Crazy Spin

SUPER GYM HAS ARRIVED

2007-03-05T17:40:00.000+01:00

The days of the designer super gym have arrived. Leading the pack is London's GYMBOX; a new £5m mega gym located in the old Lumiere Cinema space at the St Martin's Lane hotel. Providing a unique experience is paramount in the new generation of fitness centre and Gymbox succeeds in breaking the old mould, with live nightly DJs and quirky classes such as 'Gladiator Games' - where participants engage in exercises from the eponymous early 90s TV show - and the 'Stiletto Workout, performed in heels.

Fascinating Retouch from Adobe team

2007-03-02T14:43:00.000+01:00

This picture is a miracle a magic, it is the end, ultimate the best, it was done by the Adobe expert, otherwise this picture couldn’t find everywhere, because the unique item, it sent me a friend of mine, professional man in PhotoShop. Beside of this picture I effort myself to find more marvelous picture

ike this one, the old woman who is marvelous masterpiece, but no similar as the first picture from this article.

As I dare to say that are really two pictures which deserve attention.

After still detail research I had satisfy to find some other video also on the topic extreme PhotoShop.
If I missed some marvelous PhotoShop picture, feel free to contact me or leave the comment.

Extreme (Photoshop) Makeover

Incredible video about PhotoShop retouch large number retouch and all the best are there!

As all strive as famous look well, and look how do they achieved!

Extremely similar video like well known Dove advertisement, but this time it seems to me it is turn down beautiful toward ugly.

Gadgets we Love

2007-02-13T17:17:00.000+01:00

Sony VPL-VW50 $4,750 Stewart Filmscreen SST screen
$1,760 and up

Once you've watched movies in high definition on a 100-inch screen in your living room, retreating to a 50-inch flat panel feels like a schlep back to the Berle era. Sony's latest hi-def video projector and the screen surface Stewart Filmscreen expressly designed to work with it can fill your life with images once confined to movie palaces and Hollywood screening rooms: big, immersive and viewed by reflected light. You may never go out to a theater again.
--Stephen Manes

Nokia N95
$700

Early next year Nokia will begin selling the new N95, a luxe phone with a silvery front, beige back and two-way sliding top. Everything's in there: MP3 player with stereo speakers, a 5-megapixel camera, DVD-quality video, GPS maps, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, high-speed cellular, spreadsheets, e-mail. It's basically a laptop in your hand. The N95 will sell only in Europe. It may never even arrive in the U.S.
—Bruce Upbin

Guitar Hero
$70

Guitar Hero is simulated six-string karaoke. Step one: Strap on fake plastic guitar, assume power stance (sneer optional). Step two: Select one of 47 songs. (Oh yes, there will be "Smoke on the Water.") Step three: Shred.
--Amanda Schupak

Nintendo Wii
$250

This dirt-simple interface opens gaming to people who don't want to master endless button combinations in order to have some fun--and should enable new forms of games nobody's thought of yet. Whee!
--Stephen Manes

Slim Devices Squeezebox

$300

This $300 metal and- plastic receiver declutters a living room by streaming digital tracks from your computer to your stereo over your home's wireless network. Setup was simple. I'd already ripped hundreds of CDs into iTunes on a Mac Mini.
--Daniel Lyons

Sonos Digital Music System
$1,000

This overgrown iPod of a remote is the wireless heart of the Sonos Digital Music System, a delightful--if expensive--way to shuttle music from computer or Internet around the house. With it, I can send the Ohio Players to my bedroom, Handel to the living room and Keane to the kitchen. If I'm feeling impish, I can switch them all around by swirling the track wheel and mashing a few backlit buttons while I'm walking from the living room to the bedroom. Lift the remote after it's been down for a while and its motion sensor wakes it up. Love the brick and the brick loves you back.
--Bruce Upbin

Plantronics Discovery 640
$130

When the guy who sold me my pink Motorola Razr cell phone told me I needed to buy a Bluetooth headset, I was crestfallen. Until, that is, I found the Plantronics Discovery 640.

The first time I held it I giggled with glee. The thing is tiny, only 2.25 inches long and 0.3 of an ounce, and nestles inside its chrome carrying case very much like a lipstick. I stuck a handful of rhinestones on the outside case, and now it looks even cuter clipped onto my purse. All the little parts that come with it are kept inside a tidy chrome compact with a handy mirror on the outside.
--Erika Brown

Garmin StreetPilot c330
$400

The Garmin global-positioning satellite receiver knew exactly where we were and all the places we could go: restaurants, hotels, stores and gas stations. We found our spot and discovered that the Cowgirl Creamery was on the way home (I brake for cheese).
--Victoria Murphy Barret

Skype Video Free

Skype's video quality made thousands of miles disappear for me this summer, during the Israel-Lebanon war. Hundreds of people were dying from Israeli and Hezbollah missiles. Family members were being drafted overnight under emergency military orders.

I decided to go back and called my parents just as they were about to practice going down to the bomb shelter. Their faces on Skype looked ghostly. "Cancel your plane ticket," my mother commanded. "You stay there, and stay safe. Promise me you won't come back."

We looked at each other for a few seconds without saying a word. On my screen a small tear rolled down her cheek-- sharp, clear and unmistakable.
--Dan Fishel

iGo Charger
$20

Life as a three-gadget man is not elegant. I need baggy pants, bulky jackets or a backpack to haul the things around. In an attempt to regain some dignity, I converged what I could: the power cords. The iGo charger juices up all three of my machines equally well; the only adjustment I have to make is swapping out a different nib for each gadget.
--Peter Kafka

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day

2007-02-13T17:00:00.000+01:00

Forgot to send a dozen roses?

Orchid of the Month Club

$1050 a year

There's only one thing better than roses for a day: orchids for a year. Thanks to the folks at Beautiful Orchids, the latter is feasible. For $1050, your sweetie will enjoy 12 months of blooming potted orchids delivered to his or her door. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.

For more information, visit www.beautifulorchids.com.

Forgot to make a reservation at Per Se?

Wine Lover's Picnic Basket for Two

$200

A romantic--and simple--alternative to a five-star meal? A picnic under the stars. For this, Williams-Sonoma has the goods. It offers a handcrafted, varnished willow picnic basket equipped with necessary tablewear, including plates, glasses, a tablecloth and wine tote.

For more information, visit www.williams-sonoma.com

Forgot to plan a night on the town?

Once in a Lifetime Experience Gift Certificate

$100 to $125,000

New Jersey-based Xperience Days offers adventures from the heart-racing (race car driving) to the relaxing (dinner cruise) to the utterly indulgent (couples massage). Consider an Xperience gift certificate, which will enable your sweetie to select his or her activity of choice. Helicopter ride, anyone?

For more information, visit www.xperiencedays.com.

Forgot to bake something special?

Bake Me a Wish! Cake

$25 to $40 (plus $15 for shipping)

Feel free to remove that apron; this New York bakery will be doing the heavy lifting this Valentine's Day. Bake Me a Wish! will also deliver an array of cake options from red velvet to chocolate mousse next door or across the country. What's more, 5% of all online cake purchases will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

For more information, visit www.bakemeawish.com.

Forgot to book a trip to Hawaii?

Everest Globe

$7,990

Another creative option: a globe. Just think, you and your Valentine can map out that romantic trip together. National Geographic has just the one, thanks to its skilled team of cartographers, woodworkers, brass engravers and mother-of-pearl artisans. The only glitch: there are only 250 hand-blown crystal globes for sale, so you better snag this collector's item fast.

For more information, visit www.everestglobe.com.

Forgot to book a room at the Ritz?

Leron Linens

$1385 (king top sheet, case and sham)

Who needs to seek luxury elsewhere when you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home? That's where the linen connoisseurs at Leron come in. Among their high-end offerings: a set of hand-embroidered, 400-count Egyptian cotton linens. Added bonus: this gift is guaranteed to keep you and your sweetie in bed.

For more information, visit www.leron.com.

Forgot to pick up a bottle of Bordeaux?

Wine of the Month Club

$599.90 a year

Consider instead Igourmet's Wine of the Month Club. This way your Valentine can enjoy not one, but two bottles of wine delivered to his or her house each month. While the color choice is yours, igourmet's wine connoisseurs will select the vineyards, bottles and themes each month. They'll also lend their expertise with food and cheese pairing suggestions.

For more information, visit igourmet.com.

Forgot to create a hand-made card?

Scrap Chic Customized Scrapbook

$75 and up

Creativity can be outsourced, thanks to Scrap Chic Boutique. Just e-mail in your pictures, and the staff at the Georgia-based boutique will do the rest (think stickers, stamps and ribbons galore). The result: a very happy Valentine (and very little work).

For more information, visit www.scrapchicboutique.com.

Forgot to buy his dream car?

Luxury Car Membership Company

$3,500 to $11,500 per year

With Club Sportiva, your Valentine will have options: a Bentley one day, a Ferrari the next. And with more than 20 different luxury cars available, he or she will revel in the ultimate driving experience without the hassles (or cost) of ownership. In addition, the car club organizes member road rallies and events, among other VIP services.

For more information, visit www.clubsportiva.com.

Forgot to buy a box of Godiva?

