Hotels owned by celebrities in California, Dublin, Bermuda, Stockholm and Guatemala.
Some celebs aren’t content with making great music or legendary films – many of them feel the need to dip their fingers in other pies. Hence why a few stars are playing at being Basil Fawlty, running their own hotels…
Mission Ranch
Where: Carmel, California, USA
Every good cowboy should have his own ranch and Fistful of Dollars star Clint Eastwood is no exception. The Oscar-winning actor and director is the king of the big hat brigade at the Mission Ranch in Carmel, between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Saving the historic property from being turned into an ugly condominium development, Eastwood had everything restored and spruced up with period furnishings.
Ariel Sands Resort
Where: Bermuda
Long a favourite of the ultra-rich and taxman-shy, Bermuda has more than its fair share of luxury resorts, but Ariel Sands has an added dose of celebrity. Hollywood megastar Michael Douglas is part of the family that owns the resort, and he regularly stops by, golf clubs in hand and Catherine Zeta Jones in tow. Unafraid to cash in on this, there is a selection of memorabilia in the hotel bar relating the Douglas’ films. Those not all that enthralled by Romancing The Stone can enjoy the sea views instead – they are guaranteed from every cottage.
The Rival Hotel
Where: Stockholm, Sweden.
Regularly appearing in the lists of the world’s top hotels, The Rival is a quirky boutique number that does things a little differently. Every room is different and the hotel has its own cinema. Meanwhile, the services on offer include a menu of pillows, a magnifying mirror in every bathroom and a selection of CDs to choose from. Don’t forget to say Thank You For The Music to the owner upon departure – it’s none other than beardy ABBA songsmith Benny Andersson.
La Lancha
Where: Lake Petén Itzá, Guatemala.
You’d have thought Francis Ford Coppola would have had quite enough of rainforests following the disasters that befell the filming of Apocolypse Now! But no, the legendary director has decided to venture into the jungle again, this time to set up a plush resort. With a decidedly tribal-styled thatched roof, the main lodge of La Lancha is set amongst trees inhabited by marauding howler monkeys. Those wanting to cool down can go for a kayak on the nearby lake.
The Clarence Hotel
Where: Dublin, Ireland
The balconies of the stylish Clarence overlook the River Liffey – but be careful not to fall in by standing too close to The Edge. The U2 guitarist co-owns the hotel with his sanctimonious cohort Bono, and the hotel has been decked out according to their tastes. According to the hotel’s publicity machine, the hotel represents “a place that they would choose to stay in when visiting Dublin.” Which presumably means that it’s so bright inside that wearing sunglasses all the time is practically compulsory…
This article was originally written for AOL UK.
Copyright David Whitley.
