Month: November 2019

Build Muscle To Lose Weight

The diet and fitness industry has not done a very good job of helping us to achieve the results we desire with our bodies. When we follow their advice, we do get results but we still fall short of the outcomes we desire for ourselves. We all know we should workout, however, many of us overdo it in the beginning because we do not know how to work out in order to get maximum benefit.

Many people choose cardio because it gets the heart pumping which we are told helps us burn more fat. This advice can be helpful to some and knowing your body and what will work for it is important. When starting an exercise regiment, starting slow and building up your endurance will give you a greater chance of success. No matter your current physical condition, there are ways you can build your muscles up.

So instead, focus on improving your overall health by living in a way nature intended us to. Develop your self-discipline skills. We were meant to move, stretch, and be physically active. We only have one body so take care of it. If you can't follow all of the exercise advice given, take parts of it that can work for you now and then add more later. It's a "marathon" not a sprint where you want to be able to go the distance.

Listen to your body. If you hear creaks in your knees, see that your skin is jaundice, or notice blemishes on your skin, it can be an indication of underlying health problems. Know your body, how you feel, and when there are changes. No one knows it better than you. What we might call natural aging is not natural at all but could be a warning from your body that something is not right. Listen to it and take action. What follows are some suggestions for you to consider.

If you have crows feet for example, which are those lines on the sides of your eyes, this can be a warning sign from your body that your adrenal glands are burned out. If we go for too long of a run, this could overtax the adrenal glands and stress your system boosting a chemical called cortisol.

Cortisol is a stress hormone and can be helpful. Ustress motivates toward goals we have set for ourselves. However, distress can paralyze us and prevent us from reaching our goals. Prolonged stress could cause you to hold on to more fat because cortisol creates belly fat. Belly fat can have a significant negative impact on our internal organs. Many scientists call cortisol the death hormone. High levels of it will hinder your efforts to build and repair lean muscle tissue because it accelerates muscle breakdown and enhances fat storage, especially in the abdominal area as mentioned above. It can lead to many life-threatening illnesses such as diabetes and an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure resulting in cardiovascular disease. It is never to late to make a change. So it is important to understand the state of your health to optimize your body to lose weight.

A study published in the journal Mayo Clinic shows that moderate strength training and an increase in overall muscle mass were shown to reduce a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 32 percent.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/weight-training-can-help-people-with-type-2-diabetes

A Harvard study reveals that muscle reduces your chances of diabetes, people who lifted weights for 20 min or more daily had less belly fat than those that did the same amount or more of cardio. Another study found that men who did 20 minutes of daily weight training had less increase in age-related abdominal fat than men who spent the same amount of time doing aerobic activities.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/12/using-weights-to-target-belly-fat/

So those who run for 20 minutes compared to those who lifted weights for 20 minutes showed that those who lifted weights had less belly fat because of lowered cortisol levels.

At Alphlifesyleacademy.com, you will find a picture of Nikki Blackletter. In both pictures, she is the same weight, however, her abdomen had more definition after putting on muscle when she dropped her BMI and toned up.

An article from WebMD shows that muscle increases your metabolism.  With an increase in your muscle mass, you can boost your resting metabolism — and that makes your body's ability to burn more calories. Even when you are sleeping, watching TV, relaxing, or while at work at your computer, when you have made the effort to increase your muscle mass, you have raised your ability to burn off more calories. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/get-more-burn-from-your-workout#1

We have always known how to workout. We first learned that in gym class. Who of us doesn’t know how to do push-ups, sit-ups, or even jumping jacks. The internet, and tons of fitness YouTubers like Hedi Sommers, Laura who is known as Fitness Muffin, Katie Corio, etc. However, when you work out the same muscle groups over and over again, your body stops developing muscles. Beachbody programs, on the other hand, are designed to fight this problem with “muscle confusion” which uses targeted training phases so your body keeps adapting and growing. You’ll never “plateau”—which means your muscles will never get too comfortable and eventually show no change. You can adjust your work out by making improvements and increasing weights, slowing down your pace to better stimulate the muscle, or even stopping for a period of time to allow different muscle groups to rebuild. When we build muscles up, we help our bodies to become more efficient by burning more calories throughout the day.  https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/get-more-burn-from-your-workout#1

You don’t need a gym to build muscles. In fact, because some people tend to push themselves because they are trying to keep up with other gym-goers, this causes injuries. By using your own body weight, this is a healthier way to build muscles.