Eleni's Conversation Heart Cookies

$58.50

Eh, chocolates are cliché anyway. Another option is Eleni's conversation heart cookies. For just under $60, you'll get 15 hand-iced sugar cookies with sweetheart phrases like "Yours truly," "Be Mine" and "Hug Me." One word: yum!

For more information, visit www.elenis.com.

Most In-Demand Toys

2007-02-13T16:10:00.000+01:00

Sony PlayStation 3
$500

Not only can PS3 users access PlayStation’s extensive catalogue of games, they can also share files with other PS3 users from all over the world. The system also features an upgradeable hard drive, a Blu-ray drive and a Bluetooth controller. The company released only 200,000 in United States, making the PlayStation 3 one of the most difficult items to get this season.

Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii
$250

The Nintendo Wii is like most “plug-and-play” consoles, but also comes with extra attachments that allow you to simulate taking a physical swing of a golf club, hitting a return in tennis or throwing a punch at an opponent, all while playing a videogame.

T.M.X. Tickle Me Elmo
$40

Fisher Price is celebrating Elmo’s 10-year anniversary with the release of T.M.X. Tickle Me Elmo. It has a larger range of motion than its predecessor, and five “tickle” spots that have the stuffed animal rolling around in hysterics. While it retails for $40, Tickle Me Elmo is selling for almost double its price on sites such as eBay and Amazon.com.

Monopoly Here and Now Edition
$30

An updated version of Monopoly was released this year and includes 22 new properties--including cities and streets--chosen by American voters who weighed in online. It’s proving just as popular as the original 1936 version.

Radica Digi Makeover Radica Digi Makeover
$60

This year, the company has created a coveted set of plastic blocks with a SpongeBob theme. It includes SpongeBob, Squidward and Gary figurines, as well as plenty of jellyfish.

LEGO SpongeBob Square Pants Adventures At Bikini Bottom
$40

This year, the company has created a coveted set of plastic blocks with a SpongeBob theme. It includes SpongeBob, Squidward and Gary figurines, as well as plenty of jellyfish.

Flywheels XPV Xtreme Performance Vehicle

$50

This high-performance toy is on the top of many holiday wish lists thanks to extensive graphics and its ability to perform ground and aerial stunts. Seatbelts not necessary. What is? A thorough search.

Kid Tough CameraKid Tough Camera

Children like to emulate their parents, and the Kid Tough Camera by Fisher Price lets them do just that. It’s got a durable exterior and a computer plug-in for downloading pictures. Even better? You won’t have to worry about the kids hijacking your expensive camera.

Butterscotch My Furreal Friends Pony

$300

If a live pony is not an option, Hasbro’s lifelike stuffed animal is a good substitute. It is big enough for a small child to sit on and, through sensors, can feel when it is being groomed and turns its head in response.

Top 10 Most Romantic Hotels

2007-02-13T15:38:00.000+01:00

The One & Only Ocean Club

Where: Paradise Island, the Bahamas

For who: The self-indulgent; beach bunnies

Why it’s romantic: You’ll find warm breezes, sand and sea, plus luxury spa treatments for two here. A couples package currently offered includes accommodation, breakfast, a 110-minute massage treatment, plus a nighttime “bathing ritual” in your room during which masseurs scrub your feet and draw a bath for two.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts and Spa

Where: Vancouver Island, British Columbia

For who: Nature lovers

Why it’s romantic: This spot is all about luxury in the wild woods. Helicopter into the pristine Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve; enjoy hiking, kayaking and horseback riding or spot whales and bears with a naturalist guide; then relax in front of a towering stone fireplace or in one of the white canvas guest tents appointed with antique dressers, queen-sized beds and down duvets.

The Plaza Athenée

Where: Paris

For who: Foodies, shoppers

Why it’s romantic: This is classic Paris at its most glitzy. Venture here and see and be seen on Avenue Montaigne, the last word in luxury shopping with Chanel, Christian Dior and Gucci among the many boutiques. When you get tired of high fashion and spotting the celebrities who frequent the area (Katie Holmes was recently spied at Armani and Sex in the City filmed at the hotel) stroll hand-in-hand across the Seine. Starred chef Alain Ducasse oversees the hotel’s five restaurants.

Scottsdale Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch

Where: The Sonoran Desert (near Scottsdale, Ariz.)

For who: Golfers, tennis players, stargazers

Why it’s romantic: Private lakeside casitas overlooking the Sonora mountains have rooftop decks for prime stargazing. The spa is offering a couples’ Valentine’s special that includes two-and-a-half hours of foot and body massages and facials. The more active can enjoy top-notch golf and tennis facilities.

Little Palm Island Resort and Spa

Where: The Florida Keys

For who: Sun and sea worshippers; privacy-seekers

Why it’s romantic: It’s a private island. Suites have outdoor showers and king-size beds. The turndown service that comes with the Romance Package includes candles throughout the suite, Taittinger champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and a hot bath with rose petals and body oils.

Amanjiwo

Where: Central Java, Indonesia

For who: Adventurous culture and history buffs

Why it’s romantic: The resort overlooks Borobudur, the ninth-century Buddhist sanctuary. Rice paddies and distant volcanoes complete the landscape. Couples looking for something special should book the Dalem Jiwo suite, which has a private 15-meter infinity pool and a personal butler on call around the clock.

Hotel Savoy

Where: Florence, Italy

For who: Art lovers, café loungers

Why it’s romantic: Stay here and you’ll step out your door into the heart of Renaissance Italy. The concierges recommend a horse and carriage ride around the old city; many an alleyway turns up fantastic Tuscan cuisine. A Valentine’s day special includes a four-course dinner in the hotel’s L’Incontro restaurant overlooking the Piazza della Repubblica, and a champagne breakfast in your room.

The London NYC

Where: New York City

For who: theater-goers; urbanites

Why it’s romantic: You’ll find bright lights, big city and cutting-edge interior design here. Walk to Broadway, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park. A Valentine’s Day package includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Rosé; dinner is by Scottish-born Michelin chef Gordon Ramsay. Concierge service from Quintessentially satisfies whimsical requests for last-minute theater tickets, elusive restaurant reservations and charter jets.

Hotel Astoria

Where: St. Petersburg, Russia

For who: Art and literature fans

Why it’s romantic: Snow falling on history. Take a troika ride through the parks of the czar’s palaces, stroll to the Hermitage Museum or walk in the footsteps of Pushkin and Dostoevsky. A three-night Valentine’s package includes breakfast, entrance to the Hermitage, a city tour and a massage. Vodka additional.

The Blantyre

Where: Lenox, Massachusetts

For who: Traditionalists

Why it’s romantic: It’s a castle, replete with turrets and gargoyles, set on a sprawling estate in the Berkshires. Rooms are unique--try the Maplehurst, located in the estate’s old carriage house and featuring a bathtub and four-poster king-sized bed. Gentlemen, jackets and ties are required for dinner, which will be superb French cuisine.

By Elisabeth Eaves

Unusual Restaurants In The World

2007-02-13T13:30:00.000+01:00

Fat Duck

Bray, England

www.fatduck.co.uk

The current tasting menu at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck includes nitro-green tea and lime mousse (shown here) as well as snail porridge, salmon poached with licorice and mango and Douglas fir puree. Blumenthal’s latest book, In Search of Perfection, inspired a television series of the same name currently airing on Britain’s BBC 2.

Ninja

New York

www.ninjanewyork.com

While patrons work their way through the tasting menu at this Japanese restaurant, servers dressed as ninjas perform magic alongside their tables. Expect to spend quite a bit on the sushi--but realize you’re really paying for the entertainment.

Dans Le Noir (In the Dark)

Paris

London

Moscow

www.danslenoir.com/

Dans Le Noir founders Edouard de Broglie and Etienne Boisrond believe that the act of consuming food becomes more satisfying when you're relying on senses other than sight, and they hired a primarily blind and visually-impaired staff to prove their point. Does the food at Dans Le Noir really taste all the better for it? Book a table at one of their three locations--Paris, London or Moscow--to find out.

WD-50

New York

www.wd-50.com

Chef Wylie Dufresne cut his teeth at Jean Georges as sous chef and then at Prime in The Bellagio, Las Vegas, as chef de cuisine before opening WD-50 in New York City’s Lower East Side. His dishes, such as butternut squash sorbet with coffee soil and basil (shown here), are adventurous. And at $105, the nine-course tasting menu is one of the most reasonably priced in the city.

El Bulli

Costa Brava, Spain

www.elbulli.com

El Bulli's head chef Ferran Adrià Acosta is a scientist with the passion of an artisan. That's why Adrià closes for six months every year to dream up all sorts of new and nearly unbelievable dishes (such as the artful beet-based sorbet shown here) in his "El Taller" laboratory. El Bulli’s dynamic menu earned it the title of 2006’s Number One Restaurant in the World, according to Restaurant magazine.

Ice Hotel Restaurant
Sverige, Sweden

www.icehotel.com

The main restaurant of the famed Ice Hotel chain is, oddly enough, not made of ice. But they do serve meals on plates made from the ice of the Torne River, which borders Sweden and Finland. Elk and reindeer appear frequently on the restaurant’s winter menu.

Linger Lodge

Bradenton, Fla.

www.lingerlodgeresort.com/restaurant.htm

Chunk of Skunk? Road Toad Al A Mode? Yes, these are some of the offerings on the road grill menu at the Linger Lodge Restaurant. If you’d rather refrain from snacking on snake or sparrow, there’s a traditional menu with classic southern favorites such as Good Ol' Fashioned Catfish and Old-Florida-Style Fried Chicken.

