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The Race is On for Last-Minute Travel Packages to Monaco's Grand Prix

We're now less than a month away from what some consider the social and sporting event of the year: the Monaco Grand Prix. This Formula One car race through the winding, ridiculously picturesque streets of the capital Monte-Carlo brings the world's richest people together with Formula One's biggest fans and best drivers for a weekend in the Mediterranean sun.

There will be yachts and there will be caviar and champagne will all the exhaust, but there will also be airfare/hotel deals, too. Specifically we found some combo trips that Emirates is doing, which start at £1360 per person if you're cool with sleeping at the Holiday Inn over in Nice, France. For 4 nights at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, plan on something closer to £3000 per person. Luckily these prices include grandstand tickets for the races from March 27-30, Paddock Club passes, helicopter or boat transfers, "hospitality" at the Hotel de Paris and Amber lounge party tickets.

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Photo Gallery / Museum Travel / Aquariums / Monte Carlo Travel / Damien Hirst / → All Tags

Inside the Musee Oceanographique de Monaco

A must-do that we heard repeatedly when visiting Monte Carlo was the Musee Oceanographique de Monaco simply because folks told us it has the best aquarium in the world. Since we love fish, we decided to fork over the 13 Euro entrance fee and see for ourselves.

We happened to go during an interesting time at the museum—shock artist Damien Hirst had set up his traveling exhibit here, titled Cornucopia. This struck us as absolutely strange. Yes, Hirst is best-known for his morbid shark-in-formaldehydes, but his other paintings and installations (not to mention his butterfly "collection"), didn't seem like a good fit for an old-timey, somewhat fading royal museum, begun way way back by Prince Albert Rainier, the 1st.

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Monaco Won't Settle for Anything Less Than Helicopter-to-Plane Transfers

You know, we don't get to talk about The Principality of Monaco enough. It's been a while since we last tripped over the postage stamp-sized country, but we're thinking it could be about time to return, especially if they're talking about doing direct connections between helicopters from Monaco and flights from Nice International Airport.

The news comes from HeliAir Monaco, who already keep the waterfront buzzing with 70,000-100,000 per year at the heliport. Currently, you can take a helicopter from Monaco to the Nice Cote d'Azur Airport in six minutes, but you've then still got to check into your flight and go through security. HeliAir is however renovating their heliport and in the final stages of making it possible to check in and clear security at the heliport, allowing you to go straight into the departure lounge for your flight from Nice.

We once did this with the old Wall Street-to-JFK helicopter service for a Delta flight, and it hearkens all the way back to the days when Pan Am flew upper class passengers from the top of their Midtown HQ direct to their waiting flights at JFK. But we're not talking about JFK; this is Monaco. Thus, we're surprised they haven't already had this in place. The price of a one-way flight from Monaco to Nice Airport now? 103 Euros.

[Photo: HeliAir Monaco]

Clubbin' / Monaco Travel / Music Travel / Monte Carlo / → All Tags

Monaco Taps Motown For Its 'Black Legend' Nightclub

File this item under "uncomfortable coincidences": the developers of the famed Hotel Byblos and St.-Tropez club plan to open an upscale nightclub in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with a theme of great African American musicians. To be called "Black Legend," the club will serve tapas all day while featuring impersonator acts singing soul, funk and pop music, but with a focus on the Motown greats.

Speaking from experience—wink wink—we can vouch for the fact that in Monaco, most of the nightlife happens either onboard a yacht or in a high-rise swanky condo, not in clubs or bars since the daytrippers and tourists take over those. Nonetheless, we don't doubt that "Black Legend" will be a success, considering the French disposition to old African American cabaret acts; they did raise Josephine Baker and more to stardom with the US would have none of it.

The club, due to open this October, should have plenty time to hone its Michael Jackson memorial act and more before the famed Monaco Grand Prix rolls back into town next May.

Related Stories:
· St. Tropez Hotelier Takes On Basque Coast [HotelsMag]
· Black Legend Monaco [Official Site, Coming Soon]
· Monaco Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: mhintsa]

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Kaboom! International Fireworks Competition Takes The Sky In Monaco

While stateside the year's highlights on the field of fireworks have already faded from the sky, this year's International Fireworks Competition is only getting started. The Monaco-based tourney kicked off last week with a €100,000 prize and high-powered bragging rights at stake.

Portugal and France face off against last year's champion Austria at the deep-water Port d'Hercule. The display with the best style, color, special effects and synchronization with music will get a repeat performance in November for Monaco's national holiday. Who knew the genteel principality was such a fan of the ol' boom boom pow?

Start strategizing your seat for the performances by Austria (July 24 at 10 and August 9 at 9:30) and France (August 23 at 9:30). Call the Jardin Exotique, which will be open free that night for viewing from its hillsides, at (377) 93 15 29 80 to reserve a seat if your yacht won't be available.

Related Stories:
· International Fireworks Festival [VisitMonaco.com]
· Daytime Fireworks, Cake, and "National Treasure" For The Fourth [Jaunted]
· Fireworks Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: pasujoba]

Worlds-Coolest-Pools / Monaco Travel / Monte Carlo / → All Tags

Hey Big Spender, Spend A Little Time At This Pool With A View

Last one in's a rotten egg! We're finding the best places in the world to stick our toes in this summer (or next winter) for our World's Coolest Pools map. Know of any pools we must check out? Let us know.

We've always associated Monte Carlo with monokinis and James Bond (not necessarily together), so it doesn't surprise us that the most glamorous tax shelter in the world also boasts a few spectacular pools. A tipster wrote in about the Fairmont Monte Carlo pool and, well, we're cashing in all our chips the next time we happen to be in the neighborhood.

