The Seychelles have long been praised as the most perfect, unspoiled islands in all the oceans and Maia is a shining gem in this archipelago of jewels. Situated in the green mountain chain along the bay of Anse Louis in the southwest of Mahé, this beautiful resort is named after the Maia star in The Seven Sisters star constellation.

Expansive villas include a long veranda, a glass-walled garden shower, and a private infinity pool that’s 12 strokes long, as well as a personal butler who wil even ring and artfully arrange shells that you may have picked up while beachcombing.

Designer Bill Bensley’s understated interiors with their cream colors and notched wood floors, leave the drama to nature: At night, sitting in the outdoor bathtub, you can watch the moon illuminating the ink-black sea.

The Maia Spa by La Prairie has been designed as a haven for pure relaxation. Three treatment pavilions with double beds are isolated in the garden and surrounded by tropical nature. The Spa offers a variety of luxurious treatments, such as the well-known Jari Menari (dancing fingers) massage. In the Meditation Pavilion internationally trained yoga professionals teach Qi Gong and Self Shiatsu.

Additionally, the resort also offers active watersports, such as kayaking, snorkelling, canoeing and pedalos. Customised excursions to other islands by boat or helicopter can be organized by the Maia team. Walks along the 500 metre white sandy beach or through the tropical mountain forest gives an insight into the nature of the island.

If you’re looking to renew your body, mind and soul, it’ll be hard to beat the world-class Maia Resort and Spa. Just be prepared to shell out the $3000/night price for this dream travel destination.

Already drawing the crowds in the South American resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Chile, this artificial lagoon and swimming pool is eight hectares in size and contains an incredible 250,000 cubic meters of water. Acknowledged by Guinness World Records as being the world’s largest swimming pool, the lagoon trounces all other record holders in the category, including the Orthlieb pool in Casablanca, Morocco, itself a huge 150 meters by 100 meters – the San Alfonso pool is 1km in length.

The revolutionary clear water artificial lagoons, transparent to a depth of 35 meters and unprecedented in design and construction methods, are the brainchild of Crystal Lagoons founder, biochemist and Chilean businessman Fernando Fischmann. Equivalent in size to an incredible 6,000 standard domestic pools, details of its technology are to be unveiled for the first time at Cityscape Dubai later this month.

I believe this gives new meaning to living large!

This strikingly contemporary InterContinental in the French Polynesia consists of 80 identical over water villas, which extend in to the warm lagoon like two claws, with the only differences being the views–of the lagoon, the beach, or Mount Otemanu. Floor-to-ceiling windows, Lucite ceiling fans, bug tubs overlooking the water, and bathrooms with black slate floors relect the clean modern aesthetic throughout.

The atmosphere is more South Beach than South Pacific, down to the stylish clad reception staff and shirtless cabana boys by the infinity-edge pool. In a savvy environmental move, the sort pimps in cold seawater to feed the air-conditioning system and for use at the spa.

A stay here might run you run you $1500/night with a minimum four-night stay, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a more exclusive and exotic retreat.

When it comes to the illustrious E at Equinox in Manhattan, calling it a “gym” doesn’t quite do it justice. This high-end fitness center offers everything from private cabanas and spas to rooftop patios and dining areas serving gourmet food. Equipment is always cutting edge, like their aromatherapy treadmills that release rejuvenating wafts of orange essence. Plush concierge services are also offered, along with a personal manager that keeps track of your progress and schedules workout sessions.

No need to every worry about every waiting in line to use an elliptical, because this gym allows no more than 200 members to join. Of course, such exclusiveness comes at a price. A yearly membership will run you $23,500.

If you’re visiting Tokyo, you’ll want to make a stop at one of the coolest boutiques for trendy street fashions. Inspired by the idea of a “Rock Star’s Residence”, Hysteric Glamour takes pieces of the imaginary star’s daily life, and transforms them into shop functions of the boutique.

