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12 Days of Christmas with Mark and Graham

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Day 1: Mark & Graham

Travel accessories are all those “little things” that can be some of the most important keys to a smooth journey. From items that make your voyage more stylish to products that make your stuff more easily accessible during your trip, the right accessories can make travel so much easier – and stress-free!

Winner will receive these featured Items: Boarding Bag | World Travel Journal | Leather Luggage Tags | Travel Jewelry Case | Leather Passport Case

How to enter for a chance to be gifted: 

  • Must be following @lesleyannemurphy & @markandgraham on Instagram
  • Must subscribe to The Road Les Traveled Newsletter here
  • Must post a comment on this blog post telling us…

Where in the world would you travel first with your new travel accessories and why?

*Winner will be notified via updated Instagram caption tonight, December 7th. *Entries must be submitted by 7pm EST.

From World Traveler to Party Hostess: Holiday Gifts for Everyone on Your List

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For the Host(ess)

Behind every host and hostess lies a kitchen cabinet filled with party planning supplies and impeccably chic serveware. Add to their arsenal of accessories with the fabulous gifts below.

Bust First, Cocktails Coasters / May You Never Shot Glass Set /  Down the Hatch Cocktail Napkins / Casa Dragones Blanco / Slate Cheese Board / Gold Cheese Knives Set /

For the Man in Your Life

Whether it’s your dear old dad or new boo, finding great gifts for boys is no easy feet. We’ve rounded up a few finds to appease every type of guy.

Southern Tide Quilted Bomber / Gentleman Whiskey Stones / Shinola ‘The Runwell’ Watch / Topman Snowman Sweater / Nike Running Gloves / Beats by Dre Wireless Headphones / Bar Book

For the Frequent Flyer

Trust me, for the jetsetter, great travel accessories are just as important as your airline points. A lightweight bag can make or break your airport check-in time. Trust me on this. My NYE resolution is to carry a small/lighter bag!

Nest Scented Travel Oils / 50 Places to Dive Before You Die / Shinola Leather Journal / Bloomingdales Passport Case / Steamline Luggage Carry On / Flight 001 Eye Mask Gift Set / 4-in-1 Outlet Adapter / Scratch Off Map Poster

For the Foodie

Confession: I love food. I love food gifts. And I love kitchen gadgets. I guess you could say I would happily accept any of the following gifts (hint, hint).

Marble Salt Box / Blue Apron Meal Service / Tagliolini Artisan Pasta / Maple Pumpkin Butter / Coarse Sea Salt / Ginger Bread Man Spatula / Pizza Grilling Stone / Dylan’s Candy Winter Wonderland Can

For Your Bestie with Impeccable Style

We all have them. Those friends who look effortlessly chic 24/7, never a hair out of place. Complement their glam-AF attitude with some pretty little things below.

Studded Ears Wool Beanie / Kate Spade Mocassin Slippers / Basic Repellent iPhone Case / Nest Crown Holder / Nest Stalagmite Earrings / Cosabella Macaron PJ Set /  Rx Travel Pouch / Adventure Capitalist Travel Pouch / Fringe Scarf

Who was lucky enough to make your holiday list this year? Remember, you don’t have to splurge to be the ultimate gift giver. 🙂 

Travel Tag: One&Only Hayman Island

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After flying from Adelaide in South Australia to Hamilton Island in Queensland, the largest inhabited island of the beautiful Whitsundays, staff members from Hayman Island picked us up via luxury yacht for the 50 minute transfer. With the amount of champagne bottles that were being popped onboard, the ride could’ve lasted 2 hours and 50 minutes for all I cared. I hadn’t even stepped foot on the island yet, but it seemed as if island life had already found me. Our holiday in the sun had begun!

The Location

The Whitsundays have long been internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful stretches of tropical coastline in the world (and I would agree with these international recognitions!). The 74 islands dot the Coral Sea, and Hayman Island is the northernmost of all offering a front-row seat to the Great Barrier reef.

The Suite

Palm trees. Blue ocean. Sand bars. Coconut cocktails. Private beach villas. Need I say more? Don’t worry, I’m going to, but the above ingredients are all one needs for a happy holiday at One&Only Hayman Island.

I often travel solo, but I was lucky to be spending time in Australia with two good friends of mine. We booked a modern suite with two spacious rooms and personal butler named Willow who went above and beyond her call of duty. The master bedroom, oversized tub and balcony were beyond lovely, but if my life came with a Willow every day, I’d be set!