By making small changes over time, you have a great chance to reach the results you desire. Building muscle is no different. Setting realistic small goals and celebrating when you achieve each one will continue to motivate and propel you forward. Be creative on how you celebrate and avoid eating food and instead take a bubble bath, get a mani/

When I started on this journey, I did not do my push-ups all at one time. Instead, I spread my exercise program out throughout the day. I set alarms in my phone as a reminder and every couple hours an alarm would go off to remind me it was time to do another set. You can also put notes around your workspace or at home to remind you to do another set. I do this not only for my push-ups but all the exercises in my program and I keep track of my results. I have included a worksheet you can print up to keep track of your results.

The average million spend 60 minutes each and every day educating themselves on business and financial material. So whatever area of your life you want to get handled you should spend 60 minutes each and every day educating yourself on the subject. For me, I listen to audiobooks and I walk around my office listening to audiobooks where I can really concentrate and meditate on what I am listening to.

I study for about 2 hours and every 4 minutes I do a set of exercises. So on my phone, I use the stopwatch and have an alarm go off every 4 minutes. If all you can do is 10 push-ups, then do 10 push-ups every 4 minutes however, after a couple of days then do 11 push-ups and continue on this path until you max out and can't do anymore. So 11 push-ups every 4 minutes for 2 hours, = 330 push-ups.

You don't want to do just push-ups every day. So rotate your exercises from day to day. So you might start out with push-ups, the next day move on to squats, the close grip push-ups then jumps, and you can do all of this from home without joining the gym.

10 Hottest Spots in Vegas Now

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No city does summer like Las Vegas; after all, looking glamorous in zillion-degree heat requires some creativity. You’ll find more fabulousness than ever, from dining on the sparkling white modern Italian Futurist table with a built-in cooling system (read on), to the steamiest and most fun-filled nighttime pool scenes, to the return of some legendary divas and one of the country’s most celeb-filled galas.

Cosmopolitan’s Pool District

Every summer on Monday nights, the 65-foot digital marquee at Boulevard Pool overlooking the Strip transforms into a massive movie screen for “Dive-In Movies”. This year, you can watch cult faves like Sixteen Candles while enjoying an alfresco picnic created by José Andrés, which includes a standout paella, gazpacho, and salad. (You’ll also get your own dining table and a daybed to relax/cocktail/pass out on). On other nights, the Cosmopolitan pool district hosts concerts, with artists from Billy Currington to Neon Trees to Counting Crows. Jetsetter Tip: Don’t miss the boozy liquid nitrogen sorbets and spiked ice cream floats from the indoor-outdoor Neapolitan bar at Boulevard Pool.

Check Prices for The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV

Lago

In anticipation of the summer’s dining season, Bellagio has turned the old Circo space into Lago, a bright white, cutting-edge room inspired by 20th-century Italian futurism and designed by hotshot duo Munge Leung. They blew open the former indoor terrace to create some of the most in-demand al fresco dinings on the Strip; it’s so close to the Bellagio Fountains that diners in the three tables closest to the water can actually feel a light spray (just enough to cool you off, but not ruin your hair). In the kitchen, Michelin-starred chef Julian Serrano turns out modern Italian tapas-style dishes, which include an exceptional red wine risotto, tuna Crudo with blood orange, and sublime grilled langoustines.

Check Prices for Bellagio in Las Vegas, NV

Drai’s Live

Drai’s, the rooftop pool at The Cromwell by legendary nightlife king Victor Drai, has been the sexiest summer scene in Vegas since it opened last year. Contrary to other nightlife venues, Drai operates with this motto: the club should be the star. The 35,000 square-foot, bi-level nightly party has 150 VIP tables, nightly swim events, and eight pools. This year, Drai has added live music concerts in the middle of its weekend parties, with up-and-comers like The Weekend and more established acts like Ciara (just announced for June 5th).

