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Ikea, the world's largest furniture retailer, is planning to develop a range of budget hotels.

Inter Ikea, the company that owns Ikea’s intellectual property rights, is looking at potential sites across Europe for the hotels, the Financial Times reported today.

More than 100 locations are being considered for development by the renowned Swedish company, including sites in Britain, Germany, Holland and Poland.

The aim is to create a range of "budget design" hotels, offering a boutique experience at an affordable price. Other businesses, such as Base2Stay in London and Chic&Basic, which has properties in Madrid, Barcelona and Amsterdam, have successfully developed a similar model.

Inter Ikea has previously invested in shopping centers and property, including Strand East, close to the Olympic Park in Stratford, where up to 1,200 homes are planned, as well as a large area for commercial outlets. However, this is the company’s first involvement in the hotel industry.

The whereabouts of the first hotel in Germany will be revealed “within the next few weeks”, according to Harald Müller, a manager within the company’s property division.

The hotels are not expected to use the Ikea name, and will be run by an established hotel operator.

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“There are two kinds of people in the world,” chef Mario Batali said recently at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, CO, “those who are Italian, and those who wish they were Italian.”

No wonder: Italian restaurants across America are raising the bar.

Think of all the Neapolitan pizzerias opened in the past decade, the focus on handmade pastas and authentic ingredients, and hip concepts like Torrisi Italian Specialties, which put New York’s Little Italy back on the serious foodie’s map.

See which restaurants made the cut >

Consider the success of Batali himself: his Del Posto is the first four-star Italian restaurant in New York since 1974, and his emporium Eataly teems with both locals and tourists.

Just when you think Italian can’t get any hotter, it does. So what are America’s best Italian restaurants? And should four-star restaurants be considered alongside exemplary pizzerias like Frank Pepe in New Haven, CT, and Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix? Heck, yes. For an Italian restaurant to be considered truly great, it should do what it does best.

At Trattoria Lucca, which opened in Charleston, SC, in 2008, that means dishes that showcase fresh local seafood, from the crudo of grouper to homemade ricotta cavatelli with flounder in a shellfish broth. For a truly special treat, time your visit to the Monday evening family supper, a communal seating during which chef Ken Vedrinski serves a four-course prix fixe menu for $38.

While there’s a charm to old-school places like Bamonte’s in Brooklyn, we skewed to innovative recent arrivals like Trattoria Lucca and to longtime restaurants that have upped their game beyond the red-sauce standards, such as Chicago’s romantic Spiaggia, overlooking Lake Michigan, and San Francisco’s Acquerello, where the tasting menu might include ridged pasta in foie gras and Marsala sauce with black truffles.

Some of our favorite Italian restaurants made their reputations on outstanding wine lists. Others go beyond Tuscan or Roman cuisine to acquaint diners with the pleasures of culinary traditions from, say, Italy’s northeastern Friuli region—the driving influence at Frasca in Boulder, CO, where a visit begins with addictivegrissini, pencil-size crispy breadsticks. 

What’s certain is that each of these 20 Italian restaurants is a destination worth checking off your list. See how many you’ve tried, and then share your local favorites in the comments below.

See which restaurants made the cut >

Related posts:

• Chef's Favorite U.S. Restaurants
• New York's Top Restaurants
• The World's Strangest Street Food
• The World's Top Revolving Restaurants
• America's Favorite Cities

Acquerello, San Francisco

This Nob Hill institution helmed by co-owners Giancarlo Paterlini and Suzette Gresham-Tognetti isn’t just the fine-dining Italian restaurant you go to for special occasions out of habit. It’s stayed consistently great and kept relevant since its 1989 debut, winning a coveted Michelin star for six years and counting. For the best representation, try the classic tasting menu, where you’re likely to sample the ridged pasta in foie gras and Marsala sauce with black truffles or the truffle-stuffed chicken with leek custard with potato gratin and creminis. There’s a seasonal tasting, too, and you can always order à la carte for a more contemporary take on the classic flavors of Italian food using the freshest ingredients California can provide.

