Monday, July 20th

The weather was fabuloussss this day, so we decided to cram in as much work as possible in the morning and headed to the beach at 2ish for a few hours. Glorious!

We then grabbed a casual early dinner at Bostwick’s Chowder House. Love their clam chowder and lobster roll!

Read more

Without further adieu…

Read more

Wednesday, July 8th

We worked in the city during the day then headed back out east in the late afternoon. We got to the Hamptons right before Round Swamp closed, so we grabbed a haul (Mexican pozole soup, their insane turkey club on focaccia & an Asian quinoa salad) and ate it in the backyard.

After dinner we went for a sunset walk to Havens Beach, then rounded out the night with some BuddhaBerry!

Read more

I thought it would be fun to chronicle my month out east, so here we begin with week 1!

Wednesday, July 1st

Packed up the car in Brooklyn. Probably overpacked, but I like options! These moving bags came in clutch for fitting everything into our car in a much better manner than bulky suitcases.

The drive took a lovely 3.5 hours, which honestly could have been worse!

Arrived to our cute house in Sag Harbor! It is right in town, and we are smitten. We worked with Jennifer Hoopes from The Agency Hamptons, and we absolutely loved working with — can’t recommend her enough!

Walked to dinner in town at Le Bilboquet. It’s a scene (great people watching IMO), but it’s also just SO nice to be right on the water. I also love the cajun chicken & their martinis.

Caught the end of the USA World Cup match at our favorite local bar Murf’s!

Goodnight, Sag Harbor!

Thursday, July 2nd

Woke up & walked into town for coffee at Sage & Madison! This adorable coffee counter is set inside a little courtyard that also houses a gift shop & clothing store. It is so charming.

Read more

June was the month of NYC. Not just for me personally (as I did not leave the city all month), but for NYC as a city. From Knicks in five, to the World Cup descending upon the city, to a forecast of actual significant sun, to Pride month and more. This month reinvigorated my meaning of why I live here and love this beautiful, difficult, dynamic city.

I am now in Sag Harbor for the month of July, and it’s amazing the feeling of instant calm I get out here. Lots of fun (& rest) on the books for the month!

AKA my entire month! I had a couple of sets of visitors — first a group of girlfriends, and then my parents. The girlfriends used to live here and my parents have been here a lot, so our time was spent mostly enjoying Brooklyn and going to our typical favorite haunts.

Here were some of my favorite spots:

• FINALLY tried The Four Horsemen and it was worth the hype! Max went in line right before they opened on a Friday night and we got a perfectly timed bar seat, so worth trying this summer!

• I haven’t been to Polo Bar in awhile, so it was a treat to have a girls night there!

• Titán - new spot in DUMBO

• Lonnie’s - new spot in Boerum Hill from the Inga’s team; vibey!

• On that note, Inga’s just always hits. Went a few times this month and finally had my first Matt Damon sighting (a fellow BK Heights resident!)

• Had drinks on the water at both Fireboat (newly opened spot from the Crew team) and Concrete Shoals in Brooklyn Heights multiple times in the glorious summer weather!

• Saint Theo’s closed this month. I ate there twice in June to bid it farewell, and it was unfortunate because I actually loved my meals both times (historically was not always enthused by their food!)

• We watched Knicks game 5 at Fairfax, and I have nothing but amazing things to say about them. They accommodated my pregnant friend well amidst the madness, have fab food & cocktails, and overall made it the most fun & memorable experience.

As mentioned, we are still on the high from the Knicks win! What a fun time to be in the city and experience the historic win amongst thousands of my fellow New Yorkers in West Village. A moment I will truly never forget.

And the World Cup matches….. FUN to watch all over the city!

Brooklyn has been cuuuuuute in the summertime. Lush green trees offer a natural shade against the historic brownstones, and we have been relishing the backyard time.

And to end June on yet another high note, the Rüfüs Du Sol show at MSG was absolutely incredible. I was able to score amazing seats the day-of (after watching like a hawk for months!)

Big fan of an oversized denim dress

My favorite summer dress that I want in every color & these go-to sandals

Outdoor entertaining essentials: this tablecloth, this serving tray, this pitcher set, and these plastic coupes

Books:

• For West Village Book Club we read Girls Our Age, which I really enjoyed. It is about 30 year old girlfriends in the “splinter” era of their friendship, and it served for some great conversation between us all.

• Currently reading Greenwich which has been a good little mystery meets extensive wealth summer read!

Shows:

• For being home for so long, I don’t feel like I watched much TV?! I finally started up the new season of Rivals which is a fave — about a television rivalry set in the Cotswolds in the 80’s.

• Rewatched Gilded Age, this time with Max (who I left behind last time by binge watching all 3 seasons a week I was sick, oops!) Excited for the upcoming new season!

Cheers,

Chelsea

Let me preface and say I am packing a lot in with this itinerary. This is the itinerary I would ideally follow if I was going to Nantucket one long weekend this whole summer. If I was in Nantucket for a longer period of time, I would definitely be spacing this schedule out. If you follow the below, you may be tired but you sure would have had a great time!

THURSDAY

Late morning arrival

Grab a sandwich from Provisions or lobster roll from Straight Wharf Fish

At Provisions, I am partial to the Turkey Terrific (Thanksgiving in a sandwich, and it’s freaking good) or The Other Turkey, plus always a bag of Nantucket Crisps! And then right next door, Straight Wharf opened up a more casual spot that serves up amazing lobster rolls (+ onion rings!)

Mudslides at Gazebo (& it’s Gazebo’s last season!)

The Gazebo is closing after this season (RIP!), so you must get one of their famous mudslides one last time!

Shop around town

So many great spots! Some of my favorites include:

• Commonwealth - consignment store that has amazingly priced hidden gems

• Bon Ton - antique store

• For Now

• Mitchell’s Book Corner

• Milly & Grace

• Doen

• Ralph Lauren

5pm - Take the Wauwinet Lady to The Wauwinet

One of my favorite Nantucket hacks when you want to spend some time on a boat but don’t want to pay $$$ charter prices, is to book dinner at The Wauwinet and do the boat transfer add-on. The Wauwinet Lady is a 20 passenger boat that goes from the White Elephant to The Wauwinet (a 50-minute journey with beverage service!), and the round-trip boat service is only $35 per person. You must book this in conjunction with either a lunch or dinner reservation at The Wauwinet’s restaurant, Topper’s, but the food and experience are great so it’s worth it.