The Activities

Whitsunday Dream Tour

My travels have led me on some amazing encounters and adventures, but nothing quite compares to the ultimate journey we had while visiting One&Only Hayman Island. I’m a firm believer in that the view is always better from the top, so we decided to discover the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands via helicopter. This view of the reef below left me speechless, so now it’s my turn to leave you the same way:

From reef world, our pilot flew us over a landmark I’ve been so excited to capture, the bright and glowing Heart Reef. This stunning composition of coral has naturally formed into the shape of a heart, attracting visitors from near and far since 1975 when it was discovered. Let the romantic vacay planning commence! Come on…you know you want to.

Our 45 minute flight took us from Haymand Island to Reef World to Heart Reef to Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach. It’s common knowledge that Whitehaven sand is so fine, many women will even bring their jewelry to get cleaned here. I wouldn’t want to start dipping my diamonds just anywhere, but if it’ll make them shiny…sure! Named the South Pacific’s Best Beach by the 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards among other awards, Whitehaven beach should have a top spot on everyone’s bucket list.

After enjoying refreshments (read: more champagne) on the beach and relaxing in the warm waters of the Coral Sea, we got to relive the unbeatable views again as we flew back “home” to Hayman Island.

Sunset Escapade

A sunset picnic on a private island? Not going to turn that one down. I think the only thing missing on this romantic getaway was my boyfriend, but I had two girlfriends to drink champagne with, so all was well in the world. We’d been dropped off via speedboat to indulge in a fiery orange sunset and picnic basket treats, so you can imagine that those couple of hours didn’t suck.

Coral Sea Massage

While the Ocean Dreaming Massage may have lead me to the resort in the first place (think floating on the sea while being surrounded by tropical fish), I ultimately decided on the Coral Sea Wave Massage which imitates how the warm waters flow over rocks in the ocean…or that’s what the masseuse was going for I think, and she definitely knew what she was doing. For the first time ever in a massage, I fell asleep to the sound of the waves in my little private cabana!

Seabob

Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas this year is a seabob. Officially the hottest toy for resorts around the world, the seabob is only in three places in Australia. We were lucky to be in one of them! My first time trying this baby out was in the Maldives, and let me tell you – twice will never be enough times on this thing. Say hello to my nemo!

If you’re up for going under, take the plunge on the Seabob water sled: a personal submarine–meets–waterproof scooter that allows you to move as gracefully as a dolphin beneath the surface. Wearing a mask to protect my eyes and nose from salt water, I pressed the throttle, tilted the Seabob downward and headed below the surface, moving easily for as long as I could hold my breath. Watch the full video here and subscribe for more fun to come soon!

The Experience

The invitation to experience private island life where One&Only Hayman Islands sits was a huge privilege. The astonishing beauty far exceeded my expectations alongside the array of experiences available on property. A helicopter, private yacht, and submarine adventure just about covered everything from under, on and above the largest living thing on earth, the Great Barrier Reef.

The Road Les Traveled wad invited to experience One&Only Hayman Island as a guest, however our opinions are as always, our own.

Lo & Sons: The Perfect Carry-On Tote Revealed

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True Life: I’m A Horrible Packer…Until Now

I’ve made travel super hard on myself over the past couple of years. I don’t travel light as you can see in the above photo where I’ve tried to condense a purse inside a (broken) tote alongside my laptop. Note the tripod to the side and not even pictured: my camera bag. What a load. I ended up ditching the tote before the trip even began (cramming the laptop inside the purse), but NOW I’ve found the ultimate carry-on for travel. I don’t know if I’ll ever carry anything else because I am bag obsessed these days with Lo & Sons.

Introducing The Seville

Say hello to the newest addition to the Lo & Sons collection, The Seville! If you’re like me and travel with your laptop glued to your side, put this on your Christmas list. That’s not even the best part (although it should be as I’ve been searching for this bag feature for over a year). I couldn’t decide between black leather (goes with everything) or navy (my favorite color), but I didn’t have to choose!

Lo & Sons created an innovative design system (Shell + Design) where I can seamlessly change the color as each tote comes with not only an inner bag, but also an exterior shell that can be swapped for other shells. You simply unsnap the straps, remove the inner bag from one shell containing all of your contents, place that inner bag into the new shell, snap, and repeat when desired!

My Lo & Sons Love Confessions

Featured

 


Functional and Organized: I promise this bag has all the functionality of a smart bag and more. If you're one to carry an oversized bag around with every Apple electronic inside, not to worry - there's a sleeve for that. Created in mind for the girl boss and women always on-the-go, the many compartments (including a padded 15" laptop pocket!) make my life soo much easier. 

 



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

Functional and Organized: I promise this bag has all the functionality of a smart bag and more. If you’re one to carry an oversized bag around with every Apple electronic inside, not to worry – there’s a sleeve for that. Created in mind for the girl boss and women always on-the-go, the many compartments (including a padded 15″ laptop pocket!) make my life soo much easier. 



