Topless Tanning Comes to the Mirage in Vegas

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Rob

Why are we so freaked out about this topic. I know, I’m a man and obviously biased (make that very biased). I get that and I’m happily willing to admit it. Now, that that’s out of the way, what’s the big wup? I mean, I’m in the Mediterranean all the time and they seem to have no problem with it. The last time I looked our European counterparts were a heck of a lot hotter than our oversized, fanny pack wearing, fat american white asses. I mean, really. Tell me if I’m wrong here.

The weird thing about this is we seem to have no problem squeezing over inflated jinormous boobs into a bikini but god forbid we see a nipple. Maybe that’s it. Is it the nipple we can’t handle? I can’t figure this thing out. I know, I know Im a guy. But, what about all those European women that have no charge with letting it all hang out and going au naturale? Are they just all floozies and we’re the civilized bunch?

Well, which ever way you stand on this, it seems that the Mirage hotel in Vegas has spoken. They say “let’s give the people what they want”. They just opened up a super sexy private pool called Bare. Everyone loves a cool pool party, right? What better way to pass the time than bikini’s and booze. The Bare Pool lounge is a totally adult venue (better get that out of the way before the puritans start screaming). Bare is the ultimate in poolside pampering. DJ spinning music mix sets against a hot sexy crowd enjoying European-style sun bathing secluded by towering palms.

Bare, offers an exclusive adult alternative to the typical Las Vegas pool experience. There are two ultra luxury dipping pools that create a break from the hot Vegas sun. Private day beds and what they call boat beds top off the ultimate in poolside pampering. They also have this really cool pitcher service, for pre-mixed cocktails, like Mojitos, Bloody Marys and Sangria that are served in this specially made pitcher that is guaranteed to keep your drinks ice cold all day.

The pool area is laid out really well. They have two decks an upper and a lower. The upper deck has an infinity pool, private VIP area that overlooks the Mirage’s dolphin habitat. The lower decks are the elevated daybeds that are perfect for lounging with friends and sunbathing. These private cabanas have curtain walls and bottle service that give new meaning to “what happens in vegas….”.

So, here’s what I want to know. Ladies: would you go to Bare AND would you take your top off. Guys: are you cool with your girl going and taking her top off? Thoughts?

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Jet Set Like a Rock Star: Mykonos

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Rob

Post Written by Rob Murgatroyd. Follow us on Twitter.

This is the first installment in the Jet Set Like A Rock Star series. I couldn’t think of a better destination to kick this series off with than 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. Here’s a short video we shot of some dude doing push ups while we’re touring the hotel (couldn’t resist shooting it). Weird, I know, but it will give you a good idea of what the surroundings of the hotel is like.

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. Here’s a short video we took this summer of Psarou beach to give you a feel for the environment.

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. Think stripper poles on the beach, topless sun bathing, off the chain partying and fun (crazy) people letting loose and enjoying life. This is a personal favorite of mine – and for really good reason. I so wish I could tell you why, but Kim just will not let me tell you. The sad part is – you would really want to know – believe me. Sorry. Try an email her and see if she’ll tell you. Good luck. Seriously this place can bite you. Take a taxi and avoid drinking and scooting. Go on Saturday at around 5 pm and let loose. Here’s a short clip of the action on Super Paradise.

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. Here’s a short video of Mykonos town.

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. Watch the video below (Caprice is the white bar).

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. Check out this clip of us getting up at 3am to watch the sunrise at Cavo with D.J. Louie Vega.

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mykonos guide book Jet Set Like a Rock Star: Mykonos

Inside the Verscace Mansion

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Rob

If you’ve been to South Beach in Miami, you’ve probably walked past the famous Versace mansion on Ocean Drive. If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve seen it, just look for a really big mansion with an observatory on its roof, nestled between the cafes, restaurants and hotels of Ocean Drive. You’ll know you’re getting close when you see the crowd outside its famous doorsteps snapping pictures (it’s the third most photographed house in America behind the White House and Graceland).

Before we step inside the Versace mansion we should probably cover a bit of history first. If I’m honest, I’m just not that into history (it makes my head spin), but this story is just too interesting for me to ignore. To make it a bit easier for you to follow, I’ll deliver it to you in easy-to-read-bite-sized-chunks for an easier understanding of this fascinating life.

