Laos Tops List of 53 Hot Spots

High society fliers take rides with friendly billionaires

(NEWSER) - Today’s brand of hitchhiker isn't on a street corner thumbing rides, but at airports that serve cushy private planes, the New York Times reports. Seeking the prestige and elation of flying in a $40 million jet, these riders reserve seats with friendly billionaires. “There are a lot of people in the social world who don’t have the equipment to fly privately on their own,” says one New York high society author. More»

Tips on staying where the celebs stay, the world over

(NEWSER) - Ensure your vacation pics won't bore your friends by holing up in a lavish resort populated with A-list celebs. Travel+Leisure lists 10 hotels fit for the pages of US Weekly:

1. George Clooney was spotted at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where each 6,500-square-foot villa has a private courtyard with a fireplace and hot tub.

Top hoppy weekends to educate your palate

(NEWSER) - They can’t promise German sausage or bonneted barmaids, but North American beer festivals pour pint after pint of terrific local brews. Portfolio lists the best in fests, from now through October.

1. Mondial de la Bière (May 28-June 1): Try beer, cider, mead, and cheese over 5 days in Montreal.
2. Oregon Brewers Festival (July 24-27): Enjoy free-admission tastings of more than 70 local beers at this Portland event.

You don't have to have über-big bucks to spend like you do

(NEWSER) - Middle-class millionaires are carving out a luxe lifestyle to define their 16.5-million strong group, Forbes reports. And while the $1 million to $10 million stashed in the bank doesn’t make them all that rich, that doesn't put much of a dent in lavish spending habits:

1. Mega-home improvements, to the tune of $150,000 yoga rooms.
2. Haute couture jewelry, complete with 11-carat diamonds.

Luxury travel website picks its favorite romantic spots

(NEWSER) - With Valentine's Day on the horizon, the luxury travel experts at globorati.com have come up with a list of 10 swank hotels for memorable romantic getaways. Fools for love are crazy about:

1. Las Ventanas al Paraiso: Los Cabos, Mexico
2. L'Hotel: Paris, France
3. Nam Hai: Hoi An, Vietnam
4. Maxim Bungalows: Cofresi, Dominican Republic
5. Tides Zihuatenajo: Zihuatanejo, Mexico