Imagine a team of the world's greatest architects and city planners brought together to create a dream city, in a beautiful location, with great year round weather.  The picture in your head should be of Singapore, where such great care was put into the development it is illegal even to chew gum for fear of dirtying the city. Perfectly organized by shopping districts, financial districts, and entertainment/nightlife areas all in dedicated sections, it is an urban feng shui masterpiece.

World Class Dining

Singapore has a renowned reputation for phenomenal cuisine and a fusion of delicacies from around the globe. Savor foods from different parts of the world at a truly authentic restaurant themed from a far away country or spend the night tickling your taste buds somewhere that blends many flavors together. Perched on the top floor of the Shangri-La, over looking the city skyline is one of the jewels of Singapore cuisine, The Blu. With a top rated chef, Kevin Cherkas creates a unique menu with modern European Cuisine, blended with Asian ingredients and exciting twists. 

Restaurant le Nicolas is tucked away in China Town and entering the cozy restaurant you know you will have the most excellent personal service as you watch the Chef (Nicolas) pour his heart into every dish. The French wonder continually draws in foodies with his attention to detail and love affair with cuisine.

A large influence from Chinese heritage is apparent as they certainly know how to do Chinese fine-dining right.  Min Jiang in The Goodwood Park Hotel, boasts top notch Chinese cuisine in this significant Singapore landmark. Built in the early 1900's when tigers still roamed the streets, The Goodwood Park Hotel, started as an elite club and has retained it's 5-star status over the years.

Activities

With less than 800 square km in the entire country, Singapore has utilized their land well and been ingenious in developing attractions that draw people from all over Asia. The Singapore Flyer is the world's largest Ferris wheel reaching 42 stories high. This 'observation wheel' has pods that can hold 28 people for a 45-minute ride to gain some the city's best views.  

On the Southern tip of Singapore is "Asia's Favorite Playground," Sentosa. The park continues to grow in popularity and in size as the original island was enlarged and six more artificial islands created. Artificial wave pools, indoor skydiving, beach bars, golf courses and amusement parks, all serve to make Sentosa an extremely lively place.

The Never Ending Party

The party never stops in this bustling city. Enjoy a truly Asian night out and party to Canto Pop, or hit up the mainstream world-class clubs. Zouk constantly has big name DJs and performers coming through several times a week. With several sections of the club, anyone can find their niche here.

Much of Singapore's nightlife is clustered around the river that snakes through the city. Overlooking the water (and a giant Mere-Lion fountain) the walls of The Butter Factory are always pulsing with popular tunes and packed with beautiful people from around the world partying late into the morning.

Pampered Nights

When the music finally fads, it is easy to find a feather bed to snuggle into at one of Singapore's many 5 star hotels. Stay near the heart of the shopping district at the Marriott, and pamper yourself in their exquisite spa. Enjoy the lavish and enormous breakfast buffet, famous among frequent hotel visitors who pass through the city.

The Mandarin Oriental is the picture of class and elegance and boasts the most interesting interior architecture. The staff is painfully tutored to pay the upmost attention to the guests and in a world of corporate hotels, you appreciate their personal care.  The newly remodeled pool lets guests bask in the sun amongst a posh setting overlooking the splendor of the city as a backdrop.

The jetsetting vacationers gallivanting through South East Asia too often miss Singapore.  It is truly an international city that makes traveler's jaws drop at the majesty and beauty found within its streets.

by Jonathan Jenkins, Contributing Author

Movie sets and places where Hollywood blockbusters are filmed gain a new kind of fame for a destination and become a new attraction. Who doesn't want to relive the romance of "Midnight in Paris," or storm across the desert Tom Cruise-style in the newest "Mission Impossible" flick set in Dubai?  A movie's location can be as important as its all-star cast for box office success and popularity. We love spewing off movies filmed in or about Chicago as it gives a sense of hometown pride (Transformers 3, Contagion, Breakfast Club, Mean Girls, Home Alone, to name a few). Here is our list of best destinations that helped set the scene and play a killer supporting role, and the interesting facts you didn't know about them.

Sex and the City 2- Abu Dhabi

When our femme fatales accompany Samantha on a work trip to the UAE, they encounter quite the clash of cultural norms, but actually ended up filming in Marrakech, Morocco so they wouldn't have any trouble with the real law as a result of the women prancing around in skimpy bikinis. While Abu Dhabi may have gotten a sexy makeover as a result of SATC, they still remain a little old school on women's rights so do your homework before planning a girlfriend getaway to the Middle East.  

The Beach- Koh Phi Phi

Wherever Leo's in a bathing suit, women aren't far behind. The sexy set of the adventure thriller The Beach was set on the island of Koh Phi Phi, said to be discovered upon receiving a map of a secret island paradise. This real life escape is part of the Krabi group of islands in Southern Thailand, and the area has gained a considerable boost in tourism as a result of the flick. During filming, the crew was criticized for damaging the lush environment as they had to remodel the sand by flattening it with a tractor. Much to the relief of the locals, a later tsunami restored much of Phi Phi to its original condition.

Blood Diamond- Sierra Leone

The center of controversy for the diamond industry, Blood Diamond brought to light the warzone that goes on behind the scenes of one of the world's most coveted stones. The film's ending referenced an actual meeting that took place in Kimberley, South Africa in 2000 which led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme being created in an attempt to certify the origin of diamonds and ensure they're not obtained from conflict areas. De Beers had pushed for the film to contain a disclaimer that said the events it portrayed were fictional and outdated, but Warner Brothers refused since the area is still wrought with dangerous practices. Even so, the Kimberly process has been said to have reduced the number of blood diamonds sold from 4% to 1% so it did have a positive effect on the situation.