Shelves and wardrobes are replaced by items such as the rectangular dining table at the custom made extra-long black Chesterfield sofa in the second floor, creating a sensation as if someone is actually living there.

The VIP room in the second floor, covered with the brand designer’s private collection of original Bettie Page photographs, elicits a condensed atmosphere.

100%ChocolateCafe truly lives up to its name.

The kitchen’s menu serves chocolate, and only chocolate. From chocolate drinks, and chocolate pastries, to chocolate ice cream and even chocolate sandwiches, this Chuo-Ku, Japan restaurant is a chocolate lover’s dream.

The concept behind 100%ChocolateCafe is to put your senses at the middle of a “chocolate kitchen” and it doesn’t fail to deliver. Covering one of the walls are 56 different types of chocolate blocks, tastefully placed in glass showcases.

I’m pretty sure this is where Willy Wonka hangs out after a hard day’s work at the Chocolate Factory.

Conceptionalized by Kundo Koyama, the creator of the “Iron Chef” TV show, Tokyo Curry Lab restaurant is based on a concept of creating an innovative lab for experimenting and inventing unique curry recipes.

Located in Tokyo’s monumental Tokyo Tower, a “lab” area with colorful spice tubes on display is accompanied by a contemporary dining counter behind it. The serious yet humorous interior is intended for curry lovers serious at play.

Don’t you hate it when you’re waiting in the two hour long dinner buffet line at the Bellagio and some so called “VIP” guest strolls right in? I used to hate it as well, until I was the VIP that didn’t have to wait in line or pay for my food.

So how did I manage to get comped? The key is to join the casino’s players club. Every casino has a different players club program, so be sure to stop by their information desk and ask what they have to offer. After you’ve found the casino you enjoy playing and staying at, stick with it. For Tami and I, we absolutely love the Venetian. It’s a beautiful casino with a nice shopping mall and it’s just a short walk to our other favorites; Bellagio, Caesars Palace and Wynn. Not to mention, the Venetian is home to the Tao, one of the most exclusive night clubs in Vegas, and boy do we love to party!

After you’ve received your players card, be sure to use it every time you’re at the tables or slots. Using the players card gives you a “rating” as the casino tracks the amount of money you’re spending. As a basic rule, the more money you spend, the better the comps get. Tami usually plays a couple hundred at most in slots, and I’m usually at the crap tables with no more than a thousand bucks. Even as light gamblers, Venetian Players Club has given us everything from comped spa treatments and show tickets, to buffets and hotel suites.

In fact, they just sent us a free weekend stay for October and November, and you best bet that we’ll be out here having a crazy fun time in Sin City. So next time you’re in Vegas, don’t be the chump waiting in line or paying for your stay. Get your players club card, and start being a VIP!

Just a rock throw away from Palm Beach, Florida is a little known 17-mile-long village named Jupiter Island. It’s rated year after year by Forbes as one of the most expensive zip codes in the United States. Not surprisingly since the median home price is $5.6 million.

This island plays home to some of America’s — and the world’s — richest celebrities. Among it’s most illustrious denizens are famed singer Celine Dion and golf pro Tiger Woods.

In 2005, Celine Dion paid a whopping $12.5 million for her 6,859 square feet Jupiter Island house, which was built in 1963. Not to be outdone, in 2006, Tiger Woods dropped a record-breaking $38 million for a 10-acre Jupiter Island estate.

With mega superstars like these gobbling up the land of the 33455 zip code, don’t hold your breath for house prices here to drop anytime soon.

After a night of clubbing in Las Vegas you’re sure to get hungry, and Mix is the perfect place to satisfy your appetite. Located 64 floors above the Las Vegas Strip atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, Mix is a perfect combination of culinary art, cutting edge interior design and ambiance.

The restaurant features contemporary and classic French and American dishes with global accents, as well as signature dishes from Alain Ducasse’s restaurants in Paris, Tokyo and Monaco