Lets face it – we don’t all have the same tastes. And when it comes to expensive things, we can become even pickier about the brands, the activities and the destinations we care about and get behind.

Even a beach getaway can become a big point of debate, and while all the top beaches in the world may exude an incredible amount of natural beauty, we know that perfection is only truly achieved when the destination can provide the qualities that speak to you, not just your credit card.  So here’s some beach destinations to add to your menu based on various ingredients.

COCOA ISLAND, THE MALDIVES

If you haven’t put the Maldives on your list, shame on you.  This archipelago is still flawless and unspoiled and begs for you to come bask in its pristine waters and beaches. The beaches on Cocoa Island are arguably the best for your private luxury getaway. Go on a dolphin cruise, diving or deep-sea fishing off these heavenly shores – or simply do nothing at all. This could be paradise on earth.

SURIN BEACH, PHUKET

Got money to burn? This place – also known as Millionaires Row – lives up to its name in every way, from the waves to the beaches, the resorts and opulent private homes. If you want to rub elbows with celebrities hanging out in Thailand, this is one of the places to do it; rack up your food and drink bills with cocktails on the beach and world class dining all around.  Catch it now while it still feels like a small fishing village and before the developers take over. Need a hotel tip? Check out Amanpuri or Twin Palms.

SHOAL BEACH, ANGUILLA

While the rich people stuck in the 1980’s are off to St. Martins, you can impress your hot date by heading north to the small island of Anguilla – where luxury permeates every aspect of your visiting experience.  Check in at the Malliouhana and then head over to Shoal Beach. Shoal Beach is renowned for its exceptional sands and access to some of the best snorkeling you will ever experience. An incredible dining and nightlife scene is available here, but you can always take a quick ferry ride to St. Martins when you want to ‘slum it’.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO

This place is on here as the best all-around destination for both people on a budget or for those with no limitations.  From large all-inclusive resorts to intimate villas, you can find an incredible place to relax and unwind, enjoy the waters of the pristine bay.  This is a pretty diverse city, so in town you’ll find touristy fare mixed with great local attractions but head into the hills and the authentic atmosphere will truly capture your imagination. Need a room? How about a Hacienda San Angel suite?

THE ISLAND from LOST

OK, you may never be able to really get there, but we had to throw this one in for kicks.  Where else could you find eternal life, a band of attractive castaways and a dangerous smoke monster to keep things exciting? In reality, this famous television beach does exist on Oahu, Hawaii but it’s more of a local beach than a destination.  But then again, if you are really gung-ho about the show like many around the world are – then a trip to this place may be for you.

POIPU BEACH, KAUAI, HAWAII

There are indeed plenty of real beaches in Oahu.  But for a serene getaway that is perfect for everyone from surfers to families, Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai is it.  Located on the southern shore, the waves are ideal all year round; the pristine curve of shoreline will allow you to engage in swimming in sunbathing, and a breakwater area is the natural version of a kiddie pool where the waters are so gentle you’ll feel your cares just floating away.  To live on the beach, discover Koa Kea.

ANSE SOURCE D’ARGENT, THE SEYCHELES

Lastly, these islands to the north of Madagascar are as close to perfection as you can get.  If you want culture and nightlife, it’s hard to resist the capital of Victoria on Mahé Island.  But head to La Digue and you can find unparalleled seclusion on Anse Source d’Argent beach, which defies a simple description here.  You just may never look at a beach in the same way ever again.

What beaches do you think of when you desire perfection?  Let us know!

In a world first, Bentley has revealed its all-new Bentley Continental GT live on the internet – allowing viewers to look at the car from a variety of different angles, inside and out, all via a live video feed.

The sportier-looking GT will be revealed in public at the Paris motor show later this month, and will be offered for sale with a £130,000 price tag after that.

“The V8 is our hedge against fuel-price spikes, carbon-dioxide-related legislation and uncertainty in the global supercar market,” says Uli Eichhorn, Bentley’s technical director.

For the first time, Continental GT customers will be offered a choice of two high-performance engines – an improved version of the current W12 unit, available from October and costing around £130,000, and an all-new 4.0-litre V8 with 40 per cent lower CO2 emissions, on sale in late 2011.

Eichhorn says the 4.0-litre V8 is an all-new engine co-developed with Audi and is yet to appear in a production model.

At the moment, its power output remains a secret, as does its induction. But given Bentley’s enthusiasm for turbo-charging, the likely output figures of the 4-0 litre V8 will probably rate between 350hp and 400hp.

Helped by slightly wider front and rear tracks, the changes from the current Continental GT are subtle, but add up to a significant transformation of the GT into a much sportier, sharper-looking sports coupe.

On the inside, the hand-crafted interior has been reworked for even greater luxury and functionality. Every surface is trimmed in metal, soft-touch leather or wood veneers. Under the foot, deep-pile carpets boost comfort levels even further. New ‘Cobra’ design seats are each 25kg lighter and more compact than the ones they replace, freeing up an extra 46mm of legroom for rear passengers.

“The great thing about Bentley is that we combine sportiness and luxury like no other brand,” says Bentley’s head of exterior design, Raul Pires.

