Keeping up with Kim Kardashian in Miami: A weekend in Florida's ultimate party city
Jennifer Lopez and Kelly Rowland call it home, while SimonCowell and Louis Walsh like to relax away from the X Factor in the citys searingheat.
Yes, it can only be Miami.
American classic: Miami's South Beach has an ever-chic appearance
But you dont have to be acelebrity to holiday like one in this Florida hotspot.
With its Spanish vibe, colourful architecture and even morecolourful nightlife, you cant help but have a good time from the moment youdrive over the sparkling waters that separate the sliver of an island know asMiami Beach from the mainland.
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You can almost hear the opening credits of Miami Vice (forthe Eighties aficionados among us) as speedboats race across the laguna - while the sight ofthe assorted waterfront mansions will have you wondering as to which A-Listermight live in which mega-property.
It's pretty obvious, pretty quickly, why stars like Rihannaare attracted to this city at the south-eastern tip of the US (and why ZaraPhillips husband Mike Tindall chose to have his ver! y boozy stag do here his groupapparently managed to rack up a bill of more than 12,000 at the trendy Fontainebleauresorts LIV nightclub).
Temperatures in this part of Florida rarely drop below 60degrees. The Atlantic Ocean is warm and inviting, and the white sand beachesmatch those of the Caribbean.
Beach bunny: The newly available Kim Kardashian is one of many celebrities who enjoy the Miami scene
Drive down Collins Avenue in the trendiest part of Miami South Beach, known as SoBe and you see sidewalks full of tanned and litheholidaymakers (as well as more than a few wannabes).
If you stay on Collins, you have an eclectic choice ofhotels, ranging from traditional Art Deco retreats such as the Raleigh and theDelano, to the new-ish kid on the block, the W South Beach (which opened in2009).
The latter is my hideaway for a few days - and I'm instantly drawn to the swimming pool.
Surrounded by palm trees, here is an oasis of calm where youcan relax on stripy sun loungers, before taking a dip in gorgeous, heated waters.
End your day here with a fresh pineapple mojito as the sungoes down and you start to wonder if life gets any better.
The decor is nightclub-meets-beach-house, with beautifulwhite linens draped in light-filled bedrooms even the cheapest rooms (cheap being a relative term, when prices start at north of 400) areairy, modern and spacious.
It also houses some impressive artworks, including three piecesby Damien Hirst.
Rooms with a view: The W Hotel occupies a pristine seafront position
The beach is steps away, and I soon find myself floating in theAtlantic, blissfully calm until someone yells shar! k, and I scramble out of the shallows as fast as I can.
I still have no idea whether Jaws was lurking in thewater that day, or whether someone was playing a prank.
Miami is definitely the place to come for celebrity-watching.
Beyonc and her husband Jay-Z have a mansion in the city,while many a British star can be found on South Beach. Billie Piper and husband Lawrence Fox recentlytook their baby son Winston to the exclusive Setai hotel - a chic option where X Factor USA beautyNicole Scherzinger has also stayed.
And its no surprise that Britain and Irelands Next TopModel chose to bring the finalists out to South Beach to find a winner.
If youre a fan of the newly single Kim Kardashian or justwant to catch a glimpse of her famous derriere head to Zuma restaurant, anoff-shoot of the famous London celebrity haunt.
Kim dined there with husband Kris Humphries in happiertimes before the two announced their split - and considers it a favourite.
Glow with it: The huge swimming pool is one of the W's main attractions
It is easy to see why when I head there for dinner.
This modern Japanese restaurant is a few miles from thecoast in downtown Miami. A few years ago, there would have been no real reason toleave the beach and visit the area.
But the last decade has seen it transformed from a placethat pulled down the shutters when the workers left for the evening to avibrant, buzzy neighbourhood which young professionals call home.
Zuma occupies the ground floor of the Epic Hotel on thebanks of the Miami River (yes, Miami has a river) - where multi-million-dollaryachts are moored outside.
The restaurant has already received rave reviews, and themeal I eat is exceptional. A quick tip ask the chef to select your foodfor yo! u. I fin d myself dining like a member of the Imperial Family a feast of beef skewerswith shishito pepper and smoked chili soy; grilled scallops with pickled plumand mentaiko butter. It is not a meal I will forget in a hurry.
A few nights later, I end up thanks to arecommendation from a cab driver at a cool little spot called the Burger andBeer Joint. Away from the bars and clubs, and down a poorly lit street, thisspit-and-sawdust style diner feels a million miles from Zuma.
Sandy superstar: South Beach offers plenty of space for sun-bathers
But sometimes you fancy burger and chips, washed down with abeer. And when this hunger hits you in Miami, there are few better places.
The menuincludes the Thunder Road burger ten ounces of Angus beef with hickory smokedbacon - and the truly decadent American Cheese and Stairway to Heaven burger,where ten ounces of wagyu beef come topped with pan-seared foie gras.
But for many, Miami will always be about the stars. And those with a celebrity craving can getcloser to their heroes (and heroines) on a boat tour that explains who lives whereon the waterfront.
Here, you can gaze in awe at Gloria Estefan'ssix-bedroom, eleven-bathroom pad (which also comes with tennis courts andswimming pool) or peer into the $17million house where Ricky Martin lives LaVida Loca.
Several tour companies offer these trips (including Island Queen Cruises - 001 305 379 5119; www.islandqueencruises.com - and Ocean Force Adventures - 001 305 372 3388; www.oceanforceadventures.com), with pricesranging from 25 to 100 depending on the level of luxury you want toexperience.
Miami comes to life at sunset. There is a real Latin feel tothe city th! anks lar gely to its huge and vibrant Cuban community (over 60 per centof the population considers Spanish its first language) which influenceseverything from music and dance to food and drink.
And there is certainly a nightlife scene, with enough clubsand bars to keep every type of night-owl happy some open air, some underground,some overlooking the sea, some cheap, some frighteningly expensive.
Making themselves at home: Beyonce and Jay-Z have a mansion in Miami
Among the most popular (at the moment) is LIV, where thelikes of actress Hayden Panettiere and the cast of 'reality' show The Hills have hung out.
Ultimately, this is a city of style and sunshine. Take myadvice grab a flight, have a quick siesta - and then party like youre a Kardashian.
Travel Facts
Virgin Atlantic (0844 209 7310; www.virgin-atlantic.com) fliesto Miami from London Heathrow - return fares from 391. Full packages can bebooked via Virgin Holidays (0844 573 0088, www.virginholidays.co.uk).
Double rooms at the W Hotel (001 305 938 3000; www.wsouthbeach.com) start at $744 (463)per night.
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