Acquerello

Del Posto, New York City

Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich are the forces behind this opulent 24,000-square-foot temple to upscale Italian dining, accompanied by live piano music. It took millions to create, but payoff came with star-studded reviews, notably four stars in 2010, from The New York Times’ then–restaurant critic Sam Sifton—a first for Batali, despite all his restaurants, and a first for the publication in 34 years. And while you don’t eat stars, chef Mark Ladner’s lardo with bread, jalapeño crab pasta, and heavenly 100-layer lasagna make you feel like you’re eating among them. The emphasis on high-end service and preparation should make the French jealous.

Del Posto

Trattoria Lucca, Charleston, SC

In downtown Charleston’s Elliotborough, Ken Vedrinski celebrates family-style dining, paying tribute to his grandmother who grew up in the Abruzzo region. There are imported cheese and salumi, and hand-rolled pastas, but Vedrinski is perhaps best known locally for his commitment to farm-to-table produce and fresh seafood from the waters surrounding Charleston. So you can’t go wrong ordering any of the crudos the chef has put on the menu. Or put your meal entirely in his hands by joining the Monday evening family supper, a communal seating during which Vedrinski serves a new four-course prix fixe menu for $38.

Trattoria Lucca

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You guys, it is hot outside.

I’m talking seriously steaming. (Has anyone tried to fry an egg on the sidewalk yet?) And nothing cools us off quite like a dip in the pool, amirite?

And even though swimming means your hair may look subpar, your cohorts will likely forget if you’re attending one of these wet and wild hotel pool parties.

So before summer slips through your fingers, take an end-of-the-season vacay and get your party hats on—and perhaps your top off.

Rehab Sundays At The Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas

If there were only one infamous pool party, it would have to be the Sunday Rehab affair held at the Hard Rock Hotel—nine years in the making, this wet fest features oil-slathered tan bodies, a scantily-clad waitstaff and what we imagine are tons of bodily fluids floating around those waters. (TMI? But we’ve seen them exchanged.)  

The grotto pool features two sandy beaches and will cost you a pretty penny for entrance alone: $100 for the boys, $50 for the girls. Staying at the Hard Rock? You’re in for free—but don’t think that doesn’t mean you won’t have to wait in the (oftentimes quite long) entrance line. But once you’re in, the party is known to bring in renowned DJs from across the globe including Tiesto (who kicked off the party’s 2012 season), Paul Oakenfold, and Bad Boy Bill.

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Plunge At The Perry, South Beach

Held on the hotel’s rooftop, RX kicked off in February (because those Floridians are oh-so-lucky with their weather) and has hosted the likes of the Kardashians, party girl Tara Reid, Lil’ Wayne, and Ne-Yo—not to mention a slew of celebrity DJs.

From noon till 8 p.m. on Saturdays, expect the Perry South Beach rooftop’s plunge pool (and namesake club Plunge) to be hopping with a young, hipster crowd. Should you not wanna get wet (not that we really understand that, hang out in one of the shaded daybeds that boast their own flat-screen TVs.

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Wet Republic At The MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Ladies, this party is unofficially for you: Women get in free to this happening Vegas bash, while the men need to pony up $20 to check out the wild (and we mean wild) scene. Get in early though, as this discount is usually axed by 2 p.m. when the real crowds start rolling in.

And despite the large group the party attracts (keep in mind, the MGM Grand also has the largest number of rooms in Vegas), waitress service is surprisingly speedy—which means you’ll have a piña colada in your hands ASAP. When our reporter visited, there wasn’t only a bikini content underway, but also an electro-pop smash duo LMFAO held a rousing pool-side concert. Did we mention there are cabanas to rent for a little (sexy) privacy?

See more pool shots >

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Rising from the Arabian Gulf on an island 280 metres from the shores of the renowned Jumeirah beach and the enchanting city of Dubai, stands the iconic Burj Al Arab, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture and the most opulent hotel in the world. Designed to resemble the graceful sails of an Arabian dhow, Burj Al Arab soars to a height of 321 meters and is less than 20 kilometres south of Dubai city, dominating Dubai’s coastline. Illuminated at night by choreographed lighting representing water and fire – Burj Al Arab is simply individual, inspired, impressive.

In its relatively short tenure on the Dubai coastline this legendary and symbolic hotel has attracted international attention and awe, ensuring its place as one of the most photographed structures in the world, and consistently voted the world’s most luxurious hotel.

