If you relish the potential to meet someone famous, you’ll be interested to know where the stars are traveling. But if you don’t buy into celebrity culture, why would you even care?
Well, it makes sense that seen-it-all celebs with bottomless bank accounts have access and the inclination to visit the best of the best, so the A-list travel calendar tends to favor the world’s finest destinations and happenings.
For a lens into those superlative places and moments, here’s our guide to where celebrities are traveling this summer — from perennial hot spots like St. Barts and Lake Como in Italy to major events such as Wimbledon in London and the 2024 Paris Olympics to destinations you may have never even heard of … yet.
Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Canouan — a Caribbean island that may not sound familiar to most people — must surely be the best-kept secret among the celebrity and billionaire set. The off-the-beaten-path escape in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is just 5 square miles, with a world-class marina, roaming turtles and spectacular turquoise waters lapping white sand beaches.
The airport’s 5,900-foot illuminated runway makes it highly accessible by private jet (but less so for mere mortals). There’s also a Soho House here, which says something; royal watchers well know that Meghan Markle is a big Soho fan — and, indeed, the Sussexes stayed on the island just months ago.
Related: Exclusive: Soho House’s founder and CEO reveals major North American expansion plans
Where to stay
Mandarin Oriental Canouan has 26 suites and 13 villas (all with ultra-personalized butler service), plus a Jim Fazio-designed golf course and a knockout hillside spa. Each of the 26 beach-chic suites and 13 villas offers sweeping oceanfront views or direct access to the sand. Rates start from $1,693 per night.
St. Barts
On any given day in St. Barts, you can expect to see a bold-faced name — say, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pippa Middleton, Jeff Bezos or Naomi Campbell.
Known for its idyllic beaches, luxury shopping boutiques, high-end restaurants, lavish resorts and yachting culture, the French West Indies island is a perennial favorite among celebrities and miscellaneous billionaires.
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For a see-and-be-seen brunch, visit Nikki Beach, then check out Bonito in Gustavia for dinner with a DJ scene. In July, you can experience the annual cultural festivities around Bastille Day, the national day of France.
Where to stay
Hotel Barriere Le Carl Gustaf sits in the city of Gustavia. The intimately scaled property has just 21 rooms, suites and bungalows with private plunge pools. It’s also home to the restaurant Beefbar, which happens to be a prime location to take in a Bastille Day fireworks display. Rates start from $863 per night.
Related: 7 destinations where you can travel like a celebrity without breaking the bank
Bodrum, Turkey
Known as the Mykonos of Turkey, Bodrum offers more secluded environs than its more crowded counterparts along the glamorous Aegean coast. This glam Turkish Rivera destination has yacht-lined marinas, seaside villages and pristine, private beaches with sparkling turquoise waters.
The port city also offers must-see cultural sites, from the towering Bodrum Castle to Halicarnassus Mausoleum (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and the Pedesa Ancient City.
At night, the city’s array of clubs and bars on the iconic mile-long Cumhuriyet Caddesi come to life. Bodrum’s culinary scene is also thriving, having recently celebrated its inclusion in Turkey’s Michelin Guide. This party town has been known to beckon celebs like Beyonce, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tom Hanks.
Where to stay
Set to open in May 2024, Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort will be an opulent luxury resort with over-the-top suites and amenities situated on a private peninsula. (The Presidential Hill Villa has its own sauna, fitness room and seawater pool.) Rates start from $820 per night.
Santa Barbara, California
The American Riviera regularly swarms with stars of next-level wattage; Oprah and the Sussexes live in Montecito, California, and Hollywood’s A-list routinely heads up the coast for a quick California getaway. (It’s where Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker got engaged, for one thing.)
On popular State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, local and boutique shops line the promenade, with restaurants led by top chefs scattered across town — like chef Lennon Silvers Lee, who left Michelin-starred restaurant Sushi Bar Montecito to open the 10-seat Silvers Omakase in the bohemian Funk Zone.
Where to stay
Rosewood Miramar Beach is famous for celebrity ties; that much-Instagrammed Kardashian-Barker proposal happened right here. The beachfront hotel in Montecito introduced the Miramar Surf Club, a collaboration led by local surf legend Adam Lambert, this year. The private surf lesson comes with a picnic for two, along with a photo and video shot by the official Surfer Magazine photographer. Rates start from $1,502 per night.
Related: The best hotels in Santa Barbara
Cavtat, Croatia
Situated just south of Dubrovnik, Croatia, this less-traveled destination evokes St-Tropez before the crowds. Celebs are in the know: Jay Z, David Beckham and Matthew McConaughey have dropped by.
The small town on the Adriatic has a beautiful waterfront promenade lined with palm trees, beaches, churches, monuments, museums, outdoor restaurants and cafes, and boutiques. Plus, there are more than 4 miles of beaches ringed by crystalline waters.
Where to stay
Located in the charming historic center, Hotel Supetar Cavtat is just 2 years old, with 16 stylish, individually designed rooms. The hotel also houses a Mediterranean restaurant, a wine bar, an artist-in-residence program, a garden and a pool. Rates start from $308 per night.
