The Resorts, Islands and Hotels where Celebrities Stay
NOTHING is too lavish when it comes to celebrity escapes. Explore the villas, castles, islands and resorts celebs escape to when they want to get away from it all.
WHEN holidays come around celebrities go all out. Sumptuous suites that stretch on forever, majestic private castles, or serene islands. The motto seems to be if you can afford it, book it. Here are a few hotels that are worth checking out. Stay and play, or at least dream about it.
The hotel with a history
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, California
In 1888 stage actor Lillie Langtry may have been The Dels first celebrity guest. And in the 127 years since then the stars haven’t stopped coming. In the 1920s and 1930s Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Mae West, and Rita Hayworth were among the guests. Along came Bette Davis, Kirk Douglas, and Judy Garland in the 1940s. The 1950s and 1960s saw Doris Day, Joan Crawford, and Walt Disney pop by. The list goes on, but 1958 was a big year — Some Like it Hot was shot at the hotel — starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Today the elegant hotel is still home to the who’s who of stardom and recent celebrity visits include Lady Gaga, Kevin Bacon, Seth Rogen, Robert Downey Jr., Eva Mendes, Will Farrell, Shakira, Al Pacino, David Beckham and Jennifer Garner. If you want to do some celeb spotting this is definitely the place to stay!
The private villa
The Semara Luxury Villa Resort, The Bukit, Bali
A private villa with a butler and a private resort beach? Yes please, said Jennifer Hawkins. She loved The Semara Luxury Villa Resort so much she married Jake Wall there in 2013. Personal chefs and drivers are available too — so you can really focus on the serious stuff — making good use of that private beach.
A bunch of villas (yep, that’s plural)
Iniala Beach House, Natai Beach, Thailand
Some families just need a bit of space, right? The 10-suite private residence Inalia Beach House is made up of three villas and a penthouse suite — perfect for those who come with an entourage. The Kardashians have stayed here … along with their fiancés, friends and family. You can also rent just one villa if your budget doesn’t stretch to the whole 10 rooms (if you can even call them that).
The resort with the largest spa in the world
Mission Hills Haikou, Hainan Island, China
Located on Hainan Island in China, not only is Mission Hills Haikou home to the world’s largest spa and volcanic mineral springs (Guinness World Records says it’s true) it also has a huge golf course, leisure and wellness facilities, sports and recreation activities, dining, shopping, entertainment, and apparently environmental and ecological education options too — in case you are into studying while on break. With so much on offer it’s easy to see why celebs visit, and the list includes Hugh Grant, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Matthew McConaughey.
The world’s first fashion-branded hotel
Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Australia
Australia can boast to be home to the world’s first fashion-branded hotel, PalazzoVersace, and the superstar guest list includes trendsetter celebs like Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Kate Hudson, and Jay Z and Beyonce.
For those with refined taste
The Carlyle, New York
Situated at the corner of Madison Avenue and 76th Street (sound classy already) The Carlyle has been around since 1930. The guest list reads like a who’s who when it comes to royals and the business elite. Every single American president has visited since Truman, as have a heap of royals including the Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, the late Princess Diana, as well as the Kings and Queens of Denmark, Greece, Spain and Sweden. Dress to impress if you stay here, or keep out of sight.
The private castle
Castle Leslie Estate, County Monaghan, Ireland
Sometimes you just need to getaway somewhere really private, right? Castle Leslie Estate is nestled on 1000 acres of Irish countryside. Think really green grass (all that rain), pretty trees (again, rain), bids chirping — you get the picture. But the best bit is that it’s a huge castle — and available to rent. Irish poet William Butler Yeats stayed on site, and probably wrote some of his best poetry here (as if you wouldn’t if you had your own castle). Other notable guests include Mick Jagger and the Prince Pierre of Monaco. And Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills decided to tie the knot here too … because lets face it, private castles are pretty good wedding venues (pictured above).
The private island
Amanpulo, Pamalican Island, Philippines
What’s better than a private castle? A private island. Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise and Mariah Carey are some of the celebs that have holidayed at Amanpulo. Travel by private plane and land on your own airstrip if you rent out this baby. The resort can actually fit 146 people, but you can rent the whole thing out if you so desire.
