Secret celebrity getaways
From Necker Island to Jaipur’s Oberoi Rajvilas, here are 7 escapes the stars love
Ever wondered where the paparazzi-plagued celebrities run to when they want to escape prying eyes and the constant scrutiny of shutterbugs. Here are seven fantastic hideaways frequented by celebs, which are well worth visiting.
Where: Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
Who: Richard Branson, Mel Gibson, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg
Why: Spend a starry night under the open skies on the idyllic private paradise called Necker Island. Bought by Sir Richard Branson in 1978 and converted into a private retreat, the island was available for exclusive hire in 1984. There are six Balinese style houses and one Temple House, which enjoys a perfect location in the centre of the island and offers fantastic views. Don’t miss staying aboard a 32-metre (105ft) luxury catamaran, Necker Belle, which features four cabins with breathtaking ocean views.
Necker Island, British Virgin Islands (+44 0 208 600 0430; www.neckerisland.virgin.com)From approximately Rs 15 lakh for a minimum stay of 7 nights
Where:The Wakaya Club, Fiji
Who: Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Why: A visit to this private island is an experience in itself. Tucked away amongst Fiji’s 333 islands, this intensely private coral-encircled gem offers 10 super-luxurious residences. The island is an ideal spot for those looking to relax on the beach with intimate picnics, tennis games and spa treatments. Opt to dine under a charming gazebo-like shelter on a deck surrounded by a pool.
The Wakaya Club,Suva, Fiji Islands (+679-3448-128; www.wakaya.com) Rs 1,06,657
Where: The Royal Palm Resort, Ecuador
Who: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Why: Located in the beautiful Galapagos Islands, the delightful Royal Palms Hotel lands you right in the lap of nature. Surrounded by 500 acres of lush, tropical forests, the hotel provides privacy and is an excellent option for the discrete traveller. Guests have the option of choosing from 10 Villas and four Veranda Studios with spacious double bedrooms, a Jacuzzi and a lovely tropical garden. The service is efficient with a staff-to-guest ratio of 12 to 1 per couple.
The Royal Palm Resort, Km 18 vía Baltra, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, Ecuador(+593 2 25 20 000; www.royalpalmgalapagos.com) Doubles from Rs 23,857
Where: Taj Exotica, India
Who: Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan
Why: Overlooking the spectacular Arabian Sea, the Mediterranean-style Taj Exotica features impressive landscaped gardens, a 9-hole golf course, two tennis courts and five restaurants. The elegant and well-furnished rooms and suites are spacious and cosy. Be sure to book yourself into the Sea View Villa, which provides striking sea views or the gorgeous Sea View Pool Villa, which has a private pool.
The Getaway Taj Exotica, Benaulim, Goa, India (91-0832 6683333; www.tajhotels.com) Doubles from Rs 8,000
Where: The Gstaad Palace, Switzerland
Who: Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, Robbie Williams, Paris Hilton
Why: Check into the 99-year old hotel nestled in the serene Swiss Alps; you never know who you may bump into. Built in 1913, the glorious Gstaad Palace has 104 beautifully furnished rooms, including 19 Junior Suites and a splendid three-bedroom Penthouse Suite, which comprises a dining room, living room, kitchen, a terrace as well as a private sauna and Jacuzzi. In addition, five gourmet restaurants cater to every need of the palate and a night of dancing is a must at the famous GreenGo nightclub.
Royal Hotel Winter & Gstaad Palace AG Palacestrasse, CH-3780, Gstaad, Switzerland (+41 33 748 50 00/+41 33 748 50 00; www.palace.ch) Doubles from Rs 24,234
Where: Aman-i-Khás Resort, India
Who: Katy Perry and Russell Brand
Why: Picture yourself amidst a set of tents pitched on the edge of a wildlife sanctuary with the picturesque backdrop of the majestic Aravalli Hills. The Aman-i-Khás, with its secluded location around the wilderness of Ranthambore National Park is an exotic romantic getaway in Rajasthan. There are 10 dreamy spacious canvas tents, identical in style, each set on a raised concrete plinth. The interiors boast a towering six-metre canopy in the centre of the tent, with a comfortable luxurious daybed.
Aman-i-Khás Resort, Ranthambore, Rajasthan, India (+917462 252 052; www.amanresorts.com) Doubles from Rs 57,539
Where: The Oberoi Rajvilas, India
Who: Naomi Campbell, Bianca Jagger, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Bill Clinton
Why: Step back in time into a traditional fortified Rajasthani palace with lush gardens and cascading fountains at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur. Spread over 32 acres of luxurious verdant greenery, there are 54 Premier Rooms, 13 Luxury Tents (one Royal Tent), two Luxury Villas with private pools and one Kohinoor Villa with a private pool, each one decorated in colonial style. A typical Rajasthani haveli serves as the Oberoi Spa and offers excellent Ayurvedic and Western therapies.
The Oberoi Rajvilas, Goner Road, Jaipur (+91 141 268 0101; www.oberoihotels.com) Doubles from Rs 21,000
-Beverly Smart
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Beverly Smart
