I have been to Playa back when it was a backpacker hangout, and sure it’s a lot different now, but it’s still a cool destination.  What makes Playa del Carmen so cool is:

1. Its location.  Located 45 min South of Cancun on the Caribbean Sea, this place is beautiful. The water is clear and warm and usually quite calm so it’s great for extended swims in the ocean.
2. The vibe.  The vibe at Playa is hip and there’s a big fashion scene there. Cancun was designed for the Americans, while Playa del Carmen was built for the Mexicans – particularly the wealthy from Mexico City. 
3. The nightlife.  The Playa del Carmen nightlife is solid.  There are several cool bars, a handful trendy lounges and a few hot clubs.  If you want to party, Playa will accommodate you until well after the sunrises.
4. The size.  Playa del Carmen is small, manageable, and easy to navigate by foot and taxi.  There is no need to rent a car unless you plan on heading down the coast.  Playa has a small-town feel and after you spend a few days there you really start to get to know people; the business owners, workers, etc.   
5. The people.  The people at Playa del Carmen are young, happy and friendly.  A lot of the workers come for other towns in Mexico like Guadalajara, Vera Cruz and Mexico City to work for a couple of years.  After their work day is done they like to party and have a good time.  It’s not hard to understand why so many people fall in love with Playa and never leave.

If you want to more check out our Playa del Carmen Travel Guide

The latest addition to the Play del Carmen Beach Club scene is Canibal Royal.  This is a hip new beach club located right on the water on the far north end of Playa de Carmen.  Be prepared to encounter beautiful and friendly waitresses, delicious cocktails and tasty food. Mingle with locals and the trendy visitors while soaking up the sun and listing to the cool beats spun by the resident DJ.   

I was in California’s wine country last weekend and stumbled upon, Castello di Amorosa, a replica of a 12^th Tuscan castle rising out of the Calistoga foothills.  Its home to one of the more interesting wineries in Napa Valley, Boasting 17 handcrafted Italian style wines.  18 bucks get’s you inside along with tasting 5 of their wines.  Not a bad place to spend the afternoon.

I talk to a lot of Europeans who don’t think of Washington DC as a cool place to visit – they’ll go to New York, Miami or LA because these cities are more identified with money, refinement and generally better party atmosphere. 

But from my weekend in DC I can report back quite the opposite; I fount it to be hip, stylish and all around interesting.  There’s the whole National Mall, monuments, and the White House –which is good for a day- but I was mostly impressed by the nightlife and the party atmosphere of the people. 

We stayed in the letter streets a few blocks off of Dupont Circle and there were a lot of cool restaurants and cafés to chill and take it all in.  At night there seemed to be a club around every corner.  And Georgetown was one bar after another full of mostly college students.

So over all I would say if you have the opportunity to check out Washington DC it worth the trip.

I just got back from 10 days in Uruguay and hands down my favorite place to spend afternoons was Bikini Beach.  Located in La Barra, just a few Km North of Punta del Este, Bikini Beach offers a white sand beach with a tiki-hut bar, DJ and a handful of private beds (for $300 US a pop).  Be prepared to see some super HOT bodies and South American models at this trendy beach haven.  The bar offers only a small selection of cocktails, vino and beer, but with a crowd of half naked Brazilian, Argentinean and Uruguayan women, drinks are only an afterthought.  Things get started around 2:00 PM and usually go to 8:00 PM.  The high season is Dec 26^th thru Feb 15^th.