6pm - Dinner at Topper’s at The Wauwinet

Topper’s is the restaurant at The Wauwinet, and it is the only AAA 5-Diamond restaurant on island. They have a prix fixe menu, a wonderful ambience, and you can hang out in the chairs on the lawn afterwards to watch the sunset.

9pm return to town & optional nightcap

Once you get dropped off via boat back in town, the world is your oyster! I personally love Proprietors for a good cocktail or The Club Car for their live piano nights (that encourage singing along) set in a 19th-century train car. I absolutely love The Club Car but do recommend avoiding Fridays or Saturdays if you want to avoid crowds/lines!

FRIDAY

Coffee at Handlebar & morning walk around town

My go-to spot on island to grab a fun latte to take with me on my morning walk.

Lunch at The Chanticleer in Sconset

Next head to Sconset and start with brunch at The Chanticleer, which is one of the most romantic & charming restaurants on island (in arguably the most charming corner of Nantucket!)

Sconset Bluff Walk

The Sconset Bluff Walk is one of New England’s most beautiful coastal walks. You pass a number of grey-shingled cottages while also walking along the cliffs bordering the ocean. You feel like you are stepping back in time which I love!

Pre-dinner drinks at Ethos Wine Bar

Ethos Wine Bar just opened last year, and it has quickly become one of our faves! The decor & intimate setting make it feel like your local neighborhood spot, while the elevated wine list & food (please try the grilled cheese) make it feel like you discovered a hidden special gem. Walk-ins only!

Dinner at The Nautilus

One of my favorite reservations on island… and one of the hardest! They have inventive Asian-inspired cuisine (you must get the blue crab fried rice!), great cocktails and always a buzzy atmosphere. If you have a large group, reach out to them to book the Captains Table — we did this on a bachelorette and it was perfect.

Ventuno Back Bar

If you still have steam left, head to Ventuno’s back bar for a lively outdoor drinking scene. Their indoor bar is fun as well!

SATURDAY

Breakfast sandwiches from Born & Bread

The best breakfast sandwich in Nantucket IMO (I don’t know how I have never taken a photo). They are closed on Sundays and Mondays so make sure you go one of the earlier days. I like the BB Egg Sandy and any of their baked goods. Worth the line!

Bike ride to Millie’s for lunch

Biking is one of the essential forms of transportation in Nantucket, and the well-defined bike paths make the ride from town to Madaket (around 6 miles) one of the best! Reward yourself with queso, tacos & margs at Millie’s upon arrival.

Beach day at Madaket Beach

After lunch, spend some time laying on the beach & swimming at the beach right outside of Millie’s!

Dinner at Cru

A scene-y Nantucket classic, a dinner reservation at Cru on a Saturday around 8pm is a coveted one. The see-and-be-seen lively atmosphere is part of it all, but also the cocktails, lobster rolls, seafood towers, harbor views & more are equally enticing.

Cru Back Bar

There is a long line outside of Cru to get into the back bar on any given night, so you would be silly to not head right back in there after dinner and enjoy a fun night singing along to classics & drinking more Crucombers.

SUNDAY

Cisco Brewers for lunch & live music

No trip to Nantucket is complete without an afternoon at Cisco! I personally prefer to not go on Saturday when the line can get long and it can get way too packed. The beer is great but the cocktails also have a following. They have food trucks/stands ranging from Millie’s to oysters to lobster rolls & more. Live music, outdoor picnic tables, always a good time!

Sunset drinks on the beach

Close out the best weekend in Nantucket while drinking with your toes in the sand at either Sandbar (casual) or Galley Beach (fancier)!

Dinner at Bar Yoshi

Old South Wharf is so charming, and Bar Yoshi has an intimate setting with water views and delicious sushi & noodle dishes. Also their bar across the way, Bar O, serves the same menu but in a more quaint bar setting that places FUN music. Love this as an option if you have had a day and would like to keep the fun going!

Ice Cream at Juice Bar

It’s a must!

Cheers,

Chelsea

Subscribe now

Thought I would try something new with a monthly recap of what’s been going on in my world. I love the month of May as it brings you a merriment of spring and the first feelings of summer. Time in the sun was had, frozen drinks were made, and backyard reading has commenced!

May took me to Palm Beach, Miami, Nantucket and Austin!

I absolutely loved Palm Beach. I had never been before (which seems crazy to me?!), but now I can’t wait to go back. I stayed at The Colony Palm Beach which I highly recommend — great location, darling pool area, great restaurant (with some of their heavy hitter items I loved at their East Hampton sister property!), and it’s pink so what’s not to love?

I then headed down to Miami Beach and stayed one night at The Shelborne by Proper. This lifestyle hotel in the hear of South Beach is fun, well-designed, and has a great location in South Beach. I very much wish I was there on leisure and could have really enjoyed the pool (with the comfiest looking pool chairs) or beach service!

Also ate dinner at Sunny’s which veryyyyy much lived up to the hype. Loved the vibe, loved the food, loved the service. We walked in and got bar seats, so we got lucky!

I then headed to Nantucket with my fiancé for MDW which is my favorite place in all of the US. I have so many favorite spots on the island that warrant its own post, but some highlights this trip included a Saturday night table at Cru, multiple visits to Ethos Wine Bar (vibes = immaculate), our first discovery of how great the cocktails are at Proprietors, and the best freaking breakfast sandwich at Born & Bread. We stayed at Blue Iris for the second time, and it feels like a little home away from home! It is essentially just a house so no restaurant or anything, but they include breakfast & bikes and have a fab location.

Lastly, I closed out the month going back to my home before NYC… Austin! I lived here from 2014-2019, and it is one of my favorite places to go back to. Upon landing it was straight to Matt’s El Rancho where a knockout martini + order of Bob Armstrong dip is always a must. There was lots of friend time, trail walks, frozen margaritas (the one from De Nada is a HIT!), fun workout classes, pool & relaxation!

It was a fun month in NYC where the sun came out to stay (mostly) and the outdoor dining & activities energy of the city was ALIVE!

Brooklyn activities in May included attending my friend Meghan’s “Butter Late Than Never” housewarming party (so much French butter!) and getting a spot at The Longest Table in my neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights. We also opened up the backyard for the season… lots of reading to come out here!

In Manhattan, I enjoyed seeing Maya Rudolph in Oh, Mary! on Broadway. Caylee also hosted this month’s West Village Book Club meeting centered around the book Yesteryear (more on that later!)

Aside from all of the spots on my travels, it was also a great month of dining in NYC! Here were some of my favorite spots:

• I Sodi brunch pre-theater (even though it is nowhere close) was the move. I can never get over the lasagna.