**If you want to cut to the chase- go to the bottom of the post and watch the 1 minute video inside the house.

Brief Bio of Gianni Versace

Versace (born December 2, 1946) was an Italian fashion designer and the founder of the Gianni Versace international fashion house. He and his companion, Antonio D’Amico, were openly gay and were regulars on the international party scene. He hung out with some of the biggest icons of our time – Lady Diana, Madonna, and Elton John just to name a few.

The Tragic Story of Versace’s Death

In 1997, at age 50, and at the top of his fashion game, Gianni went out for his usual morning walk down to the News Cafe on Ocean Drive for breakfast (which was his regular morning ritual when in South Beach). Upon his return, he was shot dead on the doorsteps of his mansion by Andrew Cunanan (a 27 year old serial killer who had been stalking him for over a year). Cunanan shortly thereafter turned the gun on himself, committing suicide after fleeing to a nearby boat in a massive Miami police standoff.

Brief History of The Versace’s Mansion – Casa Casuarina

Casa Casauarina (as the house is titled) was built in 1930 by architect/philanthropist, Alden Freeman, as a homage to the oldest exisitng house in the western hemisphere, the “Alcazar de Colon” in Santa Domingo. The house in Santa Domingo was the home of Christopher Colubus’s son, Diego, in 1510. One of the house’s cornerstones actually contains original brick from the “Alcazar de Colon”.

How Versace Obtained The House

In 1992, on a trip to Miami, Versace encountered Casa Casuarina for the first time. Although it had fallen into great disrepair, Versace fell in love with it and purchased the residence for 3 million dollars. He invested an additional 33 million dollars in to restoring it. Yep, he put 33 million into a 3 million dollar house. He exquisitely restored, expanded and embellished all its features. He demolished the adjacent hotel to create the South wing, pool and garden. The result was a triumph in Italian design and the Casa soon became part of the world’s stage.

What Happened to The House After Versace’s Death

Versace’s estate was massive and took several years to settle. To give you an idea just how big his estate was, he left his 11 year old niece, Allegra, a half a billion dollars. In September of 2000, telecom Executive Peter Loftin bought Casa Casuarina for 20 million from Versace’s sister Donatella (who now runs the famous brand).

The deal she made with Loftin was that she would sell the house to him for 20 million dollars, however this did not include the furniture. He agreed to the deal and she later sold off the furniture for 90 Million!

Owning Casa Casauarina has been dream of Loftin’s since Versace remodeled the house. After Loftin purchased it, he dedicated himself to both preserving its history and bringing vibrant new life to it. He hasn’t made any structural changes, but has done extensive work to preserve its architectural history. He restored all of the interior walls and brought back the opulent style of Versace with lavish furniture and details.

Donatella and Alegra Versace

The Current Status of Casa Casauarina

Loftin initially turned Casa Casuarina into a private members-only private club and has since morphed it into a luxury boutique hotel. Jet Set Life was recently granted unprecedented access to tour the house and check out some of the private bedrooms that are off limits to the general public. We created a short video below of some of the areas that we were able to twist their arm and let us shoot.

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South Beach Miami: The Pre-Trip List

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Rob

We’re headed to South Beach next week for the Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend parties. Here’s our “Hit List” to take with you, next time you go, of the hottest restaurants, clubs and lounges. Enjoy!

Restaurants

1. Meat Market- A sexier, more glamorous take on the traditional steakhouse.

2. Casa Tua- There are no words to say about this one except go. Really. Go. Now.

3. Wish- An outdoor garden illuminated both by candles and by the glowing ice cubes in the house’s signature cocktails.

4. Maison d’azur- Located at the new Angler’s Boutique Hotel. A glamorous seafood restaurant that mixes traditional Parisian brasserie with the sexy ambiance of the Cote d’Azur.

5. China Grill- Near perfect Pan-Asian cuisine well worth a stop. Keep in mind that China Grill is a family-style restaurant and that dishes are meant to be shared.