Adjacent to Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi waterpark, and in close proximity to Mall of Emirates, Ski Dubai, The Palm Jumeirah and array of world-class golf courses, Burj Al Arab is perfectly located and acts as a landmark at the very heart of Dubai.

This all-suite luxury hotel in Dubai reflects the very finest that the world has to offer. With a discreet in-suite check-in, private reception desk on every floor and a brigade of highly trained butlers, you can be assured of the ultimate in personal service throughout your stay. And don’t forget to upgrade your experience at Burj Al Arab with a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce.

The hotel is officially rated Five-Star Deluxe. However, it is frequently described as “the world’s only seven-Star hotel”, although the hotel management claims to never have done that themselves. In the words of a Jumeirah Group spokesperson: “There’s not a lot we can do to stop it. We’re not encouraging the use of the term. We’ve never used it in our advertising.” According to the group, the “Seven-Star” notion was brought to being by a British journalist who visited the hotel on a pre-opening press trip. The journalist “described Burj al Arab in her article as above and beyond anything she had ever seen and called it a seven-star hotel.”

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Maison Premiere serves up the largest selection of absinthe and oysters in Williamsburg with an Old World flair. Inside reveals a beautiful marble bar, absinthe drip, and the romantic atmosphere of New Orleans. Created by the designers behind nearby Moto, this gorgeous salon—its green walls fogged with a faux patina that suggests decades of Gauloises smoke—is devoted to the twin pleasures of oysters and absinthe: two French Quarter staples with plenty of appeal in Brooklyn.

Maison Premiere was dreamed up by Josh Boissy, who operates a bistro across the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway called Le Barricou. When you take a seat at Maison Premiere, you are handed a long list of spirits, cocktails and wines; a pencil, and a seafood menu.

Maison Premiere has up to seventeen different kinds of oysters from all over North America on the menu at any given time. Price per oyster ranges from $1.95 to $3.15, but if you are a real oyster lover, visit Maison Premiere during its happy hour, where all oysters go for only $1 a pop.

Maison Premiere
Mon-Fri, 4pm-4am; Sat-Sun, noon-4am
298 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
347-335-0446

All Photos © Alice Gao

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Feel the spirit of Ireland any night of the year when you step into an Irish pub. There’s really nothing quite like the jovial and cozy atmosphere so many Kilkenny-filled taverns create. 

Between the years 1845-1852, the Great Potato Famine brought numerous Irish refugees across The Pond for a better life in America. Many of them didn’t bring much to their new home, but what they left behind was a cultural legacy that Americans still enjoy today. Every city seems to have a local pub, so get the skinny on ones you can’t afford to miss. 

This story was originally published by Party Earth

Molly Malone's, Los Angeles

Location: 575 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles

Molly Malone’s has been an LA standard for over 30 years, with the same Irish family ownership. It not only serves up Jameson and Guinness, but also showcases musical talent. Stop by to catch some local live jam sessions, or your best friend’s struggling band taking the stage. Either way, you’ll enjoy the laidback atmosphere. The framed photo galleries of past performers hanging on the wall reinforce the musical history that you’re taking part in.

The Buena Vista, San Francisco

Location: 2765 Hyde Street, San Francisco

If you’re a Nor Cal dweller, you’ve certainly been to The Buena Vista, located in the famous Fisherman’s Wharf. Sure, the whole area is kind of a tourist trap, but this place is a local favorite, rich with colorful history. The building served as a boarding house until 1916, when the owner transformed the bottom floor into a saloon. It wasn’t until 1952, though, when the establishment introduced their famous, and some say unparalleled, Irish Coffee recipe. This is a must on any Golden Gate visit.

Butch McGuire's, Chicago

Location: 20 West Division Street, Chicago

There are tons of Irish pubs to choose from in Chi-Town, but Butch McGuire’s might be the most fun. C’mon, it’s the original “singles bar!” For over 50 years, this saloon has been serving Chicago dwellers good beer, good food, and amazing times. Butch McGuire opened the joint in 1961 with a little seed money from his mother for his younger unattached friends, and it is said that over 5,000 marriages have resulted from bar hookups. It has always been a family run joint, which means the authenticity, integrity, and original hornball intentions have remained intact.

