Hot Celeb Vacation Spots for Less
Hollywood celebrities have it all: fame, fortune, good looks and a jet-set lifestyle. But you don’t need to be rich and famous to vacation like your favorite A-lister. Here’s how to afford five of the hottest celebrity vacation spots for less.
Miami
Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez come often for this Florida city’s hot social scene.
“Miami is just one of those classic American destinations,” says Kathryn O’Shea-Evan, associate editor at Travel + Leisure. “Amazing beaches, amazing food, amazing key lime pie. Miami is great because it’s so convenient. It’s just a couple hours from New York and you’re there, you’re in paradise. It’s just so much fun.”
Travel + Leisure says celebs flock to The Setai Hotel in South Beach, which includes a recording studio designed by rocker Lenny Kravitz. For a cool $30,000 per night, you can stay in the exclusive, four-bedroom penthouse suite, complete with a private rooftop infinity pool.
If that’s a little out of your price range, try the Villa Paradiso. This 17-room hotel offers a chill atmosphere and is one block from the beach, clubs and restaurants.
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Amalfi Coast, Italy
For a European escape, many stars choose Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast. Visitors include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The power couple recently stayed at cliffside hotel Santa Caterina, which offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.
If you’re willing to skip the two-floor Il Torrino suite with its private terrace and Jacuzzi, you’re in luck. Just a half-mile away from Amalfi, you’ll find Villa Scarpariello Relais, a cozy five-room bed & breakfast filled with family heirlooms and artisan craftsmanship. It's so luxurious you’ll forget you’re not famous.
Los Cabos, Mexico
Next, Mexico’s sprawling beaches draw famous faces year round. Pals Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz just took a girls’ getaway south of the border. For your own movie-star-worthy trip, you can stay at One&Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabos. One-bedroom, beachfront luxury suites here come with a 24-hour on-call concierge ready to meet your every need. But with rates starting at $585 per night, it’s not for everyone.
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“Casa Dorado is a great alternative to the really pricey villas that you can rent in Los Cabos because it has everything you really want and need in Mexico — which is a great beach and great food,” says O’Shea-Evans. The resort’s spacious 150 guestrooms start at $226 a night and come with kitchenettes, up to five closets and a 220-square-foot porch or balcony.
St. Bart’s
Next stop: St. Bart’s. This gem of an island in the West Indies famously hosts moguls, models and millionaires, especially during the holiday season. For star treatment stay at the luxurious Hotel Guanahani & Spa or Eden Rock. The resort’s 34 rooms are each unique. The hotel’s beachfront Villa Nina suite includes access to an art gallery, a private pool and a Mini Cooper to zoom around the island.
But for a fraction of the price — for as low as 100 euros per day — the Salines Garden Cottages offer cozy accommodations plus free breakfast, and you’re just a short stroll from the picturesque Saline Beach, one of the island’s 20 public white sand beaches.
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Hawaii
Finally, Hawaii has long been a popular destination for celebs to kick back and relax. “Hawaii is this amazing paradise and it’s just a five-hour flight from LA, so the convenience factor is huge for celebrities,” O’Shea-Evans says. “There are really wonderful hotels there that pull out all the stops — the total red carpet experience — for them.” Stars like Halle Berry and Ben Affleck have been spotted on these shores. For the celebrity experience, stay at luxury resort Halekulani in Honolulu. Each stunning suite comes with your choice of a Maserati, Bentley or Lotus to drive during your stay.
For an A-list vacation here without the matching price tag, stay at sister property Waikiki Parc Hotel. It’s just steps from the beach, and guests are welcome to visit the spa, shops and restaurants at Halekulani.
What’s your absolute dream vacation? Connect with me on Twitter @Farnoosh and use the hashtag #finfit.
