets covered in cobblestones, cafes, souvenir shops and a few small museums.  The photo below is from a cafe located at the foot of the island with a cafe au lait in the foreground.

Cafe au Lait

Head east along the coastline from Mont-Saint-Michel and you’ll reach the D-Day landing sites.  Because I was without a rental vehicle, I took a D-Day tour departing from Bayeux.  The photo below is of Pointe du Hoc, just east of Omaha Beach.  It was here that US Army Rangers scaled the cliffs to destroy a cluster of German casemates on June 6th, 1944.

Pointe du Hoc

Facing the early morning sun, Pointe du Hoc makes for an eerily serene setting.

Pointe du Hoc Battlefield

Looking towards the English Channel, pockmarks on the ground left by bombs nearly 70 years ago are still clearly evident.

Pointe du Hoc Battlefield

Pointe du Hoc’s proximity to Omaha Beach (shown in the distance below) is part of why it was such a heavily contested area.

Pointe du Hoc Battlefield

Some of the original German bunkers are still in tact and are open to visitors.

German Bunker

Omaha Beach is located a short drive from Pointe du Hoc and is now frequented by dog walkers and joggers.  Nearly 70 years ago, 15,000 soldiers stormed this beach to help liberate Northern France from the Nazis.

Omaha Beach

The Normandy American Cemetery is the final resting place for many of the soldiers who fought on D-Day.  The cemetery is set on a cliff overlooking the English Channel.

Normandy American Cemetery

Most of the graves in the cemetery are named, but there are numerous unnamed markers inscribed with “Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God”.

Unnamed Grave

Inland from the D-Day landing sites is the ancient town of Bayeux.  Like most European towns, it is anchored by a formidable cathedral.  The Bayeux Cathedral (below) is striking, but is best known for once being home to the Bayeux Tapestry – a 1000 year old embroidery than runs 230 feet long.

Bayeux Cathedral

Today, the Bayeux Tapestry is held and protected in its own museum just a few steps away from the cathedral.  Across the length of the delicate cloth are numerous panels detailing the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and the subsequent Battle of Hastings.

Bayeux Tapestry

It’s estimated that the embroidery was created sometime around 1066 and the illustrations created from the stitching range from amazing to even comical (see the generously sized horse penis above).  The battle sequences and horses are of particularly high quality, while some of the portraits and faces are reminiscent of Quentin Blake illustrations.

Bayeux Tapestry

Singapore as a Budget-Friendly Luxury Travel Destination

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View from Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay

Luxury travel is not something the majority of us can indulge in too often, and when we do, it can deal a pretty big blow to our savings accounts. That being said, I’m always on the hunt for great travel destinations where you can get a lot of bang for your buck. Southeast Asia is a well-known destination for travelers hoping to stretch their budget, but Singapore never seems to make anyone’s travel list. Perhaps it’s its image as a stiff, strict society or the fact that it doesn’t advertise its tourism industry much abroad, but Singapore does not get its due as a holiday destination.

Having just returned from a 1-week trip to the Southeast Asian city-state, I found it to be well suited to what I call “budget-luxury” travel. What is a “budget-luxury” destination? Well, I just made it up, but what I’m essentially shooting for is a place where the average working couple can enjoy a few of the finer things in life without making a significant dent in their savings.

Our hotel room (courtesy of stayfareast.com)

What I loved about Singapore was that is was as clean and ultra-modern as a city could be, but was amazingly affordable. For instance, I booked a modern 4* hotel (with pool, gym, concierge, the works) connected to the city’s efficient subway system (MRT) for just over $100 USD/night on fairly short notice. Speaking of the MRT, one week of traversing Singapore’s subway network cost us a cool $20/person (approx. $15 USD/10 GPB). The prices for taxi rides were even more amazing with 30-40 minute rides across town coming out to just $17 Singapore dollars (approx. $13 USD/8 GBP).

Lao Pa Sat at night.

The great deals didn’t stop at transportation either. Though Singapore enjoys a futuristic infrastructure and all the amenities of a fully industrialized city, most of its restaurants offered great meals at the same prices you’d find on the streets of Bangkok. Newton Food Centre (MRT Newton) and Lao Pa Sat (MRT Raffles Place) are two indoor/outdoor food stall halls that feature every type of SE Asian cuisine imaginable. Most dishes were at or under $5 Singapore dollars (approx. $3.50 USD/2.50 GBP) and were of excellent quality.

I never could quite get Asian desserts, but this one was worth a try!

Understandably, outdoor dining under the Singapore sun is not for everyone. Luckily, Singapore, much like Bangkok, is teeming with mall containing vast food halls. A trip to the shopping mall at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino garnered us authentic Singaporean cuisine for two (and a coke!), for under $20 Singapore dollars. If SE Asian cuisine is not for you, then no problem. These malls are full of Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French and Italian restaurants.

Night out at Clarke Quay.

Lively Clarke Quay is located conveniently in central Singapore and proved to be a great place to dip our feet into the city’s nightlife.  Splurging on a night out, we enjoyed Spanish tapas for two with drinks followed up by a German restaurant for more cocktails and a beer.  While alcohol was admittedly a bit prices (due to import and/or vice tax, I’m assuming), our night out was still well under $100 Singapore dollars (approx. $80 USD/50 GBP).

Sipping a blue lagoon – one of many cocktails I sampled. :)

Taking a break from the city, we took a taxi to Sentosa Island, which is connected via a bridge to Singapore.  Branded as “Asia’s Playground”, the island is home to luxury resorts, Universal Studios, two beaches and various other rides and attractions.

Our first stop on Sentosa was Silosa Beach.  While it certainly wasn’t Waikiki, the water was warm and calm, and we were just a 10 minute drive from Singapore.  The beach was a nice place to relax and kick back with a mango margarita.  When we visited on a Tuesday afternoon, there weren’t too many beach-goers on hand, leaving me with an Olympic pool worth of beach to myself.  I worked on the tan that I lost from living in England, while my boyfriend worked on a sunburn.  After enough time by the water and a sufficient tequila buzz had been attained, we headed up to the top of the island via a scenic chairlift below luging down a purpose-built track.

Enjoying an empty Silosa Beach.

With 4* and 5* hotels within reach, transportation and fine dining for pennies on the dollar and easy access to an island filled with beaches and bars, I personally think Singapore is one of the best places in the world to indulge on a budget.  As a real added bonus, English one of the official languages here, which makes it a lot more convenient than similarly-priced destinations in the area.  Singapore’s proximity to the equator also ensures stable (albeit HOT) temperatures, making it pool and beach season all year round.