Downtown Dining

Only a year ago, only the most adventurous and hip young things were making their way Downtown for mid-century antiques and the Neon Museum – now the neighborhood is a must-stop for foodies. Down Carson Street, you’ll find newcomers Vegetation (proving that vegan can indeed be delicious) and Glutton, whose unfortunate name belies the light, seasonal delicacies cooked in the wood oven. In a back alley nearby, there’s La Comida for tequila nirvana and delicious Mexican-inspired street food, and Le Thai Fremont Street, a tiny joint packed with Downtown’s power brokers and hipsters munching on "Awesome Noodles." Another Downtown obsession: Eat, where Chef Natalie Young infuses American classics with New Mexican and French influences. Don't forget to try O Face Doughnuts, which serves homemade treats like the Mexican chocolate with horchata pudding doughnut.

Nightswim at XS

Every Sunday, the pool at Encore Beach Club stays open after hours, and Wynn’s resident superstar DJs like Avicii, Skrillex, and David Guetta play sets while up to 5,000 partiers drink, splash around and deny that Monday is on the horizon. (Note: If you own a ridiculously expensive bathing suit, this is the place to wear it.) This year, Deadmau5, the multi-Grammy-nominated electronic musician – and major Vegas favorite – plays Nightswim on Sunday, July 5th, and at XS on Saturday, July 11th.

Check Prices for Encore at Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV

Graceland in Vegas

Elvis-mania has returned to Vegas (did it ever leave?). A new 28,000-square-foot exhibition at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, “Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition – The Show – The Experience” showcases hundreds of items never before seen outside of the King’s Memphis compound. The rotating collection draws on archival material from Presley’s childhood and beyond—think artifacts ranging from high school yearbooks to the jumpsuit he wore in Viva Las Vegas. In tandem with the exhibition, there’s the Elvis Experience tribute show, and naturally a Graceland-themed wedding chapel.

Electric Daisy Carnival

Like Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) – the three-day festival of electronic dance music – has its own dress code. But it’s less Boho-chic than neon-fabulous: trippy fluorescent and floral getups rule the weekend. It began at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway five years ago, and has since become a behemoth; this year, expect 200 DJs on eight stages, plus pyrotechnics, mindbending special effects, and a first-ever charity auction of experiences like making sushi at Nobu with electronic dance duo Krewella, and a private helicopter ride to the event with DJ Snails. Caveat: The weekend maybe three days, but block out an extra day for recuperating.

Celine Dion

After a yearlong hiatus, Celine Dion – who was once credited with being a one-woman economic stimulus package for Vegas – returns to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show will be filled with all her greatest hits, plus some surprise appearances by friends. If we can’t wait to see Celine’s “My Heart Will Go On” encore from Titanic, complete with blue Atelier Versace gown and actual rainstorms on stage.

Check Prices for Caesars Palace – Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV

Pawn Plaza

Love the History Channel’s Pawn Stars? You’re not the only one: the line to get into owner Rick Harrison’s Gold and Silver Pawn Shop regularly runs one hundred-plus people deep. Now Harrison, along with Chumlee, Corey Harrison, and The Old Man, is opening Pawn Plaza, a 16-store ode to all things Pawn Stars. The highlights: Rick’s Rollin’ Smoke Barbeque & Tavern, a restaurant devoted to Poutine, and Rita’s Italian Ice, among others, all housed in portable neon cubes.

Power of Love Gala

The event of the year in Vegas, the Power of Love Gala partners with celebrated chefs and entertainers to raise funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health – which does some of the most groundbreaking research in the country. The 16,000 seat MGM Grand Garden Arena transforms into one huge dinner venue with live music and an over-the-top auction (past items have included a spin on Steve Wynn’s own yacht). This year, Andrea Bocelli will be reunited on stage with Celine Dion for the first time since 2011, and special appearances will include Martina McBride and 2014 Power of Love honoree Gloria Estefan. Vegas attracts a lot of celebs, but you’ll rarely see so many in one room outside of a Hollywood awards show.

Original Article https://www.jetsetter.com/magazine/best-places-in-vegas/

The Most Luxurious Hotel Rooms in Las Vegas

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What do you get when you combine a city world-famous for its frenetic nightlife and unrestrained glitz with a strip of massive casino resorts all trying to outdo each other? Penthouse suites and villas as gaudy and gorgeous as the city they lord over, with the kind of next-level extras designed to make your jaw drop. Do the most expensive hotel suites in Vegas live up to their price tag? We'll let you be the judge.

