Travel Channel 

Overview
Perhaps the single most decadently glamorous beach in the world is Monte Carlo's Larvotto Beach, where women may go without their bikini tops, but wouldn't dare to be seen without their jewels. In fact, Larvotto's diamond-studded visitors are about the only thing that can compete with the sparkling Mediterranean water lapping along the sandy shore.

Pretty as it is, Larvotto's best feature may be its proximity to all the things that make Monaco a magnet for the rich and famous. Because the entire principality covers just 1 square mile, nearly everything is within walking distance, which adds to Monaco's already intimate feel. But while it may be small, with its mouth-watering culinary options, its glut of luxury hotels, adrenaline-pumping night life and ultra-elite crowd, Monaco has all the action and excitement demanded by those who like to live life in the fast lane.

If it all seems too good to be true, you may be on to something. Larvotto is actually a man-made beach, with fresh white sand constantly shipped in to offset Mother Nature's best erosion efforts. Fake or not, the entire principality is so gorgeous and charged with energy that you won't care who made its most famous strip of sand.

Getting There
Cote d'Azur International Airport in Nice, France is the nearest airport and is only 15 miles away. For those with the means, Air Monaco provides daily helicopter transfers from the airport into Monaco. But for the rest of us, there's bus service, cabs and a train.

Timing
Monaco enjoys a warm and sunny climate, with an average of 300 sunny days per year. Temperatures are mild in winter, with a 48 F minimum and warm in summer, with average highs in the low 80s.

Lodging
If you wouldn't consider a thing less than four-star, Monaco is right up your alley. From belle époque delights like the Hotel de Paris and the Hotel Hermitage, to the 1920s-styled Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel and the modern Monte Carlo Grand Hotel, there is no shortage of swank lodgings. If your style leans more toward the Red Roof Inn than it does toward the Ritz Carlton, you might have a little problem. Budget accommodations are in short supply. In fact, you won't find any budget hotels, unless you find a room in Monaco's only hostel or at a small inn.

Cuisine
Monaco prides itself on its selection of sumptuous dining options -- with more than 120 restaurants, many of which cater to the high-end diner. Since 1865, the elegant dining rooms of the Hotel de Paris have drawn the elite from around the world, while newer restaurants have cropped up offering some of the finest in French and Italian cuisines. The local Monegasque cuisine is a blend of southern French, Italian and other Mediterranean influences. Specialties Monaco holds close to its heart include barbajuans, a crisp fried puff pastry filled with cheeses and herbs; fougasse, sweet bread flavored with fruit and nuts; Swiss chard pie; socca, a thin pancake; and stocafi, which is dried cod stewed in tomato sauce.

Travel Tips
With its glamorous reputation, Monaco is a first-class destination, which means spending a vacation here usually goes hand in hand with spending a lot of money. Not only is it expensive, but Monaco also isn't the most kid-friendly destination in the world, catering instead to couples and singles. However, if you're looking for a romantic place to lie in the lap of luxury -- and you've got the bank balance to fund the trip -- this is the right spot. Besides, you can always bring an "I love Prince Rainier" T-shirt home for the little ones.

While you are there
Visit the white stone Monaco Cathedral. Built in 1875, the cathedral is the final resting place of Princess Grace of Monaco. It's also home to a Pieta by primitive painter Louis Brea, several 16th-century paintings and a wooden altar from the Spanish Renaissance era.

To fake that you've been there
Mention that you dined at the Hotel de Paris' Le Louis XV restaurant and thought it was divine. For an added touch, mention the menu tips head chef Alain Ducasse provided for the birthday bash you're throwing on your yacht next month.

Linking for a better vacation
Monaco Government Tourism Office