One of the most overlooked vacation spots in the world is Madrid, Spain. With its close proximity to London (only a train hop away), its active night life, and its inexpensive hotel rates, Madrid is a must-stop for your next vacation choice. As the capital city of Spain, Madrid boasts of energy, vibrancy, and the world's best kept secrets. From Puerta del Sol and the Gran Vía boulevard to Plaza de Espana, Malasana, Chueca and the Real Madrid stadium, it's no surprise that Madrid is seen as one of the Party Capitals of Europe.

What to do in Madrid?

Madrid is known for its water sports, as its Arabic name meaning“A place of many streams” suggests. This beautiful land boasts of many water sport activities which provide an attraction for all ages, genders, and social groups. If water sports are your thing, you must stop by Aquasur, an amazing water park with an overwhelming open-air pool with five giant slides!

If watersports just isn't your thing, there are plenty of activities for the land dwellers.  From the world's best football team to bull fighting, there is plenty of excitement available depending on your level of adventure. You would be doing yourself a huge injustice if you did not attend at least one bull fight. Even though bull fighting did not originate in Spain, most of its historical ties lie within this great country. The vibrant colors, the anxiety of the crowd, and the constant banter between the bull fighter and the bull are elements that you will not experience anywhere else in the world or with any other sport.

Excitement in Madrid During the Day!
The problem that most tourists face with Madrid's culture and arts is picking and choosing what to do! Besides the fantastic permanent collections of the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum and Thyssen Bornemisza, there are dozens of other museums, cultural centers, galleries, theaters, cinemas, music venues, flamenco locales, festivals and more! There is just no shortage of things to do!  The key thing is determining your purpose for visiting Madrid and planning your activities around that. This will help you filter through all of the great possibilities surrounding your trip.
One of the great things about Madrid is that it is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, which means that you can take day trips from Madrid to rich historical towns like Toledo, Segovia and El Escorial, or enjoy nature activities in the Sierra de Guadarrama. In addition, Madrid's airport, train and bus stations are the best connected in Spain. No national destination is more than an eight hour ride. And to add insult to injury, the cost of airline tickets are quite inexpensive which makes it even easier to move around the country.

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Anyone looking to propose, wine and dine their special someone, or just live it up in the lap of luxury must visit Setai in South Beach Miami, Florida. With the architectural and interior design alone, never has Florida seen such a beautiful, serene oceanfront resort that sums up what the sexy city is all about. Standing superior to other buildings in the area is its 40-story glass tower with breathtaking views and most creative design. Highly influenced by Asian aspects with its space and lighting, it draws from the neighborhood’s history and cultural diversity with the International Art Deco Movement. The Setai consists of The Art Deco Building, which houses the Studio and Junior Suites, and the Tower, which houses the One and Two-Bedroom suites as well as the Specialty Suites. The Tower Specialty Suites are all over 1,500 square feet, with the Loft Suite having 18-foot tall ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and glorious panoramic views of the skyline and Atlantic Ocean. The “wow” factor doesn’t stop there. The Ocean Front Three-Bedroom Suite is over 2850 square feet and the Penthouse is a whopping 10,000 square feet in space! The Penthouse Suite also includes two living rooms, a powder room for guests, a music room with a Steinway piano and an eternity pool and Jacuzzi on the terrace. Also, you don’t have to be Warren Buffet to afford a night in this top-notch property. With rates starting as low as $550 a night for the One and Two-Bedroom Suites, luxury living can be at your fingertips as well. However, anyone looking to experience the Penthouse will be expected to pay a pretty penny but it is guaranteed that each one is well-deserved!

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If we believe everything we see on television or read on blogs, Emily Bustamante is just another girlfriend of rapper on another reality television show. But if there’s one thing we all know it’s that we shouldn't go around believing everything we read or even see these days. Emily B., as she is professionally known, isn’t just a pretty face hoping to make a come-up off her man. Em, as she is affectionately called by friends, is a fashion lover turned stylist and business woman on a path to make an impact and name for herself that goes far beyond what we think we know. I got a chance to spend a few hours with Emily and we talked about her relationship and family, the highs & lows of being on reality television, inspiration and what she’s doing to build a lasting legacy in the industry she’s always loved. Long before the bright lights and 24/7 cameras that follow her daily as she films VH1’s “Love & Hip-Hop,” Emily was simply a young lady from Norfolk, VA with designer dreams. “I went to a vocational high school for fashion design so my first passion was to be a designer and styling was just one of those things that I did….it kinda came hand in hand with designing.” As I’m watching her get primped for the shoot, the affinity for fashion that she has is apparent. Our conversation often flips back and forth from colors that match well with leopard to our thoughts about style in various cities. In between that, she’s politely engaging in meaningful conversations with everyone on set, creating an inviting and warm atmosphere that reality Television editing may not always convey. A fashionable woman who calls Rita Moreno her style icon [“She’s Puerto Rican…she was like our Marilyn Monroe”], it’s clear Emily has achieved her level of success because of the drive and passion she has for her career. “My first high-profile gig was with Famlay, who was signed with Pharell’s label and that was 10 years ago so I’ve been doing this for 10 years.” This passion, I’m quickly realizing, isn’t made for television. Unfortunately, along with reality Television stardom comes misconceptions about what you have, who you are and who you’re with. 

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