A 70cm (27-inch) tall Colombian has been named the world’s shortest living man by Guinness World Records.

Edward Nino Hernandez, 24, weighs only 10kg (22lbs). His mother said he had not grown since he was two years old.

Mr Hernandez, who works part-time as a dancer, told the Associated Press: “I feel happy because I’m unique.”

The previous record holder was He Pingping of China, who was 4cm (1.5in) taller and died in March this year. At the time, Mr Hernandez had not yet been discovered.

Mr Hernandez is not expected to keep the record title for long, however, as Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal is expected to take the title when he turns 18 in October.

Khagendra, currently recognised as the world’s shortest living teenager, is only 56cm (22in) tall. The shortest man on record was Gul Mohammed of India, who measured just 57cm – 1cm taller than Khagendra.

Mr Hernandez’s mother, Noemi, said doctors in the Colombian capital, Bogota, never explained why he had grown only 40cm since birth.

She said doctors at the National University studied him until he was three and then lost interest. Her youngest child, 11-year-old Miguel Angel, is himself only 93cm (37in) tall.

Mr Hernandez left school in the eighth grade and now earns some money dancing at department stores. He is also currently playing the role of a drug dealer in a film.

Although he liked the attention, he said there were some drawbacks.

“It bothers me that people are always touching me and picking me up.”

Who can forget when Kanye West hijacked country-pop sweetheart Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs)?

Well, when Kanye West and Taylor Swift meet again at the MTV VMAs on September 12, he will have a special “I’m sorry” gift for the singer.

“I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that’s so beautiful and I want her to have it,” he said on his Twitter at the weekend. “If she won’t take it then I’ll perform it for her.”

Nearly a year since he first apologised to Swift for his onstage outburst, the hip-hop artist called her “justa lil girl with dreams like the rest of us” on his Twitter.

“She deserves the apology more than anyone,” he continued in his Tweet, before thanking the creators of Twitter for making a public platform for expression.

“We’re both artist[s] and the media and managers are trying to get between us. Everyone wants to capitalise off this [in] some way.”

Weighing in at nearly 1.2 tonnes and measuring a staggering 14 feet from nose to tail, Trigger the bullock is set to move into the record books.

Trigger was only a day old when his farmer aimed his shotgun at him. The farmer did not want any more males and intended to kill the baby calf, but neighbour Shaun Layton stepped in and saved his life.

Amazingly, the seven-year-old bullock is already 6 feet, 5 inches tall and still growing, meaning he could smash through the current British record in a matter of months.

When Shaun, a carpet fitter, saved Trigger, he had no idea the calf would grow into a huge beast.

Trigger’s enormous weight means he could potentially make 7,665 Big Macs or 6,137 Burger King Whoppers.

But family pet Trigger lives a life far removed from that of your average livestock.

Instead he enjoys a relaxed lifestyle in a field in Herefordshire, England, where he eats a daily diet of grass, cattle cake, mineral lick and a packet of apples every week.

Shaun said: “When you get up close to him, he really is quite imposing.

“He’s growing steadily and he’s gained an inch in the last 12 months, so he’s coming towards the British record, which is about 6 feet, 7 inches.

“I thought he would be an ordinary size bullock, but he just kept on growing and growing. Now he’s set to be the biggest steer in the United Kingdom.

“Trigger should live to be 20 years old – so who knows what size he will grow to.

“He is very good natured, a big softie really. But we have had him castrated and de-horned or he could easily kill someone.

“He’s our family pet. We go and see him twice a day, feed him and give him his cattle cake. It’s something I enjoy – you can just play around with him and it’s quite relaxing.

“I can unwind with Trigger just like some people do if they go angling.

“Lots of people come up to see him – he’s a bit of a local attraction now.”

Fox has announced that Kara DioGuardi is leaving American Idol after only two seasons, making her the third judge to leave the reality television show after Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell’s departure.

The songwriter and A&R executive joined the program in 2008.  She was previously best known for writing hit songs for Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.

In a statement released by Fox, DioGuardi said, “I felt like I won the lottery when I joined American Idol two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave Idol. I am very proud to have been associated with [the show] – it has truly been an amazing experience. I am grateful to Fox, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, as well as the cast, crew and contestants, for all they have given to me. I look forward to my next challenge, and want to thank everyone who has supported me. All the best to everyone on Season 10!”

American Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller praised DioGuardi who was expected to bring more real-life industry critiques to the contestants.

“Kara is one of the world’s best songwriters,” Fuller said. “She has been passionate and committed to Idol over the last two seasons. I will miss having her on the show, but I look forward to working with her in music for many years to come.”

With DioGuardi’s departure, only Randy Jackson is left from last season’s quartet of judges.  Simon Cowell announced his move to X-Factor in January 2009 and Ellen DeGeneres left on her own accord earlier this summer.

Rumoured replacements include Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Elton John.

Ferrari has issued an official recall for all of its 458 Italia cars made this year, following reports of a number of the luxury cars catching fire.

Ferrari said its engineers had flown around the world to investigate five reports of “thermal incidents”.

As a result, it will be asking the owners of more than 1,200 of the supercars to bring them in for modification work.