Dinner In The Sky

Brussels, Belgium

www.dinnerinthesky.com

Call it a floating restaurant if you will--patrons who dine at Dinner in the Sky are suspended by a crane in midair while feasting on the executive chef’s specialized gourmet menu. Based in Brussels, Dinner in the Sky now brings its table to cities throughout Europe.

Annalakshmi

India

Malaysia

Singapore

Perth, Australia

www.annalakshmi.com.au

The typical Indian fare at this restaurant isn’t shocking, but your bill may come as a bit of a surprise. The Annalakshmi mission is "eat as you like and pay as you feel," which means there are no set menu prices. One dollar or $100--it’s your choice. You might be inclined to leave a hefty tip for the staff, however--they’re employed on a volunteer basis only.

Moto

Chicago

www.motorestaurant.com

From edible menus (above right) to patent-pending edible advertisements (the details of which are being kept under wraps), chef Homaro Cantu is taking the science of cooking to another level at culinary laboratory Moto. The “nachos and cheese” dish (left) is actually more sweet than savory: the “tortilla chips” are a mix of Mexican sweet corn and flan, the “ground beef” is a grainy Mexican chocolate and the “Monterey jack” is grated Mexican mango spiked with liquid nitrogen that allows it to melt when sprinkled on your plate.

By Lauren Sherman

What $1 Milion can buy in Homes Area

2007-02-13T12:49:00.000+01:00

Atlanta
$1.05 million

A million dollars will get you far in Atlanta. This two-story brick manse has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, three fireplaces and a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The interior boasts 10-foot ceilings, and the master bathroom includes both a garden tub and whirlpool. Outside, the property rests on a third of an acre and has a three-car garage and a backyard deck.

For more information, contact Jenny Pruitt and Associates.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
$1.1 million

This 7,500-square-foot home on just over one-half acre features four bedrooms, including a master suite with a dressing room and a bathroom with a whirlpool tub. The garden boasts a large veranda, in-ground pool and covered barbeque area.

For more information, please contact Reynolds Propiedades Argentina Real Estate.

Chicago
$1.095 million

Located in the historic Lakewood/Balmoral neighborhood of Chicago, this recently renovated townhome includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The large downstairs family room opens to a cedar deck and backyard with a gas barbeque hookup and a two-car garage. The kitchen has professional appliances and the entire first floor has been outfitted with radiant heat to offset those cold Windy City winters.

For more information, contact Scott Rife at Rubloff.

San Jose de Pinilla, Costa Rica
$1 million

This Spanish Colonial-inspired home sits on a half-acre within the Reserva de Golf beach community in the Guanacaste region of the country. It has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a solarium and spacious kitchen as well as maid’s and guest rooms and an outdoor pool.

For more information, contact Nicholas P. Viale at Century 21 Coastal Estates.

Johannesburg, South Africa
$1 million

This contemporary masterpiece boasts four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as a massive chef’s kitchen and expansive, covered patio for outdoor entertaining. Health nuts will find much to keep them occupied in the gym room while the busy executive can hunker down in the home office.

For more information, please contact Jayke Meneses at Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty.

London
$1 milion

The dollar may be weak compared with the pound, but with a million of them, you can buy a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, second-floor apartment in this stately Victorian building in Belsize Village, a neighborhood filled with restaurants and shops just northwest of downtown London.

For more information, contact Pip Quinton at Knight Frank.

Los Angeles
$1.07 million

Built in 1891, this Queen Anne Victorian is a California historical cultural landmark dubbed the Ernest Wood House. Three stories, with wood-carved stairway railings, the 2,880-square-foot home has five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, hardwood floors, a formal dining room and five fireplaces. Outside, a covered wrap-around porch looks out on the landscaped yards and gardens of this 13,000-square-foot lot, which includes a backyard gazebo.

For more information contact Sharon Dwyer at Sotheby’s International Realty, Sunset Strip Brokerage.

New York
$1.05 million

Though only 794 square feet, this midtown apartment has sweeping views of downtown Manhattan, the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty through its floor-to-ceiling windows. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom space is in the Orion building, which has a health club, 60-foot lap pool, Jacuzzis, saunas, a screening room, onsite concierge service and free breakfast for residents.

For more information, contact Jason Kay at Corcoran.

Paris
$1 million

Located in the 20th arrondissement of Nation, this three-level townhouse on a quiet lane features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living and dining rooms and a study, which faces a 260-square-foot private garden. There is also a wine cellar for oenophiles to store their Loire Valley bottles.

For more information, contact www.rentcom.info.

Rome
$1 million

Boasting beamed wooden ceilings, a living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms, this restored apartment is on the third floor of the medieval building, pictured, in Via San Cosimato, which is close to the Piazza San Maria in Trastevere.

For more information, contact Studio Fori Real Estate.

Sydney
$1.15 million

Designed to take advantage of its position on Sydney Harbor, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment has expansive views from its north-facing balcony. Set in the Jacksons Landing waterfront, the apartment has a gourmet kitchen with marble floors and stainless steel appliances, two parking spaces, walk-in closets in all bedrooms and access to tennis courts, a pool, a gym and nearby harborside parks.

For more information contact Wayne Walter at McGrath Estate Agents.

Tel Aviv, Israel
$1.2 million

Not only does this immaculately kept penthouse offer stunning sea views and a spacious outdoor deck, but living areas are suitable for entertaining and five bedrooms.

For more information, please contact Ilana Biton at Anglo-Saxon Real Estate.

Tokyo
$1.1 million

This 1,700-square-foot, four-bedroom home is located in the Megoro-Ku section of the city, which offers fine dining and shopping, as well as quiet residential areas. It has parking for two cars and a traditional Tatami, or meditation, room.

For more information, contact Plaza Homes, Ltd.

Toronto
$1.2 million

A two-bedroom, three-bathroom condo is one of 45 custom-designed apartment in this elegant building that offers residents an indoor pool and fitness center, formal gardens, a billiards room and a library that can be used for entertaining.

For more information, contact Harvey Kalles Real Estate.

By Kerry A. Dolan
Expensive Stuff

Hottest Star Hideaways

2007-02-13T12:27:00.000+01:00

Anguilla

The Scene: Best known as the island where Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt took their "break-up vacation," Anguilla's top-notch resorts and 33 pristine beaches attract both celebrities and well-heeled businessmen in droves, especially over the December holidays. Local hangouts include Johnno's Beach Stop, with daily live music, and Uncle Ernie's barbecue joint at Shoal Bay, where fresh fish is barbecued right at the beach.

Hot Hotels: Cap Juluca, The St. Regis, Altamer, and Cerulean, a private villa for rent

Spotted: Robert DeNiro, Denzel Washington, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Donatella Versace, Kevin Kline, Janet Jackson, Liam Neeson

Aspen, Colo.

The Scene: Come winter, celebrities and politicos are as plentiful as snowflakes in Aspen, where the first-class slopes and shopping are outdone only by après ski at The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome's J-Bar or dinner at Provençale hot-spot Cache Cache.

Hot Hotels: Hotel Jerome, The Little Nell, The Sky Hotel, The St. Regis

Spotted: Mischa Barton, Jack Nicholson, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Mariah Carey, Elle McPherson, Beyoncé, Will Smith, Rosie O'Donnell, Christie Brinkley, Al and Tipper Gore, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas

Bora Bora

The Scene: This French Polynesian island is popular with celebrities because of its remote location (nearby Tahiti is more easily accessible, and therefore less celebrity-friendly). Bloody Marys, a local restaurant where the fresh fish of the day are displayed on ice and guests take their pick, is popular with local islanders as well as visiting celebs. Charlize Theron, Sharon Stone and others have stayed at Le Méridien Bora Bora, where glass-bottomed floors provide views of exotic fish.

Hot Hotels: Le Méridien, The St. Regis

Spotted: Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Vin Diesel, Chelsea Clinton

The Cayman Islands

The Scene: The Cayman, as they are sometimes called, made a splash last December with the opening of a brand-new Ritz-Carlton. Orlando Bloom is rumored to be looking to buy property here, and celebrities such as Sheryl Crow come to scuba dive (Divetech is a popular place for lessons). Deckers, a Caribbean restaurant with a British double-decker bus stationed outside, is the place to go for a casual dinner.

Hot Hotels: Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, The Ritz-Carlton

Spotted: Katie Couric, Tiger Woods, Chloe Sevigny, Adrian Grenier

Fiji

The Scene: Though a Dec. 5 military coup has made this 300-island archipelago temporarily unsafe for travel, its wealth of natural beauty and top-tier luxury resorts have kept it a celebrity hotspot for years. Britney Spears and Kevin Federline celebrated their honeymoon at Turtle Island, a 14-villa beachfront resort where room rates start at $1,975 per night, as did Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

Hot Hotels: Shangri-La, Turtle Island, The Wakaya Club

Spotted: Tom Cruise

Jackson Hole, Wyo.

