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If you fancy sleeping under the same roof as a celebrity, consider spending the night in a hotel owned by one. After all, who better to understand what makes a fabulous hotel than someone who spends a ton of time sleeping in one while on the road filming movies, fronting tours or competing in international sporting events. Most recently, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio have added “hotelier” to their glamorous resumes (Pitt is backing a luxury resort in Croatia and DiCaprio plansto build an eco-friendly beach resort in Belize). As we wait for these two luxurious properties to open, here are a few other hotels owned by some of the world’s most famous people.

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 the Gaia Retreat & Spa

Photo courtesy of the Gaia Retreat & Spa

Gaia Retreat & Spa: New South Wales, Australia

While “Grease” songstress Olivia Newton-John may best be remembered as goody two-shoes Sandy, she’s also the co-founder of this feel-good resort. Gaia Retreat & Spa is a luxe wellness retreat nestled in what it likes to describe as “the healing heartland of Australia.” Gaia—which means “spirit of Mother Earth”—offers a variety of retreat packages designed to create a pampered experience to help you relax and recharge. Inspire some OM with onsite spa treatments, gourmet meals, yoga—even clay sculpturing.

Palazzo Versace Dubai: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dine, shower and sleep in the lap of Versace luxury. Donatella Versace, the Italian fashionista with the famously long blonde locks and sun-kissed skin opened this 5-star property in 2016, billing it as “the most luxurious hotel in the Middle East.” The second property in the Versace Group’s collection (the first is in Australia’s Gold Coast), the Palazzo Versace Dubai resembles a 16th-century Italian palace. It exudes the glitz and glamour that comes with the Versace name across its 215 rooms, eight restaurants and bars and spa—right down to the vaulted ceilings hand-painted in gold.

The Big Sleep: Cardiff, Wales

You wouldn’t expect a wealthy celebrity to be an original investor in a budget hotel chain, but an actor like John Malkovich is always full of surprises. (Remember “Being John Malkovich?”) The Big Sleep is a hotel brand with locations in Cardiff, as wellas Cheltenham and Eastbourne in England, and has been described as a hotel with “Travelodge prices, but with more sex-appeal.” While it has since been sold to new investors, the image of the actor in his PJs next to a bed at its grand opening are burned into the hotel’s memory.

Number 11 Cadogan Gardens: London, England

“Austin Powers” actress Elizabeth Hurley owns this upscale hotel in one of London’s poshest neighborhoods, Knightsbridge. (Harrods and Harvey Nichols also call this ‘hood home.) Feel like royalty among the velvet tapestries and chandeliers that adorn this boutique hotel, originally a collection of Victorian townhomes built by an earl. It features Tartufo,a high-end restaurant, along with a bar, a fully-stocked library and a drawing room perfect for the popular British pastime: high tea.

Pestana CR7: Funchal, Portugal

This has been described as one of the world’s most egotistical hotels. Opened in 2016, the property on the island of Madeira, where owner Ronaldo Cristiano grew up, is adorned throughout with images and memorabilia of the Real Madrid soccer player, who is a co-owner. You can even upgrade to rooms where the bathroom looks like a soccer field and the mirror has you staring into the athlete’s face. As might be expected, athleticism is emphasized here: It features an open-air exercise gym and rooftop infinity pool, while its standard rooms all come with in-room yoga mats.

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DreamMore Resort: Pigeon Forge, TN

The country music legend who was raised in a one-room cabin with 11 siblings has built quite the dynasty over the years—and she’s recently added a hotel to her empire. The DreamMore Resort by Dolly Parton is a family-friendly, 307-room hotel that opened in 2015. It’s right next to her popular Dollywood theme park, where hotel guests have an exclusive entrance. The resort boasts a spa, dining, pools and kids activities, including nightly storytelling in front of the lobby fireplace. (We wouldn’t mind an occasional lullaby from Dolly herself, too.)

