[Google Search trends for "Punta Del Este" show a healthy NYE interest]

Interest in a location can often point towards a travel trend.  And by interest, we mean Google searches.  Granted, in the past year some travel interest has waned because of the recession, nevertheless, the past 5 years offer some interesting insight.  Take for example Punta Del Este, which has emerged as a go-to travel destination during New Year’s for those looking to expand their horizons and avoid other the typical spots.  Once the “hamptons” for South Americans, it has ushered in many more foreign tourists including us “close-minded” Americans.  And rightly so, it has miles and miles of beautiful beaches, nightlife, and a sun that doesn’t set until at least 9pm at night.

After all, if you are going to travel thousands of miles, say from NYC to Miami, what’s the point if NYC follows you there?  Last January Miss Model Behavior made a trip to Punta and blogged her experience.  It’s a great read, and gives readers a nice insight into this gem.  That being said, what does the interest in some other spots during NYE look like?  We  decided to look at a couple of usual suspects, namely Gstaad, St. Barth’s, and South Beach to see what’s going on… More»

Ronnie Madra and Richie Akiva know when something is “one of a kind” when they see it, or so they say. They even created a night club and a clever little acronym, 1oak, to remind us of their impeccable taste….which is why its ironic that they couldn’t be further from Manhattan right now.

Instead they have opted to ring in the new year in St. Barth’s, at Pink Elephant’s party being held at La Plage. With all of the snags and mishaps that have plauged the development of their spot, one would think these guys would be at the helm, working day and night and actually BE THERE.

But alas the allure of 1oak must not be that alluring…does this mean they should rename it 2oak, “2 of a kind,” or maybe 3 or 4 or 5?