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Most people would say that celebrities are blessed with fortune and fame, but are these two elements really all they’re cracked up to be?

The Downsides of Celebrity Status

According to a recent Huffington Post article, high-profile celebrities are faced with much more than just adoring fans and Hollywood red carpet events, as evident in the following examples:

1. Drug/Alcohol Dependency

“…Brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack, ’cause when I leave for the night, I ain’t coming back.”

Ah, the poetic song lyrics of celebrity train wreck, Ke$ha. Though her talent is comparable to that of an amoeba, fans worship her “live fast, die young” mantra, which happens all too often with high-profile celebs. The rich and famous lifestyle knows no bounds, particularly when it comes to substance abuse.

I’m all for a messy night out every now and again, but celebs’ constant access to a bevy of designer drugs/drinks will inevitably take its toll. Just look at all those who succumbed to the “27 club” as a prime example.

2. Security Measures

All the fame in the world can’t buy you peace of mind.

High-profilers are on constant watch of potential threats, from invasive paparazzi encounters to the obsessive fan base. Even with implemented security measures, celebs – and their families – are constantly at risk.

3. Tabloid Rumors/Gossip

Fame doesn’t pardon cruelty. An active face in the limelight guarantees hurtful, negative remarks from the peanut gallery. Such constant berating is likely to penetrate even the thickest of skin. While celebs rank high on the media’s pedestal hierarchy, they’re not exempt from the sting of biting words.

4. Bankruptcy

Money management is a major concern for high-profile entertainers, who often utilize poor, financial judgment. Over the years, top-paid celebrities have been forced to file for bankruptcy as their savings depleted faster than their sales.

*Both fame and financial successes are noteworthy achievements, but they still come with costs. The limelight doesn’t just showcase beauty and talent; it can also extract the negative aspects induced by a high-profiler lifestyle.

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Attention all seasoned Caesars customers! Come January 2013, privileged high rollers can indulge in Caesar’s new charter jet hire, specifically catered to all affluent “regulars” who frequent the casino resorts. 1500 annual flights will be provided by Republic Airways as part of the Caesars Rewards Program, ensuring prompt travel across the multitude of Caesar-owned properties. In addition to flights, special hotel rates and vacation packages are available as an extension to this gambling getaway.

The rewards program is great incentive for all big spenders to drop bigger bucks, but I can’t help but wonder how much this frequent flyer perk actually costs. Though rates were non-disclosed, I can safely assume this aircraft premium is truly a sky-high hit to the wallet!

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New Year’s Eve is one of the most celebrated days of the year. People from all over the world gather around bars, TV sets and city streets to honor the end of one twelve-month chapter, and embrace the prospect of a new one. Resolutions are made, drinks are spilled and loved ones are nearby as “Happy New Year!” is chimed across countless time zones, and in even more languages.

When it comes to NYE celebrations, many party-goers define their upcoming year in accordance to their celebrations, but I can’t help but wonder: does a big blowout really equate to a bigger and better year?

For the fortunate millionaires equipped with a fortune, New Year’s Eve is the night to ring in yet another year of prosperity. Take L.A.’s “The Bazaar,” for example. A NYE event hosted at this premium nightclub offers entry at a minimum of $250.00. For the Big Kahuna treatment at this year’s “Spanish Masquerade” NYE theme, amenities including private dining, a lavish buffet, one pound of caviar and endless cocktails are available for a whopping $15,000 for one evening. While the extravagance is hard to ignore, I’m skeptical to believe that 16oz. of caviar consumption is ever really necessary in any setting.

Then you have average income folks like myself. For the mid-twenties’ Joe Schmoe, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with a nominal pub fee and cheap shots taken at the stroke of midnight. Some opt for venues that are easy on the wallet and effective by the tipple, while others settle at home with cheap-and-cheerful boxed wine and noisemakers.

To conserve my post-Christmas bank depletion, I’ve planned a NYE Netflix date with my Pomeranian and two bottles of Pinot Noir.  While I’d never turn down an opportunity to celebrate NYE in the French Riviera, I’m quite content with this year’s low-key simplicity. I tip my hats to the billionaires and their boat parties, but I have a humbling evening of Twilight Zone episodes to enjoy; an inexpensive evening far more satisfying than any thousand scoops of caviar.

Hotels just got a little more hi-tech!

Welcome to BlowUpHall; an art hotel located in the old Polish city of Poznań. This pioneering luxury lodging is named after Michelangelo Antonioni’s cult film classic, “Blow Up.”