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

 


Stylish: It's tough to find an all-in-one bag these days that not only stands the test of time but looks good too. Can we say mix & match?! I'm a girl all about some variety. If I'm feeling blue one day, I may be feeling black the next. Also available in red.

 



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

Stylish: It’s tough to find an all-in-one bag these days that not only stands the test of time but looks good too. Can we say mix & match?! I’m a girl all about some variety. If I’m feeling blue one day, I may be feeling black the next. Also available in red.



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

 


Sturdy

 



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

Sturdy: The constant wear and tear and hardships I put on travel bags is excessive since I’m on a plane almost weekly. Quality material is a must! No more broken tote straps for me. The Seville also includes a complimentary Soft Touch Shell with luggage sleeve allowing it to sit effortlessly on rolling luggage.



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

 


Lightweight: More often than not, I arrive to my final destination with aching shoulders and a sore back. That's 90% from the weight I carry around and 10% from sitting in the same position on a 14 hour flight. Since I can't do much about the latter, it's a good thing creator of Lo & Sons did something about the former!

 



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

Lightweight: More often than not, I arrive to my final destination with aching shoulders and a sore back. That’s 90% from the weight I carry around and 10% from sitting in the same position on a 14 hour flight. Since I can’t do much about the latter, it’s a good thing creator of Lo & Sons did something about the former!



Lesley Murphy



Lesley Murphy

Make A List, Check It Twice: How to Pack The Seville

I’m having a great love affair with this bag if you can’t tell from the joyous smile on my face. Just call me Mary Poppins because I can put my entire life in here. With seven different compartments, I feel extremely organized and ready to tackle the international travel day. What do I bring on said 14 hour flights, you ask? Allow me to count the items…

More Goodies

The O.G.: Perhaps you’d like the functions of the Seville but in a different shape? The Overnight/Gym bag is here to help!

The Catalina: This canvas beauty is everything. Pack your entire weekend in here and you’ll be good to go.

The Pearl: The Seville is the perfect carry-on, but what will you carry inside the final destination? Look no further than this chic cross-body that converts into a clutch.

Ahhh. Less fumbling. More globetrotting. Made possible by Lo & Sons.

Wearing: Hunter green quilted vest, Alice + Olivia top (similar), Citizens of Humanity skinny jeans, Melissa + Jason Wu flats, and Lo & Sons Seville tote. Creme cape pictured in above photos.

‘Tis The Season: Black Friday Sales 2015

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NORDSTROM

Up to 50% off select styles for all + FREE shipping and returns

SHOPBOP

Spend $250+ and save 15%, Spend $500+ and save 20%, spend $1,000+ and save 25%, CODE: GOBIG15

J. CREW

30% off your purchase including stuff that’s never on sale! Plus an extra 40% off sale styles. Code: HOLIDAY

BANDIER

25% off sitewide

KATE SPADE

Surprise Sale! Enjoy 25% of with code MERCI

MACY’S

Extra 25% off clearance Designer Handbags, 50% off select Juniors clothing, 60% off select Women’s Coats, 50% off Women’s Sweaters, 70% off Memory Foam Pillow & Toppers

MADEWELL

25% off your entire purchase, CODE: calmdown

OLD NAVY

60% off hundreds of styles, 50% off even more, 40% off everything else restrictions apply

Melbourne to Adelaide: A Four Day Itinerary Driving the Great Ocean Road

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This magical road located in Victoria, a state in southeast Australia, consists of 151 miles of beautiful highway winding through varying terrain like rain forests, beaches, and cliffs. For future visitors, here you go. I’ve done the research and I’ve completed this drive. You have full permission to copy every stop, no copyright infringements or travel agent fees necessary. Note: Driving on the other side of the road is harder than you think and takes all your focus. Also, look for the Great Ocean Road wifi along your journey. It’ll get you out of a bind when your GPS fails you.

Day 1

Melbourne to Torquay – Here you’ll find the cutest beach town in existence with seaside cafes and chic hotels. It’s probably up there as most developed town on the stretch. What wasn’t so awesome was the temperature. We arrived about two weeks too early. The water was a tid bit nipply. Total driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Torquay to Split Point Lighthouse – Explore the lighthouse and the cliffs at this stop. Parking is a few yards ahead of the lighthouse. Total driving time: 30 minutes

Split Point Lighthouse to Erskine Falls (Lorne) – Erskine Falls has a long stairway down to the actual falls, so plan accordingly. I was in a maxi dress and flip flops. Definitely an outfit fail, but I rock climbed the boulders anyway! Total driving time: 1 hour

