There are the hotels you book for the rooms, and some for the views. Many for the food, or perhaps a distinguished cocktail lounge, jazz club, or rooftop bar. And then there are the hotels you seek out solely based on the fact that celebs stay there and that’s good enough for us.
In a world where our phone basically checks in before we do, it’s much easier to tell where the stars are staying these days, and thanks to some sleuthing, we’ve uncovered 11 of their favorite properties around the world—from an adventure-lover resort in the middle of Utah to palatial grounds at a 5-star hotel in Switzerland. When you want to live like royalty, add these properties to your bucket list immediately.
Baccarat Hotel (New York, New York)
5 Stars | Website | LaGuardia Airport
114 | 1 swimming pool; Fitness center; Bar | 1
Central Park; Chrysler Building; Empire State Building
There’s certainly no shortage of A-list-approved accommodations in New York City, from The Lower East Side’s beloved Bowery Hotel to the Upper East Side’s très chic trifecta—The Carlyle, The Mark, and The Lowell—all within a mile from each other. These are some of the hotel crests most commonly spied on in paparazzi pics, under the well-heeled soles of the rich and famous, but there’s one that stands in a category all its own and that’s the Baccarat Hotel. The crystal-clad, 605-foot-tall House of Baccarat extension boasts 114 red, white, and glass-adorned rooms and suites, as well as a stunning 60-foot bar adjacent to the Grand Salon, known for one of the most opulent afternoon tea programs in the world. Even the hotel room mini bars are beyond luxe. Think: lacquered crimson armoires that reveal a collection of faceted flutes and stemware behind their artisan doors. So, it’s no wonder celebs like Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, and Cara Delevingne have all checked in, and it’s even more likely that you’ll be brushing shoulders with dignitaries, socialites, and several famous faces once you do.
Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort (San José del Cabo, Mexico)
5 Stars | Website | Los Cabos International Airport
83 | 8 swimming pools; Spa; Beachfront | 5
Cabo Real Golf Course; Chileno Beach; Costa Azul Beach
When Hollywood’s elite is in need of a nearby getaway, they jet set to Cabo a mere 2 hours and 30 minutes away by plane, or you know, private charter. This Mexican oasis is loved by celebrities for its pristine beaches, scuba diving and sailing, fresh Baja cuisine, and luxurious hotels, so it’s not uncommon to run into a few when you’re sipping margaritas poolside. Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection, and The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal are two of the top contenders for where you’re most likely to spy on the rich and famous. Still, for stars looking to vacation a bit more under the radar, there’s the posh Las Ventanas al Paraíso, in between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, and Jessica Alba are all fans of the 83-room boutique hotel, but if you’re working with J.Lo-level money, you’re most likely splurging on the 28,000-square-foot Ty Warner Mansion. This is the crown jewel of residences here, but their beach villas and romantic suites are also quite lovely—many of which boast private pools and jacuzzis flanked by local flowers and agave plants. For dinner, there’s award-winning Arbol nestled amongst the resort’s signature trees twinkling with red glass hearts and suspended lanterns.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée (Paris, France)
5 Stars | Website | Paris – Le Bourget Airport
208 | Spa; Fitness center; Room service | 2
Arc de Triomphe; Eiffel Tower; Musée de l’Orangerie
If you happen to follow the fashion sphere’s top influencers, socialites, and personalities, you’ve most likely seen them draped over a dreamy Parisian balcony railing, posing in front of a row of red awnings and the Eiffel Tower, or posting their breakfast spreads with baskets of fresh-baked croissants and perfectly blonde omelets. These would be just a few of the travel lust-worthy snaps from avenue Montaigne, at Hôtel Plaza Athénée. This city of lights landmark has welcomed Jackie Kennedy, Josephine Baker, and Sophia Loren since they opened their prestigious doors in 1913 and obviously, the camera loves the Dorchester Collection darling. Cameos in The Devil Wears Prada, Emily in Paris, and the Sex and the City finale are just a sampling of the TV and movie moments that have captured the Haute Couture Hotel’s best angles. Their ivy-clad courtyard restaurant, La Cour Jardin, sits at the heart of Plaza Athénée, but it’s their Dior Spa and partnership with designer Christian Dior that really nods at the hotel’s high fashion history. Dior’s atelier was across the street for years and he shot many of his campaigns here. Does “the Bar suit” sound familiar? That’s probably because Monsieur Dior loved to frequent Le Bar on the ground floor, as did his models when off duty.