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Last week, the Harvard Business Review checked in on the New England lobster market to teach us all a lesson about pricing.

It turns out, not all goods respond to supply and demand forces in the same way. Lobster, in certain environments, doesn't really respond at all.

What does this mean for the savvy consumer?

The HBR reports that, due to a bumper crop, wholesale lobster prices in New England have plummeted. Lobstermen are emptying their traps and getting a 40 year low price of, in some cases, under $2 per pound. Just last year, they were getting twice that. Does this mean you can go up to your favorite clam shack in Maine and eat yourself sick on lobster for a song?

Sorry, guys, that's not how lobster pricing works:

"With cheap wholesale prices, consumers must be benefiting by paying less for lobster, right? Not necessarily. Yes, prices at Boston grocery stores have dipped to as low as $3.99 per pound. Similarly, a "Cantonese style" twin lobster dinner at a restaurant I frequent in Chinatown has dropped from $24.99 to $19.99. However, at my favorite upscale restaurant, prices have not budged—a lobster roll platter is still close to $30. Similarly, prices for picked lobster (meat removed from the shell) at retail outlets have remained constant too."

Strange, right? Rafi Mohammed explains that what we're seeing here is two different sorts of pricing at work: value pricing and cost-plus pricing. Cost-plus pricing is something anyone who has worked in retail should be familiar with. Retailers typically want a fixed margin above cost. On the wholesale side it works similarly, explains Mohammed:

"If a product costs $100 to manufacture and a manager wants a 50% gross margin, the cost-plus price would be $150. While easy to implement, the downside is these prices have no correlation to what consumers will actually pay. When you are buying a product, do you evaluate prices with a dictum that they can't be more than 50% of what it costs to manufacture? Most of us don't."

To price something properly, explains Mohammed, you need to "capture the value of your product relative to your customers' next best alternatives." So with retail stores and Chinatown restaurants, there's plenty of competition to drive lobster prices toward their market value. But at your favorite Cape Cod roadside restaurant, or upscale lobster spot, there's something known as a vacuum pricing environment, where value pricing dominates: "Because of the unique value they provide, these businesses don't have to lower their lobster dish prices to remain competitive," writes Mohammed.

Counter to Mohammed's argument, however, is that most lobster platters consist of a boiled lobster with corn-on-the-cob and drawn butter. You don't have to be a Michelin-starred chef to melt butter or boil water, but you might have to be brave to kill a living animal in boiling water in your own home—but much smarter people have written about this ethical dilemma.

As far as your wallet is concerned, you'd be much, much better off buying lobsters retail, at a price that approaches fair market value. A 1.5 pound lobster platter in New England likely goes for somewhere north of $25, while the thing might retail for $6 (and the restaurant gets it wholesale for less). That said, who wants to fuss with killing animals while on vacation?

Well, what's $20 worth to you? Would you pay $20 to avoid the hassle of melting butter and boiling a living thing in a vacation rental home? It very well might be. Vacationing in touristy areas makes us constant victims of vacuum pricing environments—what is a tourist trap if not a pure example of this: something of low value, that supposedly exists nowhere else, and typically costs an arm and a leg?

Knowing the actual value of things can help you know to steer clear of these places and experiences, but it can also be quite stressful to circumnavigate. As a vacationer, you have to know how to properly balance your wallet's needs with much-needed R&R. It isn't easy to say with any certainty what's right or wrong. In that way, it's kind of like boiling lobsters alive for your own gustatory pleasure.

NOW READ: Reddit Users Share 25 Ways To Make Your Life Easier >

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Adventures….

The Pursuitist was recently in Paris… Here’s our photo tour of the City of Lights… Let’s go window shopping…

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Ebay is having a tough time shutting these down, but offers to sell Pottermore accounts are popping up everywhere. Pottermore - for those who are not infected by Potter mania is a website by Sony along with J.K. Rowling and will have additional details to the original books as well as e-book and audio book versions. Registrations were open to the first million users from 31st July 2011 and wont open to the general public until October 1 , 2011. The site offers a virtual Harry Potter world with never before seen / heard details of the Potter’s world.