The Scene: Locals call it the anti-Aspen, but Jackson Hole's superb skiing and rugged mountain atmosphere draws just as A-list a mix of bankers, politicians and Hollywood stars as its Colorado neighbor. Private homes (Sandra Bullock and Harrison Ford are reported to have residences here) are the top hot-spots, but Spring Creek Ranch, located at the end of a winding road, provides the privacy that vacationing stars like Uma Thurman and Jim Carrey crave.

Hot Hotels: Amangani, The Four Seasons, Spring Creek Ranch

Spotted: Matthew McConaughey, Christie Brinkley, Ron Howard, Christina Ricci

Jamaica

The Scene: Ian Fleming wrote almost 15 of his James Bond books while living in Jamaica, and Errol Flynn set up house here in the 1940s. It’s no wonder: The island's endless beaches and top-tier golf courses help keep the celebrities coming, and today, they are a daily part of life for local islanders.

Hot Hotels: Golden Eye, Half Moon, The Ritz-Carlton, Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Royal Plantation

Spotted: Carmen Electra, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Mandy Moore, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, Michael Bolton, Patrick Ewing, Liev Schreiber, Lauren Hill, Gladys Night, Patti Labelle, Ralph Lauren

Miami

The Scene: There's no bad time to visit Miami, but New Year's is the best time to see some uncensored celebrity behavior. Last year, Lindsay Lohan was admitted to a Miami hospital after celebrating New Year's at nightclub Prive, and this year, Jessica Alba and Hilary and Haylie Duff will reportedly host a New Year's party at the Setai on South Beach. Nightclubs such as Mansion, Prive, Crobar and Glass, restaurants such as The Forge, and high-end hotels are the best places to rub shoulders with the glitterati.

Hot Hotels: The Delano, The Setai, The Shore Club, Villazzo Villas (luxurious private villa-hotels available for rent throughout the city)

Spotted: Derek Jeter, Jamie Foxx, Anna Kournikova, Paris Hilton, Alanis Morrisette, Jamie Lewis, Lenny Kravitz, Jay-Z

St. Barthélemy

The Scene: An exclusive retreat with a European feel, St. Barthélemy's yacht-clogged harbors and white-sand beaches are swarming with the rich, famous and beautiful. Private yachts or resort spas, such as the Molton Brown spa at Hotel St. Barth, Isle de France or the destination spa at Hôtel Ghuanahani, are your best bets for spotting stars.

Hot Hotels: Eden Rock Hotel, Hôtel Ghuanahani & Spa, Hotel St. Barth, Isle de France,

Spotted: P. Diddy, Russell Simmons, Kirsten Dunst, Hugh Jackman, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, Claudia Schiffer, Gisele Bundchen

St. Moritz, Switzerland

The Scene: European royals and Hollywood starlets flock to this resort in the Swiss Alps, whose population expands from 5,000 to 100,000 for the winter season. Badrutt's King's Club is the best place to seek out celebs without their winter gear on.

Hot Hotels: Badrutt's Palace, Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, Kulm Hotel (owned by the family of Stavros Niarchos, Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend)

Spotted: Prince Charles, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley, George Clooney, Ivana Trump

By Sophia Banay

Best Hotel Bars in USA

2007-02-07T16:30:00.000+01:00

No 1. The Ritz-Carlton, Boston: The Bar

Average Cost Of Martini: $13
House Champagne: Mumm Cuvee Napa Sparkling Wine, $10 per glass; Signature Champagne: The Ritz Brut Champagne, $14 per glass
Head Bartender: Bruce Kennedy
Hours Of Operation: Monday - Saturday, 11:30 A.M. - 1 A.M.; Sunday, 12 P.M. - 12 A.M.; bar menu served from 11:30 A.M. - 11:30 P.M.
Clientele: Students (usually with their parents); residents of Beacon Hill and the Back Bay on a regular basis; tourists, shoppers and hotel guests.

No 2. The Peninsula, Chicago: The Bar

Average Cost Of Martini: $13
House Champagne: Champagne Deutz, $18 per glass
Head Bartender: NA; Bar Manager: James Pierce
Hours Of Operation: Monday - Thursday, 3 P.M. - 1 A.M.; Friday, 3 P.M. - 2 A.M.; Saturday, 12 P.M. - 2 A.M.; Sunday, 12 P.M. - 1 A.M.
Clientele: Hip locals, businesspeople and hotel guests, mainly in their late 20s.

No 3. Four Seasons Hotel: Houston, Lobby Lounge

Average Cost Of Martini: $9
House Champagne: Gloria Ferrer (sparkling wine), $10 per glass, $44 per bottle; Louis Roederer (true Champagne), $16 per glass, $72 per bottle
Head Bartender: Benito Garcia
Hours Of Operation: Monday - Thursday, 4 P.M. - 12 A.M.; Friday, 4 P.M. - 1 A.M.; Saturday, 5 P.M - 1 A.M.; closed Sunday
Clientele: Business professionals and well-heeled members of the theater/opera set, as well as sports fans on game nights.

No 4. The Peninsula, Beverly Hills: The Club Bar

Average Cost Of Martini: $11
House Champagne: Veuve Clicquot
Head Bartender: Shannon Ronalds
Hours Of Operation: 12 P.M. - 1 A.M. daily
Clientele: Entertainment moguls, finance execs and local residents mingle starting at 5 P.M. for happy hour. The late-night bar crowd comes around 10:30 P.M.

No 5. Four Seasons Hotel: Miami, 14-Thirty-Five

Average Cost Of Martini: $12
House Champagne: Louis Roederer Brut Premier. Reims NV
Head Bartender: N/A Bar Manager: Gary Timmons
Hours Of Operation: 4 P.M. - 11 P.M. Sunday - Thursday; 4 P.M. - 12 A.M. Friday - Saturday
Clientele: Hotel guests (business and leisure travelers) as well as a younger crowd who comes after working out at The Sports Club/LA Miami, which is located in the same building.

No 6.The Carlyle: New York, Bemelmans Bar

Average Cost Of Martini: $13
House Champagne: Taittinger
Head Bartender: Audrey Saunders
Hours Of Operation: Monday - Saturday, 12 P.M. - 2 A.M.; Sunday, 12 P.M. - 12 A.M.
Clientele: Very eclectic and mixed--some young, some older, some celebrities, some locals--attracted by the piano music and Ludwig Bemelmans' whimsical murals

No 7. Intercontinental Mark Hopkins:San Francisco, Top of the Mark

Average Cost Of Martini: $10
House Champagne: Domaine Chandon
Head Bartender: David Major
Hours Of Operation: weekdays, 5 P.M - 12 A.M.; weekends, 4 P.M. - 1 A.M.
Clientele: Diverse crowd, mix of tourists and professionals. Primarily people in their late 20s to late 60s. Best views in town. Martinis are pretty darn good, too.

No 8. Fairmont Olympic Hotel:Seattle, The Terrace

Average Cost Of Martini: $10.50
House Champagne: Moët Chandon
Head Bartender: Michael Vezzoni
Hours Of Operation: Sunday - Thursday, 11 A.M. - 12 A.M.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 A.M. - 1 A.M.
Clientele: Mixture of travelers/tourists and local business people. Age varies, but odds are you'll be able to tell the Microsoft employees from those who work for Boeing.

No 9.The Windsor Arms Hotel:Toronto, Club 22

Average Cost Of Martini: $7.55
House Champagne: Veuve Clicquot
Head Bartender: James Skwarek
Hours Of Operation: 12 P.M. - 2 A.M. daily
Clientele: Very eclectic mix, lots of celebs and rock stars. Some businesspeople, locals and couples. A very cool, hip place, with attractive young people and thirtysomethings.

No 10. The Hay-Adams:Washington, D.C. Off the Record Bar

Average Cost Of Martini: $11
House Champagne: Piper Sonoma
Head Bartender: John Boswell
Hours Of Operation: Sunday - Friday, 11 A.M. - 12 A.M.; Saturday, 11 A.M. - 12:30 A.M.
Clientele: a lot of White House staffers and White House press corps; primarily people in their 30s and 40s.

10 Most Expensive U.S. Restaurants

2007-02-06T22:48:00.000+01:00

No 1. New York: Masa
$366
British pound: 210
Eur: 305

This tiny restaurant, which seats 26, is the most expensive in the country, with the prix fixe menu ranging from $350 to $500 per person--not including alcohol. Thinking of saving by bringing your own bottle of wine or sake? You can try, but expect to pay a corkage fee of $75. The menu changes frequently, but always includes five appetizers, a sushi entrée with up to 20 types of seafood flown directly from Japan and a dessert course served with tea.

No 2. Chicago: Alinea
$192
British pound: 110
Eur: 160

Alinea's opening last spring generated major buzz, thanks to Executive Chef Grant Achatz, former sous-chef to Thomas Keller at French Laundry in Napa, California. Achatz left French Laundry for Trio, the Illinois restaurant where he continued making his name with an entrée called Black Truffle Explosion, which actually featured bursts of truffle broth while diners chewed. At Alinea, guests choose from a menu of as many as 24 mini-courses, which can take as long as five hours to finish. Since opening, Alinea has not disappointed Achatz fans, and reservations must be made several months in advance.

No 3. Seattle: The Herbfarm
$152
British pound: 87
Eur: 127

Live guitar music, herbs and vegetables grown on the grounds and a large selection of Pacific Northwest wines are just a few of the reasons why The Herbfarm is a unique dining experience. Paying over $150 per person outside of New York or Los Angeles is a bit uncommon, but at The Herbfarm--where a nine-course meal (at $159 to $189, including wine but excluding tip and tax) can take over four hours to consume--we promise you it's worth it.

