World's Top "Party" Destinations

[Nicholas Kontis]

 

 

 Athens, Greece

Think Athens is an old, dusty, unmaintained,  just another dirty city. A  European capital with no reason to reason to spend an extensive stay,  unless you’re a history buff or  in transit to the Greek Islands, think again. Ask anyone in the world, who enjoys a vibrant nightlife, and I guarantee you that they will say, “Athens Rocks.”   Even in hard economic times, the Greeks know how to party.  Athens is on par with any other city on the planet and a  “party capital” full of energy.   Athens is a late night town. Many Greeks will not even leave their homes until after midnight. Perhaps the Greeks and the Spaniards have  high unemployment rates because it's just so much fun at night.  Athens is a mecca for live music bars, and clubs. Of course,  summers in Greece are already famous. The music scene is especially worth mentioning from heavy metal live acts, classical, Jazz, to  traditional Greek Rembetika.  Start off in the Plaka at the Ouzeries and as it gets late, head to Psiri and Lycabetos Mountain. Also, the area of  Gazi there are many bars and live music.  There are giant indoor-outdoor discos and clubs where the most famous Greek singers perform nightly to packed houses. I once saw rock band, the “metal God’s”,  Iron Maiden in Athens.

 

 

Punta Del Este, Uruguay

In the last decade a new party capital has emerged. Located where the Atlantic Ocean and the Rio del la Plata meet. This may be the most dynamic party scene that you have perhaps heard of. If you’re looking for a beach destination with a “live” party scene and beautiful people, that only South Beach can rival, look no further. Punta Del Este is the playground for the hip, beauties’ from Buenos Aires. Argentina. In fact, the place is really an extension of Argentina, only it is in Uruguay.  South Americans come to Punta Del Este from as far away as Chile to drink and dance the days and nights away.  Today, Punta Del Este is famous for its miles of long beaches, upscale hotels, resorts, and rentals, nightlife, restaurant.

 

 

Koh Phangan , Thailand

 Since I first visited in the 1980s,  party revelers from throughout the world, have crossed Koh Samui for the famous "Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan. I’m quite sure that when a group of friends, armed with guitars, a tape recorder,  enough booze to last the evening,  started a bon fire on the beach under a full moon, little did they know that they were creating one of the most happening parties on the planet. Today on any given month over 10,00.0  and as many as 20,000 people from every spec of the earth, and all walks of life,  converge on the Thai island that I call  “Ibiza East.”   Koh Phangan is located in the Gulf of Siam a little North of Koh Samui. About 75 % of the island is mountains covered by tropical jungle. The beaches are gorgeous, with coarse white sand. The real reason why people from old over the glove flock to Koh Phangan is for the “Full Moon Parties.” DJs from around the world play trance, hip hop and more.to get the crowd moving. Full Moon revelers wear face paint colorful clothing, chant, dance, and let loose, until the sun comes up. This is quite a scene as it is the world’s largest party in a tropical setting.

 

 

 

Miami, Florida

Miami has everything you are looking for. Is there a place on earth with more beautiful people on the planet than Miami's South Beach? Take a stroll down Lincoln Road and check out the "eye candy."  After a day  of fun in the sun,  you may want to relax at one of Miami's many cocktail lounges. Do you have more energy? Visit night clubs ranging from hard rock to  blues to techno for a night of dancing and entertainment. Clubs with live music and shows are also on the menu for visitors who want to finish their day watching a great performance. No matter what you are looking for when the sun goes down, Miami has it to offer. Even hotels such as the Delano and the Shore Club offer late night revelry.  On Sunday’s Nikki Beach is the place to be seen for day partying that many times leads deep into the night. After all, this is South Beach. Partying , American style with a Latin flare. Is it any why people from all over the world flock to Miami any time of the year. Many love the vibe so much that they buy second homes or even move to Miami.    

 

 

 

Cancun and Playa Del Carmen,  Mexico

During the day Cancun is quiet. But then the creatures of night get ready to prowl  and both the Hotel Zone and downtown start rocking with music. There is music of all kind:  salsa, meringue, flamenco, reggae, jazz, classical, disco, rock and roll, hip-hop and techno. Many restaurants serve  as party centers with all you can drink specials and waiters who don’t hesitate to get up on stage and dance in between serving drinks. Cancun Discos and dance bars usually have taped music accompanied to high tech laser light shows with the occasional live band thrown in for good measure. It's a smaller Ibiza.  The Cancun nightclubs, especially the Latin Clubs, all have live music and import some of the hottest bands from Latin America. Barhopping during happy hour is a great way to check out the different hotels and evening cruises have a high-energy, party atmosphere. For a taste of how the locals like to party head to one of the Salsa clubs or check out the clubs in the downtown area. There is usually a free evening concert in the downtown Parque de las Palapas and close by are some excellent jazz clubs featuring local musicians. Just choose your spot and you can dance until the wee hours of the morning. "Girls Gone Wild" was invented in Cancun.  Cancun and it's chic, posh, hot little sister,  30  miles to the  south is Playa Del Carmen  Playa , With it’s boutique hotels and Italian influence,” Playa” as it is known has been dubbed, the new “South Beach.”  Once a little, sleepy village,  Playa del Carmen has now become the trendy, vacation destination for the upscale party crowd. Nowadays, I am happy to say that  I spend around a third of my year in Mexico. “Viva Mexico.”