• Drinks at High Tide outdoors by the water in Dumbo gave me all of the summer feels. They were out of frozen drinks which made me sad.

• Ate at Borgo for the first time and absolutely loved the atmosphere. The food was good but I cannot even remember what we got which I guess shows it was not life-changing?

• Dinner at San Sabino always hits. Love the spicy tuna, stuffed farfalle and lobster triangoli!

• Clinton Hill date night included drinks at Golden Ratio and dinner at the bar at Place des Fêtes which I think is the move!!

• Girls night out at Swan Room is just fab.

Admittedly, I did quite a bit of shopping in May. One day I looked around my closet and realized I disliked most of it, had most of it for years, and a lot of it felt cheap. I still love a good sale however and scored some great finds!

This gingham top + this white midi dress felt perfect for Palm Beach.

Summer nights = sweaters, and I have loved this striped polo sweater (on extra sale currently for $40)

These shorts (on extra sale for $45) are already a summer staple for me. My sweater is currently sold out in this color but also love it in this butter color!

I somehow bought these heels at a secondhand store in Nantucket for only $200….

Been living in this Agolde set —- this shirt + these shorts

This halter is a summer staple (ended up tucking it in!)

Books:

• I absolutely DEVOURED Yesteryear. According to social media this has been a very polarizing book, but everyone I know who has read it loved it. The plot is that a tradwife influencer wakes up one day back in the olden days and is now forced to live the “simple” life she promoted to her followers. It leaves you guessing the whole time and truly draws you in!

• I read Careless People which to be honest, I don’t think I fully comprehended that I was reading essentially a whistleblower account of an ex-Facebook employee going into it? Regardless I found it all fascinating. Different than my normal reading but glad I read it!

• I also read Our Perfect Storm. Carley Fortune always delivers a great summer read (albeit a bit fomulaic & predictable), so it satisfied that need but I was also sort of ready for it to be over.

Shows:

• I mean who isn’t in on the Summer House drama?!

• On that note I also started In The City on Bravo (essentially a Summer House spinoff show). Don’t love it as much as Summer House, but I love all the New York City lore!

• The Testaments rocked me, and I am so sad the season is over. It still carries a lot of the same heaviness from Handmaid’s Tale, but something about it felt more empowering to me?

• We are obsessed with Your Friends & Neighbors and so excited for the season finale today!!

Cheers,

Chelsea

Part 2 of this story begins with a career I never really planned for. What started as an opportunity turned into the past decade of building, learning, adapting, and figuring things out in real time (and still doing all of this daily!) Over the last ten years in travel advising, I’ve experienced the glamorous moments people imagine (incredible hotels, unforgettable trips, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, all that jazz) but also the behind the scenes reality of growing within an industry that’s constantly changing and has consistent challenges. In this past decade, I have built my own business and brand, only to then go for an opportunity that was larger than myself and learn to balance both. I get into the numbers (income, sales, etc…. TMI? probably!), the transitions, and the advice I have picked up along the way.

In case you missed it, you can check out Part 1 here!

2016: My First Travel Advising Job

In late spring of 2016, I opened my Instagram DMs and had one from the media & marketing coordinator for a travel agency based in Dallas. At this point I was aware travel advisors existed (my friend was one, and at the time when people contacted me asking to plan leisure travel I referred them to her) and I was curious. Looking back, I think they were reaching out more about doing a social media partnership, but I basically responded to their DM saying “I have been thinking about becoming a travel advisor and would love to talk too!” We agreed to a meeting, I did zero negotiations, and I signed a contract. It was not until I spoke with my travel advisor friend that I realized how reckless this was, but thank goodness she reviewed my contract and all looked good!

Read more

Land at LHR

Welcome to the gateway to the UK! LHR is outside of London more towards the Cotswolds, so it works out perfectly to not have to go into London and deal with the traffic and instead go directly there.

We ended up calling an Uber as it was easier and actually cheaper since we did not buy advance train tickets (Uber was about $150). The drive was just over an hour. If you are coming from London, there is an easy 1hr 20min long train from London Paddington directly into Charlbury, and then a quick 9 minute walk to The Bell.

Check-In to The Bell

An adorable 12-room hotel above a pub in Charlsbury, Daylesford took over The Bell recently and transformed it into a luxurious stay while keeping its cozy, Cotswolds charm. We stayed in a Classic Room in the main house (you can also opt to stay in what they call “the barn”, but it is in fact way nicer than a barn), and it was just what we needed for a quick stay!

Countryside Walk (the Finstock loop)

It wouldn’t be a trip to the English countryside without a true country walk! We did the Finstock loop, which winds through fields, over a creek, through the village of Finstock, and back to Charlbury.

I downloaded the Oxfordshire Walks app which makes it easy to find walking routes from nearly any town in the Cotswolds!

Lunch at The Plough Inn

Mid-walk, we stopped at The Plough Inn for lunch in Finstock. This was exactly the vibe we were hoping for in a countryside pub. A crackling fire, the friendliest service, and what appeared to be only locals in there. We went for pints of cider and the fish & chips!

Drinks in The Bell Garden

Back at The Bell, the garden becomes the place to be when the weather cooperates. We ordered spritzes and settled in alongside local families and groups of friends.

Dinner at The Bull

Less than a 1 minute walk from The Bell, The Bull is the spot to be in Charlbury! It has a cozy, old-time English vibe but with elevated pub cuisine and a stylish crowd. I loved The Bull Pie!

Explore the Town of Stow-On-The-Wold

Stow-On-The-World is one of Cotswolds’ more sought-after villages, and it is located just 20 minutes from Charlbury (on quite a scenic drive I might add!) You really only need 1-1.5 hours here to stroll around and see everything yet still have time to grab a pint. It is charming and worth a visit.

Grab a Pint at The Porch House

The Porch House is England’s oldest inn, so with a place with history like that it’s definitely worth popping in for a pint!

Lunch at The Wild Rabbit

The Wild Rabbit (another Daylesford property) is a dining destination in itself. It is featured in the Michelin Guide and has mastered that balance of elevated yet unfussy countryside dining. I mean, just look at this rhubarb souffle with a cute bunny on top!

Walk Around Charlbury

When we got back to Charlbury, the sun was shining and we wanted to go for another walk. We consulted our trusty app and found an easy 2 mile loop out and around Charlbury. We ran into some cute friends along the way!

Dinner at The Bell

After a full day of exploring, there’s nothing like walking right below your hotel room for a nice dinner. The restaurant at The Bell has elevated comfort food made with seasonal ingredients. And their cocktails are fab!

