Jet Set Like a Rock Star in Mykonos

Welcome to the European summer home of rock star living - Mykonos. This place has it all. Whether you want to party or chill (or do both) it's all here. Here's our short list to Jet Set Like A Rock Star in Mykonos.

Where to Stay

Here's our top 2 picks (in priority order).

1. The Belvedere - The ultimate in chic luxury. Always a scene. This hotel is amazing in so many ways. The staff anticipates your needs and always makes you feel like you're at home and not in some stuffy hotel. The scene is simple, chic, and sexy. The location couldn't be better. It's at the edge of the port town and within 20 minutes of every beach on the island. The pool is a who's who of international tanned hard bodies.

2. Bill and Coo - The sexiest infinity pool in town. Really. This is an all suite hotel. All rooms have fantastic balconies with views of the sea. Higher class suites have private plunge pools with a small deck to chill and enjoy the sun. This is a very quiet and very relaxed environment.

Where to Eat

Here's our top 5 picks (in order of priority).

1. KiKi's - No electricity. No sign. No credit cards. No reservations. Just 10 tables. Totally AMAZING food (did I say amazing). This fantastic spot is on a bluff overlooking the ocean on Aghios Sostis Beach. DO NOT miss this place. It is a MUST. Get the grilled octupus, eggplant and the fresh catch of the day.

2. Nammos - See and be seen lunch/dinner spot on Jet Set Psarou Beach. Think town and country meets the Greek Isles. Open air dining overlooking the beach. Get the to-die-for-caprese salad and fresh fish. A perfect day at Nammos would be to get a beach chair right in front of the restaurant (if you can), have a late lunch (around 4 p.m.) and watch the action.

3. Gola - This Italian restaurant is the triple threat of food, wine and view. It has it all. Upscale without being stuffy. Situated high enough to see Mykonos town all light up at night. Eat dinner outside, around its beautiful pool and under the stars. An experience you will never forget.

4. Belvedere Club - I hate to put a hotel restaurant on this list, but this one is too good to leave out. It's a lunch spot pool side at the super chic Belvedere Hotel. Simple, stylish with great food and amazing vibe. Get the fresh bread with olive oil and black salt (from Cyprus) to start. Then move on to Greek salad (hands down the best on the island) and skewers of chicken, beef or veggies. After lunch browse the Mykonos outpost of Scoop (the hip New York/South Beach clothing store).

5. Interni - Think Southern California vibe meets the Greek Isles. A blend of traditional Greek and International cuisine. Very cool design with an equally sexy crowd. Go for dinner and stay for the drinks when the restaurant flips into a club filled with a very young and cool crowd.

* Note about dinner: Do not show up to any restaurants on the island before 11 p.m.- you'll be the only one in the restaurant.

Where to Party

Here's my top 4 picks (in order of priority).

1. Super Paradise - One of the most famous beach party spots in the world. This is likely where Mykonos gets its bad boy party reputation. A great mix of young, old, famous, not so famous, gay and straight.

2. Astra - This is an exclusive, sexy lounge right in the center of Mykonos town. Sit outside, sip fantastic cocktails and people watch or go inside and dance on the mini-dance floor; don't be surprised if you spot a celebrity or two.

3. Caprice - This tiny sea front bar is packed ALL the time. It'll be a flash back to high school/college. You'll know the words to every song. It's a little silly, but it's a lot of fun and filled with locals and tourists alike. Stop on your way in from the beach or on your way out to a club.

4. Cavo Paradiso - World famous DJ's spinning while you watch the sun rise from the sea. Party kids, hip club goers and those that just want to see the sun rise with 1000 of their closest friends. Also check out this video we shot at Cavo this past summer.

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Paradise Islands - Bahamas

For anyone looking for a great holiday destination try the paradise islands of The Bahamas.
From Grand Bahama and Great Inagua there are 23 inhabited islands and thousands of unpopulated islets and cays (pronounced keys). There is the very cosmopolitan Nassau with its duty free shopping, markets, casino and nightlife all the way down to the wildlife sanctuary of Inagua. There is everything in between. There are pretty almost "American East Coast" style villages on some of the Islands. The only differences being the lovely climate and the palm trees.