Actually, the website launched on July 31st, 2011, with the "The Magical Quill" quest which would allow users who completed the quest the "early" registration for the site. The quest would run for 7 days, from 31st July to 6th August. Each day, a clue from the corresponding book (day 1 Philosopher's Stone etc). The clue must be answered correctly to enable the person the right to register before October.

Roughly 150 thousand people will be able to register each day. After the quest is over, one million people will be selected to view the site before October. For those who have the cash and do not need to raid Gringotts like the rest of us, head on to Ebay for auctions like this one (its still live as we write) and try your luck. The rest of us can simply keep trying everyday and have their fingers crossed.

With references from Wikipedia.

The Rich Times

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You would think that these relics of the Mowgli days only existed in the imagination of a certain Mr. Kipling. Apparently thats not so true. We were surprised ourselves when we came across the details of this Rolls which was actually used by the kings of yester-years to hunt tigers in India.

The car was specially designed to be driven in the jungles and has tall tyres that were designed to cross rough terrain and the low-gearing ratio that allowed the huge vehicle to creep through mud and bush. We cant claim to have ever heard of another Rolls that was adapted for this purpose. The car also had powerful brass searchlights that swing side to side and an arsenal of animal killing weaponry.

The Tiger Car as it is being called in Bonhams should get about a million dollars when it sells at auction (August 18th) this year. The vehicle was specially designed for the Maharaja of Kota (now part of India but erstwhile princely state) - his highness, Umed Singh II and even boasted of a machine gun on it.

The Rich Times

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While we are focusing merely on the iPad case that costs a whopping $6900, David Heil of David August Inc has created an entire line up of exotic leather goods. The iPad case for instance is hand cut and stitched in Italy by a family of skilled artisans. While it is claimed to be the most expensive case for an iPad (we have been unable to verify these claims) ; it could very well be true since the only competition that we can recollect is from Alexander Amosu (cases cost $2,620) and Dolce & Gabbana whose cases cost about $1,175.

This iPad case from David Heil is made from alligator skin. Also released in the same collection are a soft laptop attaché case for $12,900, Dopp kit for $7,800, a watch holder for $7,800, and a change tray for $2,400 – all made of the rich alligator skin.

Its superior craftsmanship and lush, exotic material make it the world’s most expensive cover for the coveted iPad, and sells for nearly 14 times the amount of Apple’s basic 16GB model itself.

The Rich Times

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Guess Verres wasn't kidding when he named this Vodka - which is by far the most expensive one in the world as the Billionaire Vodka . A vodka which costs $3.7 Million USD is simply not affordable unless you have a few hundred billion dollars at your perusal.

Verres is no newbie when it comes to million dollar drinks - as evidenced by the million dollar champagne or Le Billionaire Champagne that he had unveiled earlier (which was surprisingly sold out completely). The Billionaire Vodka from the house of Leos Verres Luxury Group is filled with 5 liters of the purest and softest vodka (their words not ours, we would certainly not be updating this blog if we could afford sips of $3.7 million drink). The vodka is made from a Russian recipe where it is distilled from pure wheat and crystal clear water (filtered multiple number of times). However normal filtering is just not enough for this vodka - so the secret recipe even calls for flowing the water over diamonds (real ones) worth millions of dollars. Whether diamonds have a flavor, that we do not know - but if it does ; then surely it will be present in this Billionaire Vodka from Leon Verres.

However that too would not justify the price by itself so we do have the ubiquitous diamonds studding the bottle too - 3000 real diamonds at last count. Being a animal rights activist as well as PETA supporter, Verres declined to use real fur on the bottle and has instead made use of white faux fur. The cap is based on the form of Russian fur hats with the exception of being made from faux fur.

For the rest of us who would still like a flavor of this diamond drink , Verres has an option of the cheaper 0.5 liter vodka bottle which would be decorated with a handmade gold label. The B on the bottle which stands for Billionaire Vodka would be studded with Swarovski crystals. The bottle comes with white gloves meant to be used while serving the alcohol. The gloves too would have the golden Billionaire vodka logo.

The Billionaire vodka will only be available in carefully selected bars, lounges and restaurants across the globe. Head on to Leon Verres for more.