Cheers,

Chelsea

This was probably a bit too fun to write, and admittedly quite self-indulgent. But I would be nowhere near where I am today if it weren’t for people sharing their stories (and incomes, negotiations, etc which I will explain more in part 2), so I thought it was time I share mine!

Over the next two parts I will give a synopsis of my life & overall work journey leading up to becoming a travel advisor, as I do find the whole picture to be important to my story. Bear with me as I get very detailed oriented, as I suppose this was quite cathartic for me in a way. And in the next part we will get into the nitty gritty details of my journey specifically as a travel advisor!

Below the paywall we go as this is all quite personal, will include real numbers & details, etc!

Childhood

Read more

Wow, what a whirlwind of a week! On Saturday I got engaged and on Monday I got Invisalign… high highs & low lows (lol).

I will save the proposal details for a different post (most likely for paid subscribers as its very personal to me!), but we are on cloud nine over here!

Next week, I am off to the UK for a mix of business & leisure. Max has a work trip in Europe at the same time, so we are spending the weekend in the Cotswolds (staying at The Bell Charlbury which is darling and owned by the founder of Bamford) before he heads off to many countries (he goes to 1-2 countries per day on these trips!) and I settle into 5 nights in London to celebrate my UK partner NoteWorthy’s 40th anniversary. It will be a fun week of enjoying both quintessential & unique London experiences (they are the queens of exclusive access!), top-notch luxury hotels, and spending time with amazing colleagues turned friends.

From there we will head to Scotland, and it will be my first time! It’s a short but sweet trip with 1 night in Edinburgh, then 2 nights at Gleneagles. Looking forward to exploring this beautiful county, albeit a small piece of it!

Tomorrow I am going to a joint birthday party for a few of my Aries girlfriends (I love my Aries friends, shoutout to you all). The theme is “fire sign energy - red, sexy, bold”. First off, I love this theme. Secondly, it made me think of how each astrological sign has an “identity” and how fun it is to play into that.

So in honor of Aries season, I introduce…. If an Aries Was a Hotel!

To me Aries energy in a hotel =

bold, visionary, confident, & a bit of “see-and-be-seen”

FAENA MIAMI BEACH, Miami

Everything about the decor is bold, gold & RED, has an impeccable nightlife scene, is sensual & a bit indulgent, theatrical, and ultimately unapologetically itself.

GIRAFFE MANOR, Kenya

I mean who doesn’t want a photo with a giraffe? One-of-a-kind, slightly surreal, impossible to replicate. Breakfast with the giraffes in the definition of leaning into the moment.

HOTEL COSTES, Paris

Dark & seductive, red & fiery elements everywhere, sexy but not soft. It’s impossible to get into, and that’s the point.

THE SILO, Cape Town

Anything Liz Biden touches turns to gold, and The Silo was one of her most daring projects yet. Absolutely striking, fearless, expressive, and entirely uninterested in playing by the rules.

ESTELLE MANOR, English Countryside

Any hotel that has a rich, somewhat maximalist design, a vibrant members club, and parties that go on till the morning in a cave is an Aries in my book.

AMANGIRI, Utah

This one may seem like a wild card, but this property has been a hospitality pioneer in its own right, the scenery is dramatic, has some exhilarating experiences, and while people ultimately come here to be off the radar, no one can resist posting their stay here.

• Orient Express Just Opened an Opulent New Hotel in Venice—Here’s a Look Inside

• Alaska Airlines unveils its first-ever International Business Class Suites experience

• Lacoste just dropped a tennis court on Miami Beach

• The first luxury waterfront hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, just opened

• What the Girls are Wearing in Paris this Spring

• New Restaurants on the Horizon in the Hamptons

Springtime is here, even if NYC keeps teasing us with warmth then retreating to cold weather! Spring is so fun to dress for and fully indulge in the pastels, florals & soft fabrics of it all. Here is my look-book for a girly, springtime trip along with some of my faves below:

• This striped trench coat

• Floral raffia clutch

• An inexpensive two-toned luxe-looking watch

• Eyelet white mini dress

• This perfume is just beautiful

Cheers,

Chelsea

Subscribe now

(The below was written last Friday but published today as I was enjoying Canouan just a little bit too much!)

I am currently sitting on my balcony, taking in an expansive view of the ocean and Canouan’s hillside, to the sound of birds chirping and waves breaking gently along the shore.

Canouan is a small island (only 3 miles long!) in St Vincent & Grenadines in the Caribbean. It is comprised of a Mandarin Oriental, Soho House and a selection of villas. There are only 1400 residents & 10,000 turtles on island. There’s surprisingly a good amount of dining options for such a small island, and the food has been wonderful. More to come as we explore the small, exclusive island that is not for the “seen-and-be-seen” crowd.

In honor of the beginning of spring (oops, I meant to post this on the first day of spring!), I thought I would do a round-up of some of my favorite springtime photos I have taken in destinations that would make for a idyllic spring trip…

Paris, France

Girly & bougie cocktails on a fabulous hotel terrace + cherry blossom trees in bloom

Stockholm, Sweden

Beautiful, pink old town + fresh, spring produce at Ett Hem

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Amazing weather, flowers in bloom, colonial streets & rooftop margs

London, England

Hyde Park strolls, the city in bloom, crowds spilling out of pubs into the street…

New York City

And of course, my home NYC. The exit from a dreary winter & spring florals dotting the city bring me so much joy!

• Inside the World’s Most Beautiful Bars

• The Happiest Country in the World Is Giving Away Free Trips to Visit This Summer

• This Iconic London Restaurant Will Open Its First Hotel—in New York City

• Inside the exclusive world of LA’s most iconic restaurant — and the elusive perk even VIPs are desperate for

• Why Everyone Is Flight Tracking Now—and How to Start

Cheers,

Chelsea

Subscribe now

I am currently on the Surfliner from Orange County to San Diego, as happy as a girl could be. Which is ironic considering I was supposed to have just arrived to Sri Lanka, a trip I felt I deeply needed to reconnect with my “wanderlust”, and one I was very much looking forward to.

That trip is now pushed to March 2027. And instead, I am in California, the place I am from and come back to often, and is definitely not an exciting, new destination. But this trip has honestly been so great, and there’s nowhere else I would rather be. Which brings me to something I have been thinking about a lot this week — the art of a positive mindset, as well as a good pivot.