These Islands are truly wonderful with some of the most beautiful and clean beaches in the world, clear blue seas, abundant marine life, exotic plants and wildlife.

The Bahamas have an international reputation for sailing, with regattas and races held year-round. It is here that the Gulf Stream originates and which gives the islands their abundant and varied marine life. Big game fish draw sport fisherman in search of the "big one." There have been more than 50 records set in these waters. The great writer / fisherman Ernest Hemingway live here on the island of Bimini.

There is just so much to do on your holiday in the Bahamas you can swim with dolphins, go snorkeling or diving , try a little golf, take a cruise, stroll on the beach, dance all night, bicycle, try your luck at the casino, sail, parasail, go on an eco adventure, shop till you drop, take up flying, play tennis or simple relax with a good book and a cool drink. There are obviously so many more things to do but I am sure you will discover all of them during your vacation in the Bahamas.

The people of the Bahamas are charming and hospitable. The Bahamians are happy to tell you of their rich history full of tales of pirates and adventurers and of course to introduce you to their culture and delicious cuisine.

Inland are many beautiful gardens and National parks with rare and endangered species, such as the exotic Abaco Parrot and the Bahamian Iguana. This is a diverse and beautiful country. Perfect for the adventure holiday maker, divers, fishermen, sailors, the photographer, the eco tourist, families or the romantic couple looking for a private get away. The Bahamas have everything and are a true paradise.

Whether you want an active family holiday or a quiet and peaceful get away from it all break you are sure to find it in the Bahamas, on one of its 700 islands. The Bahamas are truly a beautiful group of Paradise Islands.

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Are you excited? - Katie and Karleigh VLOG

-Talking about a lot of stuff, JONAS, Selena Gomez, the Bahamas, new car!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kpL8IdzS2U&hl=en

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Beaches - Another Reason to Visit Italy

People all over the world visit Italy for many different reasons. Whether it's to soak up the culture of Milan, to ride the gondolas in Venice or to see the leaning tower in Pisa, many visitors tend to miss out some of Italy's best attractions - Its beaches.

In 2009, 113 Italian beaches were awarded a Blue Flag - An honour that is given to beaches that offer exceptional cleanliness standards and safe bathing areas. There are three types of beaches you can find along Italy's 5,345 miles of coast. Those that are free, those that you have to pay to enter and your own private beaches.

A Spiaggia Libera (Free Beach) - is usually signposted and easy to find. There tend to be less of the amenities that you would usually expect to find; no sunbeds, no umbrellas, minimal parking etc. You may find a stall nearby selling some refreshments but don't expect to bowled over by choice. Some free beaches do provide public toilets and occasionally, some showers. Do expect everyone to be packed in like sardines if you visit at a peak time.

A lot of visitors tend to prefer the extra comfort that a pay in beach has. Once you're in, you have the use of the beaches changing rooms, lockers, sun loungers and sometimes even the luxury of a life to take you directly down the cliff to the beach. No more struggling to work your way down those narrow winding paths! Some of these beaches can seem expensive at about EUR10-15 per person but once you're sunning yourselves on a beach like Eco del Mare, Fiascherino. You won't regret spending that little bit extra.

Finally, if you're lucky enough to be able to afford it, why not stay in a hotel with its own private beach. Hotel Torre di Calla Piccola on the western edge of Monte Argentario, Tuscany is situated on the top of a cliff. Just below is your very own secluded beach. Because the area is sheltered, the water tends to be warmer and less rough, perfect for a peaceful swim in your own little slice of paradise.

So next time you are planning a beach holiday, make sure Italy is your first choice. With its endless treasures to discover and behold, the sea air is a relief and a healthy escape from city life!

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What Hotel Facilities Can Be Expected of, When Staying at a Different Lodging Levels

The hotel industry is broken down into three separate categories: extended stay, limited service and full service. While the exact hotel facilities a guest can expect are going to change from property to property, there are some core items that should be present at each level. Here is a quick overview of what can be expected at each level.

