Not everyone gets to go back to the hotel lobby: Less than a month after actor Josh Hartnett was caught having sex on camera at the Soho London, he publicly rebuffed a flirtatious offer while partying at Bungalow 8.

Like his past escapade, this incident was caught on camera, as "OC" starlet Mischa Barton flirted with the West End performer, who was out drinking with buddy Nathan Followill of the band Kings of Leon. Maybe Hartnett never saw "The OC" or maybe he's getting smarter -- but neither of those could be true, right?!

Hopefully the very public scene boosted the Bungalow out of its reported slump: Nightlife maven Amy Sacco was never quite able to replicate the success of her New York club in the London fog, but this "members only" outlet is allegedly abandoned most nights by its prestigious members like Sienna Miller and Ralph Fiennes.

Related Stories:
· Josh Hartnett Caught in the Act at the Soho London [HC]
· Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett Play James Bond [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Socialite Life]]]> egw 2008-09-17T09:15:29-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/4/92148/02767

When we're thinking of a great place for a diving holiday, we're afraid to say that mighty ol' England doesn't exactly spring to mind. But the UK Times has pointed out that there are actually dozens of great spots to go diving and snorkeling around Britain--as long as you've got a thick wetsuit.

Some of the highlights are wrecks from both wars and from careless ships running aground, like the Lucy, a ship that beached itself off Pembrokeshire and now sees divers as well as dolphins and porpoises that play nearby. Off Cornwall, experts recommend a few good snorkeling spots although we're not quite sure that seeing giant jellyfish is the kind of highlight we're after.

Now it might go without saying, but the tipsters do recommend only snorkeling in summer off Britain, and even then, as they carefully point out, "It'll be colder than snorkeling in the Seychelles". No surprises there.

Related Stories:
· Britain's 10 Best Sites for Diving and Snorkelling [UK Times]
· Snorkeling coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: mafic]]]> amandak 2008-09-04T11:00:21-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/25/7343/43958

A few months back we we speculated about just how unnecessary the London Ripley's Believe It or Not museum was going to be. Last week it officially opened so now we are all invited to spend a whopping £17.95 (over US$33) to see the latest collection of the weird and wonderful.

The stats say that this Ripley's has just 500 artifacts, which doesn't sound like much, but they do spread over four floors and include such local specialties as a replica of the Tower Bridge made out of matchsticks. Gotta see that (not).

We're also not sure we need to see the two-headed cow (apparently not much of a rarity--the Ripley's company has 80 of 'em) or the graphic of singer Ray Charles created out of 8,000 Post-It notes. Yes, there'll be tourists who visit this new museum, but no, we won't be among them. We have enough weird and wonderful stuff on our desk.

Related Stories:
· Ripley's London [Official Site]
· Welcome to a Weird Old World [This is London]
· Ripley's Believe It or Not Coming to London in August [Jaunted]

[Photo of non-matchstick Tower Bridge: wallyg]
]]> amandak 2008-08-25T09:33:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/13/83045/6195

Slip the name James Bond into anything touristy and we will be there like a shot. It's embarrassing but true, and the latest Bond-related place of interest is the Bodyflight indoor skydiving facility in Bedford, England.

Two things: First up, some of the scenes from the "Quantum of Solace" Bond movie were filmed here so you, too, can fly in the same wind tunnel that Daniel Craig did.

And second: you can go one step further than Craig, because they're about to open a new ride called Bodyflight Vertigo. It's a 120-foot jump, the tallest in Britain, and you're free-falling for two thirds of the way. This pleasure (or terror) will only cost you £30 (US$57) or you can combine it with a trip through the wind tunnel for some simulated skydiving. The fun kicks off in September, two months before the new Bond movie hits theaters.

Related Stories:
· Bodyflight [Official Site]
· James Bond + Vertigo [eTravel]
· Spy Travel: Bond 22 Filming Wastes Perfectly Good Car [Jaunted]

[Photo: Bodyflight]]]> amandak 2008-08-13T09:00:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/8/122246/5884

In a recent survey, half of London Underground riders admitted to swapping numbers or hooking up with someone they met on the Tube. No wonder the St Pancras Station is promoting itself as a place to go even when you're not going anywhere! With an infusion of hotties, you and your loved one could look like this statue, Paul Day's "The Meeting Place," added to the station in October.]]> egw 2008-08-08T15:00:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/28/91020/7913

With a cool breeze blowing on your face, sun setting over the ocean and a drink in hand, beach house life is easy.

Nina Tolstrup of Studiomama has created a beautiful pared down beach chalet that embodies the essence of vacation. With the house's simple lines and stripped down aesthetic, you can slow down and solely focus on relaxing and getting away from it all. An hour from her home in London, Tolstrup designed this house as a place for her family to escape the city and spend time with each other surrounded by only sand, surf and the ocean view.

At a 388 square feet, the chalet is small, but stocked with all the essentials for living. The interior is constructed of sawn softwood and contains a kitchen, bathroom, spacious living/dining room, sleeping loft and bunk beds for the kids. The exterior is clad in cedar shingles and a large glass window in the back connects indoor to the outdoors.

The Studiomama beach chalet doesn't have a lot of opulent amenities, but sometimes, getting back to simplicity can be the greatest luxury of all. All we need now is a few dozen more of these to enjoy.

Related Stories:
· (Gallery) Architect Visit: Studio Mama Beach Chalet [Remodelista]
· Modestly Grand Architecture by Studiomama [D+R]
· I Built My Dream Beach Hut [The Guardian]]]> Dan Gould 2008-07-28T17:15:24-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/18/11450/9760

It may soon get harder to visit the UK--at least if your a national of one of 11 countries now off the so-called visa-waiver list. The idea, says the UK Border Agency, is to keep tabs on those people who might endanger the country. But among the 11 are Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago, places that you might not associate with scary stuff.

The Border Agency says it plans to work with the governments in question to see if they can't stay on the visa-waiver list; a final decision won't be made until early 2009. But should risk reduction not be seen, even more foreign visitors will have to submit fingerprints and get a visa before arriving in the UK. The new rules would mean that Britain requires visas of 80 percent of the world's population.

When the US clamped down of visiting foreigners after 9/11, many countries didn't appreciate it. In probably the most famous show of displeasure, Brazil decided to charge Americans $100 per visa starting in 2004 in retaliation for what its citizens had to pay to visit the states. A pro-tourism group in the UK is worried the same thing might happen to the British as a result of the ever-widening visa net.

Related Stories:
· Higher Walls to Fortress Britain [Economist]
· UK Border Agency Global Visa Review [Official Site]
· Europe Wants Your Fingerprints [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-07-18T11:05:20-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/