No 4. San Francisco: French Laundry
$135
British pound: 77
Eur: 113

The restaurant takes reservations two months to the calendar date in advance, so get booking now--it's universally acknowledged as one of the must-dine destinations in California, and even in the entire U.S. Thomas Keller, the renowned chef behind the restaurant, made waves lately with the opening of Per Se in the Time Warner Center in New York, but French Laundry remains his landmark property, and one well worth checking out. The prix fixe menu consists of between five and nine whimsically named dishes, such as Oysters and Pearls, which is pearl tapioca custard served with caviar and oyster. Tasting menus are priced at $175 per person.

No 5. Washington, D.C: Inn at Little Washington
$129
British pound: 74
Eur: 108

This country inn and restaurant opened in 1978 in a converted garage in Rappahannock County. The self-taught chef and owner, Patrick O'Connell, has since catapulted his inn and restaurant--now a Relais & Chateaux property--to national attention with innovative, hearty appetizers and entrées like lobster napoleon or a "salmon five ways" starter. The homemade bread basket brought to the table, which includes chewy poppy seed rolls and rye bread with currants and nuts, is refilled every few minutes. Prix fixe menus start at $138 per person during the week.

No 6. Philadelphia: Le Bec-Fin
$120
British pound: 69
Eur: 100

Le Bec-Fin celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. To commemorate the event, the restaurant launched a new, three-course prix fixe dinner as an alternate to the much heaver, seven-course prix fixe ($138 per person) that had traditionally been the only option. To toast your date, order La Bicyclette, a champagne cocktail with raspberry spirits and Chambord raspberry liquor introduced in honor of this year's anniversary. When it opened in 1970, Chef Georges Perrier couldn't have known the formal restaurant would become a hallmark of a town famous for its cheese steaks. Luckily for us, it did.

No 7. Los Angeles: Bastide
$101
British pound: 58
Eur: 84

Classic French cuisine wouldn't set Bastide apart in and of itself. But the impeccable quality of the ingredients helps explain why this restaurant has made our list for the second year in a row--and helps justify the price tag. Indeed, the restaurant's owner, Joe Pytka, once paid $35,000 for a one-kilogram white truffle, which he incorporated into the menu. Entrées start at $50.

No 8. Las Vegas: Picasso
$91
British pound: 52
Eur: 76

Although The Bellagio isn't short of dining options, the Picasso is a venerable favorite for hotel guests or anyone who comes through Las Vegas. Original works of art by Pablo Picasso, including oil paintings and ceramic sculptures, decorate the dramatic space. But don't come for the art: Come for the French-Mediterranean menu, the real reason for the restaurant's popularity. And plan to come early to fortify yourself before a night of gambling, as the kitchen closes at 9:30 P.M. The four-course menu is $90 and the five-course meal is $100.

No 9. Atlanta: Seeger's
$86
British pound: 49
Eur: 72

Currently closed to undergo renovations on everything from the dining room to the menu, Seeger's will reopen on Oct. 14. The eclectic menu, which changes daily according to the whims of Head Chef Guenter Seeger, will feature four-course ($105 without wine) and eight-course ($125 without wine) tasting menus, instead of the five- and eight-course menus previously on offer. The dining room, which once accommodated 65, will be whittled down to only 32, and the wine list will be thoroughly expanded. If this sounds up your alley, Seeger's is currently accepting reservations for the week of their reopening.

No 10. Orlando, Fla.: Victoria & Albert's
$85
British pound: 49
Eur: 71

Frette linens and Christofle silver may not sound very Disney, but it's all part of the dining experience at Victoria & Albert's, the restaurant located in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a part of Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Fla. Not only that, but the seven-course seasonal menu ($95 without wine; $145 with wine), which is customized daily and may include such delicacies as Hudson Valley foie gras, Fuji apples or dayboat diver scallops, is very adult-friendly--as is the 4,200-bottle wine cellar.

Top 15 Luxurious Honeymoon Destinations

2007-02-06T21:22:00.000+01:00

This idyllic retreat in upstate New York offers a rustic setting, luxurious accommodations and world-class dining, with chefs preparing your meals according to specifications you send well in advance. Four lodge-style buildings house a total of 11 guest quarters, each with a view of the lake and their own chiseled stone fireplaces. No children under the age of 18 are allowed unless all 11 guest properties are reserved; this costs $23,312.50 per night, which includes all taxes. Otherwise, nightly rates start at $1,250, which include three full meals per day, tea, snacks and an open bar, plus activities such as boating, cross-country skiing, nightly cruises on the lake and bonfires.

An 88-suite resort on the island of Mauritius, Le Prince Maurice has an open plan with no reception or cashier's desk. Guests are made to feel at home while wandering the wooden bridges that span the private lagoon or meandering through the landscaped gardens that frame the guest residences and the outdoor pool. The restaurant, which is suspended dramatically above the pool, serves fresh seafood every night, and there is a library if you need a moment to reflect. Rates start at $1,524 per night for a junior suite, with a minimum stay of ten days during high season (Dec. 23 through July 1).

The One & Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas was once a private estate, and it retains the air of a treasured hideaway. Bronze and marble statues are scattered throughout the terraced gardens, which are modeled on the gardens of Versailles. With the resort's 106 rooms spread among two wings and several two-bedroom cottages, you'll never feel crowded--and if you do, retreat to your room for dinner where 24-hour room service is available for you and your brand-new better half. Nightly rates start at $760 for a standard room.

This private game reserve in South Africa takes its name from the Sand River, which winds through it, and you'll see lions, elephants and hippopotamus all in a day's work. The best part? You don't have to give up your creature comforts to see the creatures. Guests choose from among five luxurious lodges, and there's a spa offering massages, Ayurveda and acupuncture. Furthermore, the cuisine is impeccable, and there's even a wine cellar offering over 12,000 bottles of rare African wine. Per couple rates are $1,888 per night.

Taveuni Island is one of only two land masses in the world that the international date line hits, so you can say you love her more today even when it's officially still yesterday back home. Each of the two-bedroom, two-bathroom villas in this Fijian resort is designed for utmost privacy, leaving you to spy on endemic bird species, such as the orange dove, or pass the time another way. Nightly rates are $825 per night, with a five-night stay minimum.

Feel like reenacting Shakespeare's balcony scene with your newly betrothed? Verona, the meeting place of Romeo and Juliet, is within striking distance of this intimate and ivy-covered manor. L'Albereta, located in Franciacorta between the southern shore of Lake Iseo and the Po River Valley, is deep in the heart of several vineyards and was once the estate of the Moretti family. An on-site riding school, four nearby golf courses, a spa and Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi are among the many reasons to visit. Day trips to the nearby towns of Brescia and Pergamo are recommended if you're looking to stretch your married wings. Nightly rates start at $340.

This 70-acre resort is hidden within a 1,500-acre private oasis full of exotic flowers and native birds. Even with all that space, Las Alamandas only accommodates a total of 30 guests at a time. Each of the 15 suites, located in six brightly painted villas, has an oversized Mexican tile bath--perfect for scrubbing à deux--as well as private terraces. If you decide on their honeymoon package, which starts at $1,920 for six nights in a garden-view suite, you'll receive a complimentary bottle of champagne, a couple's oceanfront massage and complimentary horseback riding. Otherwise, room rates start at $430 per night for a beachfront villa during the high season (October through May), or at $610 per night with meals included.

The natural materials, such as pink granite and thatched roofs, which went into the design of the Lémuria Resort of Praslin, were intended to help preserve the environment for the resident wildlife, while subdued lighting was installed to avoid scaring off turtles that come ashore at night to lay eggs. A three-tiered pool leads down to the ocean, and guests can play tennis, windsurf or kayak free of charge (there are additional charges for scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and mountain biking). Rates start at $1,514 per night for a junior suite, including breakfast, with a minimum stay of ten days during high season (Dec. 23 through July 1).

The Palazzo Vendramin, a 15th-century residence, is part of the Grand Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy. Both hotels are located on their own island, directly across from Piazza San Marco--a private vaporetto shuttles guests back and forth. Palazzo Vendramin's guests can avail themselves of the Cipriani's facilities, including the heated salt-water pool, spa and bars. But private butlers--on-call from 7 A.M. to 11 P.M.--the eight lavish apartments and the added privacy of the property make it perfect for honeymooners--or for anyone looking to unwind regally. Nightly rates start at $2,578 for a junior suite, including breakfast.

Whether in a Hollywood movie or real life, there can be no more romantic or luxurious urban hotel than the Ritz in Paris. From its understated entryway and gilded rooms to the aura of intrigue and history that permeate every corner of this legendary hotel, the Ritz offers honeymooners the perfect escape, as well as the perfect place to stay in what is arguably one of the world's most romantic cities. Partly this is because the hotel's name has become synonymous with luxury, style and comfort, but also because the staff is simply extraordinary. Want a reservation at the most exclusive restaurant? The concierge can get it. Want to order a Rolls-Royce filled with your beloved's favorite flowers and a picnic lunch of her favorite delicacies? Pas de problem, monsieur. Want to be left alone in your room and order everything from room service? The waiters are as prompt as they are discreet. Want Colin, the hotel's famed bartender, to create a signature cocktail to memorialize your stay? He will be glad to. For a truly memorable stay, book one of their Prestige Suites, such as the Duke of Windsor Suite, which goes for €5,200 (around $6,333) per night.