 

 

Mykonos, Greece

 Ibiza may not be the  hippest party seen in Europe or in the world,  however if you ask any European who travels the parry circuit,  he or she will tell you that Mykonos rivals any party scene on Earth. Paradise Beach , long famous for its techno beach raves has become synonymous  with all night long parties. Both straight and gay partiers and ravers comingle  on Mykonos' warm sands by day and nonstop  "party central” by night. The best DJs Shuffle between Mykonos and Ibiza. One does not come to Mykonos to be in bed by 10p.m. Mykonos oozes, sexiness. Like a drug, the party scene is indeed intoxicating, lively and as they say, “get ready to get your drink on.” The party starts early in the afternoon, and usually on Paradise Beach The place to be seen is the Tropicana Beach Bar. There one can see bikini Clad , “ Euro chicks comingling with gay Italian fashion hounds decked out in Prada and Gucci.  August in Mykonos is the busiest month of the year. Anything goes on Paradise Beach, and it goes, until you want to stop.

 

  

 

Madrid, Spain

Very few Spanish cities and even fewer European capitals offer the possibilities that Madrid does when it comes to going out. Let's just be honest, the Spaniards know how to have a good time,  and Madrid is Spain's party capital. The  partying can begin very early and Madrid goes to bed  late. In addition, as a cosmopolitan and welcoming city, you will never feel alienated. Such an important city presents an unlimited range of night adventures, each one unique, each one unforgettable. It don't matter what gets you going, the music that starts your heart racing, or the kind of people you're looking to meet you'll find it in Madrid. Meet over Tapas, share a paella, marvel at a  Flamenco show, and the non-stop partying of your choice, anything is possible in the Spanish capital. Eat, drink, and be marry, just don’t plan on getting much sleep. On days when the weather is at its most pleasant, you’ll find a whole host of terraces throughout the city  These are generally located in the historic center and near squares such as the Plaza de Oriente, las Descalzas, del Ángel and Santa Ana. There are all kinds of places, ranging from the most typical where you can have a “caña” (small glass of beer), to exotic tea rooms or live music venues –special highlights include the jazz clubs in streets like Jacometrezo, Alburquerque or the Plaza del Ángel square; and live flamenco shows accompanied by dinner. If you really do not want to sleep, you don’t have to, there are many after-hours clubs. When I say after hours, I mean opening at 4a,m, “VIVA MADRID.”

 

 

 

Rio De Janeiro , Brazil

Nightlife in Rio has a lot to offer:  street parties, nightclubs, music clubs, gay clubs, bars. On each night of the week, you will find some of the best nightlife in the world. Samba Clubs stay open late. Even on slow nights such as Sunday and Monday, Rio is so full of  energy  that you will find clubs and nightlife abound. After all, this is the city that brings you perhaps the world’s most famous party, “Carniva.l” The History of Carnival is quite complex and is said to have its roots all the way back to ancient Greece. During centuries it has been influenced by culture and religion from Europe, Africa and South America.  The mixing of the races in Rio makes “Cariocas”, natives of Rio De Janiero a lively mix. Cariocas live to party and during Carnival you will see the best of Rio with parades, samba schools, street parties. The party starts 49 days before Easter Sunday and that´s the only sure way to calculate when Carnival will be. Wow, a 49 day party.  I’m lucky if my city of San Francisco party’s five days a year Rio also has one of the friendliest New Year’s on the planet.  In Rio people dress in white to ring in the New Year. The beaches are packed. The Copacabana and Ipanema beach are a sea of “white.”  The Brazilians may be the most sensual people on the planet. Difficult to argue with  this one. I once missed a flight home from Rio because after two weeks of “ Rio Revelry”  I was on Rio time.  I lost track of the days. Oh well, back to Ipanema.

 

 

Ios,  Greece

Welcome to the world's adult playground, depending on how you define adult. Ios is the Acropolis of party destinations, a place where the afternoon scene easily exceeds the nightlife of many other destinations. Where nights roll effortlessly into daybreak and where meeting people is as easy as seeing them. If parents were truly interested in teaching their kids sex education, they would take them to Ios and let them observe the ancient process up close. The stuff written in the books happens here in the flesh.  I can remember as a youth, perched high on the hillside, waiting and looking to see with binoculars which group of girls were arriving after a cold northern European winter. Kids of all ages simply come to Ios to party their summer away. Sex on the beach is probably happening as we speak, and I don’t mean the drink. Ios is where many young people, learn to party. I learned the meaning of the true “Euro” beach party on Ios. Even big kids like me, love Ios.

 

 

Ibiza, Spain

With little introduction needed perhaps the number one party place in the world is indeed Ibiza. If it's nightlife you're after, you've come to the right place. Why it's easy: take the best clubs and DJs in the world; add a cosmopolitan mix of clubbers and holiday makers bent on having a good time; and then throw in some stars, celebrities and models for good measure; and what do you get? You get the summer party capital of the world. Just the name Ibiza and one think’s sexy beach parties and coming home to sleep at 6a.m. before you hit the beach again by mid-day. Ibiza is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world for techno dance party scene. Clubs, clubs and more clubs. Ibiza is the only party place that I know where buses drive around to drink and be wild. If you’re an all-night party animal, you’ve found your Nirvana, if not, if not, maybe try a more serene nation such as  Austria is better suited for you.   Ibiza is where the beautiful, young, rich, trendy and the “out of this world” people of Spain and Europe come to soak up the Mediterranean sunshine on Ibiza’s white sand beaches and rave by night, at Europe's finest clubs. There are two main hot spots to hang out at. Ibiza town on the eastern side of the island and if you’re a native of the UK or just can’t get enough of the Union Jack, “Clubbing Central” or San Antonio is where you may end up. I look back at my days on Ibiza and  I’m tired already. I once came home from a club at 10a.m. Now, when was the last time you did that?

 

Nick Kontis

San Francisco * Los Angeles * Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

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[Ed Wetschler]

I showed this list to an old friend who lives in Portlandia, and he complained that the list fails to mention Grand Rapids.

 

[Juan Martinez]

+ Barcelona!