A feature you can't design. It just happens.

I have to admit this – when someone suggested we go to a club named “The Crocker Club”, I wasn’t exactly jumping up and down with excitement.

When I finally visited this venue, however, my tune changed and I was very impressed.

The Crocker Club is a former bank where the original vault was converted to be one of the VIP areas.  The rest of the club has intimate little rooms where you and your “friend” can get to know each other better in the event you wanted to get away from the dance floor and the madness of the rest of the club. 

There’s also a dance floor and two bars and some pretty cool bartenders ready to help you out.  Throughout the rest of the venue, the designers really tried keeping with the feel of the original building.

Fortunately for me, we were with a fairly large party that liked to party – and well – we like to party, so it was kind of a match made in heaven.

If you are planning to cruise over to this bar, please make sure to follow their strict dress code (which you can find on their website) and bring a couple of female friends.  Throughout the night, I got a feeling The Crocker Club wasn’t exactly the best place to go cruising for chicks (although there were a few there).

So the next time someone asks me to go to a club that sounds like cookwear, I’ll make sure to take their suggestion seriously.

The bar you see when you first walk into The Crocker Club.

For more informaton, you can visit The Crocker Club’s official website.

Ahhhh, summertime in SoCal...

Just off of Main Street in downtown Huntington, you will find the Shorebreak. As soon as you enter, you feel what the space is striving for. Comfortable, relaxed, but still refined accomodations. There are bikes and surfboards alongside amazing photos of the local scenery (courtesy of Aaron Chang). Go upstairs to the lobby and the wide open spaces that meld with the outdoors. On one side is a lively bar and restaurant with wide balcony spaces that is offset by a quiet courtyard with fire pits on the other side. The decor is one part beach retreat, one part modern design mixed with a hint of quirky local flavor.

Steps from the sand.

The guest rooms are well thought out with every detail combining seamlessly to enhance the experience. It’s a quick jaunt down to Main Street where the surf shops, bars, and breakfast joints are in abundance. You are less than a one minute walk from the Huntington Beach Pier, and a surfing haven. Take in the sand and the sun, or watch it all from your balcony patio. It’s also pet friendly, so pack up Fido and the boards, and get out there!

www.shorebreakhotel.com

Now, where were we supposed to meet?

JWD: Jumpserving while drinking.

Six man, as it has come to be known, is a world famous weekend volleyball tournament with costumes and booze. Women in all varieties of flesh baring outfits bouncing around certainly brings out the best in all of us! On the men’s side, you can watch in awe at how ‘Men in Skirts’ spike the ball wearing moo moo’s and sun hats.  ’Team Fletch’ are all looking sharp in their Lakers jerseys and afro wigs. But don’t get it twisted, even while the competitors are buzzed on Bloody Mary’s, they are still playing some great volleyball. You can see plenty of AVP pros current and past getting into the action and the debauchery.

But let’s not kid ourselves, we came to see the hot girls in bikinis.  Well, there is plenty of that, too.  This year 6 man will take place on July 31st and August 1st.  If you want more info, check the website:  http://www.surffestival.org/Volleyball/volleyball%20index.htm.

Don’t forget to bring protection!  I recommend at least SPF 50.  No one wants to go home with a sunburn.

Now that's team spirit! Or spirits!

This is awesome! Wait a minute, there's a dude strapped to my back!

Thanks to the people from Bluefish, my life (and writing) remains entertaining.

In their most recent newsletter, they introduced Maverick Business Adventures’ “HALO Skydive”.  HALO stands for “High Altitude, Low Open” which in turn means: hang on to yout nuts because they are going to end up in your throat from all the screaming you will be doing.

Here’s a little excerpt from Maverick Business Adventures official website:

Activity:Skydive 28,500 – 30,000 feet (the cruising altitude of a jet airplane)

Only 50 civilians have ever done this! Prepare for the ultimate skydive adventure — a military-style, High Altitude, Low Open parachute jump. HALO was originally designed during the 60′s as a military maneuver to insert troops behind enemy lines undetected. Because you would jump from 30,000 feet (the cruising altitude of a commercial jet) so on radar everything looks normal.

The temperature up at 30,000 feet is about 25 degrees below zero and you have to wear a full oxygen mask for two reasons.

1. Because at that altitude you’ll remain conscious about 30 seconds without oxygen.
2. You need to pre-breathe pure oxygen for about 40 minutes to purge all the nitrogen out of your system to avoid getting the ‘bends’.

No skydiving experience is necessary because you’ll be doing a tandem skydive with an experienced jumpmaster. You’ll be trained by EX-military and get to experience the ultimate freefall of 2+ minutes (double any other skydive).

Do you think you have the guts to handle this kind of glory?  You better hurry because there are only 8 spots and the event will be from June 11-13.