Amanjena, which means "peaceful paradise," was Amanresort's first property in Africa. Open-air fountains flank the entrance, which is sheltered by palm and olive trees. The architecture, particularly the rose-colored walls and open-air buildings, was modeled on the Moorish packed-earth buildings that once crowded Marrakech. Reflecting pools and the guests' pavilions radiate out from the bassin, the central-heated swimming pool. Nightly rates for a pavilion with a private gazebo start at $800, plus a 20% tax and service charge. Pavilions with a private pool are $1,350 per night, plus a 20% tax and service charge.

Clinging to a cliff over the Mediterranean Sea, equidistant from Nice and Monaco, the Château de la Chèvre d'Or is situated in Eze, a tiny village established about 500 B.C., which even today feels medieval. The landscape is equal parts rocky cliffs, blue sea and lush green fauna--and the hotel's infinity pool, winding gardens and nearby Astrorama (observatory) capitalize on their location. Extravagantly furnished rooms and three separate restaurants add to the possibilities for mutual spoiling. If only married life could stay this way. Nightly rates start at $450.

Your wedding featured fireworks, several species of exotic birds or a 36-piece orchestra, we think a honeymoon on Great Mercury Island off the coast of New Zealand might be just your thing. This 5,000-acre private island, owned by a New Zealand resident, was only made available for rental last year, and Tom Cruise is among the celebrities who have already taken advantage of it (no word on who he took with him). A 25-minute helicopter ride from Auckland, which is included in the room rate, takes you over a rugged coastline and volcanic hills to the doorstep of the island's two villas--perfect for those "family-mooning" with the in-laws or with children. The chef on the island will cook to order, serving dinner on the beach or anywhere else you care to dine. Rates start at $19,395 per night for up to six people. For parties of seven or more, there is an additional nightly charge of $895 per person.

New York can be one of the most romantic cities in the world, but there's nothing sexier than feeling like you own it. That's the illusion created by the two new Presidential Suites at the Four Seasons (although a regular room there is quite nice, too). Toast yourselves with a bottle of Cristal upon arrival, feast on a bowl of fresh fruit and enjoy the private bar--all complimentary. The Four Seasons knows how exhausting a honeymoon can be, which is why packing and unpacking services are offered free of charge. The Jacuzzi and working fireplace are perfect for reliving the big moment, and you can call ahead to request to have a romantic selection of CDs and DVDs waiting for you upon arrival. You may think the million-dollar view of Central Park is priceless, but the Four Seasons has it pegged at $15,000 per night. Standard rooms start at $495. The Four Seasons New York is a part of Ty Warner Hotels and Resorts

Halekulani's restaurant La Mer is home to Hawaii's only Michelin-starred chef, who used to cook for the royal family and Grace Kelly in Monaco. If that isn't reason enough to visit, this refined hotel on Waikiki Beach recently opened the honeymooners' dream suite. Every element of the 2,135-square-foot Vera Wang Suite was designed or chosen by the wedding-dress genius, right down to the embroidered pillows on the bed, the crystal and silver in the dining room, and the 19th-century Chinese writing desk. A 24-hour formal butler and arrival treats, including Champagne and foie gras, are included in the room rate, which starts at $4,000 per night and goes up to $5,500 for an adjoining bedroom. Standard rooms start at $385 per night

Top 10 Luxurious Spas In The World

2007-02-06T20:45:00.000+01:00

NO 1 Beau Rivage Palace
Lausanne, Switzerland

The Beau Rivage Palace has views of the lake and the Alps, but the real draw is the Cinq Mondes spa. It's 15,000 square feet and has a private suite with its own hammam (Turkish bath) and Bain Japonais (double Japanese bath for two). Treatments include Balinese massage and Taoist face-care massage; the spa is also introducing a series of packages to entice summer travelers. Through Sept. 30, guests can pay $1,660 for two nights' accommodation, breakfast and five spa treatments each.

NO 2. Como Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Como Shambhala is known for its guided retreat weeks, which feature the resort's trademark spa cuisine and expert teachers brought in from around the U.S. Five hours of daily instruction are included in the yoga retreats, and meditation, Pilates and pranayama instruction are available year-round as well. The spa is aimed at couples, who can take advantage of double treatment rooms, outdoor showers and Japanese baths. Nightly rates start at $410.

NO 3. Four Seasons Resort
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Styled like a Thai temple, the three-story spa villa at the Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, has private aromatherapy steam rooms, open-air treatment terraces and rain shower massage beds. Elemis products are incorporated into every treatment, each of which begins with a warm foot compress to focus the senses. Resort rates start at $425

NO 4. Hayman Island Resort
Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Hayman Island Resort is located on a private island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, accessible via boat, seaplane or helicopter from nearby Hamilton Island. Spa Chakra has 13 treatment rooms, a wet treatment room and two relaxation lounges, and offers exclusive Guerlain Methode treatments, which involve techniques for facial and massage patented by the Champs Elysée Guerlain Institute. Room rates start at $468.

NO 5. Chiva Som
Hua Hin, Thailand

Chiva Som, a luxury health resort facing the Gulf of Thailand, is tucked into seven acres of gardens and provides individual wellness programs for guests. Even basic guest rooms have private balconies and butler service, and the spa has male and female water-therapy suites. Hydrotherapy treatments include aqua skin polish, which uses spearmint and apricot to exfoliate the skin. Room rates start at $340 per person per night.

NO 6. The Island Experience
Ilha Grande, Brazil

Take a 100-square-mile private island; subtract roads, banks and people; and add a rain forest plus a week-long, intensive detox program. The result is the Island Experience at Ilha Grande, an adventure spa that will introduce an "Alpha Adventures" challenge next winter to get men to detox in the most exciting way possible. Activities include jungle hiking, snorkeling, samba dancing and massage. Rates start at $2,000 for six nights and include meals, yoga classes and various supervised and recreational activities.

NO 7. Maroma Resort and Spa
Riviera Maya, Mexico

Located on a 25-acre jungle reserve, Maroma Resort and Spa faces the Caribbean Sea and a powder-white beach. The on-site Kinan Spa is decorated in white and cream stucco and has three treatment suites, each one with its own shower, bathroom and treatment tub. A special spa cuisine menu, with specialties like spiced beetroot soup over jicama and yogurt slaw, makes healthy eating more fun. Room rates start at $480 per night.

NO 8. Soneva Gili & Six Senses Spa
The Maldives

Soneva Gili resort consists of 44 stilted water-villa suites. The spa is set over water as well, and accessible via a long, low wooden walkway. Treatment rooms are simple, open-air affairs which look onto the lagoon. The Soul of Six Senses, a simultaneous massage and facial performed by two therapists, begins with a foot bath and ends with a scalp massage, and costs $360 for 90 minutes. Soneva Gili rack rates start at $1,415 per night.

NO 9. Taj Mahal Palace & Tower
Mumbai, India

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is arguably India's finest luxury hotel, with its manicured interior courtyard, pool, and a wide array of guest suites that accommodate royalty and celebrities alike (Yoko Ono and John Lennon once occupied one, without leaving, for a week). The Taj's branded Jiva Spa chain has classes in everything from Ashanti yoga to the Art of Breathing, and the Exotic Lime & Ginger Scrub involves body buffing with Indian lime, ginger and salt. Room rates start at $205 per night.

No 10. Terme di Saturnia Spa Resort
Saturnia, Italy

This 140-room resort in the hilly Tuscan countryside is about 100 miles from the nearest airport (in Rome), and pays homage to the country's spa-going tradition with a Roman bath lined in Travertine stone and lit from above with a dramatic circular skylight. The spa is devoted to restoring each guest's "psycho-physical balance," and renowned medical packages, which include an age evaluation, anti-aging and rebalancing massage, stone therapy, aqua relaxation and the Saturnia fitness program start at $2,347; regular room rates, including breakfast, start at $235 per night.

World's Most Expensive Cruises

2007-02-06T19:58:00.001+01:00

Most Expensive Private Yacht Charter $120,400/day

Coming in at the top of the list this year (as it has for the past several), the Annaliese a 280-foot superyacht, will run you $120,400 a day. That includes access to onboard amenities such as a business center, movie theater, 24-hour hot and cold buffet and bar service. Should you wish to accommodate more than 36 guests (the vessel's maximum capacity), her sister ship, the Alysia, has the same specifications and goes for the same daily rate.

Most Expensive Heli-cruise $36,000/day

You can choose summer in Alaska or winter in Costa Rica--or both, aboard the Absinthe, a private 201-foot heli-yacht with a set seasonal schedule. For $36,000 a day, guests can settle into the 12 staterooms, outfitted with Frette linens and L'Occitane toiletries, and take advantage of the onboard crew of 20, including a helicopter pilot and a professional masseur. Shore excursions, like heli-hiking a Costa Rican rain forest or exploring remote Alaskan glaciers, are included.