The Nobu Villa, Nobu Hotel

Starting rate: $35,000 a night

If it's good enough for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber, then it must be worth the splurge, right? We'll let you decide: The Nobu's crown jewel, the David Rockwell-designed Nobu Villa, clocks in at a whopping 10,500 square feet of unrestrained extravagance. The $35,000-a-night bill pays for three bedrooms including a master suite with its own private deck featuring a Japanese maple tree and an onsen, a sauna and massage room, a massive terrace with its own bar, a Zen garden, and multiple dining areas including a sushi bar lined with stools and an outdoor kitchen (you're staying at a Nobu, after all) that looks out over the Strip. A personal butler is included to make your stay seamless, but around-the-clock room service from the Nobu restaurant downstairs—if you can believe it—costs extra.

Check Prices for Nobu Hotel in Las Vegas, NV

Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort

Starting rate: $35,000 per night

Throwing the bachelor(ette) party of the millennium? For you and your 11 closest friends, a two-story, 9,000-square-foot Sky Villa at the Palms Casino Resort is the party pad of your wildest dreams. It starts off with a private airport transfer before a VIP check-in right in your own double-height parlor. While the Palms is not actually on the Strip (it's about a mile and a half away), you might never even make it out the door—and it might be for the best. There’s more here to entertain than one night can allow: a cantilevered pool extends over the building’s edge, there are massage and fitness rooms and a dry sauna for anyone looking to tone up before a night on the town (don’t let those daily VIP All-Access nightclub passes go to waste), and an in-suite glass elevator makes it so you never have to take your eyes off what you just paid $35,000 a night to enjoy.

RELATED: The Best Bachelorette Party Destinations for Every Type of Bride-to-Be

Check Prices for The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV

Bentel & Bentel Penthouse Suites, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Starting rate: $25,000 per night

The Cosmopolitan is well-known for its edgy marketing campaign and hip young vibes, but the hotel's four elite 70th-floor suites, designed by Bentel & Bentel Architects, are as austere as they come—a swift departure from the Jonathan Adler-like colors of its lower-tier guest rooms. That's not to say you won't be absolutely floored. Our two favorites include The Foxglove—inspired by classic black-and-white movies like Jean-Luc Godard's A Place in the Sun, it features lighting meant to evoke spotlights and moving filmstrips, a bathroom projector that screens films while you soak, and hanging images of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift—and The Hemlock, whose design borrows from the mid-century modern estates of Palm Springs and includes extras like a sit-down theater and an indoor hammock made of wolf hide.

RELATED: How to Plan the Ultimate Girls' Weekend Getaway in Las Vegas

Check Prices for The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV

Hardwood Suite, Palms Casino Resort

Starting rate: $25,000 per night

Want to live like basketball royalty? The 10,000-square-foot Hardwood Suite at the Palms invites you to break out your best athleisure outfits and party with aspiring Lebrons (or Lebron himself). Along with two master bedrooms, the two-floor suite has its own locker room and indoor basketball court (yes, there’s a scoreboard), where three NBA-sized Murphy Beds fold out for court-side zzz’s. After shooting some hoops, recharge in the Jacuzzi, kick back and watch a game on one of the plasma TVs, or shoot some pool at your billiards table. Want a snack during halftime or a car to the Cirque du Soleil show? 24-hour butler service ensures you never have to lift a finger.

Check Prices for The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV

Chairman Suite, The Bellagio

Starting rate: $7,000 per night

For a hotel as iconic as the Bellagio, with its looming palatial façade and dancing fountains, we'd expect nothing less than high-roller guest rooms that live up to its name. The 4,075-square-foot, two-bedroom Chairman Suite, which sits at the top of the Spa Tower, delivers. Expect your own fireplace, solarium, indoor garden (with a fountain all its own), and an L-shaped bar for entertaining groups up to six. The best way to pass the time, however, might be to simply escape the world during a soak in your bathroom's whirlpool tub, which looks out over the sleepless cityscape.