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With 3D movies catching up on trends today, why should you not try it for the one of the most important event of your life, you wedding? With the 3D technology charming everyone everywhere, New York-based Mélangerie called Brooklyn lets you create your wedding invites in a stop motion 3D. How you ask? Well, the invite comes along with a charming custom View-Master slide that contains your story in motion pictures! All you need to do is send them 7 high-resolution pictures and wait for 6 to 8 weeks for the delivery! The invites would cost you around $3,450 for 100 pieces.

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Last week on these pages, I mentioned that I’d managed to cross the Huntington in San Francisco off my hotel bucket list. This prompted some readers – and assorted Twitter followers – to enquire as to the remaining hotels on the list. Apparently they thought I actually had a neatly-ordered list of hotels, complete with little check boxes ready to be filled in.

But then I though — dammit, I *should* have that list. And so I set about making it. Here’s my top ten so far – please do feel free to suggest others in the comments. Where would you stay if you had one hotel night left on earth?

Raffles, Singapore
I mean, come on. If there’s an archetypal bucket list hotel, it’s Raffles. Sure its reputation has slipped in recent years but it remains the birthplace of the Singapore Sling, and the place where the last wild tiger in Singapore was shot and killed. Colonialism for the win.

Seal Rock Inn, San Francisco
To most passers by, the Seal Rock is just a crappy motor inn at the end of Geary Street, but to fans of Hunter S Thompson, it’s the crappy motor inn at the end of Geary Street where the father of Gonzo completed his masterwork; Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972.

Claridges, London
A tie with the recently refurbished Savoy in London for iconic status, Claridges remains the ultimate hotel for those who, like me, choose to live permanently in hotels. The list of iconic guests stretches from Monet to Madonna – and of course it’s the place where Oscar Wilde had the affair which landed him in jail.

Burj Al Arab, Dubai
The world’s first seven star hotel; not to mention the hotel which finally rendered the star system meaningless.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Moscow
The Russian capital is known for its insanely expensive luxury hotel rooms so, if you’re going to pay through the nose, you might as well go crazy. And at $18,000 a night, the hotel’s eponymous Ritz-Carlton Suite is crazy like a Russian.

Jules Undersea Lodge, Key Largo
As the name suggests, Jules Undersea Lodge is a lodge, under the sea. Before staying here I’ll have to learn to scuba dive (guests must be qualified divers just to get to their room) but that’s a small price to pay to actually sleep with the fishes.

Hoshi Ryokan, Hokuriku
I know literally nothing about the Hoshi Ryokan except for this: it is the world oldest hotel, having first opened in 718 – nearly 1300 years ago. Apparently there’s a hot spring. That’s good enough for me.

The Ritz, Paris
If you’re going to stay in any Ritz (and you certainly must), then the Ritz Paris is the one to choose. Coco Chanel certainly seemed to agree: she lived there for more than 30 years. Today, sadly, the hotel is more famous for being where Princess Diana spent her last night on earth.

RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach
The most recent addition to my list – I only found out about it two weeks ago, when I happened to drive by. What more fitting tribute could there be for the grand old liner that connected Southampton and New York between the 1930s and the 1960s than to moor it in Long Beach convert it to a luxury hotel? Ok, maybe not Long Beach – but beggers can’t be
choosers.

Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel, Lapland
Claiming to be the world’s largest hotel made entirely of ice (a long list, no doubt), Jukkasjärvi started out as a 60ft igloo but has today grown to more than 5000ft in size. Perhaps due to its growing capacity, or maybe because it’s in the middle of a frozen wasteland, the hotel currently achieves just 60% occupancy – so I anticipate some decent
last minute deals.

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“There is a growing sense that Mark Zuckerberg, talented though he may be, is in over his hoodie as CEO of a multibillion-dollar public company,” said Sam Hamadeh, head of research firm PrivCo. “While in many cases a company founder can, and does, grow into the job, things are happening so quickly that there is precious little time here for Zuckerberg to do that.”