6. Nobu - Come on. It’s Nobu AND Miami all rolled up into one. Go.

7. Prime 112- A sleek steakhouse ambience and rocking bar. Arguably the best steakhouse in the entire city.

8. Barton G- Looks like a trendy restaurant, but eats like a show. Here, presentation is paramount. Lobster pop-tarts come out in an actual toaster. Crazy. Good and fun.

9. Blue Door- Used to be Madonna’s restaurant. Food is great and the eye candy is sick!

10. Asia de Cuba- New hotspot at the new Mondrain hotel. If you like the one in Los Angeles you’ll love its east coast sister.

Lounges and Clubs

1. Set- On Lincoln Rd. between Washington and Collins – best nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

2. Mokai- 23th and Collins Ave – nice on Tuesday night and best night on Friday or Saturday night.

3. Mynt- Collins between 19th and 20th – best nights are Thursday and Friday.

4. Glass at the Forge- 41st street a few blocks down from Collins – best night is Wednesdays.

5. Tantra- Drexel and 14th – best night is Mondays.

6. Sky Bar- at the Shoreclub Hotel on Collins and 19th. Fantastic.

7. Florida Room- on Collins & 18th at the Delano Hotel – best night is Tuesday, stay and have cocktails at the pool.

8. Gemma Lounge-Lincoln Road, – pre-clubbing Fridays and Saturdays, empty by 2 am.

9. Mansion- Washington Ave and 12th street – best night are Wednesday night, Friday and Saturday night.

10. Nikki Beach- First Street and Ocean Drive – best on Sunday Afternoon.

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One & Only Palmilla Boutique Hotel in Cabo a Jet Set Experience

Posted on September 6, 2008 by Rob

If I’m honest I’m not really all that into the the Ritz Carlton/ Four Seasons kind of thing. I find the whole thing to be a bit pretentious. It’s kind of -middle managers gone wild- for me . It’s just not my scene. I prefer something with a bit more soul like the Riad Lotus or Le Sirenuse. I had heard about the One & Only hotel group, but I kind of put them into the same stuffy category and just never went.

I was planning a mini retirement to Cabo and the two places that kept popping up on my radar were the Esperanza and the One & Only. I thought, what the heck, let’s give the One & Only a whack. So off we went.

Words can NOT describe the soul that’s in this place. OMFG. I have NEVER experienced anything like this. When you land you’re greeted at the airport by your valet who escorts you to an awaiting Hummer. When inside, you’re handed a bottle of Evian and moist towels to recover from your trip. “It will take us exactly 23 minutes to reach the gates of the property” the driver says. So, I pull out my chronometer (my iPhone) and time him- he was dead on- almost to the second!

When you arrive at the entrance, there’s someone waiting for you with- Popsicles. Yep. Popsicles. To be exact they were frozen strawberries made into the shape of a popsicle. After a private check in experience, you’re taken to your room to meet your butler. My Butler. Really. “Hi my name is José, please ask me for whatever you need during your stay. I will be here for you. If you don’t see me standing outside your door just hit this button next to your bed and I will be there in 2 minutes, Mr. Robert.” Ok. Ummm I’ll bite… “I’m training for a marathon and I need to stay on my running schedule, would you happen to know where a good place to run is?” He says he’ll find out. “I will find out for you right away Mr. Robert”. O.k. thanks I said. “Mr. Robert, If you and Mrs. Kim would like to sleep outside on the deck tonight, overlooking the ocean and under the stars, just let me know and I’ll have your bed prepared for you outside.” Ummm. Really. O.k., Lets do it!

After we unpacked, we left the room to go check out the rest of the property. The weirdest thing was happening, it seemed like every person I passed stopped and put their hand on their hearts and said hello to me with a genuine and sincere intention . Did I turn into the pope or was I having some weird out of body experience? No. Wait a minute. They actually were doing this. When I say everybody, I mean everybody from housekeeping to the gardeners. It was insane. I started to actually look forward to it after a while. You know, waving my pope hands in the air back at them.

So on we go to find the restaurant for lunch. I see my butler out of the corner of my eye kind of looking at me- but not. It was weird. He kind of looked like he needed to pee or something. I said “Jose how’s it going?” He said, “Oh, fine Mr. Robert, I just wanted to let you know that I have completed all my research and the length of the property around the perimeter is X square meters and I would recommend that you begin your training on the north side and continue along this route I have created for you.”‘ Ummmm. Thanks?

