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Miami It’s always hot in Florida and South Beach Miami is lined with celeb-friendly hotels to wile the days away. Think private cabanas, free-flowing champagne and endless Art Deco chic. The Setai in South Beach in South Bas hosted Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Leo DiCaprio, and Gisele and Tom Brady. But generally not at the same time, or there’d be a celeb spat over the four-bedroom penthouse suite, complete with its private rooftop infinity pool and two coral-encased Jacuzzis, which costs a cool $39,000 a night. Then there’s Soho Beach House where Alexa Chung loves to party the winter away with her girl squad.
Jamaica From Beyoncé beach bathing with Blue Ivy, to Kate Moss, Jesse J and Jimmy Fallon going incognito, a growing number of stars have flocked to Jamaica in recent months. The island has long been popular thanks to its music, sport and food culture. It’s not just the reggae and jerk chicken that’s a lure. Eco-tourism is soaring, especially when being an environmentalist means horizon pools and alfresco dining with sweeping sea views.
Isla Holbox, Mexico This island off the tip of the Yucatán peninsula is 42 kilometres of creamy-hued sand and aqua-infused ocean for as far as the eye can see. Holbox (pronounced “ole-bosh” and translating to “black hole”) is part of an ecological preserve keeping it one of Mexico’s last untouched, crowd-free spots. No wonder the Hollywood it-crowd is ditching now overdeveloped Tulum for this natural paradise that requires a swimsuit, sundress and sandals only.
St Barts, French West Indies Bella Hadid had us craving a cliff-top pool and that bikini body when she recently posted snapshots at the island paradise on her IG. Kendall Jenner got up close and personal with former flame Harry Styles aboard a luxury yacht off the famous coastline of this island known for being one of the most elite, and expensive, holiday havens on the planet. Check out Eden Rock Hotel, co-owned by Spencer Matthew from Made in Chelsea, which boasts an A-lister friendly cliff-top restaurant.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The party city is great place for the glitterati to work on their winter tan and let loose with a little salsa dancing and caipirinha drinking at the same time. Rihanna, David Beckham, Penelope Cruz and Gisele have all been spotted soaking up the sun on Rio’s famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. The Copacabana Palace has hosted everyone from the late Princess Diana to Madonna. If you have the cash, it’s worth booking the presidential suites for the ocean-view bathtubs alone.
Bahamas This Caribbean hotspot is where celebs head for some heavy chill. They know they can walk around in their Havaianas and denim cutoffs without worrying the local cabbie will call the paparazzi at first sign of a bikini nip slip. Bahamians don’t get particularly star-struck. Fans of the island include Cindy Crawford who sported her supermodel curves while wave riding with her kids and hubby in February.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kelli Armstrong has 15 years’ experience working on women’s lifestyle titles in Australia, the Middle East and United States. Since graduating with a degree in journalism she’s interviewed supermodels, actresses and rock stars, produced photo shoots around the world and written voraciously about fashion, beauty, travel, lifestyle and wellbeing. Now based in New York City, she shares these passions on her blog, Health Bird.