RELATED: The 10 Best Hotels in Vegas Are Sure Bets

Check Prices for Bellagio in Las Vegas, NV

Mandarin Suite, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas

Starting rate: $5,000 per night

The Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas has not one but three top-tier rooms on its upper levels, but the 22nd floor's Mandarin Suite might be our favorite. Sure, they all come with incredible living spaces including dining tables for eight, a fitness room, lounges with their own cocktail bars, and Art Deco bedrooms awash in dark woods and patterned rugs. But it's the Mandarin's exclusive feature—a massive bathroom whose oversize sunken bath looks out over the Strip—that truly sets it apart. If you can tear yourself away from the view, free usage of the Tian Quan Thermal and Water Experience awaits Suite guests in the spa. After a long night hitting the tables, recharge over breakfast (included in the rate) at MOzen Bistro.

Check Prices for Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV

Presidential Strip-View Suite, Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

Starting rate: $3,000 per night

What better way to kickstart—and cap off—a night in Sin City than with your own floor-to-ceiling, panoramic view of the Strip? For just $3,000 a night, the Four Seasons' 2,225-square-foot Strip-View Suite can be yours, complete with a dining room, living room, pantry, home office, and master bedroom whose walk-in closet is the stuff of Jetsetter dreams. The windows are curved in such a way that you can watch both the sunrise and the sunset from the comfort of your own bed. We suggest starting things off with a cocktail from the bar while the staff unpacks your bags.

Check Prices for Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV

Three-Bedroom Villas, The Mirage Resort & Casino

Starting rate: $3,000 per night

Arriving at one of the Villas at The Mirage, in a secluded hotel wing reached via a gated driveway (or through an unmarked door in the casino) feels like you're returning to your own private mansion, tucked away from the paparazzi. Interiors are lavish—think hues of gold and cream, gilt-framed mirrors, classic portraits, claw-foot nightstands, and low-hanging chandeliers—but you'll probably spend most of your time in the backyard, which is littered with chaise lounges and umbrellas and has its own plunge pool perfect for cooling off from the desert heat (or post-Blackjack nerves). Don't even think about calling room service—your 24-hour personal chef awaits your order.

RELATED: 8 Luxury Hotels That—Gasp!—Are Surprisingly Affordable 

Check Prices for Mirage Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV

See the original article at https://www.jetsetter.com/magazine/most-expensive-hotel-rooms-las-vegas/

Top 10 Favorite Hotels in Las Vegas

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Nothing can be more daunting than too many choices, and when you're planning a trip to Vegas, you'll definitely feel some analysis paralysis. But don't sweat it! Your Vegas experts are on the case, and we have planning a Vegas trip down to a science. So pack those bags and get ready for one hell of a good time with our breakdown of the perfect Vegas vacation.

Let's face it—visiting Sin City conjures enough opportunities for risk-taking without having to gamble on the comfort of your own bed. Lucky for you, we've scouted 10 favorite Las Vegas hotels with serious game. Get packing.

The Cosmopolitan

You might say the hippest hotel on the Strip is equal parts swanky and theatrical: there's morphing digital art-wrapped columns in the lobby, nouveau Baroque chandeliers and marble floors, and, in the 2,995 guest rooms, blue alligator side tables and Pop Art wallpaper. Every space here is designed to make a statement, from the three-level casino floor bar built inside a massive crystal chandelier to the Marquee Nightclub & (poolside) Dayclub that keeps the energy thumping at all hours to experimental performance Rose.Rabbit.Lie. that has to be seen to be believed. For those looking to escape the madness, the serene Sahra Spa offers 30 treatments rooms and its own hammam.

ARIA Resort & Casino

ARIA was a showstopper when it debuted in 2009 with its never-before-seen curvilinear glass tower in the heart of the Strip. And the hotel is still making waves: it's now the world's largest LEED Gold-certified building, with a leafy lobby and a refreshing amount of natural light in its public spaces and all 4,004 rooms. Of course, there's no end to all one can get up to in this city, but you can get by without ever leaving this mega-resort, which houses no less than 16 restaurants, eight bars, three pools, and its own in-house Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana.

Check Prices for ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV

The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino

Some might balk at the thought of a themed casino resort, but the Venetian, modeled after the famed Italian city, defies expectations with its painstaking attention to detail. The 4,000-suite palace comes with a grand entrance à la Piazza San Marco, gilded interiors with elaborate ceiling frescoes, and even its own shop-lined canals and gondola rides. But nothing is overdone: clean-lined rooms are spacious and modern with sunken living rooms and big bathrooms, while the Canyon Ranch SpaClub is one of the largest—and among the best ranked—day spas in North America.