An extended stay property is lodging that is long term. These are very popular among people that are relocating to a new area and permanent accommodations are not ready or have not been found yet. Room rates are generally very low, but so are the amenities that are offered. Some properties are a bit more welcoming than others, but most will offer little more than a room.

For the most part, you are getting a room, laundry facilities and a parking space. Some of the higher end places will have pools, but that is something that should be considered a bonus. They are generally very clean places, but will only offer maid service once or twice a week. The reason that they are cheaper is because of the low overhead costs in regards to staff.

The next category is a limited service hotel. The hotel facilities offered vary greatly as this is a highly contested market and profits are very high. Because some of these properties are in direct competition with full service hotels, they will offer a few more amenities than a run of the mill travel lodge.

Limited service properties will usually offer maid service every day and having something like a workout room or pool is possible. If they have meeting rooms, they will be very small and very limited. Some limited service properties are now offering free breakfasts as a way to entice the full service guests away from the other properties.

Full service hotels far and away have the best hotel facilities, but the rates are generally much higher than the first two categories. To get the best rates, guests should actually look for properties that are located close to limited service properties as they are often forced to lower their rates in order to fill the house.

Examples of full service hotels are Marriott, Hilton and Crowne Plaza. Where limited service loyalty programs are basically useless other than getting points for rooms, full service hotels treat their highest level VIP members like Kings. Free breakfast, cocktail hours and turn down service are but a few of the perks. The hotel should also have a fully equipped fitness club, pool (when possible), snack shop, full service restaurant, banquet facilities and exceptional meeting rooms.

While all of these types of lodging facilities serve their purpose, a full service hotel is where to go when pampering is desired. Their staffs are trained (or at least they should be) to make every wish of a guest come true. After all, the guest is paying for full service and they have every right to expect to receive it.

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Historical, Colourful - History of Vegas

Vegas Reviews

Vegas lies in the middle of Nevada's Mojave Desert where over thirty-eight million tourist visit every year. Vegas hotels bring in an easy ten million dollars per year from this popular entertainment destination.

Vegas, born in the early 1931 due to legalized gambling in the State of Nevada. By spring of 1946 a Jewish Gangster named Meyer Lansky (born Meyer Suchowljanski) (July 4, 1902 - January 15, 1983; known as the "Mob's Accountant"), became very interested in developing a hotel in Vegas.

Meyer Lansky was well known in the American organized crime, responsible for over four hundred mysterious deaths. He had strong ties with the Italian Mafia by hiring within this organization to carry-out hits. He would hire a hit man named Siegel Benjamin from time to time who was member of the East Coast Italian Mob.

Lansky used Gang boss Siegel (known as Bugsy) to instigate most of his criminal activities. In 1937 he sent Bugsy to Los Angeles to tighten syndicate money operations. His career was fronted as a legal gambler at the Santa Anita Park a hop, skip and jump from Los Angles. Bugsy was responsible for the Murder Inc. who killed "Big Greenie" Greenberg, a police informant, with his fellow gang member, Whitney Krakower. Greenberg's death was Bugsy's attempt to further his reputation from organized crime, but the heat was still on.

Lansky wanted Siegel involved first-hand in the development of the new Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. He forced Siegel to become part of the operations of the new William R. Wilkerson's prestigious Flamingo Hotel. Siegel apparently hated the desert and wanted to stay with his family in Los Angeles; Lansky prevailed.

With great resentment Siegel started the lavish operation of building the Flamingo Hotel without the approval of William R. Wilkerson. He was way over budget by use of his inside black market where costs reached well-over the one million dollar figure within just the plumbing itself. Apparently the costs were enormous with an additional surprise purchase of a kitchen costing a mere $29,000 (today, you would be lucky to purchase an Alto-Shaam Cook and Hold Oven for that price). The project was soon to be completed in the spring of 1947 with soaring costs of over $6 million. This price obviously caught the attention of his boss earlier than Siegel was aware of - back in 1946. Lansky knew Siegel was stealing money from the mob and ordered a hit against Siegel.