Just a few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I were in Savannah, GA on a weekend trip when we got notice that a record-breaking snowstorm was hitting NYC and our flights most definitely would be affected. We quickly changed our flights from Sunday to Monday. An extra day exploring a new city, fun! Extended time in warmer weather, hell yeah! However this quickly turned to having to push back our flight yet another day, and ultimately renting a car to drive to Charleston and fly out of there.

While I would like to say we kept a positive mindset the entire time, that would not be the full truth. I was sick and wanted my bed & soup (weirdly hard to find in Savannah & Charleston). We were stressed every time we got a notification that our flight would likely be affected again and that our next option would likely be days later. When we finally got on a plane late afternoon Tuesday, a mechanical issue happened which delayed us further. But, we made the most of it.

We got excited that we now had time to try a restaurant that we had wanted to try in Savannah that originally we did not have time for. We strolled the beautiful, historic streets again and again, discovering something new each time. And our time in Charleston? We were so excited to spend a night in one of our favorite cities unexpectedly. Even as tired as we were, we spent our 15 hours in Charleston enjoying a great meal at Husk and a beautiful morning walk around the Battery followed by breakfast at Harken Cafe. We chose to look at the bright side of our situation vs. wallow in self-pity and sour our experience.

Which brings me to this week. My boyfriend was heading to Indian Wells for the BNP Parabis Open for work and had invited me to join. I initially resisted, in some ways wallowing in the self-pity I had for Sri Lanka not being able to go on as planned. Ironically however, a pesky cockroach problem occurring in our home (the joys of living in a home built in 1847!) and our property manager doing a multi-day extermination is what got me to pull the trigger on coming here, and I am now so thankful for those disgusting little guys.

We had the best week! The BNP Parabis Open was a phenomenal experience. We saw two INSANE matches - Sinner vs. Fonseca and Djokovic vs. Draper (I mean did you see this crazy point?!) I spent quality time with the person that I love. I met his coworkers and created new memories. We drove to Laguna Beach and got to spend time with his parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephew, and I also got to meet two other members of his family I hadn’t met yet. We enjoyed a beautiful heat wave that felt like a breath of fresh air after a rough NYC winter. We ate delicious food and enjoyed an easier pace of life for a few days. And now I am heading to San Diego to spend a couple of days with my parents, which is always the biggest blessing to me.

I see another storm is hitting NYC on Monday when I am supposed to fly home. Whatever pivot might come with my travel plans being affected, I think I will choose to enjoy it.

Cheers,

Chelsea

It has felt like one of those weeks where the outside world seeps into literally everything — my conversations, my thoughts, my therapy session, and now even my travel plans (although thankfully none of my clients are stuck abroad). It has also been a reminder to take care of ourselves when there is so much chaos, hurt, and frankly evil happening around the world.

Earlier this week my friend Xan said something to me that really stuck: “We’re not meant to process trauma, and new trauma, every single day.” And she’s right. What we are collectively living through, with the nearly daily influx of new information and new tragedy, is not normal for the human brain to process at this pace. I do believe it’s important to stay informed. It feels like a responsibility not to bury our heads in the sand when horrific things are happening. But it’s just as important to consume news and social media intentionally (something I personally need a reminder of lately as I have gotten back on my doom scroll game!), get outside, be with people who fill our cups, not isolate ourselves, and stay focused on moments of joy wherever we can find them.

Part of that for me also means trying to understand the full spectrum of information out there (okay, maybe the opposite of taking a break from news, but hear me out). As much as I have beliefs I feel incredibly strongly about, I also have friends and family whose views differ from my own, so I make it a point to consume a wide range of news sources — mainstream media, independent journalists, and outlets that lean in the opposite direction of my own views (for me this is Fox News). Often I am bewildered or even laugh at how wild certain stories are framed (truly, why has Fox News fixated only on the Clintons’ Epstein depositions when there were so many powerful people involved? If anyone had anything to do with that monster, they should all be held accountable, no matter what political party they belong to!) But as someone who likes to research and understand situations holistically, and to understand the information people I care about are receiving, those perspectives remain part of my news diet.

All of which is to say: take care of yourselves. Be informed, but be intentional. Step away from the noise when you need to. Go outside. Spend time with people you love. Protect your peace where you can, and hold onto joy wherever it shows up.

I don’t have much to share today (primarily because it is 4:30pm on a Friday and I am still trying to wrap up work and get on my way to my 1 year anniversary dinner with Max!), but alas…

NYC Spring is Near!!!

The way I needed last Saturday’s weather in NYC! While it technically was still barely over 40 degrees, the sun was out and therefore New Yorkers filled the sidewalks with a glass of rosé in hand. I sat outdoors at Hudson Clearwater with friends before then bopping around to some usual suspects — Saint Theo’s, Emmett’s on Grove, and finally dinner at San Vicente. Emmett’s on Grove was closed for a private party until 7:30pm, and there was a MOB to get in right at 7:30pm. The temps reach in the 60’s this Sunday into next week. New York is back baby!

Hillstone Park Ave Closing?

I don’t know if you heard the same word on the street that I did that Hillstone Park Ave is closing, but this devastating gossip recently hit. Well I am here to tell you that I had lunch here yesterday and received word that this in fact very false. Long live ice cold martinis & the fried chicken sandwich!

• What a dream it would be to buy this wisteria-covered townhome, swoon!

• Looking rich has never been easier. Feeling rich has never been harder.

• How LVMH took over Paris’ restaurant scene.

• Even with the temps increasing, I can’t stop thinking about where to get the best French onion soup.

• Met Gala dress code revealed!

• How AI is driving everyone to become a founder.

  ---

• The way I gasped and immediately bought these satin kitten mules! Praying they fit & are comfortable.

• For my upcoming (now canceled) trip to Sri Lanka, I wanted more linen for both beach + safari. I snagged this & this one in a couple of colors (the price is so good!), and I think they will be staples this summer!

• I have recently been obsessed with this nightly sleep support. Calming & tastes so good.

Cheers,

Chelsea

Today will be short & sweet as I am currently driving (well, my boyfriend is driving) from Orlando to Savannah! We both have never been to Savannah, so we are excited to spend a weekend there.

So I did something I never thought I would do this week… I went to Disney World by myself.

I was there for nearly 14 hours (why, Chelsea, why) and even with taking many breaks, having a “Lightning Lane” pass to reduce ride line times… I felt like I was hit by a bus. My lower back still hurts from standing, I sweat out a slight fever last night (which I commonly get from over-exerting myself), and I have a nagging headache that keeps returning. Regardless of everything, it was extremely worth it and I have a number of revelations and information nuggets from it all that might just be worth it’s own Substack. Also above all else, escaping the NYC weather for the ability to eat an ice cream Mickey Mouse outside in 80 degree weather…. pure bliss.

