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9 intimate, luxurious hideaways fit for Royalty and celebrities

Does the phrase “fit for Royalty” sound good to you? Or maybe these days we judge the beauty and exclusivity of a luxury getaway by the celebrities who have visited it. Here are 9 intimate, luxurious hideaways that are fit for Royalty and celebrities – some of which have already been visited by them. 1. Casa Aramara, Punta Mita, Mexico Offering priceless seclusion, Casa Aramara is Punta Mita’s only five-star private residence. Casa Aramara is an ultra-luxurious private beach resort, set in beautiful tropical gardens, with a cost of between $15,000-$30,000 per night. Designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, and built originally by Joe Francis, the media entrepreneur – this magical luxury hideaway has been in demand with the right people. It was used by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for his 37th birthday celebration on 8th June 2014, and other famous guests include Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Ashton Kutcher, Courtney Cox and Demi Moore. Casa Aramara 2. Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives One of the world’s most expensive, exclusive resorts, Soneva Fushi is a wild, beautiful island where you’ll need to lose your shoes and go barefoot during your stay. This is the original of the species when it comes to desert island hideaways, where you can also go snorkelling with a marine biologist. Soneva Fushi A big favourite of Madonna’s, this resort gives you the opportunity to enjoy a luxurious hideaway, with a conscience. On top of the regular cost of your room, which can vary from about $1000-$8,000 per night, you will also pay a charge to cover your carbon footprint, of 2% extra, on top of your original bill. But the good news is that you’ll leave there with your shoes and your conscience in a better place! 3. Goldeneye Resort, Jamaica In 1946, Ian Fleming, the James Bond author, decided to buy what was then a 15 acre piece of land with tropical overbrush, in Oracabessa, a small port town in Jamaica. Afterwards he sketched his dream villa on a blotter. Today this is the Goldeneye Resort, which was his former home, and these days is a firm favourite with the likes of Johnny Depp and Sting. The best of both worlds is to book the Fleming Villa itself, which is like an island as it’s so secluded, where you can have your own beach, pool and of course staff. However if you fancy any spa treatments, or a little bit more activity then all you have to do is wander over to the resort itself. Goldeneye Resort, Jamaica 4. Wharekauhau Lodge, Wairarapa, New Zealand The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George, stayed in Wharekauhau Lodge in April 2014. Kate, William and George stayed in a cottage suite, in this white-washed hideaway on its little 5000 acre farm! Wharekauhau Country Estate The price tag to stay here in this little piece of heaven on earth starts off from around £220 (€273 approx.) per person per night, based on double occupancy in the low season. In this beautiful resort, you can be at one with nature, just like the sheep that you can see wandering around the pastures. 5. The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia Fodor’s Travel featured Tetiaroa as one of the 15 Best Beaches for 2014, and amongst the awards won by The Brando is the HEC Paris & 1.618 Sustainable Luxury Award (2013) – for the Brando’s innovation and commitment towards sustainable development. Named after the former owner, the Brando also features a scientific research centre. In this breathtakingly beautiful setting, you should find it easy to understand why Marlon Brando said: “Tetiaroa is beautiful beyond my capacity to describe. One could say that Tetiaroa is the tincture of the South Seas.” The Brando The island is accessed by private plane, and you are most likely going to meet exotic birds, sea turtles and manta rays. The design of the resort reflects the Polynesian culture and lifestyle, and you can choose from 35 villas dotted on the white sandy beaches. This unique, carefree luxury experience costs from €1800 per day, for a one-bedroom villa, for up to 2 guests. 6. Romantic Pool Residence, Velaa Private Island Resort, Maldives You can only access this property by boat, making this suspended luxury getaway the perfect choice for a really romantic, intimate, private escape. The Romantic Pool Residence sits above a lagoon, and has its own private gym, plus a spa treatment room. Velaa Private Island, Maldives If you do decide to venture away from your privacy, to explore the rest of the island, you’ll find plenty of activities going on. These include a semi submarine, diving, snorkelling, squash, tennis, yoga, watersports, fishing and you can even adopt a coral dome. 7. Necker Island, British Virgin Islands Owned by Sir Richard Branson, Necker Island is part of the Virgin Limited Edition Collection, and is Branson’s home and favourite hideaway. Surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches, coral reefs and turquoise waters, the island’s 74 acres are a haven for those seeking a luxurious getaway. Necker Island You’ll also find a fascinating collection of rare animals and plants, and for those guests who are interested, there are feeding times which you can attend, just let the staff know in advance. There are iguanas, soldier crabs, lemurs and flamingos amongst the diverse animal residents of the island. Necker Island has had Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson, amongst its guests. In fact some stars rent out the whole island property, for a rack rate. There are offers for Celebration Weeks, which may suit some guests. 8. The Wakaya Club & Spa, Wakaya Island, Fiji Privacy is highly valued here, which may be the reason that Melinda and Bill Gates spent their honeymoon at the Wakaya Club & Spa. However it could be because it’s a particularly lovely, authentic development, where environmental practices are also much valued. Fijian culture is just as important, as ecological issues and privacy. In fact part of the beauty of this development comes from the indigenous methods that have been interwoven there. The Wakaya Club A firm favourite with Keith Richards and his family, as well as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, the all-inclusive nightly rate starts from US $1,900.00. 9. Song Saa Private Island, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Hideaways Magazine voted the Song Saa as Hideaway of the Year in 2013. Condé Nast Traveller 2014 considers it to be “a spa with a soul, that sets it apart from the pack.” Cambodia - Song Saa This is the first private luxury island resort in Cambodia, set in a secluded seascape, which is accessed by a 35 minute boat journey from Sihanoukville. The resort is committed to keeping the natural assets of this untouched paradise in tact. This is a unique location, that offers a true tropical island private getaway. The rate for a one-bedroom villa starts from $1117 during the low season. Jackie de Burca is Co-owner of Catalonia Valencia. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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7 Comments

