Ritz-Carlton just opened a new hotel in Hong Kong and it is high! Reaching over 1400 ft into the sky, it is the tallest hotel in the world. It also holds a spa, a rooftop bar and an infinity pool that will let you swim to the edge of the building.

Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day!!!

Visit My Adventures to read about our trip to Monaco and check out pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

Date of trip: March 2011

Monaco is a tiny country located on the French Riviera. In fact, it’s the second smallest country in the world after Vatican City. It’s well known around the world for sporting events, especially Formula One car racing, gambling and as the home of American actress Grace Kelly, who became Princess of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier in 1956.

Highlights:

-Even though Monaco is small, it’s densely populated and busy. The Jardin Exotique is a peaceful escape from the congestion. The garden has thousands of plants, especially cactuses, which wind up and down a steep cliff. It’s high locale also offers spectacular views of the country.

-Unfortunately, the Monaco Cathedral was closed when Will and I visited but we were glad to get a glimpse from the outside. This is where Grace Kelly was married and also serves as her final resting place.

-Will and I love casinos so we expected the Casino de Monte Carlo to be a highlight on our trip, but we were actually disappointed. It costs 10 euros to get into the old part of the casino which is beautiful but, once you get inside, there isn’t much to do. There is a bar, a couple of roulette tables and about 20 slot machines….that’s it. For another 10 euros you get access to private gaming rooms but it looked like they were only playing poker in them so we didn’t bother. In the newer part of the casino, which is free, there are more slots and few tables but it is still tiny compared to Vegas or Atlantic city and it gets boring really fast.

-The coolest museum in Monaco is the Prince of Monaco’s Vintage Car Collection. During his life, Prince Rainier III amassed over 100 antique vehicles from sports cars to coaches to military models. He had always hoped to share his passion with the public and today his vision has been realized. It’s really a treat to see so many unique classic cars in one place.

I have to admit that Monaco didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I expected glamour but it’s actually very crowded and congested with tons of construction going on. Everything is very expensive and I’m not sure the value is there. It’s definitely a place to see, but I think there are much nicer places.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Monaco Links:
Monaco Official Site
Jardin Exotique
Casino de Monte Carlo
Prince of Monaco’s Vintage Car Collection

Starting June 1, Delta will be adding a new Economy Comfort class to many of its international flights. Seats will cost an additional $80-$160 each way and will offer up to 4 more inches of legroom and recline 50% more than standard coach. You also get early boarding and free premium beverages. I like the premium economy trend and hope it continues. It’s a good compromise between coach and first for those times that you just want a little more space.

Delta Economy Comfort