Most Expensive Asia Cruise $6,496/day

This segment of the Regent Seven Seas' world cruise embarks from Hong Kong and ends in Singapore, with stops in Vietnam and Bangkok in between. The all-suite Seven Seas Voyager features balconies in every suite, and the Master Suite, which costs $90,949 for the two-week voyage, has 1,403 square feet of space, a nearly 200-square-foot balcony, two bedrooms and marble bathrooms. Butler service is included.

Most Expensive Health & Wellness Cruise $5,912/day

This seven-night cruise aboard Silversea's Silver Shadow, an all-suite luxury ship with lush rooms and an onboard casino, starts in Stockholm and finishes in Copenhagen. The Owners' Suite, which goes for $41,390 for the week, has a 200-square-foot teak veranda, Lavazza espresso maker and a Bang and Olufsen sound system. Silversea Cruises has introduced a new emphasis on wellness, and guests receive a new schedule of optional healthy activities and seminars every day of the voyage. Available classes include Pilates, circuit training and yoga, and low-carb menu selections round out the trip.

Most Expensive Indian Ocean Cruise $5,672/day

This 19-night tour of Australia, Mauritius, France and South Africa was the most expensive leg of Crystal Cruises' around-the-world cruise itinerary this year; top-notch accommodations cost $107,779 for the two-and-a-half-week voyage. The Crystal Serenity accommodates 1,080, has a sushi restaurant designed by Nobu Matsuhisa and offers guests onboard art lessons and butler service.

Most Expensive Transatlantic Cruise $3,900/day

For cruising the Atlantic in style, it doesn't get better than Cunard's Queen Mary 2 ocean liner. The ship has an onboard Canyon Ranch spa and even a kennel program, supervised by a kennel master who will feed, walk and cuddle your pooch while you relax at sea. The six-day crossing in one of the ship's Grand Duplex suites costs $23,399.

Most Expensive North Pole Cruise $3,375/day

A 16-day cruise on the Yamal, a monster of a ship with 75,000 horsepower and a steel hull for plowing through ice, costs $54,000 per suite (or $27,000 per person, if you're sharing). Temperatures outside hover at 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but the ship's inside is considerably more hospitable; suites have large windows, and there's a volleyball court and indoor heated swimming pool on board. Helicopter excursions are included in the price.

Most Expensive New Year's Cruise $2,699/day

Ring in the new year on the the Seabourn Pride, which cruises St. Maarten, St. Barts and the British and U.S. Virgin Islands. The Owners' Suite costs $18,895 for seven nights, and shore excursions can include horseback riding on St. Croix, snorkeling in the pristine Buck Island and swimming with the dolphins at Virgin Gorda.

Most Expensive Antarctica Cruise $932/day

The owners' suite on the Abercrombie & Kent vessel Explorer II goes for $13,055 for a 14-night Antarctic cruise. The ship carries 12 auxiliary craft for navigating icebergs up close, and passengers can expect scenery to include seals and plenty of penguins. A lecture lounge, library, health club and spa are all available, and prices include an open bar.

Most Expensive River Cruise $853/day

The Road to Mandalay is a converted river cruiser that Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises, a luxury travel operator, purchased and upgraded specifically for multiday excursions on the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar. The ship is decorated throughout in Myanmar style, with classic fabrics and wicker furnishings. A Superior stateroom costs $2,560 per person for three nights.

Air-Travel Best First Class

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No. 1 Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific is the undisputed emperor of first-class carriers. This Hong-Kong based airline has only eight or 12 seats per first-class cabin (depending on the plane), and seats can be lowered the full 180 degrees, have adjustable arm rests and television screens, and have audio and video in-flight entertainment available on an on-demand basis. Seat amenities from U.K. super spa Elemis are tucked into every seat as well. Dining is on-demand too, and no pre-packaged dinners here: the airline was the first to have an actual rice cooker on board, and rice, congee, toast, eggs, cappuccino and espresso are all cooked to order. Cathay Pacific's lounges in Hong Kong are among the finest in the world; first-class passengers can choose between The Wing and The Pier, order noodles cooked in front of them, enjoy wireless high-speed Internet and even take a shower or a nap next to a burbling indoor water display.

No. 2 Singapore Airlines

With 23-inch wide, fully reclining seats, air-cushioned seat backs and nighttime turndown service, Singapore Airlines makes you almost as comfortable as if you were spending the night in your favorite hotel. Fresh linen, a mini-mattress and Givenchy amenities are all a part of the turndown, as well as Givenchy-designed eyeshades, socks and pajamas in a stylish Givenchy bag. Each passenger receives a personal mobile phone for use during the flight, as well as a Bulgari toiletry bag (different for men and women) with fragrance, lip balm, body lotion and after-shave gel.

No. 3 Thai Airways

Bangkok-based Thai Airways is a member of the Star Alliance and the national carrier of Thailand. The Royal First-Class service makes complimentary beverages available throughout the duration of the flight, such as Cuvée Dom Perignon, 1996; and Veuve Clicquot's La Grande Dame, 1995. Seats have massage capability and recline to be completely flat, and are sheltered with a pod-like wall that makes napping easy. On-demand entertainment includes videos in each of the following categories: new movies, classic films, sports and the arts. On-board food selections include Western or Thai dishes, and guests can choose from specialties like tom yam kung (or hot and sour soup with prawns) or kaeng massaman kai (massaman curry with chicken).

No. 4 Malaysia Airlines

First-class passengers on Malaysia Airlines can take advantage of telephone check-in service and find their boarding passes waiting for them upon arrival at the airport. And even if you have bags to check, you only need to arrive at the airport 45 minutes prior to departure--even for international flights. Personal seat phones allow you to call anywhere in the world while in flight, or even call other passengers on the same flight, provided you have their seat numbers. The on-board catering features chicken, beef or lamb satay, the airline's signature dish, or order up a tray of cheese and crackers, chocolate and fruit, or cookies. You can even order a sandwich from the cabin crew, who will make it according to your specifications.

No. 5 Qatar Airways

The flagship airline of the state of Qatar, Qatar Airlines operates from its hub in Doha. First-class passengers enjoy an extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and chauffeur service to and from the airport in a BMW 7 series. On board, 180-degree flat beds feature independent lumbar support and a foot massage bar, and a personal telephone, television screen and laptop power point are found by each seat. Meals, which are available on-demand, are ten courses and include a selection of seafood such as caviar, lobster and prawns, freshly brewed coffee and cappuccinos, and cheese and chocolate platters.

No. 6 Gulf Air

Gulf Air, with key airports in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Muscat and London, bills its first class as "the most exclusive cabin in the world," and with just eight passengers per cabin, they might be correct--at least in terms of staff to guest ratio. On-board cabin-service managers, chefs, nannies and flight attendants stand at the ready the minute your BMW 7 series drops you at the VIP check-in. On board, Sky beds, with noise-canceling headphones, are upholstered in leather and New Zealand wool, with beech paneling--and the silk cushions and fitted cotton sheets come in handy when reclining. Cotton pajamas wait on your seat, alongside a "suit pack," which contains your day-time clothes and is stowed by the flight attendant until arrival. On-demand dining, including Middle Eastern or European food, is available, and bedtime drinks such as Horlicks or hot chocolate--or vintage wines like Grand Cru St. Emilion, if that's more your style--are available as well.

No. 7 Swiss

Switzerland-based Swiss International Air Lines will become the newest member of the Star Alliance in 2006. First-class service features large, comfortable seats, each of which comes with its own ottoman for resting your feet or hosting a visitor from business or--gasp--coach. Sixteen audio channels and a wide array of television and video programming, including a financial news channel sponsored by UBS, are available. In-flight catering is the conceptual brainchild of Swiss chef Roland Schmid, and relies upon fresh regional ingredients.

No. 8 Lufthansa

At 51 inches wide and 6 feet 6 inches long, Lufthansa's fully reclining flat bed is one of the roomiest first-class seats out there. Head and shoulder rests are adjustable, and so are the surrounding privacy screens. Passengers flying from Frankfurt can experience the airline's own private first-class terminal, not even a year old, which is 19,000 square feet and has a cigar lounge and its own bakery. Your personal concierge checks the luggage for you as a Mercedes Benz S-Class or Porsche Cayenne drops you directly in front of your plane on the tarmac. On board, food service consists of a four-course meal featuring caviar, freshly baked breads and Scottish smoked salmon.

No. 9 Emirates

Based in Dubai, Emirates flies to more than 70 global destinations and introduced a second daily New York-Dubai flight this November. Emirates first-class service includes a chauffeured limousine transfer to and from the airport, on-demand seven-course meals and beverages served on Royal Doulton bone china and linen napkins. There's also a personal video system with over 50 film titles and 500 channels to choose from. Emirates' new Airbus A340-A500 aircraft, specifically designed for flights longer than 17 hours in duration, have 12 fully enclosed first-class suites, equipped with flat beds and closing doors, which cost $125,000 each.

No. 10 All Nippon Airways

ANA's first-class seat is nearly a full 3 feet wide, giving passengers room to stretch out or cuddle up with their down-filled and silk-lined duvets and pillows. A 15-inch television, personal phone and universal power port for your laptop ensure you're busy, not bored, on your nonstop flight to or from Tokyo. A flexible reading light means you don't have to crane your neck to check your stock prices, and when the cabin lights go down, a footlight under your seat provides just enough of a glow to keep you oriented as you return from the bathroom. Meal service includes seasonal desserts, Krug Grand Cuvée Champagne, a European à la carte menu, light snacks like cheese or shrimp, eel and shiitake tempura and regional Japanese cuisine including kaiseki ryori (small specialty dishes served in sequence).