On June 20, 1947 Siegel, back home in Los Angles enjoying an evening paper, when he was shot five times, once in his right eye. You may remember this scene in the famous movie Godfather series where a Flamingo owner named Green was shot in the right eye; apparently getting the information from Siegel's staged killing.

It wasn't long before the Mafia had strong hold of Vegas, with the Chicago Mafia being the strongest of them all. The Chicago Mafia built eight hotels, such as the Stardust, The Riviera hotel and the Tropicana. The glamour of organized crime and the possibilities of rubbing shoulders with movie stars frantically brought the public to Vegas, not realizing that the Chicago Mafia used illegal benefits on the casino floor. The atmosphere in Las Vegas was exciting, as Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall and David Niven.

In 1950 the population of Vegas grew from 25,000 to over 65,000 residences. By 1966 Vegas grew attention from Howard Hugh's. Although Howard Hugh's already owned 25,000 acres outside of Las Vegas, he was very interested in monopolizing on property within the city of Las Vegas. At first his interest was primarily the airport, TV Station and more raw land, he had no idea he was going to pursue his interest into Vegas hotels.

During his investment of properties within Vegas, he and his Mormon accountants occupied the complete top of the Sands Inn who was owned and operated by the Chicago Mob. Howard was not interested in gambling but quickly received the attention of the Chicago Mafia due to occupying the elite floor of the Sands Hotel. It wouldn't be a problem if Howard would gamble on the casino floor, but that wasn't even considered. After weeks of holding rooms and not giving their high-rollers any chance to use the rooms, the Chicago Mafia gave Howard an ultimatum. It has been stated that, "Either Howard leave the hotel or he would be forcibly moved out"

To Howard Hugh's this was just an invitation to "Buy-out" the competition, which he did in 1967. Howard Hugh's bought the Desert Inn and his employee, Bob carried out the formalities. It wasn't long after that, that Howard had caught "Vegas Fever" - he phoned up Bob and laughing he asked his employee, "How much of these toys are available?" Bob was taken back and asked," What toys do you mean Howard? Apparently Howard laughed some more and said," How many Hotels...how many Hotels are available? From that point on, just as Sammy Davis Jr. Said once, "Howard Hugh's is the only man I know who plays monopoly with real hotels...

Howard Hugh's proceeded to buy off the Frontier, the Silver Slipper, the Sands hotel and many more. The Chicago Mafia loved the fact the Howard Hugh's was buying out the hotels, because as far as they were concerned, it took-off the heat of the Attorney General, the well-known Bobby Kennedy. Bobby Kennedy and The President of the United States - John F. Kennedy objective was to clean-up organized crime. Unfortunately, this brought the assassination of John F. Kennedy, leading back to the Chicago Mafia.

In 1970, four years after his first purchase of the Desert Inn, Howard Hugh's lost his interest in Vegas and decided to sell his investments in Vegas. Due to paranoia Howard left for the Bahamas for unseen reasoning. But, that is Howard.

[When I was a teenager I had the fortune of meeting Howard Hugh's in Vancouver, just by mistake. My parents left me in the hotel by myself (not a good idea); I decided to take a little adventure and check out the top of the hotel. Little did I know that an aging Howard Hugh' occupied the top floor. Sure enough I was confronted by plain clothed bodyguards who high-tailed me out. But, just before they were going to usher me out, Howard Hugh's stopped them as he made his regular walks on the top floor. He said to me, "You want some advice?" At the time I had no idea who this important person was. All I knew, he had to be important to have bodyguards. I remember looking up at him, a very sick pale man. I said," Huh, yeah sure, as long as you don't tell my parents." He laughed, coughed and gasped. He said," Never get caught..." I grinned and was escorted back to my room.]

Just after Howard Hugh's left Vegas, a head mafia figure came to town, Anthony Spilotro. He had a vindictive personality making sure that everyone was honest when it came to the illegal skimming, a creative opportunity for the Mafia to collect money from its own casino's without being on record. That basically means "Free Money" non-taxed illegal funds. It has been said they collected over $300,000 per month during this operation, with money going to head office in Chicago.