The Clarence Hotel | Phot o courtesy of the Clarence Hotel

The Clarence Hotel | Phot o courtesy of the Clarence Hotel

The Clarence Hotel: Dublin, Ireland

U2 rockers Bono and The Edge turned this boutique hotel into one of Dublin’s hippest. Located on the River Liffey on the edge of the Temple Bar neighborhood where pubs and nightlife abound, the Clarence Hotel proclaims itself “Dublin’s original rock ‘n’ roll hotel.” Bono and The Edge have been said to make cameos at the hotel’s Octagon Bar, the watering hole that inspired them to buy the historic hotel originally built in 1852. Backin 2000, they performed their hit, “Beautiful Day,” on the roof of the hotel.

Marley Resort & Spa: Nassau, Bahamas

With a last name like Marley, you’d expect this resort to be in Jamaica, where the music icon lived. Instead this resort is in the Bahamas, where Bob and Rita Marley used to vacation. They discovered the beachfront property in 1976, and Rita bought it in 1982. For years it was the family vacation home for Rita and her children Sharon, Ziggy and Cedella. Its since been transformed into a hotel designed with Afro-Caribbean flair that honors the music, history and way of life celebrated by the Marley family. Be sure to sip a few cocktails—such as the Buffalo Soldier or the Kinky Reggae—at the hotel’s beachfront bar, Stir It Up.

Sundance Mountain Resort: Provo, UT

Iconic actor Robert Redford, who founded the Sundance Film Festival, owns this resort near the event’s Park City location. That means if you book a stay here during the festival, you could find yourself bellied up to the bar with Cool Hand Luke. Located on the slopes of Mount Timpanogos in Utah, the setting is an ideal springboard to year-round outdoor adventures such as skiing, zip-lining, fly-fishing, hiking and golfing.

Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa: Vero Beach, FL

Gloria and Emilio Estefan, who’ve been together since the Miami Sound Machine days, designed their Art Deco-inspired beachfront resort with an elegant water and nautical theme. The Grammy Award-winning music power-couple brings Miami chic to their property in Vero Beach, a location also referred to as “the Hamptons of Miami.” All rooms have balconies, and the resort boasts an onsite spa, a Cuban-fusion restaurant and a myriad of beach and ocean activities. Every Saturday, for instance, the resort hosts a snorkel excursion at a nearby shipwreck dating back to 1894.

The Cypress Inn: Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Doris Day, sweetheart of 1950s and 1960s cinema, co-owns this boutique hotel in the seaside community of Carmel-by-the Sea. Originally opened in 1929, it has retained its elegant Old World charm. It’s also super pet friendly. In fact, Sunset Magazine called it “probably the most famous dog-friendly hotel in the country,” which aligns with the Hollywood star’s advocacy for animal rights.

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Cromlix Hotel: Kinbuck, Scotland

Tennis superstar Andy Murray purchased an elegant Victorian mansion near his hometown and transformed it into one of themost talked-about luxury hotels in Scotland. Opened in 2014 after extensive renovations that enhanced exquisite Old World character with modern touches, the property boasts 15 rooms, surrounded by a countryside framed with woodlands and gardens. Onsite amenities include a restaurant led by an award-winning French chef and outdoor activities such as archery, falconry and of course, tennis.

Hotel Rival | Photo courtesy of Hotel Rival

Hotel Rival | Photo courtesy of Hotel Rival

Hotel Rival: Stockholm, Sweden

Discover your inner “Dancing Queen” at this Stockholm hotel owned by ABBA frontman Benny Andersson. This modern hotel, once an old-fashioned cinema house, is now considered one of the city’s hippest. It features 99 rooms and hosts music performances each weekend by famous DJs, singers and musicians. “Mamma Mia” made its film premiere at the hotel’s cinema and all four members of ABBA were present.

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Tagged: California, Caribbean, Celebrity picks, Europe, Florida, Uncategorized

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Erica Bray

Erica Bray

Erica is a practical free spirit who loves travel, yoga and ice cream. A Northwestern University-trained journalist with more than 15 years of experience straddling digital and broadcast media, Erica can be found doing handstands everywhere she travels -- even risking arrest in some cases. Learn about her at www.erica.media.

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