Top 10 World's Billionaires

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Making a billion just isn't what it used to be. In ranking of the world’s richest people 20 years ago, uncovered some 140 billionaires. Just three years ago found 476. This year the list is a record 793. They’re worth a combined $2.6 trillion, up 18% since last March. Their average net worth: $3.3 billion.

No 1. William Gates III

Age: 50
Fortune: self made
Source: Microsoft

Net Worth: 50.0 $ billion

Microsoft's chief visionary moving further away from day-to-day corporate work. For the first time did not offer a strategy outlook at last year's financial analyst meeting. Instead, prefers to dive into innovative projects, foster collaboration among Microsoft's many divisions. Microsoft aims to be omnipotent, selling software for PCs, servers, cell phones, television set-top boxes, gaming consoles, the Web. At the ripe (tech sector) age of 30, Gates' company impressively beats rivals in profit margins, market capitalization and R&D budget, but its sales growth is slowing to a (recently) single-digit percentage pace. Like elder statesman of computing, IBM, has been investing heavily in its own stock. Diversifies methodically, selling 20 million shares every quarter, reinvesting through Cascade Investment. Big stakes in Canadian National Railway, Republic Services, Berkshire Hathaway. Philanthropy, via $29 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at fighting infectious disease (hepatitis B, AIDS, malaria) and improving high schools.

No 2. Warren Buffett

Age: 75
Fortune: self made
Source: Berkshire Hathaway

Net Worth: 42.0 $billion

Revered investor took it on the chin over Berkshire Hathaway's General Re insurance unit; SEC threatened civil fraud suit against General Re Chief Joseph Brandon over questionable transaction with American International Group. Also got it for his board seat at Coca-Cola, where his "independence" might be compromised by Berkshire's ownership of Dairy Queen, which buys lots of Coke products. Buffett: "Do they want us to favor Pepsi?" At Berkshire set in place two governance reforms: regular meetings of directors without Buffett present; whistleblower line for employees. Sitting on $43 billion in cash, hoped to make some big acquisitions last year, "but I struck out." Instead, invested in foreign currencies: $21 billion bet against the dollar and in favor of various other currencies. "In no way does our thinking about currencies rest on doubts about America." Newspaper delivery boy filed first 1040 at age 13; claimed $35 deduction for bicycle. Studied under Benjamin Graham at Columbia. Applied value-investing principles to build Berkshire Hathaway. Portfolio includes utilities (MidAmerican Energy Holdings), insurance (Geico, General Re), apparel (Fruit of the Loom), flight services (FlightSafety, NetJets). Also chunks of American Express, Coca-Cola, Gillette, Wells Fargo. Instructs managers to run a business as if it's the only asset the manager's family will own over the next 100 years. Prefers his investors to buy equities only after careful analysis. "If they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." Says he underestimated the severity of certain stocks' overvaluation during the tech bubble. "I talked when I should have walked." No matter. Since taking control of Berkshire 40 years ago, has delivered compound annual return of 22%. "No wonder we tap-dance to work."

No 3. Carlos Slim Helu

Age: 66
Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: Telecom

Net Worth: 30.0 $billion

Latin America's richest man added more than $6 billion to his fortune this year. He sold off his stakes in MCI and Altria and used the proceeds to up his holding in Saks Inc; in his fixed line operator, Telmex; and in America Movil, his flagship wireless telecom outfit. The latest was a particularly smart move as America Movil's stock has almost doubled in the past year. He also owns 71% of a new public company, Impulsora del Desarollo Economico de America Latina, which he spun off from financial services giant Grupo Financiero Inbursa. Inbursa also invested in a start-up budget airline called Volaris. An art collector, Slim houses his Rodin sculptures in Mexico City's Museo Soumaya, the museum he funded and named after his late wife. His Grupo Carso is reportedly a combination of his first name and his late wife's.

No 4. Ingvar Kamprad

Age: 79
Fortune: self made
Source: Ikea

Net Worth: 28.0 $billion

Peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling furniture in 1947. Now his company Ikea, which sells hip designs for the cost conscious, is one of the most beloved retailers in the world, with an almost cultlike following. Ikea, which has stores in 33 countries, continues to expand into new markets such as Guangzhou, China and Moscow. As egalitarian as his brand, Kamprad avoids wearing suits, flies economy class and frequents cheap restaurants. Has been quoted as saying that his luxuries are occasionally buying a nice cravat and eating Swedish fish roe

No 5. Lakshmi Mittal

Age: 55
Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: Steel

Net Worth: 23.5 $billion

The steel titan now oversees the world's largest steel company, Mittal Steel. In December 2004 he merged his Ispat International with Ohio-based International Steel Group in a $4 billion (in cash and stock) deal. Owns 87.4% of the $28.1 billion (2005 sales) company. An early year double-digit drop in US and European steel prices and fourth-quarter increased spending on coal and iron ore and lower prices helped lead to a 28% drop in 2005 profits to $3.4 billion. On Jan 27, Mittal made a $23.7 billion hostile bid for largest rival, Luxembourg-based Arcelor, in an effort to spark more world steel consolidation and enable Mittal Steel to sell higher grade steel to company's like Ford Motor. Arcelor employing numerous techniques to either fend it off or get a higher price: bought a large stake in a Chinese steel company; enlisted the French government to take up its cause; Luxembourg (the biggest shareholder) introduced a new takeover law; and Arcelor doubled its dividend.

No 6. Paul Allen

Age: 53
Fortune: self made
Source: Microsoft, investments

Net Worth: 22.0 $billion

Microsoft confounder, "wired world" proponent lately finding more promise in pipes delivering oil instead of information. Bought energy outfit Plains Resources for $460 million, controlling stake in Plains All American Pipeline, operator of 15,000 miles of oil pipelines. Through Vulcan Energy unit, paid $250 million for natural gas storage business from Sempra Energy. Hasn't given up entirely on the future. Still maintains dozens of investments in media (Charter Communications), technology (set-top box manufacturer Digeo), biotech. Ten-year-old investment in wannabe Hollywood studio DreamWorks finally showing some returns after company took its animation unit public but planned secondary offering of mostly Allen shares postponed for now. Owner of pro football's Seattle Seahawks took team to its first Super Bowl in February, lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other pursuits in space (funded SpaceShipOne, first to launch private flight into suborbital space), the open seas (413-foot yacht Octopus armed with 2 helicopters and a 60-foot submarine). His Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has donated heavily to education, art and science causes. Joined buddy Bill Gates in 1975, left the company in 1983 to fight Hodgkin's disease. Has been slowly selling off Microsoft stake ever since.

No 7. Bernard Arnault

Age: 57
Fortune: self made
Source: LVMH

Net Worth: 21.5 $billion

A year of celebration for the "Pope of fashion." His high-end luxury goods empire LVMH, with brands including Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Christian Dior and Mokt & Chandon, posted record sales of $16.6 billion. Stock is up 35% in the past 12 months, also boosting Arnault's fortune, which is almost entirely made up of his LVMH stake. On personal front: his eldest child and LVMH board member, Delphine, 30, got married this fall near Bordeaux. Arnault oversaw all the details of the weekend-long festivities and supposedly captured a lot of the events himself with his digital and video cameras.

No 8. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud

Age: 49
Fortune: self made
Source: Investments

Net Worth: 20.0 $billion

This nephew of the Saudi king is one of the world's wealthiest investors, with a big stake in Citigroup. Received much publicity–some of it negative–in December 2005 for the $20 million gifts he made to Harvard and Georgetown to expand their Islamic studies departments. In January 2006, with a partner, announced a $3.9 billion deal to buy Fairmont Hotel & Resorts. In February listed his hotel holdings on the Dubai stock exchange. Planning to take his main investment group, Kingdom Holdings, public on the Saudi exchange later this year.

No 9. Kenneth Thomson & family

Age: 82
Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: Publishing

Net Worth: 19.6 $billion

Canada's richest man still holds 68.5% of Thomson Corp. media conglomerate, founded in 1934 by his father, Roy. Today son David is chairman. Lately, Thomson has abandoned traditional printed titles for electronic media and financial services software. In 2004 acquired Tradeweb bond trading platform, which booked $42.8 trillion in trades last year. Same year sold 54 trade publications, including American Banker and The Bond Buyer, to Bahrain's Investcorp for $350 million. In his later years Thomson the elder has amassed an internationally famous art collection of some 3,000 pieces. In 2002 he purchased Peter Paul Rubens' "Massacre of the Innocents" for $77 million, the fourth-highest price ever paid for a painting at auction. The same year Thomson donated 2,000 works to the Art Gallery of Ontario and pledged $60 million for the museum's expansion.

No 10. Li Ka-shing

Age: 77
Fortune: self made
Source: Diversified

Net Worth: 18.8 $billion

Asia's richest and most influential investor's fortune is centered on conglomerates Cheung Kong and Hutchison Whampoa. Real estate developer, cell phone provider, retailer, major supplier of electricity to Hong Kong and the world's largest operator of container terminals. In June donated $180 million to University of Hong Kong; $40 million to University of California, Berkeley. Son Victor helps father run his massive empire, son Richard struck out on own in early 1990s.