Oh, and it will cost you $3,495.

For more information you can visit the Maverick Business Adventures official website, or you can contact Bluefish so they can make the arrangements for you.

Aman Resorts - some of the best resorts when it comes to luxury travel (amanresorts.com).

Founded by Adrian Zucha in 1988, Aman (sanskrit for “peace) Resorts started from a single location in Phuket, Thailand and has expanded to 28 luxury resorts in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, France, French Polynesia, Indonesia, India, Laos, Montenegro, Morocco, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States.

If you’re wondering why you never heard of these hotels, you probably haven’t been reading Conde Nast Traveler or  Travel & Liesure enough.  They have been getting high marks and good reviews since they started their operations.

Here’s a little excerpt from their Wiki entry:

Every Aman resort is unique, not only in its location, but in its design, mood and guest experience. Each is characterized by a small number of rooms (typically less than 55) and minimalist architecture designed to complement the resort’s natural and cultural setting. Indigenous building materials and techniques are used as much as possible to reflect the culture and country in which the resort is located. Also characteristic is a high staff count (typically four staff to one guest)and the absence of a reception desk, a lobby or bellboys. Aman resorts are designed to create the impression that guests are staying in a private residence. Guest accommodation is typically provided in individual private villas, bungalows or tents (in the case of Aman-i-Khás in India and Amanwana in Indonesia), often featuring private pools and outdoor lounging and dining areas. When Amanpuri opened in 1988, the combination of these features was groundbreaking in the luxury accommodation industry.

Not impressed yet?  Check out some of these photos from their website:

Aman Resorts, Bora-Bora. "Hotel Bora Bora".

Aman Resorts, Bali. "Amandari".

Aman Resorts, Thailand. "Amanpuri".

And if you’re wondering, yes, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny.  But think about it this way – you are going to have a vacation of a lifetime at one of these resorts.

For more information about Aman Resorts or their locations, you can visit the official Aman Resorts website online.

Is it weird that the building rendering is purple and gold?

On most occassions, when giving travel advice to the Los Angeles area, I would usually recommend to not stay in the downtown area.  Depending on what one’s itinerary is, I would probably recommend staying by the water or staying close to Hollywood to try and catch the nightlife.

There is one gleaming exception to this rule, however – The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles.

If you were to ever drive by the latest incarnation of The Ritz-Carlton series of hotels, you would think it looks like a gigantic glass sail setting due west in the Los Angeles skyline.  With the current rennaissance going on in downtown Los Angeles, it is befitting that The Ritz-Carlton become the precious jewel in the setting known as L.A. Live.

Here’s a little more information from The Ritz-Carlton’s official site:

The hotel will feature a 3,400 square foot Club Lounge on the 23rd floor with sweeping views of the west. A small boardroom will be available adjacent to the lounge area, providing meeting space suitable for business meetings. The hotel will have access to nearly 100,000 square feet of meeting and special event space in the Gallery Collection.

Another unique feature of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles will be a combined Lobby Lounge and restaurant on the 24th floor with windows offering panoramic views of the downtown and surrounding Southern California.

An outdoor rooftop swimming pool and terrace will offer guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles a relaxing retreat from the city below.

Below are also a bevy of places for entertainment and food close to the hotel listed on Ritz-Carlton’s official press release:

The hotel’s location in the heart of the L.A. LIVE project will give guests direct access to a unique collection of entertainment and sporting options, including:

• STAPLES Center – The world’s most successful arena, STAPLES Center is home to five professional sports teams in addition to serving as the premier venue for musical performances, family entertainment and televised award shows, including the GRAMMY® awards.
• NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE – A state-of-the-art 7,100-seat venue for live performances and events, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE is the new home to two of the most highly coveted awards shows, the ESPY Awards and Emmy® Awards, not to mention the upcoming American Idol finale shows.
• Club NOKIA – Expected to host 150 events a year, the 2,200-capacity Club NOKIA will be the perfect venue for emerging acts and cultural shows, while providing excellent space for corporate events and private parties.
• ESPN Broadcast Studios and ESPN Zone – The broadcast studios will be home to a number of live shows and original programming, and the ESPN Zone is the nation’s most popular sports-themed restaurant and bar.
• The GRAMMY® Museum – Developed by The Recording Academy (NARAS) and AEG, the museum will offer visitors a one-of-a-kind museum experience paying tribute to music’s heritage and rich cultural history.
• Conga Room – The legendary venue will relocate from its mid-Wilshire location to open at L.A. LIVE. The intimate performance venue is owned by a group of high-profile celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Smits.
• Lucky Strike Bowling Center - In addition to 18 bowling lanes, the popular Lucky Strike will feature a café, bar, billiard tables, darts and private function rooms.