The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino

The Venetian's sister hotel and next-door neighbor is just as impressive—if slightly more understated—and we're not just talking about the Roman pools on its five-acre roof deck. Palatial suites have the same sunken living rooms, deep bathtubs, and luxuriously stocked mini-bars (think champagne and artisan chocolates—for those special occasions), while restaurants from Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck keep the luxury factor thoroughly in check.

Check Prices for The Palazzo Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV

Bellagio

Few properties nail that first impression quite like the Bellagio, best known for those iconic dancing fountains that put on a choreographed show over the eight-acre lake fronting the property. The glamour continues inside, where a Chihuly hand-blown glass sculpture dominates the entryway, 400 main tower suites are fresh off a $165 million makeover, a high-stakes poker room on the casino floor is still the stuff of legend, and Cirque du Soleil's water-themed production, O—the resident show since it premiered in 1998—is as alluring as ever.

Mirage Resort & Casino

Despite being the elder among its shiny Strip neighbors, the Mirage—Vegas's original megaresort—stays true (rightly) to its roots to attract a multi-gen crowd with amenities everyone will appreciate, from an expansive (and party-free) heated pool and comfortably spacious rooms to stellar service, tropical décor including an exotic wildlife sanctuary, and Cirque du Soleil's Beatles-themed hit show, Love. Plus, the nightly eruption of the property's iconic faux volcano near the main entrance never gets old—a solid indicator that this property is here to stay.

SLS Las Vegas

The former Sahara Hotel & Casino has been reborn as the SLS Las Vegas and the result is a futuristic twist on high fashion. There's digital installations in the lobby and color-changing floor tiles that lead to various points of interest, while rooms are everything you'd expect from the brand—seductively opulent interiors by Philippe Starck feature mirrored ceilings, white-lacquered chandeliers, and peekaboo showers. Downstairs, it's a see-and-be-seen crowd at The Foundry, the rooftop pool and nightclub, as well as the swanky Sayers Club lounge. Expect SLS cuisine regulars, too, including Bazaar Meat by José Andrés, Umami Burger & Beer Garden, and Katsuya by Starck.

Encore at Wynn Las Vegas

Encore is decidedly smaller and far less glitzy than Wynn, its sister property, instead prioritizing hospitality over gimmicks. The property opted for a more luxurious take on desert digs and a more intimate—but sunny—casino space in order to make room for 2,034 massive, 700-square-foot guest rooms (all suites), each with remote-control blinds, rotating TVs, and do-not-disturb door lights than can be activated while you’re still under the covers.

Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

The Four Seasons, a sophisticated oasis on the southern end of the Strip, was the first property to show Las Vegas isn’t all about casinos. Guests enter a hushed marble lobby and pass a landscaped private pool before being whisked by express elevator to their elegant, plush rooms (think silk and velvet ottomans and dark wood furnishings). Other notable perks: a Charlie Palmer steakhouse, one of the hottest brunch spots in town (Veranda), and priority tee times at the next-door golf club.

Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace

With two more locations pending in Chicago and Malibu, star chef Nobu Matsuhisa has etched his name in the hotel business. The property that started it all opened off the casino floor of Caesars Palace in 2013, anchored by—what else?—Matsuhisa's own restaurant. Upstairs, 181 rooms are a blend of Japanese influences, from Umi tiles and grass cloth to ink brushwork on the walls, and feature—perhaps our favorite amenity—Nobu in-room dining at any hour of the day or night.

Why Are The One Percenters Moving To Florida?

It's not about how much money you make but, how much money you keep. Billionaires and millionaires are leaving places like New York, and California because of the high taxes to the sunny state of Florida.

Hedge fund billionaires have relocated to Florida for tax reasons for years -- David TepperPaul Tudor Jones and Eddie Lampert being among the most prominent.

Last week, the New York Times reported that Donald Trump had submitted paperwork to change his residency from New York to Florida. The President confirmed the news in a series of tweets, at first a little wistful (“I cherish New York, and the people of New York, and always will.”), followed by a familiar chaser of vitriol for one of his political rivals (“New York can never be great again under the current leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo.”).

The move has many potential implications for the 73-year-old Queens native. Town & Country asked Lee-ford Tritt, a law professor and member of the graduate tax faculty at the University of Florida College of Law, to walk us through how the move might affect the President's bottom line.