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Emma Watson graces the cover of T, The New York Times Style Magazine. After a decade of Harry Potter movies, Emma traded Hogwarts for Oxford and Brown. Now the former child star is back on the big screen with a whole new bag of tricks. Writer Will Self sat down with the 22-year-old in a gastropub in a trendy neighborhood of North London — read their encounter.

Used with permission/photos credit: T, The New York Times Style Magazine.

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Four decades after opening—and transforming Orlando—the Magic Kingdom is still the No. 1 most popular theme park, working its pixie-dust charm on more than 17 million annual visitors.

Yet Mickey Mouse has some recent competition: the rising star of the theme-park industry is an English boy with round spectacles and a scar on his forehead.

See which parks made the list >

The $265 million Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in the summer of 2010, single-handedly carried Islands of Adventure into the world's top 10 most-visited theme parks, delivering a 29 percent jump in attendance. “That's just huge growth when you're talking about the top of the rankings,” says Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider.

The takeaway? If you build it, they will come—especially if you spend a boatload of money and create an experience that's, to use the industry's favorite buzzword, immersive. The latest and greatest new theme-park attractions are designed to pull us right into the story, whether we're engaging in an epic robot battle, soaking up the retro cars culture along Route 66, or downing pints of butterbeer with Hogwarts students.

One big, exciting new attraction can get folks through the turnstiles, says Niles. “And if you look at the really huge news happening this year—it's Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, Transformers at Universal Studios Hollywood, the new Manta roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego,” he says. “I think 2012 will be southern California's year.”

But if you're looking for even bigger growth, look even farther afield to Asia, which passed the 100-million-visitor milestone for the first time in 2011. Hong Kong's Ocean Park, No. 11, got a boost from a new rainforest adventure and aquarium-themed zone, while Nagashima Spa Land challenges visitors to brave the world's longest roller coaster, Steel Dragon 2000. With a number of major new parks planned for the world's most populous continent, Asia's slice of the theme park pie should only get bigger.

Even some traditional theme parks are getting spruced up: for its 60^th anniversary in 2012, the De Efteling park south of Amsterdam has unveiled Aquanura, a fountains-and-light extravaganza.

Get the scoop on which other attractions and events are drawing crowds to the world’s most-visited theme parks, based on Themed Entertainment Association's latest attendance report (2011).

See which parks made the list >

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• America's Favorite Cities
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• America's Most Visited Zoos
• Coolest New Disney Vacations
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Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, FL

Annual Visitors: 17,142,000

In 2011, more than 17 million people visited the world's favorite theme park, eager for photos by iconic Cinderella's castle and a turn on rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain. “It is what people think about when they think of Disney World,” explains Deb Wills, founder of AllEars.Net. A Disney character parade cuts through the park and heads down Main Street, USA, every afternoon, and a fireworks spectacular lights up the sky many nights. The makeover of Fantasyland is the big news for 2012.

disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/ 

Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA

Annual Visitors: 16,140,000

Disney's original theme park, opened in 1955, comes in a close second to its significantly larger counterpart in Orlando. Disneyland can boast about some of Walt's best original rides as well as the newly revamped Disney California Adventure next door—all the more reason to book an Anaheim vacation.

disneyland.disney.go.com

Tokyo Disneyland

Annual Visitors: 13,996,000

Though closed for a full month in 2011 following the tsunami, the 126-acre Japanese Disneyland still managed to pull in 14 million visitors. “It was a little bit surprising how strong this park did in the face of literal disaster,” says Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider. But maybe locals needed that Disney magic more than ever.

tokyodisneyresort.co.jp

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Want to gauge how cool your best friend’s future wife really is? Just tell her you’re planning beau-to-be’s bachelor party.

If she’s cool with that, they’ll be together forever. If she’s not, hey, at least he can look back on that one incredible night before he got locked up.

But we’re not talking any bachelor party. We’re talking one that folks will write songs about. One that preferably involves police sirens, little people on trampolines, horses, tassles, and enough booze to hospitalize a six-foot-seven African American lady dressed as Wonder Women (this will make more sense later).

It’s up to you to make sure he has the best send-off ever, so whether you already live in Los Angeles or you’re planning a trip with the boys, we’ve got you covered for a Hollywood (and surrounding) bachelor fest you’ll never remember.