The Hangover- Las Vegas

Situated in the ritzy Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas strip, the hilarious tale of a bachelor party gone wrong is believe it or not based on a true story. Showcasing sin city in all its glory, the Hangover is actually an adaptation of executive producer Chris Bender's friend disappearing after being sent a large bill from a strip club. While the real version is Mike Tyson, baby and tiger-free, the 15 days it took to film surely lived up to the city's mantra of what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Slumdog Millionaire- Mumbai

The daring tale of love and literacy of a boy from the Dharavi slums of Mumbai who somehow makes his way onto the game show, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," was one of the best received foreign films in decades. Following its release in India, the film faced criticism from the public alleging that it fuels Western stereotypes about poverty in India. Various media outlets claimed it peddled "poverty porn" and that even the title was derogatory. Press is press though; it gave India some much needed buzz as an interesting culture to explore.

Your college years may be over, but that doesn't mean you can't get a little crazy every once in awhile.  Full moon parties take place once a month throughout southeast Asia, but one of the hottest spots to get in on the action is Koh Phangan, Thailand. Full moon parties occur on the night of the full moon, but don't fret, if you miss it, there are also half moon, quarter moon and black moon parties.  Basically, if you are staying Koh Phangan, you will not be getting much sleep.

It All Started When...

Once upon a time, a group of tourists discovered the magic of the full moon on the beaches of Koh Phangan, Thailand.  They decided to celebrate their birthday under the stars, and it has now grown into an international tradition that attracts people from all over the world. In fact, when the movie, The Beach came out in 2000, it was partially inspired by the growing popularity of the full moon party.

Party Until the Sun Comes Up

Most say it is the best party atmosphere they have ever seen, and is a truly once in a lifetime experience. Beginning at dusk, 20,000-30,000 people gather each month as the yellow moon begins to rise. Several booths are set up selling glow sticks and face paint and fire dancers light up the beach. All types of music--reggae, dance, techno, drums and bass break out along the beach causing an outburst of dancing among the crowd. After awhile, partygoers enjoy a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

Set Stereotypes Aside

Don't let the image of thousands of obnoxious young people wreaking havoc deter you from being part of the fun. Most people who go are just out to have a good time, and it is rare to have conflict during the full moon party.

Accommodation

Because the full moon party is a worldwide known event, it is important to plan in advance where to stay. It is advised that you arrive four days prior to find accommodations for a decent price.  If you want to be in the middle of the action, stay in Haad Rin. For a regular room, it is about 500-800 baht per night (approx. $17-30). The closer you get to the full moon party, the higher the prices are.

Party Safe

The point of the Full Moon Party is to let loose and have a good time, but make sure you party smart.  Wear solid shoes because it would ruin your trip if you stepped on a broken bottle. Also, drink lots of water throughout the night since the climate is hot and humid and you don't want to get dehydrated.  Stay out of the ocean because the waves are strong. Finally, make sure to bring as little as possible because theft is quite common. But don't let the bad stuff deter you, if you come to have a good time and plan well, the night will be a success!

by Molly Nelson, Contributing Author

Who remembers when waterbeds were all the rage? Well, if you were one of those people who found excitement in the idea of sleeping afloat, try a floatel (floating hotel) for your perfect aquatic escape. Floatels and boatels can be found on rivers, lakes or oceans and are emerging as the newest trend in travel. For all those water-lovers who just can't seem to find their sea legs, floatels are a fun, creative alternative to a traditional cruise. Uprooted and placed on stilts, here are a few of the most luxurious and buoyant floatels in the world.

King Pacific Lodge

The King Pacific Lodge is built atop a floating barge and provides the ultimate in luxury adventure travel and ecotourism vacations. Located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, this serene wilderness floatel is only accessible by float plane. This remote location is ideal for whale watching, fishing, kayaking and searching for the rare Kermode bear. Only two hours outside of Vancouver, King Pacific Lodge was selected the best resort in Canada.

Brooklyn Boatel

The Brooklyn Boatel is a collection of rehabbed boats located outside of Manhattan making for the perfect New York City getaway. The Brooklyn Boatel is a great spot to escape from the bustling city and offers a slow-paced living environment with tons of waterfront amenities. This dockside dormitory may make you reminiscent of summer camp, but you're sure to get the full camp-style boatel experience.

Floating & Rotating Hotel Tower

Leave it to Dubai to be home of one of the most architecturally advanced floatels in the world! Once completed, Waterstudio's Floating & Rotating Tower will sit 25 stories off the coast. Defying engineering feats, this floatel will feature a boulevard ring that connects the shore with the hotel and if that's not enough, get this: the hotel will rotate one-degree every minute. This awe-inspiring floatel will literally having you spinning!

Conrad Maldives

Nestled in between two private islands in the flawless turquoise water of the Indian Ocean, the Conrad Maldives is the quintessential floatel. With 50 luxurious water villas, the all-glass undersea restaurant and 21 spa water villas with private treatment rooms, the Conrad Maldives is as sumptuous as it gets. Built 1,700 feet out to sea, the Conrad Maldives allows you to escape everything except the sound of the waves breaking.

by Julie Bass, Contributing Author