L.A. Live currently offers guests a multitude of dining options from the city’s top restaurateurs, including: 

• Katsuya - The sushi and robata bar concept created by nightlife guru, Sam Nazarian
• Wolfgang Puck – A California cuisine concept brought to life by the culinary icon himself
• Rosa Mexicano – A fine dining concept of traditional and nouvelle Mexican food in a contemporary David Rockwell designed space
• Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar – Located on the bustling corner of Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., the well-known steakhouse will occupy approximately 7,250 sq. ft.
• The Farm of Beverly Hills – An American restaurant from one of Beverly Hills’ most popular operators that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner

(Mmmm.  I love Fleming’s.)

So the next time someone asks me for advice on where to stay when visiting Los Angeles, I am definitely going to add The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and watching a Laker game as one of my go-to recommendations.

For more information or to make reservations online, you can visit the official Ritz-Carlton website.

Lobby Lounge, if nothing else, go for drinks at Sunset.

Situated on the southwest corner of Central Park, taking the 35th to the 54th floors of the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, there is a retreat of peace, perfected. I initially sent a girlfriend to the spa there, and the response was enough to make me wonder what I had done so well.

My next trip, I went and experienced it for myself. To begin with, the view is spectacular. I went in the late fall as a beautiful day was being encroached upon by an impressive storm front. I watched the black clouds consume building after building while I sat in the quiet room sipping green tea. The entire 14.000+ square feet was flawlessly detailed. The treatments and total experience were unforgettable.

City of 8 million plus? Nope, swimming pool with a view, for 1.

Now let’s not forget that there is a hotel. The suites are appointed with some Asian accents, and I’m not talking about the Chinese food delivery guy. Luxury abounds with great linens and beds that make you wish you lived there. The bathrooms are like personal spas. Floor to ceiling glass makes the exhibitionist in all of us want to show New York what we’re made of! Or at least really soak in the great views.

Add to all of that Asiate, their award winning restaurant, and the fact that it sits atop some great shopping and dining in the Time Warner Center, and you’d be hard pressed to want to book a room anywhere else.

So next time you find yourself  riding the 1 or ABC train and you hear “Columbus Circle, next stop”, get ready to run through that turnstile and check out the Mandarin Hotel.

For more information or to make reservations, you can visit the official Mandarin Oriental website.

thebluefish.com - an attitude, a lifestyle.

We recently had a series of articles outlining what kind of vacation we would have if we won the lottery.  $2,000,000 can buy you a lot of kick-ass memories.

Organizing and planning those memories, however, can be more “pain in the ass” than “kick ass”.

Fortunately for the world, there exists ultra high-end and exclusive concierge services that cater to folks who actually do have upwards of 6 figures to spend on vacations.  One of those concierge services is called Bluefish.

Here’s a little more about them according to their website:

Don’t be fooled, Bluefish is not for everyone. Far from it! Exclusivity reigns supreme here at Bluefish. Unique, once-in-a-lifetime memories that are beyond imagination are the Bluefish trademark. From supersonic military jet flights in Russia, to submersible dives in the Atlantic Ocean to view the Titanic, to a spectacular flight into space, the Bluefish team of travel experts places you in astonishing life experiences and offers you the finest travel opportunities worldwide.

Wait, I like jets…

So the next time the mood strikes you to book that F1 dream vacation in Monaco, give these guys a call (and we’re more than willing to come with you, fyi).  Just one piece of advice: they’re not the people to call when you need to book your dinner reservations for Chili’s.  That actually might just piss them off.

For more information, you can visit their website at thebluefish.com.

• Shipping for 3 cars and other purchases during the trip: $10,000 estimated

This leaves us with $61,267.74.

Singita Boulder Lodge in Kruger National Park.

Stop 7: Africa (July 15-17), Grand Total: $52,537.05
Here we go – the last leg of our trip.  Can you think of a better way to end it than going on an African Safari? (And yes, this is much better than hookers and blow in Amsterdam.) 

• 6 Business class, one-way tickets on Iberia from Barcelona to Johannesberg, South Africa – $34,508.97 (EURO 25,006.50 for all 6 tickets with an exchange rate of 1.38 EUR/1 US$) 
• 2 Night stay at the Singita Boulders Lodge in Kruger National Park (all inclusive with safaris, food and drinks) – $18,028.08

We are now left with $8,730.69.  Time to go home.

• 6 Economy class tickets on South Africa Airlines from Johannesberg, South Africa to Los Angeles, CA – $27,487.47

Damn.  We’re short $18,756.78. 

Lucky for us, we didn’t spend all of our spending cash throughout the trip and we each had $3,500 in our pocket (which totals $21,000).

We have enough money to get to L.A., hire cabs to drop us off at home and buy some more lottery tickets.  We can start the whole process over again!

