Ideas of what constitutes the ideal vacation range from tracking gorillas to collapsing on the beach with a Negroni, but one thing is clear: whatever the preference, festive week is an excuse for nearly everyone to escape work and put projects on hold while they regroup and reenergize.
THR spoke to the most in-demand Hollywood concierges to ask where the jet-setters and yacht-machers are heading this week. Some destinations, like St. Barts and Aspen, are perennials, drawing the entertainment industry each Christmas week, while others, like Spert Island off Antarctica, where Liev Schreiber ventured last year, or Mahabalipuram in Southern India, where Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones journeyed for the holiday, trend for a moment.
“Tons of people are going St. Barts again,’’ says Jacelyn Sienna India, founder of the membership based luxury lifestyle company Sienna Charles, whose excursions range from $75,000 to $250,0000.
We can, of course, expect regulars like David Geffen, Barry Diller and Jeff Bezos, who stay on their own boats, to be back again for the party scene, but there are those who prefer lower key islands.
“Some clients are in the mood for the St. Barts scene, and excited for it, but others want something more private and insulating,’’ reports Michael Torbiak, owner of bespoke high end concierge service, M. Domo Travel. “Every restaurant is super small, there is intense competition for tables, and there is so much traffic from the yacht parties, some clients just don’t want to deal with it,’’ he said.
Palm Beach is still popular with the East Coaster entertainment set, and private airline Vista Jets is reporting it as its strongest holiday destination along with St. Barts, while private jet service Slate Aviation has Palm Beach and Turks and Caicos as its top stops. “The Breakers is huge with established name producers and directors, even though $3500 per night is the price for a standard room, and they don’t care who anybody is,’’ said Rob DelliBovi of RDV Hospitality, who is also booking at the Four Seasons Surf Club in Miami.
The hotels of choice on Turks and Caicos are Parrot Cay, Amanyara, The Shore Club and Grace Bay Resorts, according to Torbiak. “They all have spacious villas, so there is a lot of privacy,’’ he explained. And Keith Richards, Donna Karan and Christie Brinkley are said to have thrown their own homes at Parrot Cay into the rental pool. “My clients love Amanyara; they have 5 and 6 bedroom villas. Beyoncé just rented one there.’’ Two new luxe resorts have premiered this season — The Strand, with its own boat, and South Bank from Grace Bay Resorts — villas surrounded by water on all sides, serviced by a boat concierge for yacht owners, or guests who just want to take an excursion.
Cap Jaluca in Anguilla is also drawing honchos, thanks to its new Guerlain wellness enclave. “They spent $10 million on the spa and it’s beautiful,’’ said Torbiak.
The Bahamas are still attracting heavies to the Four Seasons Ocean Club, Harbor Island, and Albany. “Lots of people are going to Harbor Island (a favorite of Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and Ryan Reynolds), and celebs love Albany,’’ says India.
For ultimate privacy and security, people are renting private villas on Mustique, according to India. The Caribbean island, where Mick Jagger, Kelly Ripa and Tommy Hilfiger have homes, and Bill Gates, Denzel Washington and Paul McCartney have rented, is known for private dinners hosted by the likes of Le Bernardin owner Maguy Le Coze, who also owns a home there. But since there is only one hotel and a limited number of rentals, it’s a tough trip to secure. “One of the best known film producers from L.A. is bringing his multi generational family and two dogs, along with a private chef,’’ she said. “They are curating the vibe, and it feels like a private members club. Nobody who hasn’t been there before is getting in this year.’’
A destination that actually does require membership is the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky. “You have to own a home or be invited,’’ said India. “At the dining room you are eating next to the craziest people. Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry own there, as do Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez and Tom Brady.’’
Aspen always draws luminaries — Kate Hudson performed there last festive week while Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell looked on — and several actresses are renting there, according to India, and rumor has it Demi Moore is headed to Sun Valley, it’s the European slopes that are on fire this year.
“Courchevel and Zermatt have gotten much more popular,’’ noted Dee Branciforte, executive VP of Fischer Travel, where a the membership initiation is $150,000 and the annual fee $25,000. “There is a level of service, food, sophistication and alpine charm and architecture that we just don’t have in the U.S..’’
“Courcheval has more Michelin restaurants than anywhere else,’’ chimes in social arbiter Couri Hay of the resort which has lured Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as Kate Moss.
India is renting a home in Zermatt for an A-list actress and her family. “These homes cost between $10- $20,000 per night and we have to send security in advance to check it out,’’ said India. “But some people are too famous to stay at a hotel during the busiest week.’’
Christmas is big in Japan this year, with entertainment heavies heading to major cities and ski resorts. “I’m seeing a ton of Tokyo,’’ observed DelliBovi. “I have four enormous names going there with partners or families, and others going to places up north where you can ski off path.’’ And lucky for the skiers, Niseko has a lot of new high end resorts where Branciforte says she has been booking her prized clients.
Don’t worry, we will still be seeing those adorable photos of actors snuggling with penguins and elephants.
“People are really checking off their bucket lists,’’ said
Natalie Monzingo, an agent at Strong Travel, “I have one client going to Antartica for over 2 weeks with his wife and daughter. They want to see the penguins and they are taking a cruise on Silversea.’’ Those two state rooms totaled $90,000, but Branciforte’s clients are choosing to rent their own boat to watch the leopard seals sun bathe on ice. “People are flaunting wealth this year,’’ said India.
Kisawa Sanctuary on Bengerra island in Mozambique is a hot new retreat, according to Torbiak. “It was founded by a member of the Danish royal family and it’s the new really luxe off the beaten path option,’’ he said.
No matter how primitive a destination may seem, the Hollywood clientele is always particular about getting there. “Even when our customers are flying private, they ask us to pick up food from Nobu or EAT before they get to the plane because you never know what their food is going to be like,’’ said Jeff Rose, owner of Attitude chauffeured transportation in New York, whose first client was Barry Diller, and who caters to some of the biggest names in the industry. For one Oscar winning composer, he has a bed made up in the back of a car, and another had the driver deliver gifts to family members after he was dropped off. “He even asked the driver to wear a Santa suit and red rubber nose when he did it,’’ said Rose.
A version of this story appeared in the Dec. 13 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
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