Carl Icahn Moves To Florida

Billionaire Carl Icahn is planning to move his home and business to Florida to avoid New York’s higher taxes, according to https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-12/carl-icahn-is-said-to-be-heading-to-florida-for-lower-tax-rates

Icahn, 83, who was born in the Far Rockaway neighborhood in Queens, New York, has been an icon on Wall Street for decades. In the 1990s, he bought a mansion in the exclusive Indian Creek island enclave on Biscayne Bay in Miami.

The move is scheduled for March 31 and employees who don’t do so won’t have a job, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter was private.

Hedge fund billionaires have relocated to Florida for tax reasons for years -- David TepperPaul Tudor Jones and Eddie Lampert being among the most prominent. But Florida officials have been aggressively pushing Miami as a destination for money managers since the Republican-led tax overhaul. Signed by President Donald Trump in 2017, it set a $10,000 cap for state and local tax deductions, including income and real estate taxes.

Florida Nabs Money Managers as Property Tax Cap Boosts Pitch

As the tax bill was being negotiated, then Florida Governor Rick Scott, a former resident of Greenwich, Connecticut, made trips up north to court investment firms.

Florida is one of seven states without a personal income tax, while New York’s top rate is 8.82%. Florida’s corporate tax rate is 5.5%, compared with 6.5% in New York. Icahn’s move was reported earlier by the New York Post.

The difference could mean dramatic savings for Icahn, who is the world’s 47th richest person with a personal wealth of $20.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

His investment vehicle, Icahn Enterprises LP, has a market value of $13.6 billion and reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $1.6 billion in 2018, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Grant Cardone Left Los Angeles For Miami

Grant Cardone is known as a sales and real estate and currently has a $1.2 Billion dollar real estate empire known as Cardone Capital and flies around in his $80 million dollar jet.

Why Would Someone Leave New York For Florida?

“The tax implications will be huge for President Trump. He lives in Manhattan and is therefore subject to New York city tax and New York state tax. Florida does not have an income tax so he’ll probably save about 12 percent a year in taxes. Florida also does not have an estate tax which is huge because the estate tax in New York is about 16 percent for any amount over $5,750,000. So, between income tax and estate tax, he and his heirs are going to be saving a lot of money.”

How Do You Do It?

“New York and other states with income taxes do not like to give up revenue and that’s where the statutory residence test comes in. New York State checks to see if you spent more than 183 days in New York after your move. It will literally check if you had flights that connected through LaGuardia or JFK and count those as days. And if you spend 183 days and one hour in the state, New York considers you a resident.”

States go much farther than just checking flight records. Last spring, a court decided that a man did not qualify as a Florida resident after a lawyer produced evidence that he checked into his gym in California on 300 days in the year he was supposedly living in Florida. States also assess where individuals with multiple dwellings keep their art collections and other prized possessions—the so-called Teddy Bear Test—and use that information to make judgments on residency.

There Must Be Ways To Prove I Actually Moved

“In the old days, we would tell clients to write down where they were every day of the year in a print calendar so they could prove to investigators that they spent the majority of their time in their new domicile. Nowadays, you tell your clients to keep track of it on their smartphones.”

Monaco and TaxBird are two residency tracking apps that automatically record users’ whereabouts and give early warnings if they get close to the maximum number of allowable days.

Okay. I Can Do 183 Days. Anything Else?

“It’s a good idea to give up your country club membership and other affiliations in your old home state and join ones in your new one. But that’s complicated for wealthy people who own multiple homes and belong to numerous clubs. It might be even more complicated for President Trump because he owns country clubs.” 

My Accountant Already Makes Sure I Don't Pay A Lot Of Taxes. Any Other Reasons To Go?

“Florida has something called Homestead Protection, which prevents you from being forced to sell your home to pay certain creditors.” (OJ Simpson, for example, was able to keep his Florida home after being ordered to pay $25 million in wrongful death judgment in a lawsuit filed by the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.) “There’s no monetary limit, so depending on how expensive that house is, you can save a lot of your money from bankruptcy or credit claims.” (Nowadays people looking to avoid potential creditors can also enlist legal advisors to set up offshore or domestic “asset protection trusts.”)