For Presidents’/Valentines’ Weekend, my boyfriend and I planned a quick, cozy stay out at Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton. We had never been in the winter and were not fully sure what to expect, but we had reasons to go out there surrounding some future planning, it’s an easy drive, and the hotel’s rate was significantly cheaper than the summer. So we thought, why not!

I personally loved it! I still think the fall is peak enjoyability (and of course endless beach time in the summer), but the cozy vibes & seeing the Hamptons blanketed in snow was special in its own right. Plus no traffic so it was so quick & easy to get between towns! Also, can we talk about seeing the ocean frozen over?! SO cool. Check out these frozen/”slushee” waves here.

Friday

• Left the city around noon (GPS said our drive would be around 2hr 15min)

• Stopped at Kitchen Kabaret in Roslyn area for coffee & lunch

• Checked into Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton, unpacked, freshened up

• Drove into Sag Harbor to walk around (optional shopping)

• Tried to get a drink at American Hotel but it was packed, so we ended up at the bar at Tutto Il Giorno which was perfect

• Drove back to Bridgehampton and went to Pierre’s for a wine tasting dinner with Wolffer Estate

Saturday

• Morning walk into & around Bridgehampton

• Drove to Sagaponack General Store for rose vanilla lattes & biscuit breakfast sandwiches

• Drove to East Hampton Main Beach for a stroll on the beach

• Walked & shopped around East Hampton town (Ralph Lauren, Blue Mercury, A.L.C., & more!)

• Checked out a summer rental which we loved & are going to move forward with (!!)

• Drove to Amagansett for lunch at Il Buco Al Mare

• Walked & shopped around Amagansett town (& encountered an amazing sale at Henry Lehr)

• Drove to Montauk for a walk at Ditch Plains Beach

• Stopped at Montauket for a drink overlooking the frozen water

• Rest back at the hotel

• Dinner at Jean-Georges at Topping Rose House

Sunday

• Morning workout at Topping Rose House’s gym

• Checked out of Topping Rose House

• Drove into Sag Harbor for Happy Jacks at Jack’s Stir Brew then a long walk around the town & neighborhood

• Stopped at Shippy’s in Southampton for French onion soup

• And onwards back to NYC!

• Waldorf Astoria’s Chinese Owners Plan to Sell NYC Hotel After Extravagant Makeover

• Why Are There So Many Hotel Collections and What Do They Even Mean?

• Capital One Is Opening a New Chef-curated Lounge at LaGuardia Airport—and It’s Designed by José Andrés

• For Travelers in 2026, Prices Are All Over the Map

• 9 Best Cities in Europe for Every Kind of Traveler—From History Buffs to Foodies

Cheers,

Chelsea

Subscribe now

Everything is Private Equity

This Substack put into words something I think about constantly: the quiet flattening of what seems like nearly everything. The way uniqueness slowly gets chopped away in favor of scalability. The way things start to feel… the same.

Part of the reason we were drawn to our duplex in Brooklyn was because it had character and was directly family-owned (with a long, heartwarming history!) You could feel that both when you walked into the place, as well as on the Zoom call with the owners. So many NYC apartments, thank God, still have quirks — original moldings, imperfect layouts, fireplaces that may or may not work. Also to my horror… cockroaches. When I lived in Austin, every building felt identical (which what do you know, many are owned by large corporations or PE!) — the same gray floors, the same white cabinets, the same cheap appliances. It all looked polished and brand new, yet somehow also like it was going to break at any moment. Optimized. Interchangeable.

I’ve felt the same shift with Blank Street. I’ve been going there since their early days when it still felt like your neighborhood coffee shop — local breakfast tacos, the “dog board” featuring local dogs, and more. Since scaling, the offerings feel narrower and more standardized. The tacos disappeared (a tragedy in my book). The experience feels slightly more transactional. And of course businesses grow (I understand that), but you can feel when something moves from being shaped by people to being managed for margins.

It’s not really about apartments or coffee. It’s about intent and the overarching theme that the things we consume or interact with on a daily basis are “missing the plot” of what life should be about. About the difference between something that carries a human fingerprint and something that’s been smoothed into a formula. The older I get, the more I realize that what I’m actually drawn to — in homes, in neighborhoods, in travel, in business — is the opposite of over-optimized sameness. It’s character, intention, and a real human touch.

Summer Vacation Rentals in the Hamptons & Nantucket

So I know it is only February, but this sadly consumes my brain way too often, and I personally love to plan ahead on this. This summer, my boyfriend and I are going to do a rental for the month of July in the Hamptons. We like Nantucket more (or a month in Newport, RI or Kennebunkport, ME or even my San Diego hometown sound like a dream to me), but the reality is that he needs to go into the office a few days a week, and it is extremely convenient to be able to jump on a train or Jitney to get back and forth between the city (while I happily stay plopped down out East). So alas, this is where we are heading!

Two summers ago I rented a little cottage in Montauk for the month of July, and I loved it wayyyyy more than I thought I would. I am someone who thrives on plopping down in one spot and assimilating to a new routine somewhere. I want my go-to coffee spot but also enough time to try every single restaurant in the area. I equally want the chaotic fun of the weekends as I do the Tuesday night sunset stroll on the beach followed by a home-cooked dinner. I love it all.

Last summer we did weekend trips to new destinations nearly every weekend, and although it was really fun, it also took a lot out of me. We then moved September 1st, and I felt like a bus had hit me with being so go-go-go. So the theme of this summer instead will be a mix — July hunkered down in one place, and then June & August will be a mix of weekend trips and far-away destinations.

While I love Montauk, the past couple of years I have found myself spending more and more time driving to the other towns I love (Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Amagansett). The rental we are seeing tomorrow is in East Hampton — walking distance to town & great restaurants, a 5 minute drive to the beach, and less than 10-15 minute drives to both Amagansett and Sag Harbor (traffic forgiving). It is a very old cottage style home (which as I know living in an old home, has its quirks!), so I am praying we like it as much in person as we do in the photos & videos because the price & location are right!

Obviously in all things travel I recommend working with a travel advisor, however at the end of the day a lot of month-long rentals in the US at a more “normal” price-range are best to be found directly through a realtor or platform that works with realtors.