Want to check out the previous articles?  Click on the links below:

• Part 1: Miami and Car Shopping
• Part 2: France
• Part 3: Italy
• Part 4: Spain

Dammit, we lost again.

Anyway – back to our Dream Tour.  So far, we’ve picked up some exotic cars in Part 1, rocked the “F” out of France in Part 2 and we’ve succesfully watched F1 Monaco races and partied at the Cannes Film Festival with the help of an 80 foot yacht in Part 3.

We’ve got $436,049.34 left and we’re about to hit Spain.  Time to get into our supercars once again and leave Lake Como.  We’ll just grab a quick lunch at George’s place first.

We may not have shook Sinatra's hand, but we're definitely glad to shake yours. Thanks for lunch, George.

Stop 6: Spain (June 13 – July 14), Grand Total: $364,781.60

Buenoth Diath, Barthelona.

Itinerary #1: Barcelona (June 13 – June 26), Subtotal: $247,242.40
I love Barcelona.  Let me repeat:  I LOVE BARCELONA.  From the fabulous tapas to the beautiful women, Barcelona is always an awesome place to visit in my book.  Did you know that dinner reservations start at 9 p.m. and clubs open at 2 a.m.?

Barcelonians just know how to do it.

The drive from Lake Como to Barcelona is probably one of the longer ones in our journey.  But since we have to pass through the Southern Coast of France again, I’m sure everyone won’t mind.

Luxury Duplex Apartment with butler service, Hotel Arts.

• Gas money from Lake Como to Barcelona: $918.40 (656 miles @ 12 miles per gallon @ $5.60/gallon for 3 cars)
• 3 Sea View Mediterranean Suites at the Ritz-Calrton, Hotel Arts from June 13 – June 26:  $89,424 (EUR 1,800/night for 12 nights with an exchange rate of 1.38 EUR/1 US$) 
• Dinners for 6 people (12 dinners) – $10,800 estimated ($150 each – drinks and dinner)
• Lunch for each day of the trip for 6 people (13 days) – $3,900 estimated ($50 per person)
• Check out the Barcelona nightlife:  $15,000 estimated ( Going out about 10 nights, $1,500 a night)
• Spending cash for each person: $30,000 ($5,000 per person)

Did I also mention the beach in front of Hotel Arts is topless?

As much fun as Barcelona is, we’re going to have to move on to our next destination: Ibiza.  Hope we make it out alive.

Itinerary #2: Ibiza (June 27 – June 30), Subtotal: $20,672.40
Although Ibiza has a reputation of being a party filled, drug crazed city you’ve got to think to yourself, “why the hell not?”

I mean, you’re practically already there when you’re in Barcelona.  PLUS – we’re only staying for 3 days.

It's amazing how people can function with an hour's worth of sleep.

• 6 round trip, 2 berth premier Acciona ferry round-trip tickets from Barcelona to Ibiza:  $2624.76 (EUR 317/passenger with an exchange rate of 1.38 EUR/1 US$) 
• 3 Cloud 9 Suites at Aguas de Ibiza from June 27 – June 30:  $4,247.64 (EUR 342/night for 3 nights with an exchange rate of 1.38 EUR/1 US$) 
• Dinners for 6 people (3 dinners) – $2,700 estimated ($150 each – drinks and dinner)
• Lunch for each day of the trip for 6 people (3 days) – $900 estimated ($50 per person)
• Check out the Ibiza nightlife:  $3,000 estimated ( Going out about 3 nights, $1,000 a night)
• Spa day at BODYNA Spa: $1,200 estimated (about $200 per person)
• Spending cash for each person: $6,000 ($1,000 per person)

The Cloud 9 Suite at Aguas de Ibiza.

Itinerary #3: Pamplona (July 1 – July 14), Subtotal: $96,866.80
That’s right – the running of the muthaf#$%ng bulls.  This is how we end a trip to Spain.

Run bitches! Run!

It’s crazy how the hotel rooms go from 390 Euro a night to 1,200 Euro a night.  For a regular room.  It’s also crazy how hard it is to book a room right now.

• Gas money from Barcelona to Pamplona: $422.80 (302 miles @ 12 miles per gallon @ $5.60/gallon for 3 cars)
• 3 Superior Twin Rooms at the Gran Hotel La Perla from July 1 – July 14:  $50,544 (EUR 1,296/night for 13 nights with an exchange rate of 1.38 EUR/1 US$) 
• Dinners for 6 people (13 dinners) – $11,700 estimated ($150 each – drinks and dinner)
• Lunch for each day of the trip for 6 people (14 days) – $4,200 estimated ($50 per person)
• Spending cash for each person: $30,000 ($5,000 per person)

What an end to a fantastic European adventure.  We now have $71,267.74 left.

Next stop: Africa.