Hotels for the stars

Would you like to share in the lives of celebrities? Live under their roof for a few days? Or even, who knows, meet them for a quiet chat with a cocktail in hand? If so, these are the addresses for you. 

By Eric Vancleynenbreugel

Polynesia: The Brando

A waking dream. Tetiaroa, some fifty kilometers north of Tahiti, is the quintessential paradise on earth. An atoll at the end of the world made up of 13 motus. Only one of which is inhabited. Originally, this veritable Eden served as a refuge for a Polynesian dynasty. Remains of ancient temples can still be found here. Marlon Brando discovered the atoll during the filming of «The Mutiny of the Bounty» and immediately fell in love with it. Captivated by the Polynesian way of life (and by his film companion Tarita), he did everything in his power to acquire this mythical land. He succeeded in 1967. But if Brando wanted to preserve its natural beauty, he also wanted to share it. In 1999, he asked Richard Bailey, creator of several luxury hotels in Polynesia, to help him build the first hotel with a zero-carbon footprint. Although the actor didn't live to see the project completed, his heirs jealously preserve its spirit. Not least Tumi Brando, his granddaughter, who jealously guards the atoll's wildlife. As for the resort, it comprises 35 villas nestling under coconut palms on the edge of the beach. Each has its own private pool and the services of a butler. The credo is simple: eat when you like, drink what you like and do what you like. And believe it or not, there's plenty to do on the island. Starting with the cuisine, by Guy Martin. At the bar, try one of the 20 cocktails dedicated to Tetiaroa. At the Deep Nature Spa, enjoy the daily treatment included in your stay. And for the rest, white sand, a turquoise lagoon and coral reef will delight lovers of tropical pleasures.

More info : http://thebrando.com.

Belize: Blancaneaux Lodge

Here's an address that has to be earned! To reach this lodge, located in the heart of the Mountain Pine Ridge nature reserve on the border with Guatemala, you have to take an unpaved road. The same road that leads to the Mayan site of Caracol. Blancaneaux Lodge was originally a hunting lodge owned by a Quebecer. After filming ’Apocalypse Now« in the region, Francis Ford Coppola decided to buy the estate from him. He then frequently stayed there with friends. It was they who encouraged him to open the property to the public. Which he did in 1993. But not in just any way. The director decided to turn it into a model eco-hotel. A small hydroelectric power station supplies the lodge with electricity. And an ecological vegetable garden supplies the restaurant. The same concept is reflected in the architecture, which respects the landscape. The twenty or so rooms are housed in superb pavilions built from natural materials. To reach them, you have to walk along hillside paths, staircases and wooden footbridges. And below, a river cascades and glides through the middle of the property. It's the culmination of a lovely walk or bike ride. At Le Blancaneaux, you'll enjoy Italian-style cuisine, washed down with wines straight from the boot, selected by the filmmaker himself. As for the «boss's wine», it's made from his own vines! A no-frills address with measured comfort that will appeal to lovers of calm and nature. Today, Blancaneaux Lodge regularly ranks among the best hotels in Central America.

More info : www.coppolaresorts.com.

Australia : Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

Hugh Jackman is an excellent actor, but apparently he also does very well in hotel management. Because let's face it: the address he opened on Australia's Gold Coast is a fantastic success. The kind of place where a star like him should feel perfectly in his element. Far from the crowds and sunlights of Hollywood. First, there's the site, at the crossroads of hiking trails and overlooking the Queensland jungle. In the distance, you can see the ocean and the mythical beaches where surfers like to hang out. The buildings were constructed from recycled wood. Villas, a few suites and detached houses form a peaceful little hamlet. Certified ecotourism, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat is an address that's good for body and mind. People come here to relax and recharge their batteries. De-stress, refocus on yourself and learn to live better, in harmony with your own rhythm. The spa, often regarded as one of the best in Australia (frequently named ‘Best Destination Spa’!), is a marvel. Nature and luxury blend harmoniously. Treatments and gentle care are offered and provided by real specialists and practitioners in 3 connected areas. Outdoor pool overlooking the forest, fitness room, dance studio, naturopathy center... everything is designed to make you feel good.

The same concern for well-being applies at the table: only organic food is served, richer in nutritional elements and largely derived from produce grown in the Gwinganna's kitchen garden. One thing's for sure: whether you stay two days or a week, you won't come back the same.

More info : www.gwinganna.com.

Italy: Palazzo Margherita

For Francis Ford Coppola, This place is «a dream come true». This 19th-century palazzo^e century is located in southern Italy, in Basilicata, in Bernalda to be precise. A beautiful village surrounded by fields and vineyards. But above all, it was from this village that his grandfather Agostino left for the United States in 1904. All his life, the director has sought to reconnect with his roots. Over the past 50 years, more than 40 of his films have been shot in Basilicata. Finally, in 2005, Francis acquired the estate. It took him 6 years to turn it into a «pocket hotel». He entrusted Jacques Grange, the same man who designed Yves Saint Laurent's house in Marrakech, with the decoration - rather bohemian chic. Colorful tiles, stone arches and painted walls betray this Moorish influence. The garden planted with olive trees underlines the beauty of the building. For relaxation and idleness, there's the swimming pool or the white sandy beaches of the Ionian Sea, 20 minutes away (organized transfers). For lunch or dinner, head to the Palazzo's Cinecittà Bar. Francis has hung photos of the great names in cinema on the wall. And to round off the evening in style, slip into the magnificent cinema room designed by the master. On the program: one of the 300 films he himself has selected. As always (the «Palazzo Margherita» is his 5^e pocket hotel), it was Coppola's family who acted as test clients. It's probably no coincidence either that his daughter Sofia was married here!

More info : www.coppolaresorts.com/palazzomargherita.

United States : Mission Ranch

Located 150 km south of San Francisco, this little corner of California has retained (or rediscovered) its pioneer charm. Here, people pick up their mail at the post office, and traffic lights are outlawed, as are street lamps and house numbers. The main thoroughfare, Ocean Avenue, is lit up at night by the windows of stores and restaurants. Tree-cutting is also prohibited. Thanks to one man, Clint Eastwood, Carmel is a town with a lot of character. In 1986, he also bought the estate, once one of California's first dairies. Even as a young man, the actor had fallen in love with the place. But the state of the property required extensive renovation. However, the young mayor wanted to give his municipality a hotel worthy of the name, and he decided to do just that. The result is just like him: authentic and virile. A simple wooden sign hanging from a eucalyptus tree announces the entrance to «Mission Ranch». You could imagine yourself entering the set of one of his westerns. In the garden, Dirty Harry's Ford Gran Torino and the green Dodge from «On the Road to Madison» are parked. Inside, a few objects from his films complete the decor. The rooms are divided into a dozen small wooden buildings overlooking meadows where sheep graze. In the background, the sea spray of the Pacific. At the ranch's bar and restaurant, locals get together with travelers. And you'll have every chance of rubbing shoulders with Clint, who loves to come here for a beer and a view of the ocean.

More info : www.missionranchcarmel.com.

A world tour among the stars

• In London, at Elizabeth Hurley's Number 11 Cadogan Gardens: www.no11cadogangardens.com.
• In Dublin, at Bono and The Edge's «Clarence»: www.theclarence.ie.
• In South Africa, at Sir Richard Branson's Ulusaba Rock Lodge: www.ulusaba.virgin.com. And in Switzerland, at The Lodge: www.thelodge.virgin.com.
• In Scotland, at Andy Murray's «Cromlix»: www.cromlix.com.
• In New York, in the heart of Tribeca, at Robert De Niro's Greenwich Hotel: www.thegreenwichhotel.com.