London
One of the most prestigious sporting events in the world (and certainly the most venerable and oldest tennis championship), London’s famous lawn club, Wimbledon, draws A-list stars from around the globe in July.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, Brad Pitt, Emma Watson, Ariana Grande and Dame Maggie Smith were all among the crowd last year. Hop across the pond to mingle amid the swelled celebrity population at the city’s hottest restaurants and shops while escaping the more intense heat associated with other parts of Europe in the summer.
Where to stay
Located steps from Covent Garden, Great Scotland Yard Hotel (part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt) is one of London’s most historic properties, echoing with untold stories of celeb guests. Here, no two rooms are the same, but all offer stunning views of London. Rates start from $278 per night.
Related: The 23 best hotels in London
Kansas City, Missouri
While this city might not have made a list like this in years past, its new status as a celebrity magnet is undeniable. It hosted the 2023 NFL Draft, opened the first stadium purpose-built for a women’s sports team and is home to the Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Over the last year, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were in town filming the rapper’s music video, and Cardi B flew in for Beyoncé’s final stop on the Renaissance Tour. Plus, you might have heard about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. This summer, native celebrities like Paul Rudd, Eric Stonestreet and Heidi Gardner will host the fundraising event Big Slick Celebrity Weekend.
Where to stay
The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection is a boutique property located in a historic landmark, mere steps from the Country Club Plaza, the city’s major destination for shopping, dining and nightlife. Rates start from $208 per night.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen’s draw of Hollywood elites dates back to the ’30s, and, more recently, it has turned into a fashion capital, with high-end western apparel brand Kemo Sabe setting up a brick-and-mortar shop — joining the fashion scene in town alongside the likes of Prada, Gucci, Dior and Louis Vuitton. (Stroll long enough and you might encounter the likes of Mariah Carey or Kendall Jenner, known for shopping sprees in town.)
Make like celeb couples Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, or Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble, and go for a high-visibility date night at the Michelin-recommended Element 47 or Cache Cache for French-American fare.
In the past year, celeb visitors to Aspen included Jenner and Carey, plus Justin and Hailey Bieber, Rihanna and Nina Dobrev, among others. Since the ’70s, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have lived here, and their children, Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson, visit annually.
Where to stay
A celeb haunt since it opened in 1889, Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection is part of the National Register of Historic Places. The property has been known to host stars like Josh Hartnett, Gerard Butler, Seal, Heidi Klum and Jessica Biel, and the legendary J-Bar at the hotel was a favorite of Hunter S. Thompson. Rates start from $715 per night.
Related: From ski-in, ski-out access to a great value on points: 9 of the best places to stay in Aspen
Paris
The Olympic Games draw celebs from around the world — as spectators and as participants. Naturally, this summer’s Paris Olympics will no doubt be a magnet for A-listers. The events will make Paris unusually crowded (even by its own summer standards) this July and August, as well as plenty pricey.
But, at any time of year, the City of Light draws culture-seeking celebs with its romantic cityscapes, haute cuisine, exclusive shopping opportunities and all-around pursuit of the finer things in life.
Where to stay
Many of the celebrity-magnet hotels are already sold out during the Olympics dates (such as The Peninsula, Paris in the 16th Arrondissement, but its spa and Michelin-starred L’Oiseau Blanc, as well as the beloved Le Lobby lounge, are expected to be open to visitors).
You can still book a stay at the opulent and intimate Hotel San Regis, formerly a 19th-century private mansion, in the 8th Arrondissement. Rates start from $545 per night.
Lake Como, Italy
A-listers like George Clooney, Madonna, Richard Branson and Sylvester Stallone own or have owned villas around the shores of Lake Como. Celebs like Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been spotted there recently. Not to mention, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen returned for a vow renewal after marrying here.
It’s no wonder why celebs flock to this Italian paradise. It’s full of secluded villas tucked into lush greenery, where you can enjoy phenomenal views of the sparkling waters of the lake.
Related: Everyone is going to Sicily — try these 7 underrated places in Italy instead
Where to stay
Villa d’Este is where you’d stay, say, if you were Elizabeth Taylor trying to hide your affair with Richard Burton. The opulence — and discretion — is next level. Rates start from $798 per night.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Stars such as Kim Kardashian, Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt and Matthew McConaughey have all spent time in Jackson Hole — with its charming town and atmosphere, and posh lodging options.
Last summer, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling were seen in town, and various stars own permanent residences or vacation homes here. Still, the dramatic, remote landscape is protected by stunning national parks, forests and land trusts so it will never spoil, and there is limited opportunity for development and investment, which keeps the vibe exclusive.
In town are more than 25 galleries for browsing local art, and live music plays most nights of the week. For a dose of local fauna, book an impressive wildlife safari.
Where to stay
The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole has a peaceful, mountain-chic aesthetic. There’s an expansive spa and heated pool for non-ski-season delights. And for accommodations worthy of a celeb, the property offers its residential-style Private Retreats collection. The resort is five minutes from the entrance of Grand Teton National Park — and the wildlife knows no bounds. It is not unusual for guests to see moose and other wildlife near the pool deck. Rates start from $380 per night.
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