Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Hottest Star Hideaways

Anguilla



The Scene: Best known as the island where Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt took their "break-up vacation," Anguilla's top-notch resorts and 33 pristine beaches attract both celebrities and well-heeled businessmen in droves, especially over the December holidays. Local hangouts include Johnno's Beach Stop, with daily live music, and Uncle Ernie's barbecue joint at Shoal Bay, where fresh fish is barbecued right at the beach.

Hot Hotels: Cap Juluca, The St. Regis, Altamer, and Cerulean, a private villa for rent

Spotted: Robert DeNiro, Denzel Washington, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Donatella Versace, Kevin Kline, Janet Jackson, Liam Neeson



Aspen, Colo.



The Scene: Come winter, celebrities and politicos are as plentiful as snowflakes in Aspen, where the first-class slopes and shopping are outdone only by après ski at The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome's J-Bar or dinner at Provençale hot-spot Cache Cache.

Hot Hotels: Hotel Jerome, The Little Nell, The Sky Hotel, The St. Regis

Spotted: Mischa Barton, Jack Nicholson, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Mariah Carey, Elle McPherson, Beyoncé, Will Smith, Rosie O'Donnell, Christie Brinkley, Al and Tipper Gore, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas


Bora Bora



The Scene: This French Polynesian island is popular with celebrities because of its remote location (nearby Tahiti is more easily accessible, and therefore less celebrity-friendly). Bloody Marys, a local restaurant where the fresh fish of the day are displayed on ice and guests take their pick, is popular with local islanders as well as visiting celebs. Charlize Theron, Sharon Stone and others have stayed at Le Méridien Bora Bora, where glass-bottomed floors provide views of exotic fish.

Hot Hotels: Le Méridien, The St. Regis

Spotted: Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Vin Diesel, Chelsea Clinton



The Cayman Islands



The Scene: The Cayman, as they are sometimes called, made a splash last December with the opening of a brand-new Ritz-Carlton. Orlando Bloom is rumored to be looking to buy property here, and celebrities such as Sheryl Crow come to scuba dive (Divetech is a popular place for lessons). Deckers, a Caribbean restaurant with a British double-decker bus stationed outside, is the place to go for a casual dinner.

Hot Hotels: Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, The Ritz-Carlton

Spotted: Katie Couric, Tiger Woods, Chloe Sevigny, Adrian Grenier




Fiji



The Scene: Though a Dec. 5 military coup has made this 300-island archipelago temporarily unsafe for travel, its wealth of natural beauty and top-tier luxury resorts have kept it a celebrity hotspot for years. Britney Spears and Kevin Federline celebrated their honeymoon at Turtle Island, a 14-villa beachfront resort where room rates start at $1,975 per night, as did Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

Hot Hotels: Shangri-La, Turtle Island, The Wakaya Club

Spotted: Tom Cruise



Jackson Hole, Wyo.



The Scene: Locals call it the anti-Aspen, but Jackson Hole's superb skiing and rugged mountain atmosphere draws just as A-list a mix of bankers, politicians and Hollywood stars as its Colorado neighbor. Private homes (Sandra Bullock and Harrison Ford are reported to have residences here) are the top hot-spots, but Spring Creek Ranch, located at the end of a winding road, provides the privacy that vacationing stars like Uma Thurman and Jim Carrey crave.

Hot Hotels: Amangani, The Four Seasons, Spring Creek Ranch

Spotted: Matthew McConaughey, Christie Brinkley, Ron Howard, Christina Ricci



Jamaica



The Scene: Ian Fleming wrote almost 15 of his James Bond books while living in Jamaica, and Errol Flynn set up house here in the 1940s. It’s no wonder: The island's endless beaches and top-tier golf courses help keep the celebrities coming, and today, they are a daily part of life for local islanders.

Hot Hotels: Golden Eye, Half Moon, The Ritz-Carlton, Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Royal Plantation

Spotted: Carmen Electra, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Mandy Moore, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, Michael Bolton, Patrick Ewing, Liev Schreiber, Lauren Hill, Gladys Night, Patti Labelle, Ralph Lauren



Miami



The Scene: There's no bad time to visit Miami, but New Year's is the best time to see some uncensored celebrity behavior. Last year, Lindsay Lohan was admitted to a Miami hospital after celebrating New Year's at nightclub Prive, and this year, Jessica Alba and Hilary and Haylie Duff will reportedly host a New Year's party at the Setai on South Beach. Nightclubs such as Mansion, Prive, Crobar and Glass, restaurants such as The Forge, and high-end hotels are the best places to rub shoulders with the glitterati.

Hot Hotels: The Delano, The Setai, The Shore Club, Villazzo Villas (luxurious private villa-hotels available for rent throughout the city)

Spotted: Derek Jeter, Jamie Foxx, Anna Kournikova, Paris Hilton, Alanis Morrisette, Jamie Lewis, Lenny Kravitz, Jay-Z


St. Barthélemy



The Scene: An exclusive retreat with a European feel, St. Barthélemy's yacht-clogged harbors and white-sand beaches are swarming with the rich, famous and beautiful. Private yachts or resort spas, such as the Molton Brown spa at Hotel St. Barth, Isle de France or the destination spa at Hôtel Ghuanahani, are your best bets for spotting stars.

Hot Hotels: Eden Rock Hotel, Hôtel Ghuanahani & Spa, Hotel St. Barth, Isle de France,

Spotted: P. Diddy, Russell Simmons, Kirsten Dunst, Hugh Jackman, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, Claudia Schiffer, Gisele Bundchen



St. Moritz, Switzerland



The Scene: European royals and Hollywood starlets flock to this resort in the Swiss Alps, whose population expands from 5,000 to 100,000 for the winter season. Badrutt's King's Club is the best place to seek out celebs without their winter gear on.

Hot Hotels: Badrutt's Palace, Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, Kulm Hotel (owned by the family of Stavros Niarchos, Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriend)

Spotted: Prince Charles, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley, George Clooney, Ivana Trump


By Sophia Banay

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