  1. This is a truly inspiring list… places to aspire to visit someday… and sooner than later. My favorite is number 3, 4 and 6. But I love them all.

  2. Some truly amazing places on this list – and now added to my own! Surprised that the Seychelles doesn’t feature on it.. Agree with Sherry about North Island (https://goo.gl/00Mt2O); definitely worth a visit.

    Number 9 reminds me of Fregate Island Private (https://goo.gl/tnl2XU), where the villas are out of this world! Another private island that comes to mind is Desroches Island (https://goo.gl/1Om9XU); also Seychelles. I suppose my choices point out my bias ;)

  3. Wow these places sound great but a bit above my budget unfortunately! Maybe when I get even older! I would love to visit all of these destinations; esp. the south Pacific and New Zealand.

  4. Crikey, these prices make your eyes water. I don’t think I could afford to step inside for two minutes in some of these! They all have their appeal though. If money weren’t an issue I’d love the idea of going somewhere far from the stress of everyday life, where you can switch off and just relax and be taken care of. Guess everyone would like that though. The one bed villa in Cambodia sounds like my idea of a ‘getaway’ when you can only access it by boat, like you’re totally away from everything and fully in your own little paradise. Is that price per week..? Not sure why I’m asking, a day or a week and I can’t can’t afford it. It’s nice to look though! One can dream…

  5. It’s interesting to see how the other half live but these sorts of prices, up to $30,000 per night?! Makes your eyes water. More money than sense perhaps even though the accommodation does all sound very luxurious. If I had an abundance of cash to splash then I wouldn’t say no but it does seem rather ridiculous. The Maldives resort, the Soneva Fushi, sounds like a relaxing one but I’m not sure why you get the extra 2% added on, surely that could just be covered in the cost. I’d like to know how they justify that and what they do with the extra 2%. Surprisingly the price for that New Zealand lodge isn’t as extreme as I would have thought. There are no prices for Necker Island, does that mean it’s so expensive we just don’t want to know? I dread to think how much the A listers pay to have the whole place to themselves for a week.

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