Indulge in Luxe Accommodations, Lavish Dining, and A-List Activities for an Unforgettable Weekend Adventure!
by Stefanie Michaels
Top Celebrity Resorts are certainly worth experiencing if you’ve got the coin to drop on some of these destinations. Celebrity-owned hotels offer fans hoping for a brush with fame, and everything from rugged chic to Hollywood Glam. Excellent accommodations, started from a famous owner’s vision and personal touches, have given these A-list hotels high marks in the world of travel.
Travelers looking to grab a piece of celebridum?
Here’s a list of places owned or originally founded by some of Hollywood’s elite, rockstars and designers where you can live like a celebrity…
1. Rustic luxe with Robert Redford: Sundance Resort, Sundance, Utah
What would you expect from the original Horse Whisperer, founder Robert Redford’s sprawling ranch? Situated at the base of Mount Timpanogos on 6,000 acres of rolling hills and babbling brooks, the Sundance Kid’s retreat, Sundance Resort has travelers raving about the resort’s rustic beauty, excellent service, and outdoor activities.
Ranked No. 1 in Sundance, Utah. Average nightly rate: $600
*Romantic retreat, honeymoon
2. City chic with Robert De Niro: The Greenwich Hotel, New York, N.Y.
It’s a long way from the gritty streets featured in Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Many guests, who check in to live like a celebrity, note the understated elegance and complimentary in-room snack baskets found at original celebrity owner, Robert De Niro’s Greenwich Hotel in New York City. Located on a quiet street in Tribeca, De Niro’s hideaway features 88 uniquely decorated rooms and suites, plus a Zen-like indoor pool enclosed in a 250-year-old Japanese bamboo farmhouse.
Ranked No. 104 in New York, N.Y. Average nightly rate: $580
*Stylish decor, romantic retreat
3. Rejuvenation retreat with Olivia Newton-John: Gaia Retreat & Spa, Brooklet, Australia
Olivia Newton-John got physical with Gaia Retreat and Spa‘s 20-room, boutique retreat, which features a fitness center, pool, tranquil grounds, healthy food and of course a full-service spa.
Ranked No. 1 in Brooklet, Australia — Package deals start at $1,825 (check rates) for two nights, shared accommodation for two people
*Relaxation, spa vacation
4. In the jungle with Francis Ford Coppola: Blancaneaux Lodge, San Ignacio, Belize
Seems he didn’t get enough of the jungle during the 14 months he was filing Apocalypse Now in the 1970s. Live like a celebrity at Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge in San Ignacio, Belize, is situated in the northwest corner of the 107,000-acre Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. The lodge’s high-end cabanas and villas enhance the natural surroundings with thatched roofs, open-air living areas, and hammocks.
Ranked No. 5 in San Ignacio, Belize — Average nightly rate: $315
*Staff/service, honeymoon
5. Haute travel with Donatella Versace: Palazzo Versace, Main Beach, Queensland, Australia
Become one of the beautiful people and live like a celebrity, dah-ling. High fashion and hospitality join forces at Donatella Versace’s trendy Palazzo Versace resort on Australia’s Gold Coast, of course. All aspects of the resort were designed to reflect the Versace brand, including high-end freebies like mini bottles of Versace perfume.
Ranked No. 1 in Main Beach, Queensland, Australia — Average nightly rate: $535
*Cleanliness, stylish decor
6. Mission possible with Clint Eastwood: Mission Ranch, Carmel, Calif.
When actor and director Clint Eastwood purchased the historic Mission Ranch in 1986, he saved 22 acres of prime celebrity real estate on Carmel’s Monterey Peninsula from development. But this isn’t your typical spaghetti western digs. Eastwood, who owns a home nearby, is still spotted on occasion at Mission Ranch, a farmhouse with 31 rooms, ocean views, and sheep grazing in the meadow.
Ranked No. 2 for Specialty Lodging in Carmel, Calif., — Average nightly rate: $200
*Location, culture/sightseeing
7. Cabin fever with Kate Pierson: Kate’s Lazy Meadow Motel, Mount Tremper, N.Y.
After roaming around the world, lead singer for the B-52s, celebrity Kate Pierson caught cabin fever and decided to open her own love shack, Kate’s Lazy Meadow Motel, near Woodstock, N.Y. Visitors who want to live like a celebrity far away from the prying paparazzi, have their choice of kitschy 1950s’ camp cabins, or vintage Airstream trailers.
Ranked No. 1 in Mount Tremper, N.Y. Average nightly rate: $150
*Location, pet-friendly
8. Rockin’ yourself to sleep with Bono and The Edge: The Clarence, Dublin, Ireland
Purchased in 1992 by celebrity rockers Bono and The Edge of U2, The Clarence Hotel in Dublin, Ireland is adjacent to Temple Bar, a popular nightlife area. Although most travellers praise the hotel’s location, some cite the evening noise as a problem. But what would you expect from rock stars?
Ranked No. 74 in Dublin, Ireland — Average nightly rate: $270
*Young singles, nightlife
Stefanie Michaels, aka ‘Adventure Girl’, spends more than 180 days a year on the road seeking out great spots for adventures, dining, shopping, hotels and more. Dubbed “America’s Sweetheart” by Vanity Fair Magazine for being one of Twitter’s first icon’s to reach over 1 million followers, her fans continue to grow across all of her digital media platforms. Follow her @adventuregirl as she shares photos, updates and more.