Opened in 1975 as the Loews Hotel Monte-Carlo, with a heating and air-conditioning system that uses the natural temperature of the Mediterranean, the Fairmont has an embarrassment of riches in the arena of ocean views. Which is good, if you believe commenters like a Tripadvisor vet who says the property should "shoot the room decorator" for the still-dated-after-all-these-years renovation.

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Bravo's "First Class All The Way" Is Not For Us

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, "The rich are different from you and me." Last week, Bravo TV president Lauren Zalaznick protested the idea that shows on her network, including the "Real Housewives" franchise and "Million Dollar Listing," are all about money, claiming instead that they're about "extreme personalities." Frankly, they could have been more extreme on last night's "First Class All The Way," because all we saw was the money.

The show follows Sara Duffy, concierge to the rich and famous and founder of her own travel firm, SRD International, for whom no request is out of line. Dig up a real European royal on a trip to Monaco? Sure! Villa about to be trashed by your "bros" in Italy? No problem. Duffy specializes in leading her charges around like sheep, which we never knew was a popular travel fantasy among rich Americans.

"Getting a passport in one day is like giving birth to an elephant," Duffy says in a talking-head interview during the pilot, which follows a tour group around Monaco and Paris. "It's not easy." But it's easy if you're an elephant! While we may have fantasized about someone who would be able to cut through travel's red tape for us, we wonder about the authenticity of the passenger's experience when everything is smoothed out for them. And yes, we want the po-faced lady who lost her wallet in the first place to have to suffer a little, even if she doesn't get a good story out of it.

To quote another great American writer, "It's fun to have fun, but you've got to know how." Part of Duffy's job is to make the most memorable trips possible for her clients, but this ill-timed show proves the rich just don't know how to entertain themselves.

Related Stories:
· The Affluencer [NYT]
· Bravo's Reality Series "Welcome To The Parker" [HC]
· Recently Reviewed: First Class All The Way [Variety]

[Photo: BravoTV.com]

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Memorial Day Celeb Travel: My, My, Monaco!

While Americans braved $4-plus-per-gallon prices at the pump--or watched people spend tons of gas money at the Indy 500--celebs flocked to the tiny principality of Monaco for a weekend away. Whether they were attending the Formula 1 race, like Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, or otherwise occupied, stars alone or in pairs made the best of the holiday.

Kate Hudson relaxed in Monte Carlo with her new fling, racer Lance Armstrong, while newlyweds Jay-Z and Beyonce looked like they weren't having such a good time outside of their hotel. (Maybe they couldn't get tickets to Indiana Jones 4!)

Monaco is shaping up to be a very popular destination for celebs in 2008. In May, Bono celebrated his 48th birthday there, and Brangelina took the kids for a family vacation. Another advantage to this tiny principality? It's close enough to Cannes that stars can run over (in private helicopters, natch!) and catch a film or two.

Related Stories:
· Monaco Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Just Jared]

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Music Awards Travel: Rihanna Does Monaco

Who knew Prince Albert of Monaco was such a music buff? The ceremonial head of state also oversees his own awards show, which took place over the weekend in Monte Carlo. Above, he lives the dream of every teenage boy in America and cozies up to Rihanna, who performed at the awards where Celine Dion and Patti LaBelle picked up career achievement prizes.

Europe played host to another awards show this weekend as the MTV Europe Awards were held in Munich, Germany. Avril Lavigne took home Artist of the Year, Amy Winehouse acted completely weird onstage and host Snoop Dogg wore lederhosen--something we dearly wish we had caught in person.

Related Stories:
· Rihanna's World Music Awards Performance [JustJared]
· Rihanna Takes Home A Tattoo [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Sun]

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Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy in Monaco

After the VMA's and her big 25th bday bash in New York, mega-couple Jay-Z and Beyonce could use a little downtime.  Where to relax? Monaco, of course.

PopSugar reports the lovebirds have been spotted all over Monaco, where Jay-Z is shooting his new video for his next album due out in November, "Kingdom Come".  Beyonce is spending her days performing some retail therapy at the area's exclusive boutiques. As we know, the poor thing barely has anything to wear, with her own clothing line and all.

Obviously Jay-Z's timed the trip just right. This weekend is the Monaco Yacht Show at Port Hercules. 100 of the world's most beautiful yachts, including 30 making their world premieres, are on display. Luxury cars and private jet manufacturers will be in town too. Tickets for the show are $65 a day--a drop in the bucket for Jay-Z to do some swanky shopping.

Related stories:
Beyonce and Jay-Z do Monaco [PopSugar]

Adventure Travel / Royalty / Celebs / → All Tags

Prince Albert on Ice

Prince Albert II, Grace Kelly's son, had evidently tired of the race cars, casinos, and rich old people cluttering up his native Monaco. His Serene Highness has just finished a successful trip to the North Pole, setting out from a camp about 60 miles away. It's a safe bet he didn't plan the trip using reviews on the Thorn Tree. The prince took along frozen meals made in superchef Alain Ducasse's kitchen, which sure beats reindeer jerky.

On the other hand, he was no stranger to this cold-weather thing -- he represented Monaco on the Bobsleigh team at the past five Winter Olympics. Albert planned the trip to raise awareness of the dangers of global warming. And also the danger of polar bears eating European royalty.

Related Stories:
·   Prince of Monaco swaps Med for North Pole [Yahoo]
·   Monaco Prince Takes Pole Position [Travel Rants]
·   Monaco Albert's North Pole trek [BBC]