For monthly Hamptons rentals, I personally stalk Out East daily (can also sign up for daily emails from them with your specifications, sort of like Zillow or StreetEasy), but I have also had a good experience with StayMarquis for a client (they just have more limited inventory). Out East is primarily geared towards monthly rentals (although they do have short term as well), and StayMarquis is more flexible with the ability to book by the week or even just book a weekend. For even shorter term stays, Airbnb is your best bet honestly. As an advisor I hate to ever recommend Airbnb because they are not vetted and there’s so many horror stories out there, but as a consumer, sometimes it just fits the bill.

For Nantucket, their rentals are primarily positioned as weekly rentals. I look at both J Pepper Frazier Real Estate as well as Great Point Properties. Airbnb will be your most flexible option for shorter term stays.

West Village Book Club x Murray’s Cheese Event

We had such an incredible turnout for our new series in partnership with Murray’s Cheese, Conversations on Creativity. Our first guest was Jessica Knoll (a literal dream first guest), and something I loved about this event vs. a book launch event is that we talked about writing, creativity and even just life instead of having all of the focus be on a particular book — which overall felt like more intimate of a conversation. Kayla does a recaps the entire conversation with Jessica on her recent Sunday Series, which you can find here! Already excited for the next one!

• Maybe I am late to the party, but Evie Goodman is hilarious and I would like her to write a book.

• I am DYING over this list of the best vintage shopping in NYC according to some of the city’s most fashionable!

• Speaking of shopping, this $35 beanie is SO warm and has seriously saved me this winter.

• Something we are all thinking about this winter — how to wear two pairs of pants.

• I have been on a huge pho kick, and I highly recommend both Khaosan & Hanco’s.

Cheers,

Chelsea

Last Thursday, I spontaneously booked a flight home to San Diego for the weekend. NYC had another bleak, freezing weekend ahead of itself, and San Diego was going to be unseasonably in the 80’s. Best. Decision. Ever.

I booked it on a bit of a whim for a mix of sunshine & family time, and listening to my gut paid off in the best way. It felt like a summer vacation in the simplest sense. Which isn’t it funny how the things you once took for granted become some of your greatest joys? Sitting on the beach with nowhere to be, eating a Board & Brew wrap, reading my book, sipping a Spindrift in the sun. Sitting in the backyard at dusk, followed by home-cooked meals with my parents, then a Law & Order SVU nightcap on the couch. You could have told me that was heaven, and I would have believed you (so much so that I cried at the airport leaving… embarrassing!)

Coming back reminded me that a “vacation” doesn’t always have to be far-flung or extravagant — it can also be a return to what grounds you. Especially in the thick of winter, I have been thinking a lot about how we can create our own version of a vacation from home: small escapes, familiar comforts, moments of ease that don’t require a passport… just a little intention.

NYC (and the Northeast in general) has been getting a bad rap lately (and rightfully so as it has been below freezing for wayyyyyyy too long), but I thought ya know what, let’s romanticize this cozy, record-breaking, winter weather. Whether you are based in NYC or visiting (my clients have been loving a stay at Aman New York this winter to take advantage of their incredible spa in between cold jaunts out & about), here are some ideas for a winter bucket list to get you through the in-evidently freezing weeks ahead!

• Indulge in all things melted cheese — have a fondue night with Swiss wine at Lavaux Wine Bar, or mulled wine & raclette at Cafe Brume

• Embrace wellness with contrast therapy at Remedy Place (for a bit more private experience) or Othership (a truly social experience)

• Finally visit the museums you alway say you will but don’t when the weather is nice! There are so many but The Frick Collection reopened last year and The Whitney currently has the centennial anniversary of Calder’s Circus

• Get dressed up for a night out at a dark, sexy, swanky bar that will remind you why you live in NYC (even in the winter) — like Portrait Bar and Campbell Bar and Titsou Bar and The Nines

• Learn a new hobby by taking a crafting class at Brooklyn Craft Company, needlepoint/crochet/knit at West Village Knit & Needle, or drawing/painting at Creatively Wild Art Studio. I also find the various classes & session at Liz’s Book Bar so cool!

• Walk in for a dinner reservation at a hard-to-get place… we just did this the other night for a table for 4 people at I Sodi (aka normally impossible)

• Meet the Cooper, a Luxe New Hotel in Charleston With a Private Marina

• Inside the Huge New Terminal That Will Transform J.F.K.

• Why Four Seasons Walked Away from The White Lotus and HBO

• White Elephant Aspen Delays Opening Again

• Forgot your ID? No Real ID? The TSA will charge you $45

• Emirates and Marriott to debut first-ever Ritz-Carlton Lodge this year

All of this bitter cold weather has me thinking about mountain-town dressing, and there’s nowhere chicer than Aspen. It’s equal parts high-glam and high-altitude, where shearling and cashmere meet après cocktails and sequins. Below are some of my faves from my destination edit!

• An expensive-looking faux fur coat

• This calf hair clutch

• This dress is just perfect

• Cozy, cozy, cozy

Cheers,

Chelsea

Subscribe now

Last week in Checking In, I wrote about how much of my life has been built around movement — running away, traveling, staying busy — and how for a long time, I mistook that motion for growth & healing. It wasn’t until I actually slowed down, fully realized what I was doing, and stopped outrunning discomfort that I began to do any real internal work.

I have been someone who has had a yo-yo relationship with “health”. I equated being healthy to working out (sometimes twice) daily, restricting eating by labeling “good” and “bad” foods, and focusing purely on the external outcome vs. anything going on internally. I thought if I physically embodied a beacon of health, I was “healthy”. What I did not fully realize, is that it all starts from within.

But in 2023, on the heels of a situationship ending that unexpectedly shook me, something shifted.

Read more

I am freshly back from Costa Rica, and the re-entry to NYC has been… well, a shock to the system, to say the least. Going from barefoot mornings, humid air, and sunny days straight into puffer jackets and a barely-working heating system (oh the joys of living in a circa 1847 home) feels like whiplash for both the body and the nervous system. My slight face sunburn (truly how does this happen when you reapply sunscreen 6 times and wear a hat?) is my only reminder that it was not all just a dream. And you betcha I have been already looking at month-long vacation rentals in warm places for next winter.

My musings today come on the heels of watching the book-turned-movie, People We Meet On Vacation. I loved the book when I read it years ago (and admittedly, had forgotten most of the plot since), but I didn’t rush to watch the movie right when it came out — until multiple people texted me asking if I had watched it and that it reminded them of me. Naturally, I was intrigued.