Amangiri (Canyon Point, Utah)
5 Stars | Website | Page Municipal Airport
34 | 1 swimming pool; Spa; Free WiFi | 1
Camp Sarika; Cave Peak Stairway; Lake Powell
Deep in the desert of Utah lies Amangiri, one of the Aman group’s most stunning properties in the world, and arguably the most celeb frequented in the states. From supermodels to superfans like Hailey Bieber, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and Emily Ratajkowski, there’s no shortage of star selfies being posted from here and we get why: the landscape. The luxury hotel and wellness sanctuary are surrounded by 900 acres of unspoiled, Wild West terrain and red rock canyons which intersect at the Four Corners—where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet. Slot Canyons, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Zion National Park are just a few of the geographical wonders to marvel at once you do make the long (yet totally worth it) journey to Amangiri, where their recent addition of tented pavilions fit for glamping has even more noteworthy names flocking to Camp Sarika. Spend your days hiking, horseback riding, and practicing yoga in the great outdoors, before evening dinners animated by Navajo musicians and storytellers in true Aman style.
Hotel Le Toiny (St. Barthélemy)
5 Stars | Website | Gustaf III Airport
22 | Beachfront; Private beach area; Bar | 2
Petit Cul De Sac Beach; Grand Cul de Sac Beach; Anse de Grande Saline
St. Barthélemy is considered a veritable playground for the rich and famous, located in the French West Indies next to Saint Martin, so it’s fair to say every hotel is somewhat of a celebrity and influencer hot spot—especially during peak season from late November through early January. Eden Rock is sold out; Le Barthélemy and Le Sereno too; and there’s always a fleet of mega yachts belonging to musicians, moguls, and millionaires camped out on crystalline waters in front of St-Jean and Shell Beach. For a tiny island that only spans 11 miles in length, it’s not hard to go where the celebs go, because that’s pretty much everywhere, to be honest. Nikki Beach, Gyp Sea, and Shellona are some of the top beach clubs for brushing shoulders with the glitterati in St. Barths, while La Guérite, Le ‘Ti, and La Petite Plage keep the party going after dinner, but if you prefer actually to get some sleep on vacation, your best option is the glamorous Hotel Le Toiny, built into the craggy cliffs high above Anse de Toiny beach. The 22-suite property is admired for its seclusion and villas so luxe, we see why it’s a favorite of Brad Pitt, Kate Moss, and Tom Hanks. And with every incredible Relais & Châteaux hotel such as this one, comes delicious journeys, which can be found at their laidback Beach Club and Le Toiny Restaurant—a true gem on the island.
Chateau Marmont (Los Angeles, California)
5 Stars | Website | Los Angeles International Airport
63 | 1 swimming pool; Pet friendly; Bar | 1
Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Griffith Observatory; Hollywood Sign
You’re bound to bump into someone famous from the second you walk past the valet at André Balazs’ Chateau Marmont and the opportunities for star sightings only increase from there—at the hotel’s bar and restaurant—before you ever make it to the bungalows and suites. If these walls could talk should be the slogan for one of Tinseltown’s most illustrious haunts, that’s seen the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Courtney Love, and Marilyn Monroe, as well as Michelle Pfeiffer, Keanu Reeves, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Some celebs have loved it so much, they even moved in. The chateau has a rather long (and private) list of movie star tenants, but Robert De Niro, Greta Garbo, Scarlett Johansson, and Lindsay Lohan have publicly called the hotel home, although Lohan was kindly asked to vacate the property after racking up a $46,000 bill. Johnny Depp and Kate Moss also shared a pad at the gothic-inspired castle in the ‘90s, which we can only imagine was quite the time to be alive at Chateau Marmont.
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel (St. Moritz, Switzerland)
5 Stars | Website | Locarno Airport
157 | 2 swimming pools; Spa; Bar | 11
Engadiner Museum; Piz Corvatsch; St. Moritz Dorf-Chantarella
Set on the picturesque Lake St. Moritz in the Engadine Alps, the legendary Badrutt’s Palace has played host to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Audrey Hepburn, Charlie Chaplin, George Clooney, and many more famous faces throughout its storied history. They give new meaning to the term 5-star hotel with a team of private butlers who are willing to cater to your every need (including lifts into town in the house Rolls-Royce) and their world-renowned spa is top of its class, with a never-ending infinity pool overlooking the snow-capped peaks in the background. For people watching “Glamoritz” style, you’ll want to head all the way up—6,000 feet to be exact—to their Paradiso mountain club that towers over the Palace in all of its Alpine-chic glory. If a vacation to Switzerland isn’t in the foreseeable future, however, you can channel the St. Moritz joie de vivre in Manhattan, at The Peninsula New York, where they’ve taken over their Chalet de Ning rooftop for a seasonal pop-up with ski lodge vibes and epic views of the city skyline.
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