It’s LA. Traffic is terrible. Get over it. You know what’s worse? Being the drunken idiot who blocks a busy street with his car after he gets pulled over by the cops for driving on the sidewalk. This is the last night you’d want to be behind the wheel—and cramming the boys into your ‘82 Civic is out—so make the donation rounds to the groomsmen and get a limo bus—preferably one with a bathroom in back. Trust us.

Get a Room

Doesn’t matter if you were born and raised here; get a hotel room or two. Sure, a two-bedroom suite at the famed Chateau Marmont starts at around five grand, but if you ever wanted proof that glamorous celebrities get as disgustingly sloppy when they party as everybody else, this is where to find it. Another stellar historic haunt is The Roosevelt Hotel right in the heart of Hollywood, which isn’t nearly as wallet-busting and houses several popular entertainment options, including multiple bars and a pool that promises to be more chlorine than pee until you guys get through with it.

Race Time!

Maybe you don’t know a thing about racing. Maybe you think a thoroughbred is just a really thick piece of toast. Who cares? Start the day early by banging down to the Hollywood Park Racetrack just three miles south of the LA airport or Santa Anita east of Downtown. Put a few bills on black at Hollywood Park’s onsite casino, then take your winnings and bet it all on whatever horse reminds you most of the future bride. Hopefully it’s not Bridle of Frankenstein or Will Run For Food.

Dinner

Doesn’t matter if your bro’s a foodie or not – you take him to Taco Bell for his bachelor dinner and you can kiss any groomsman role goodbye. And that means no bridesmaids. So man up! If you’re in a rush to get the night started, drop in to Wurstküche downtown, where exotic sausages like rattlesnake, duck, and alligator complement two dozen craft Belgian and German beers on tap.

Library Bar is also a cool nearby gastropub and lounge, or better yet, go with some tradition and dine like real gentlemen at Musso and Frank, a Hollywood institution with enough steak and whiskey on hand they should rename it Steaskey! Whisteak? We’ll work on it.

Drinks

After dinner, pop on over to Hemingway’s, one of the best bars in LA for specialty craft drinks, a swanky vibe, and vintage library digs with over ten thousand books stuffed onto towering floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Reservations are a must – and perusing a few Cliffs Notes isn’t a bad idea either if you want to impress all the pretty ladies in attendance with your faux literary skills. Just remember this advice from the legendary womanizer for which the place is named, “always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.” Also, Moby Dick is about a whale.

Party

Even if you didn’t book The Roosevelt, head on back there for a chance to experience one of the weirdest clubs in LA: the subterranean Beacher’s Madhouse, a throwback vaudeville-inspired spectacle where you’re as likely to see a little person fly through the air as a tiger, a dude dressed as Big Bird, and a six-foot-seven African American Wonder Woman traipse across the stage (now it makes sense!).

Advanced reservations are equally important at this speakeasy-meets-asylum hotspot, but it’s totally worth the prep. Just remember one of the house rules: You can’t feed alcohol to the little people. And even though they are dressed the part, calling them Oompa Loompas is totally not cool, dude. Don’t be that guy.

After Party

Once the show is over, it’s time for the real traditions to begin. But don’t settle for just any strip club, gentlemen. Even though LA can’t compete with Las Vegas for its sheer quantity of scantily clad joints, there’s still Crazy Girls in Hollywood, where everybody—from the bouncers to the DJs to the girls themselves—is usually ripped from open to close. Introduce your boy to Candy, Tiffany, Sunshine, Autumn, and Destiny, and let him disappear for the next hour or so.

For a slightly tamer but still ridiculously sexy experience, get over to Jumbo’s Clown Room, where the women might not be totally naked but the bikinis are small, the burlesque leaves little to the imagination, and you can buy your boy a few more rides at his last rodeo.

Cap it all off with a few to-go orders from Canter’s Deli, where the pastrami is magic and plenty of dolled-up A-listers stumble in at 5am to unapologetically stuff their faces. Dust the crumbs off back in your hotel, or screw the hotel all together and have the limo take you, the little people, the tiger, Wonder Woman, and the trailing drunken crazy strippers up to the famed Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, where you can watch the sun rise over the rest of your forever after perfect life.

This post originally appeared at Party Earth.

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