People We Meet On Vacation is about two unlikely best friends who take a yearly vacation together, one of whom is a travel journalist who quite literally lives her life on the road (already relating here). I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say along the way she is forced to confront what she actually wants out of life and what truly matters (also relating here, though this realization has been relatively new for me too). At the end of the movie, she says:

This hit hard. For years, I was blindly using travel as an escape. I said yes to a month-long work trip to Greece the day after my boyfriend broke up with me, even though it meant breaking family commitments. I constantly added on legs to trips to the point that being away from home for over a month at a time became my norm. I did all of this under the guise that it was helping me grow. Which, yes, it did (especially professionally). But I also wasn’t actually addressing what was happening in my life. I was avoiding it. I was living in a constant fantasy-land version of myself.

It even showed up in how I lived. My last apartment in Austin housed a few boxes in a corner of my bedroom that I never opened up in the 2 years I lived there. I kept my Christmas tree up until July. I think it took me 3 years to finally hang art in my first NYC studio apartment. I wasn’t living in my home — I was passing through it. I was often a visitor in my own life.

She goes on to say:

So while I am happily in love and that love has grounded me in a way I didn’t think was possible, I think this applies far beyond romantic relationships — to friendships, family, and chosen community too. I spent years missing weddings, birthdays, family events, milestones and more. But I was working! I had the world to see! I needed to discover myself! And while travel has expanded my life in the most beautiful ways (and will always remain a pillar of it), making it the only priority in my life was actually pushing me further and further away from myself. It wasn’t until I started watering my garden at home — nurturing relationships, building routines, creating roots — that I realized how much of my life I had been overlooking.

I suppose this is why I have wanted to create two worlds within this Substack with both travel and lifestyle. For years, travel was my identity. And while it is still very much my passion and a career I am thankful to have, there are more layers underneath that were always there.

It also feels very full-circle with the origin of the name “Passport To Friday”. I started a blog with this name back in 2015, when I was traveling 250+ days per year working in corporate & incentive travel. “Passport To Friday” was an ode to the idea that everyone lives for the weekend, and I wanted it to be inspiration for enjoying your life every day with the same enthusiasm you have on a Friday, both on the road and at home.

So that’s what I am returning to. Going back to my roots, if you will. It sort of feels like the current “2016 trend” where everyone is reminiscing on how simple and great life felt in 2016. In 2016 I was two years out of college, starting my travel advising business, full of ambition and in awe at every opportunity that came my way. I genuinely woke up so excited each day to work, create, and dream! So while I do not want to go back to the 2016 version of Chelsea who was running (or traveling) away from her problems, I want to bring back the 2016 Chelsea who was full of wonder, curiosity, & appreciation for what she was building and what was possible. So thank you for indulging me in this with this Substack. :)

Did somebody say Saint-Tropez?!

Okay, so there’s nothing new and groundbreaking about going to Saint-Tropez, however with the news about the next season of White Lotus being set at Chateau de la Messardiere, I thought it was noteworthy to talk about it.

So I love this hotel. I really wish I could say it is overhyped, but in my opinion it is not. It feels like a serene oasis just minutes from the action of Saint-Tropez. They have their own fab beach club. Don’t even get me started on the lunch buffet they put out each day. And the kid’s club? I don’t even have kids, and it made me so giddy… BEST KIDS CLUB EVER! Everything is chic, chic, chic and no dollar was spared.

Which brings me to my next point… it is expensive. When I look at the prices nowadays, I cannot wrap my head around how I once booked this hotel for “only” 900 Euros per night in June 2022 for clients. Because now for the past couple of summers, I have been trying to book one of my family clients here, and they are looking at $9-14k Euro per night to accommodate their family of 4. And this pricing was all prior to the White Lotus news coming out. If you want to spend under 2k Euro per night, the only options I am currently seeing for a basic room are at the end of April and the first 10 days of May. That is, if you can get space now that this news is out!

So all of that to be said, if you have the money and are dying to stay here, GO! Otherwise, I will propose a few other lesser-known options (and you can always head to the Chateau for a meal instead!):

• Pan Deï Palais - Chateau de la Messardiere’s sister hotel located in the heart of St Tropez, it has just 12 rooms & suites. This is my not-so hidden secret to book clients here if Messardiere is either fully booked or too expensive (although prices have creeped up as well here), because you get access to the same beach club as Messardiere as well as their spa, as well as that fabulous Airelles service (which may even be better here since it is such a small property!)

• AREV St. Tropez - Newer boutique hotel that feels like a chateau within a chic yacht club right on the outskirts of town; depending on dates (i.e. target shoulder season!), prices can fall much closer to 1k Euro (which sadly is great for St Tropez!)

• Lily of the Valley - This property is technically not in St Tropez (about 30-45 minutes away depending on traffic), but it embodies everything I could want from a French Riviera vacation — chic design, ocean views for days, a beach club, and more.

• These Are the Best Trips to Take in Your 30s for Every Type of Traveler

• Greece is Launching a New Golden Visa for Start-Up Investors

• Louis Vuitton Celebrates the 130th Anniversary of Their Monogram with an Immersive Soho Pop-Up

• The Ultimate Film Buff’s Bucket List: 8 Hotels You’ll Recognize Instantly

• Aman’s Luxe 600-Foot Cruise Ship Will Debut in the Mediterranean in 2027

• One of my favorite, family-run, Greek hotel brands turns 40 this year, and I loved reading more on their story here.

In the spirit of talking about Saint-Tropez today, I bring you a packing list for Saint-Tropez’s Caribbean sister, Saint Barthélemy. St Barths or St Barts for short, this ultra-chic destination also made recent news over the holidays when the world’s elite were stuck on the island due to the situation in Venezuela closing down airspace. Nonetheless, this effortlessly glamorous island is one of my favorite spots to relax at the beach or on a boat by day, but then get dressed to the nines to hit the town at night. I personally love:

• This crochet dress I am ordering for my next beach vacation!

• These statement shoes

• The glitz & glam on this dress!

• This belted swimsuit

Cheers,

Chelsea

Subscribe now

So without further adieu, 3 days worth of outfits in Costa Rica!

A.L.C. Dress, on major sale (also here, on sale) / Necklace (old, from Mango)

Sandro Shirt & Shorts

ONIA Bikini Top (also here on sale) / Bikini Bottoms (old, from Target)

Alemais Dress

Jason Wu x RTR Cover-Up / Madewell Sandals (50% off) / Waldorf Astoria Bag

Staud One Piece Swimsuit (also here, 60% off)

Devon Windsor Dress (also on sale here) / Schutz Heels (similar here) / Loeffler Randall Clutch (old, similar here)

Devon Windsor One-Piece Swimsuit, 85% off (in a different color here)

Cheers,

Chelsea