Monaco

Arriving in the Principality of Monaco by private helicopter transfer from Nice Airport (€160 for a thrilling seven-minute flight over the Riviera coastline), I stepped directly into pure, unfiltered high-octane luxury. Checking into the legendary Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo right on Casino Square, my suite opened to views of Bugattis, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces purring beneath palm trees.

My morning began with a walk around the legendary Port Hercules, where multi-hundred-foot superyachts with helipads and infinity pools were docked side by side. We climbed the 'Rock of Monaco' to Monaco-Ville, the picturesque medieval old town, arriving at the Prince's Palace of Monaco just in time for the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony at 11:55 AM. Afterwards, we strolled through the Oceanographic Museum perched dramatically on the sheer cliffside.

For lunch, I reserved a table on the sunlit terrace of Amazonico on the rooftop of Café de Paris. Feasting on wagyu beef anticuchos and raw bluefin tuna ceviche (€180) with upbeat bossa-nova beats in the background set the ultimate Riviera mood. Later, we spent a relaxing afternoon at the exclusive Monte-Carlo Beach Club, lounging in striped private cabanas on the edge of the Mediterranean.

As evening approached, I donned a floor-length backless evening gown for the Monte Carlo Casino. Passing through the Belle Époque gilded atrium where James Bond films were shot, we entered the private salons for high-stakes roulette. To culminate the evening, we dined at Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse à l'Hôtel de Paris, a three-Michelin-starred palace of gastronomy. The gamberoni from San Remo with delicate fish jelly and caviar (€240) was an absolute masterpiece. Monaco is the ultimate playground of the elite.