At Blow Up Hall 5050, there is no reception area or hotel room numbers. Guests don’t select a suite, but rather pick a card which designates avant-garde rooms that are tailored by theme. Rooms range from zebra-striped suites to simplistic white-washed walls, and keys are replaced by iPhones which utilize IT technology to source out and unlock individual suites.

Room service is ordered by using the suite’s touchscreen televisions, but the clincher of this radical accodomation has to be the 24-7 CCTV surveillance cameras that film the entire stay of each guest. While seemingly invasive, the Blow Up Hall 5050 hotel assures modesty and discretion is utilized at all filming times, and for no benefit other than creating a “Big Brother” effect.

A bevy of recreational entertainment is available, ranging from spa/steam rooms to local shopping at the nearby city centre. A seven-minute walk to Poland’s Old Market Square transports tourists back in time with 16th century architecture, shops and historical landmarks.

For all those seeking an unconventional stay, Blow Up Hall 5050 is truly an innovative lodging experience; combining sleek, modern motifs against a Renaissance backdrop.

Fancy a fancy libation? Let your cup runneth over with mixologist expert Salvatore Calabrese’s latest cocktail, an exorbitant concoction gaining notoriety for its staggering $8,830 price tag.

London’s extravagant Playboy Club unveiled the cocktail that combines 1770 liqueurs, a 1778 cognac, an 1860 Curaçao and bitters from the early 1900s.  This vintage blend can be traced as far back as the French Revolution epoch, and is regarded as the most expensive cocktail in the world, according to Guinness officials.

Salvatore Calabrese, often referred to as the “Maestro,” is considered to be one of the world’s most reputable aperitif aficionados. His cognac expertise has allowed for prolific recognition as a leading bartender and cocktail connoisseur.

If you’re feeling a bit parched, check out the video below to watch the premiere pouring of this decadent, liquored fusion.

This seafloor hotel puts a whole new perspective to the term, “sleeping with the fishes.”

Welcome to the Poseidon Undersea Resort, a getaway of submersible leisure. Situated 40 ft below Fiji’s cerulean crystal waters, this underwater attraction is making waves as the pioneer of aquatic accommodations. Accessible by elevator, the 5,000 acre lagoon complex will boast 25 guest suites, dining quarters, lounge/bar facilities, a fitness center and a venue that couples as a movie theatre and wedding chapel!

L. Bruce Jones, the president of US Submarines, Inc., is the brains fueling this seabed conception. According to their website mission statement, the Poseidon hotel aims to serve as the pinnacle of elite, incomparable luxury by “providing all the comforts, conveniences and opportunities only a world-class resort can offer.”

For the affluent guests who prefer a sun-soaked experience, there will be an above-water purlieu that features 51 luxury suites, 24 beachside bungalows, an assortment of restaurants/cocktail lounges and a premiere boutique. At a $15,000 per week price tag, visitors can indulge in an eclectic range of spa treatments, shopping and cinematic entertainment.

Each unit is to be built with clear, acrylic casings to offer spectacular views of coral beds and aquatic life. Feeling frisky in your underwater suite? All rooms will be equipped with interior window films to ensure privacy.

To quench any safety concerns, the resort’s website assures complete structural security. Maintenance procedures will be routinely employed, and each unit will be equipped with a safety dome hatch for emergency rescue.

While design and engineering layouts have been completed, further capital is required to initiate construction. The lavish resort is expected to debut within the next two years, but prospective visitors can visit the official website to reserve their very own suite under the sea.

Feeling particularly indulgent? Consider splurging $11,500 per night for a luxury suite at Abu Dhabi’s iconic, 7-star Emirates Palace Hotel. At a cost of $3 billion, the Emirates Palace is irrefutably the most expensive hotel ever constructed.

This Arabian Shangri-la sits on 1.3 kilometers of albescent sand to offer picturesque, seafront views along with a multitude of VIP amenities. From dining delicacies to sporting activities, the superlative resort provides a bevy of recreational pastimes to satisfy any guest.

Premiering in November 2005, the Emirates Palace Hotel is equipped with 394 lavish rooms and suites; 40 meeting and conference halls to host a variety of cocktail receptions, concerts and banquets; a 2400-capacity range ballroom; 2 swimming pool facilities; 4 tennis courts and famed Anantara Spa treatments.

The resort is situated just five minutes from the Marina shopping complex, and in close quarters to various tourist attractions. Visit Abu Dhabi’s National Exhibition Centre, or dabble in kayaking for some adrenaline-fueled fun.

The Emirates Palace Hotel is the pinnacle of elite suites. With 24-hour personal butler services and sumptuous caviar bars, this opulent haven guarantees the royal treatment as soon as you step out of the plane…and check into nirvana.