For our first we stayed at a swanky hotel in Monte Rey, they laid on free tickets to the aquarium where we got to pet the rays, watch the otters and squish the cucumbers. Unless you really love out of control kids, go on a weekday when its school tour time, at least then the little bastards are kept in line, at the weekend the parents let them run amok and there're a real fucking pain.

The hotel had wicked hot tubs on the roof that overlooked everything, some really nice resturants with awesome service and high class meals (with suitably hefty price tags I might add). It's one of those places where a teeny tiny packet o' nuts from your bar costs ya seven dollars, as does a tiny wee heiniken (that's why we brought a crate in with us).

Here's the view from our room

The balcony at the Aquarium

After the hotel we took a trip down to Carmel to lounge on the beach and admire the awesome view

While there we met some twee friends who took the opportunity to eat all they could before stockpiling for Crimbo