The 458 Italia typically costs about US$260,000.

There were reported incidents in California, Paris, Switzerland, China and one other unnamed location.

Ferrari said the problem had been traced to adhesive used in the wheel-arch assemblies.

In certain circumstances, the glue can begin to overheat, smoke and even catch fire, a Ferrari spokesperson said.

In extreme cases, the melting of the adhesive can lead the heat shield – the liner which protects the engine – to deform and move closer to the exhaust, causing the lining to catch fire.

The recalled cars will be modified to replace the adhesive with mechanical fasteners. All future 458 Italias will be built in this way.

The spokesperson confirmed: “1,248 Ferrari 458 Italias have been recalled worldwide.”

The five “acknowledged” 458s totally destroyed by fire will be replaced, Ferrari added, “at no cost to the client”.

A man has just embarked on a unique journey: travelling around the world without any luggage or bags of any kind.

Rolf Potts decided to put the concept of “travelling light” to the test by seeing how far he can go with only the items in his pockets.

Mr Potts, who has reported for National Geographic Traveller and Conde Nast Traveller, began his six-week journey around the world last week.

He departed from New York, US, and will fly to locations such as London, Western Europe, Morocco, Cairo, South Africa, Bangkok, Singapore, New Zealand before returning to New York on October 2.

Items stuffed into his vest pockets – all 18 of them – include a toothbrush, toothpaste, passport, credit cards, iPod and Bluetooth keyboard, a t-shirt, socks, underwear, glasses, lip balm, sunscreen, a small camera, notebook and pen, a small bottle of detergent and soap.

“I can fit all of that into my vest without even using the big cargo pockets in my pants,” he said.

He says he will even still have room in his pockets for souvenirs, and is not hindered by the items he carries.

“As for walking around, it is no problem at all – far easier than carrying a daypack.”

He says the purpose of the challenge is to prove that you don’t need lots of items with you to have amazing travel experiences.

“Travelling light in general, be it a small carry on or a daypack instead of checked luggage, is not just smarter and cheaper, it makes the travel experience more fun,” Mr Potts said.

“With less to carry, there is more time to enjoy things.”

Mr Potts says the challenge so far has been enjoyable and “not actually all that hard”.

He is updating his blog as he goes along on his six-week challenge and is uploading what he can from his mobile phone.

He will be accompanied by a videographer/producer to document the trip.

The trip is believed to be the first fully-documented attempt at travelling the world without bags.

His journey is sponsored by companies that create and sell lightweight travel clothes packed with pockets.

Paris Hilton has been charged with felony cocaine possession following her arrest in Las Vegas last weekend.

The 29-year-old heiress’ purse contained .8 grams of cocaine, cigarette wrappers commonly used for smoking marijuana, and a broken tablet of Albuterol when she was searched after a traffic stop, according to a police report.

The drug charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison if convicted.

Police pulled over the car in which she was riding on Las Vegas’ famed Strip when an officer smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle. The arrest report says Hilton was taken into the nearby Wynn Las Vegas hotel “at her request,” where she was placed in a holding room and took lip balm from her purse.

“As she began to open [the purse], I saw a small bindle of what I believed to be cocaine in a clear baggy begin to fall from the purse and into my hand,” the arresting officer reported.

Zig Zag  cigarette wrappers were also found in her purse along with Albuterol, a drug commonly used for people who have breathing problems. Hilton claimed she had a prescription for it.

Hilton’s boyfriend, Cy Waits, a Las Vegas nightclub executive, was also arrested in the traffic stop.

Paris’ explanation for the little white baggy that popped out of her purse?

“She had not seen it, but now thought it was gum,” said an officer’s report.

A court in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany will consider whether the original bill from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s June 2006 barbecue with then US President George W. Bush has to be made public.

Dubbed by the German media as the “world’s most expensive barbecue”, the event is reported to have cost a ludicrous €8.7 million.

The plaintiff in the case, who is currently serving a jail sentence for bank robbery, filed his request under the state’s freedom of information law.

“It is fairly far-reaching,” said Stefan Schulz, the plaintiff’s lawyer.

“Officials can only refuse to release information if it would pose a danger to the state or to a third party.”

He added he was optimistic that the ruling would be in favour of his client, who will not be appearing in court.

The overall cost of the extravagant barbecue in Trinwillershagen – where the then US President Bush feasted on wild boar after sightseeing along the Baltic Coast - has already been made public.

After a formal request from Germany’s National Democratic Party (NPD), the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state Interior Ministry reported in 2007 and 2008 that the visit had cost €8.7 million. Other German states paid around €5.7 million to send police officers to the event.

However, the plaintiff has said he wants to see original documentation detailing the exact costs.

The data protection commissioner of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Karsten Neumann, said the request for the cost breakdown would get his support, saying that he considered a previous denial by the authorities as “ludicrous”.

Justice officials had justified their denial by saying releasing an exact cost breakdown would allow the public to infer how many security personnel had been brought in from other states and, therefore, had not been present in their own jurisdictions.

In total, approximately 12,000 police officers were called into service to provide security for the 36-hour presidential visit.