Next, it was back to the room for a quick shower before dinner. When we entered the room it looked like an elf had sprinkled Christmas everywhere. There were three shots of Tequilla, h’ourderves and two One & Only baseball caps. It was like Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa all wrapped into one. Ummmm. Ok, let’s do some shots and head out for dinner.

We walk into the restaurant, we’re shown our table and hear this big booming unmistakable laugh. Is that? No. Really? Will and Jada and 10 of there closest friends partying. Is this the s*** or what? After a night partying like a rock stars, we slept on our “outside bed” and hit the infinity pool in the morning.

I think this is probably the piest de resistance. This lady in a hat (kind of dressed like Jungle Jim but the girl kind) comes over to us with a basket (like a little red riding hood basket) and asks us if she could wash our sunglasses. Ummmm. Wash our sunglasses. Really? “Yes it is very nice and it will only take two minutes sir”. she said. Ummm. O.K., It’s kind of hard to explain this one so watch this video below.

One & Only Palmilla Cabo Sunglass Cleaning from Jet Set Life on Vimeo.

All in all I’m man enough to admit it. As Fonzie says i was rrrrrr….rrrrrrrr. Wrong. This place was totally amazing and I can’t wait for their next property to open in Cape Town.

The art of Jet Set Packing: Three weeks in Greece carry on only

Posted on June 27, 2008 by admin

On a recent trip to Marrakech. I had a connection in Paris with a change of airports from Charles de Gaulle to Orly. Turns out there was a transit strike in Paris which created massive traffic so my luggage couldn’t be transported to meet my connection. Bottom line: It took 5 days for me to eventually receive my luggage. I had NO clothes (except what I had on). I spent five days wearing this….

Sexy isn’t it? I swore to the Jet Set Gods above (you know David Beckham, Giselle Bundchen, Naomi Campbell) that I would never check another bag again- unless I was moving furniture. So, how was I going to pull this off?

I decided to go to the oracle. I consulted with my man Tim Ferriss. He wrote an excellent post about it. I got a lot of great ideas from him but… it was a little too back packer for my taste. So, I modified it a bit. I have since been asked to post my packing checklist. So here goes….

I have two checklists. One for my electronics and the other for clothing.

My equipment:

1. A Tumi Ducati Carry On (for clothing and personal products).

2. A Tumi Duffel Carry On Bag (for electronics).

BTW: Kim recently wrote a great post on: Why I will never cheat on my Tumi.

Checklist 1: Electronics

*All my gadgets fit comfortably in this bag and are easily removed in flight.

1. Nikon DSLR camera (This is a great higher end digital camera that allows a lot of photography options).

2. Panasonic HD Video camera (This is a fantastic inexpensive HD camera that works perfectly with Apple).

3. Sony Cyber Shot digital camera (You can easily stick it in your pocket when you go out at night).

4. iPhone 16 gig (I never turn it on when traveling abroad-I use Skype- I just cant seem to leave it home).

5. Skype Phone (Fantastic wired phone with a USB plug that allows me to make Skype calls on a handheld).

6. Amazon Kindle (Holds 400 books in the size of one paperback-looks and feels like an actual book).

7. Apple Lap Top (I use the black macbook- has stood up well all around the world.)

8. Ipod Classic (160 gig- holds more movies, tv shows, and music for the plane that I would ever need).

9. Skull Candy Headphones (Affordable great noise canceling headphones. I like them better than my Bose).

10. Extra Lap top Batteries (2 laptop batteries pre-charged for movies on a long flight).

11. Telephoto Lens for Nikon (I carry two lenses one for portraits and the other for distance).

12. Polarizing filter (Makes the sky bluer and and the clouds whiter.)

13. Dual Headset Connector (A little adapter that allows Kim and I to share a headphone jack).

14. Laptop to Ipod Connector (Allows me to connect my ipod to my laptop to watch movies on the plane).

15. Quarters- (I bring a few quarters to pull the back cover off my macbook to replace the battery).

Checklist 2: Clothing

*Note: The goal here is to have beach, daytime and nightlife outfits that could be rotated and intermixed with each other. I’m also willing to launder on a trip if it’s longer than 7 days. Use this list as more of a template to plug your own outfits into. The point here is to pre-select your outfits so you don’t bring the kitchen sink with you.

