Day 13 – How to Look Like an Old Duffer

Knowing that we have only 4 days left of the shoot has given us more energy. Also, large quantities of Coke, Red Bull & double espressos have helped too!

Was in awful mood at 0700 when we turned up at Venturi. I was in desperate need of a stimulant to get going. Met up with the lovely Gildo Pastor, boss of Venturi, a car company based in Monaco that manufactures electric cars. But these are not just any old electric cars, one is 370,000 Euros and the “bug” which we drove in is around 35,000 Euros. The sports car Fetish is superb; very cool and very “green”. I see this as the future, not just crappy electric cars that I see in London, but proper performance cars that can a) go fast b) look good c) protect what left we have of the environment.

Next off to Le Meridien, down on Ave Princess Grace. It’s a large hotel – 403 rooms with 12 suites. UNBELIEVABLY it’s the best hotel so far to film! The two lovely people looking after us - Amelie and Liliana - make sure that everything we need is on hand.

We film a really nice suite on the 11th floor – contemporary.

Le Meridien is the only hotel in Monaco that has its own private beach! As you can imagine it’s very popular.

Next up: a shopping feature. Isabelle Ughes (pronounced Oooges) is a fashion consultant with a difference. Her company Make It Perfect looks at people’s personalities as well as personal style before choosing their outfits! Her husband, architect Jean Michel, was at hand to ensure all went well! We visited among other Lanvin where I picked up a natty hat for myself. It makes me look like an old duffer, but maybe I am!


How to look like an old duffer

For dinner we buzzed back to The Monte Carlo Beach Club and the trendiest place in town: The Sea Lounge. Full of pretty young things driving daddy’s Bentley. I left after the filming.

Leaving the Hermitage tomorrow – off to the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel – which looks FABULOUS!!

Need sleep.

Weather: Hot & sticky

Song of the Day: I’m Just a Gigolo (Louis Prima)

Day 2 - Last Minute Checks

0100: The local church bell tolls. Time for some last minute checks: Have we got the insurance sorted? Yes. Do we have a carnet? Don't need one. Must remember to take my driving licence.

0200: Gemima the dog sighs in her sleep. More last minute checks: filming permits; flights; excess baggage; phone charger and MP3 player all present and correct.

0400: Seagull squawks outside. Clean dinner suit? Spare contact lenses? Razor blades? Hmmm, need more.

0600: Coffee machine gurgles. Up and about.

The girls pottered off to Tottenham Court Road this morning to buy a Sony A1 HD, which I am told is the Aston-Martin of small hand-held HDV camcorders. We will only be using this camera for underwater filming, in-air filming and anything involving cars! It is a very expensive piece of kit, but very necessary.

Tim with his new baby

Today is research day. Monaco maybe the second smallest principality in the world (after the Holy See, the Vatican) but it has a recorded history dating back to 43 BC when Julius Caesar moored his ships there awaiting Pompey.

I could write for hours about Monaco but will leave it for Thursday when we are actually there.

2200: After final meetings with the crew; BED!

Weather: Sunny but sticky.

Song of the Day: Harvest Moon (Neil Young)

Day 1 - The Beginning

For the next six months, the Inside Luxury Travel team will be filming in six locations across the world: Monaco, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Dubai & Los Angeles starting from this Thursday.

The team is made up of Tim (cameraman), Tom (camera assistant/sound), Helen (producer), Gemima (mascot 1), Maisy (mascot 2), Mittens (mascot 3) and me. Together with a film editor (Steph) and numerous tech guys, we will be producing television shows that are already set to air in over 100 countries from December.

We are not proud people and are always looking for advice/ideas on interesting luxury features, so if your Great Aunt Moomintrolle has a company in Tokyo that designs luxury sports cars or a cigar shop in Dubai, then please get in touch! The best way is by email to Helen (she who must be obeyed) on Helen@insideluxurytravel.com.

We have just three days until we set off for Monaco for our first shoot. Fourteen days on the Cote d'Azur may sound like fun, but it promises to be hard work. Looking at the schedule we have a two hour window on day eight for sleep! I kid you not.

Weather: a sneak peak of sunshine

Song of the Day: The Chicken Payback (The Bees)