Only In Florida?

“Hardly, there’s no income tax in Texas as well and it has similar home protection laws. It really comes down to personal taste. Are you a Florida type or is Texas your style?” Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming are five states that also do not levy a personal income tax.

Is It Bad For Florida?

“In high-profile cases like this, people always say, ‘This seems so outrageous!’ but it is a very common move for wealthy and for older people. It’s old-school financial planning. People in my field would yawn if you mentioned it. Or say, ‘I'm surprised he hadn't done it sooner.’ Florida is able to generate revenue from tourism. And having wealthy people move to the state brings money to its service industries."

See the original article: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a29715214/donal-trump-florida-wealthy-people-tax-breaks/

The Best Hotel Breakfasts in Los Angeles

A hotel doesn’t have to be a bed and breakfast for you to enjoy both. In fact, you don’t even have to be a hotel guest to enjoy breakfast at these destination restaurants—though it is a nice perk to roll out of bed and already be halfway to your table. Whether you’re traveling for business, pleasure, or a little bit of both, these LA hotel breakfasts are more than worth waking up for.

The Restaurant at the Chateau Marmont

For brunching like a Hollywood celebrity, Chateau Marmont is the spot. The classy hotel still retains its old Hollywood glamour, making it as much a magnet for A-listers as for casual visitors. An intimate garden terrace, with bistro tables shaded by palm trees and umbrellas, is an idyllic—and semi-private—oasis to dine on shakshouka (baked eggs, spicy tomato sauce, feta, and herbs) or the popular acai bowl with grated coconut.

Check Prices for Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood

Fig Santa Monica

Full of natural light and decorated with ivy plants and modern light fixtures, this trendy farm-to-table restaurant inside the Fairmont Miramar Hotel has become a destination restaurant for both locals and out-of-towners. The Mediterranean-inspired menu highlights seasonal produce from the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, best consumed in the market scramble, and includes indulgences like lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry butter.

Check Prices for The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, CA

The Hart and The Hunter

Located at the Palihotel Melrose, The Hart and The Hunter is a group favorite for its rustic fare with a Southern twist—all served family-style. Homemade warm butter biscuits with honey butter and seasonal jam, thick-cut bacon with eggs, and shrimp and grits (all ready to pair with their craft beer menu) are perfect comfort food options whether you're far from home or no.

Check Prices for Palihotel Melrose in Los Angeles, CA

Tres by José Andrés

The indulgent menu at this sophisticated breakfast spot makes it perfect for celebrating a special occasion, whether that's a honeymoon, birthday, or anniversary. Quail eggs served sunny-side up and slow-cooked eggs with caviar are just some of the temptations served in the opulent yet intimate dining room. Breakfast is available daily, but Sunday brunch is worth holding out for—their seafood display features an eye-popping buffet of chilled oysters, snow crab claws, and Pacific prawns.

Check Prices for SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, CA

Mardi

Mardi is at its best on sunny Los Angeles days, when the al fresco patio is teeming with Angelenos. Inside, the stylish, Europe-meets-California décor includes bistro tables, booth seating, tropical plants, and bright accents. Wherever you choose to sit, small plates—fresh ricotta with caramelized honey and thyme; albacore crudo—are easy to share with a group, while the hearty mains—steak and eggs; french toast—are ideal for recovering after a long night out.

Check Prices for Palihouse West Hollywood in West Hollywood, CA

Best Girl

Breakfast at Best Girl, in the always-hip Ace Hotel, is straight and to the point, making it perfect for visitors with a packed schedule. The black-and-white bistro serves quick and healthy options like overnight oats with coconut milk and acai butter and avocado toast, while weekend brunches are more involved, featuring crab cakes and chilaquiles.R

Check Prices for Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA

The Polo Lounge

A candy-striped ceiling, oversized booths, and Art Deco décor makes the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel an easy breakfast pick for a leisurely weekend brunch. If the sun is shining, the pink, bougainvillea-strewn courtyard is the ideal setting for enjoying their three-course Sunday brunch featuring live jazz. Breakfast classics get done-up, like lobster avocado toast and truffle eggs Benedict. Don’t forget to order a bellini.

Check Prices for The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA

See the original article at https://www.jetsetter.com/magazine/best-hotel-breakfasts-in-los-angeles/