These 10 Glamorous Hotels are Actually Owned by Celebrities
Like it or not, none of us will ever get the chance to know what it feels like to walk in Brad Pitt's shoes for a day. But in the very near future, we'll be able to experience what kind of thread count he likes in his sheets and what his stance on free Wi-Fi is like. The rumor is the Oscar winner has been spending some time in the tiny town of Zablaće, Croatia, where he's reportedly planning to build a $1.5 billion luxury golf resort.
While "hotelier" may be a new title for the actor/producer/father/husband to Angelina Jolie, Pitt is certainly not the first celebrity to take on that challenge. If you're craving some A-list-level glamour, here are 10 other celebrity-owned hotels worth checking out.
1. Pestana CR7
Location: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
In July of this year, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo decided to share the beauty of his hometown in Portugal with the rest of the world when he opened Pestana CR7, a 48-room, waterfront hotel with a distinctive football (a.k.a. soccer) theme. The concept proved so popular that a second location just opened in Lisbon in August, with two more planned for Madrid and New York in the near future.
2. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Location: Tallebudgera, Queensland, Australia
Hollywood can be a hectic place, especially if you're a mega-name like Hugh Jackman. Fortunately for the Wolverine star, he's got his very own wellness resort – the Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat – in which to find sanctuary. The eco-friendly hotel, located on Australia's Gold Coast, takes its health-conscious ethos seriously: cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine are all banned substances here, which only adds to guests' ability to disconnect from the rest of the world. And yes, Jackman is a frequent "guest" himself.
3. The Greenwich Hotel
Location: New York, New York
If Robert De Niro weren't already one of the greatest actors of his generation, he might have been known as one of the greatest hoteliers of his generation. A hospitality veteran, the Academy Award-winning star is also the unofficial ambassador of New York City's Tribeca neighborhood, home to the Tribeca Film Festival, Tribeca Grill, Nobu, and The Greenwich Hotel, all of which belong (at least in part) to De Niro.
Opened in 2008, the 88-room boutique property offers a bit of homey style in one of New York's hippest hoods. Soon, he'll be taking his hospitality talents across the pond when he breaks ground on The Wellington Hotel, a new luxury property in London's Covent Garden neighborhood, in 2017.
4. Palazzo Margherita
Location: Bernalda, Italy
Not to be outdone, De Niro's The Godfather: Part II director, Francis Ford Coppola, has made quite a career for himself beyond the movie screen. Besides his celebrated line of wines, he also owns a collection of resorts around the world, including Palazzo Margherita, a luxury hotel in the tiny hilltop town of Bernalda in Southern Italy, located just minutes from the gorgeous Mediterranean coastline. The property, which was built in 1892, maintains much of its antique charm, but adds unique, modern day touches — including a cinema (of course).
5. Sundance Mountain Resort
Location: Sundance, Utah
It's hard to think of Robert Redford and not think of "Sundance" — whether you're thinking of his character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or the film festival that he established in Park City, Utah. But at the base of Mount Timpanogos, there's also his Sundance Mountain Resort, a 100-room ski resort and spa where luxury and rusticity collide.
6. Marley Resort & Spa
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
In 1976, Bob Marley and his wife, Rita, fled Jamaica for the Bahamas following an assassination attempt on the reggae legend's life. If was during that trip that they stumbled upon what used to be the governor's mansion on Nassau's Cable Beach. In 1982, the couple purchased the property, which became their family vacation home. More than 20 years later, while in the midst of a renovation, Rita decided that she wanted to share their beloved property with the world, and went about converting the beachfront home into the Marley Resort & Spa, a comfortable 16-room hotel, where each room is uniquely designed.
7. Musha Cay
Location: Exumas, Bahamas
Famed illusionist David Copperfield is yet another celebrity who has found sanctuary in the Bahamas, though in his case, it's in the Exumas. For travelers who truly want to disappear, Copperfield has transformed part of his 150-acre private island into Musha Cay, an ultra-exclusive property that only allows one party at a time. Whether you choose to stay there solo, with a special someone or with two dozen of your favorite people — there's a maximum of 24 guests allowed at any one time — is up to you.
8. Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant
Location: Carmel, California
Given its country-style charm — and placid open meadows full of adorable mascot sheep — you might be surprised to find that the owner of California's Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant is one of Hollywood's most famous tough guys.
In 1986, Carmel's then-mayor Clint Eastwood purchased the historic property to save it from being turned into a condominium complex and set about restoring it to its original 19th-century splendor. The hotel now offers a variety of different types of lodgings, from romantic cottages to a family-friendly, six-bedroom farmhouse.
9. Cromlix
Location: Dunblane, Scotland
Andy Murray wasn't playing around when he decided to purchase Cromlix House, a stunning 1874 Victorian mansion near where he grew up in Scotland, and turn it into a luxury resort. Shortly after opening its doors in 2014, the Scottish Hotel Awards named Cromlix Hotel of the Year — then did so again earlier this year. Though it's set on 37 acres, the grand country house offers maximum privacy, with just 10 guest rooms, five suites and a one-bedroom gate lodge.
10. Vermejo Park Ranch
Location: Raton, New Mexico
Media mogul Ted Turner is one of those guys who always seems up for an adventure, and that just happens to be the theme at Vermejo Park Ranch. The near-600 acre property, located about 100 miles northeast of Taos, is a place for doers. The self-proclaimed "family wildlife resort" encourages guests to interact with the outside world, with exploring, fishing and sport shooting among its many official activities. Back at the ranch, it's old-school opulence all the way, with antique furnishings and classic touches that remind guests of a different time.
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