Anthony (Tony) Spilotro was thought to be the main control in Vegas, but was not the case. Tony was just another gang boss within the Chicago Mob. The Mafia always needed someone to appear as controlling a legitimate business, and this is where Alan Glick came in. Alan Glick was a 34 year old lawyer who started the Argent Corporation which took out a loan of over $60 million( loan was given to him by means of the Teamster Union by Hoffa himself) to purchase Stardust, Freemont hotel and Marina's. It was important for the mafia to showcase a legitimate corporation by use of Alan Glick. Apparently Alan Glick wasn't aware that the mafia had control; I think not. It wasn't long before Alan Glick realized he had no control over the mega hotels.

In the background was Frank Rosenthal who just so happen was raised in Chicago and a long time friend of Tony Spilotro. To this day, the FBI has never been able to link Frank Rosenthal with the Chicago Mafia. Frank Rosenthal was well known in Vegas when he started his very own show called "The Frank Rosenthal Show", apparently to deceive the FBI to his mob connections. It must have worked, because today he lives at fine old age as a multi-millionaire in Miami South Beach.

The Mafia seems to be profitable until Tony Spilotro decided it was "ok" to venture his illegal activities outside the Vegas Strip. In 1979 he allowed fellow gang members (known as the "Hole in the Wall" Gang) to rob homes and businesses within Vegas, as long as Tony Spilotro received dividends called "Street Tax". Everything went to plan with robberies of 3-4 homes per night bringing in an estimate $100,000 per month. It looked like the mobsters were winning the game of organized crime with lawyers, judges and political officials in their back pocket.

The FBI had inside word from an informant of a big jewelry heist at the Bertha's Jewelry Store. It was their first big break to catch the mafia red-handed. On Independence Day using fireworks as a cover the "Hole in the Wall" Gang proceeded to rob Bertha's Jewelry Store by crashing through the roof top. They had no clue that the whole police force were waiting in the biggest Stake- out in Vegas history.

The Gang was apprehended with no contest and it wasn't long before the head leader, Frank Culotta turned into a government informant, placing heat on Tony Spilotro. The heat from the FBI turned Tony Spilotro very paranoid, with public spotlight by means of paparazzi. With all the unwelcomed publicity to the Chicago mafia, Tony Spilotro and his younger brother were found dead in a corn-field in Indiana, not far from the head mafia's golf retreat.

Today, Vegas Strip is a vibrant humming giant with legitimate businesses holding the interest in mega hotel chains. It seems that the mafias is no longer in Vegas...or are they?

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International Tourism - For a Wonderful Holiday Experience

Why do people travel all around the world? Well travel is for recreational purposes and many of you do it to explore the beauty of this astounding world. People travel according to their disposable income which is revenue for others. Tourism is an important factor for many countries as it not only results in good revenues but employment generation as well. Despite uncertainties, the international tourism has marked growth of 5% in between January and April 2008 as compared to same period of 2007.

Tourism is very crucial factor for many countries, such as the U.A.E, Egypt, Greece and Thailand, and many other island nations, such as The Bahamas, Fiji, the Seychelles and Maldives, because of huge intake of money for businesses with their goods and services. Moreover with tourism are associated employment opportunities in the service industry which includes transportation services, such as cruise ships, airlines and taxis, entertainment venues, such as discos, amusement parks, casinos, shopping complexes, the various music venues and the theatre and hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels, motels and resorts.

Tourists are well educated and have more sophisticated tastes now. They have higher levels of disposable income and greater leisure time at their stretch. With such a trend the demand now is of better quality products and services.

The developments of transport infrastructure technology, such as accessible airports, jumbo jets and low-cost airlines have made various types of tourism a feasible and affordable option. Sustainable tourism, medical tourism, educational tourism and creative tourism are preferred by different types of tourists serving their specific travel needs.

You can grab information on various top international tourist destinations online. There is wide information that is easily accessible and you can even find a good package within your budget conveniently with little research work.

The prevailing economic imbalances have hit international tourism as well but the disposable income varies from country to country; which leads to shift in demand. Yet at a positive level of growth the international tourism industry is all set to take up the challenges and overcome them effectively.

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