Outfit 1
Short sleeve Grey Shirt
Levi’s Capital E from Barney’s Co-op
Brown belt
Rosary necklace
White Aldo shoes

Outfit 2
Same as #1 except: Exchange shirt with green Guess shirt

Outfit 3
Same as #1 except: Exchange shirt with white Destination Unknown Guess shirt

Outfit 4
Same as #1 except: Exchange shirt with red Salvage Blue Genes shirt

Outfit 5
Same as #1 except: Exchange shirt with white Club Monoco linen shirt

Outfit 6
Same as #1 except: Linen long sleeve
And grey Club Monoco jeans

OutfIt 7
Light Blue New Ribbed Lacoste shirt
Blue AX shorts

Outfit 8
Black Lacoste Shirt
Tan AX shorts

Outfit 9
Pink linen shirt
Grey crepe slacks

SWIM
Penguin blue trunks
Ralph Lauren trunks
White linen shirt
Grey barney t-shirt

DAY SHORTS NON BEACH
White AX shorts
Grey AX t shirt
Flip flops

Yes this ALL does fit into two bags- realize that most of these outfit changes are just a shirt swap.

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For those who have been asking…. P90X continues to kick my butt and I’m loving it!

Planning Your Next Jet Set Destination

Posted on June 12, 2008 by admin

Most people are so excited to take their next trip, that they often overlook critical areas in their pre-planning process (if they even have one at all). To a large extent, my trips are a big part of my overall lifestyle design. The result I’m after when I’m traveling is to create sexy, effortless, living while I’m abroad. That’s very different than simply “taking a vacation” and having an outcome of say, “getting away”.

From time to time I get accused of wanting to be part of the see and be seen crowd for random gratuitous reasons. That simply just isn’t true. What I want is to be around a group of people that value experiencing life and international cultures in a big sexy way. As for my accusers…. Your boring and…

That said, here’s a few tips I use when selecting a hotel using Tim Ferriss’ 80/20 rule:

The Hotel

Selecting the hotel is probably the biggest area I put my attention on first (other than selecting the destination). If you do this right you’ll be in a hip hotel, enjoying great service and a perfect location which equals an amazing trip. If it’s done wrong you will probably be stuck in a tragically bad hotel and you’ll be spending time at the pool with a nice family from Nebraska (no dis to Nebraska- I love corn).

Ian Schrager, who by all accounts is regarded as the master of the boutique hotel, calls this concept “hotel as theatre”. His brand of hotel is so widely received that the Morgans hotel group bought his company for a reported 300 million and the Marriott hotel chain has just hired him to do 100 of their new hotels (probably to compete with the W ). The trick however is finding the right hotel that can pull off the experience without it feeling contrived.

Here’s a few of my picks for helping in this process:

1. Tablet Hotels

2. Mr and Mrs Smith

3. Hip Hotels

After I narrow down the list of hotels that I’m interested in, I go to Trip Advisor for the reviews on them. If you hear things like “there were topless girls at the pool all weekend- stay away! ” take it with a grain of salt.

The Concierge

When I’m satisfied with my hotel choice, I call the hotel and ask to speak with the concierge and say the following:

” I’m coming to your hotel on X day and my name is X. Here’s what I’m looking for. I need 5 restaurants, 5 lounges, and 5 clubs that fall into the following category: hip, chic, trendy, high fashion jet set type places. Please NO typical tourist destinations. Would you kindly e-mail them to me along with the website links for each so that I can check them all out and I’ll get back to you with reservation times. Thank you”. (Realize most concierges get kick-backs for sending you to certain places).

Stay with me here.

Virtual Tourist

After I check out the links, I’ll then take the list and go to virtual tourist and read the reviews on the restaurants or simply type into google “reviews of (name of restaurant)” and evaluate each.

This definitely takes some time and is probably a bit anal but I rarely have a crappy trip with this system. If you want to streamline the process, just use one of our lists on our site Jet Set Life; they’re free for my subscribers. Just subscribe to the blog here and send me an e-mail for which list you want. If you want to be a part of the Jet Set Life Community go here.