Lorne to Apollo Bay – Beautiful town along the coast (obviously) and affectionately known as Paradise by the Sea. Awwww. Total driving time: 1 hour

Apollo Bay to Twelve Apostles – If you’ve researched this drive at all, you’re excited to stop here. The Twelve Apostles are now only eight limestone stacks off the shores of Port Campbell National Park. Formed by erosion and harsh weather conditions from the ocean, the stacks were formerly caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed leaving rock stacks. Sunset here is magical, even though there was a massive cloud cover when we arrived. Thanks, Mother Nature. Total driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Apostles to Gordon Beach – The Apostles and Gordon Beach are right next door to each other. Go down to the beach for an up close and personal photo session. Note that even if there’s a sign saying Beach Closed, go anyway 😉 You only regret the things you didn’t do.

Apostles to Thunder Cave and the Gorge – I don’t usually do road trips like this where I’m stopping every 10-30 minutes, but the land formations were worth the whiplash. A 10 minute walk preceeds the cave and gorge. Total driving time: 10 minutes

Thunder Cave to Port Campbell – Port Campbell is a great resting spot for the evening. It’s not NYC or even Arkansas for that matter as it’s hardly developed. There’s a liquor store and a handful of good restaurants to choose from, making for a fun girl’s night once we finally stopped the car for the day! Recommendations: Daysy Hill Collages for sleep; Nico’s for pizza, salad and wine; Waves for breakfast the following morning. Total driving time: 15 minutes

Day 2

Port Campbell to the Arch – This wasn’t exactly on our itinerary, but we came across it and decided to stop. That’s what road trips are for, right? I still don’t know much about this arch, but it makes for a pretty picture! Total driving time: 10 minutes

The Arch to London Bridge – London Bridge was formed by gradual erosion, and until 1990, formed a complete double-span natural bridge. One side collapsed in 1990, leaving two tourists to be rescued by a helicopter. Total driving time: 2 minutes

London Bridge to Warrnambool – Warrnambool is a developed city that marks the official end of the Great Ocean Road. We were having so much fun driving on the other side of the road, so we kept on moving west and continued onward towards Adelaide. Note that it’s entirely acceptable to stop your road trip here, skipping the remainder of the itinerary. The Outback is calling, and I regret not seeing it! Just sayin’… Total driving time: 40 minutes

Warrnambool to Port Fairy – Surfer’s paradise. I think there’s a lighthouse here as well, but we were light-housed out from the day before! Total driving time: 25 minutes

Port Fairy to Cape Bridgewater – Up the hill from the beach you’ll see a sign telling you about a fur seal boat tour. It was far too cold and windy for us to partake, so we kept going straight towards the windmills until we hit the petrified forest and the highest coastal cliffs in Victoria. I hope it’s a warmer and clearer day for you if/when you decide to visit! This photo might as well be out of a horror movie. Good thing it just so happened to be Halloween. Total driving time: 1 hour

Cape Bridgewater to Mount Gambier – This is the second most populous city in south Australia with the famous Blue Lake, a crater lake located in an extinct volancic maar. Total driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Mount Gambier to Robe – I spent Halloween in Robe this year, but the town is far from scary. It’s beyong beautiful with its lakes, vegetation, historical buildings and popular fishing port. Make a night out of it and stay at the Fayrefield House. 1 hour and 30 minutes

Day 3

Robe to Barossa Valley – This wasn’t exactly an awesome morning (as you can note the 4.5 hours of driving), but the afternoon of wine drinking made up for it. Our wine tour with Barossa House was stunningly delicious, and Lee was the best guide one could ask for! Lee and his wife Judy have been doing tours and running their B&B for 14 years. They picked us up for a half day wine tour from noon until 4:30 that included lunch and three wine tastings at different vineyards in the region. We took a rest after getting wine drunk all afternoon to soak everything up with a carb-loaded dinner at 1918. Mmmm! Total driving Time: 4.5 hrs

Barossa Valley is a renowned wine-producing region northeast of Adelaide where Shiraz grapes reigns king.

Day 4

The next morning we had a balloon ride scheduled, which meant a 4:00am wake-up call after day drinking the previous afternoon. Ouch. Once we rose above the clouds, the hangover seemed to disappear as fast as the morning fog.

Barossa Valley to Cudlee – We then loaded up the car (again) to visit Gorge Wildlife Park in Cudlee. My travel buddies had to hold a koala, and I wasn’t going to say no. Total driving time: 45 minutes

Barossa Valley to Adelaide – We took it easy in Adelaide for the afternoon, finding a good spot to eat before basking in the luxury of the Mayfair Hotel for the evening. We had a 6am flight the following morning to the Great Barrier Reef area that we weren’t about to miss! Total driving time: 1 hour

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