Movie stars sure live the life – and come to think of it even their fictional counterparts do as well. It’s especially obvious in the places where characters live, as apartments and houses in movies are always just much bigger than they are in reality, of better quality and somehow more affordable.
But while the discrepancy between make-believe and real-life may be clear when it comes to apartments, hotels and resorts on the other hand seem to get a fair shake.
The grandest hotels in the world that have provided the backdrop in many films have the potential to fulfill or even exceed your expectations. Here are our top movie hotels, places you should definitely stay at and live out your cinematic fantasy.
The Movie: LOST IN TRANSLATION
The Hotel: THE PARK HYATT, TOKYO
This high-rise hotel in Tokyo’s famed Shinjuku district was made famous for its bar, lounge singer, and unrequited romance between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanssen. The suite that’s in the movie costs USD $12,000 a night, but everything you see in the movie from the atmosphere to the skyline and the cocktails are as authentic as can be – it’s a simply breathtaking space.
The Movie: CROCODILE DUNDEE
The Hotel: THE PLAZA, NEW YORK CITY
Recently renovated, The Plaza is still one of the most recognizable hotels in New York City, and a bastion of elegance and romance. While you can’t walk around with a big machete anymore like Mick Dundee, the customer service in this hotel is still top notch, and rooms are as opulent as ever. Spend $3,500 a night for a two-bedroom suite, or just buy your own condo starting in the millions.
The Movie: VARIOUS (The Interpreter, Léon: The Professional, Nine ½ Weeks and others)
The Hotel: HOTEL CHELSEA
To see the other side of New York City, the Hotel Chelsea is it. This has always been the spot for darker tales, ghost stories and reminiscing about the seediness that is sadly disappearing. A one-bedroom suite starts in the low $500’s, and this historic building also accommodates long-term tenants.
The Movie: PRETTY WOMAN (Runner up – BEVERLY HILLS COP)
The Hotel: BEVERLY WILSHIRE, LOS ANGELES
While the suite that Richard Gere and Julia Roberts stayed in was a set, and only exteriors were shot here, this is just one of those locations that everyone wants to see. In reality, this five-star hotel offers $1,500 ‘Rodeo Suites’ (meaning facing the shopping district, no mechanical bulls here), an incredible location and plenty of opportunities for star sightings.
www.fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire/
The Movie: VARIOUS (Goldfinger, Scarface, The Bodyguard and others)
The Hotel: FONTAINEBLEAU, MIAMI
Whether you are a James Bond fan or a Scarface freak, you will immediately recognize this hotel and its remarkable pool area. Even in an area like Miami Beach where there seem to be countless attention-grabbing destinations, this classic hotel is still a standout. A signature suite starts around $1000 but you can find affordable rooms for a couple of hundred as well.
The Movie: THE SHINING
The Hotel: TIMBERLINE LODGE (Oregon) and THE STANLEY HOTEL (Colorado)
Neither of these two hotels actually are used in the movie for their interiors, but are significant nonetheless. The exterior of the Timberline Lodge is Stanley Kubrick’s vision of Stephen King’s novel, while a stay at The Stanley Hotel inspired King’s story. Both are a ghost hunter’s fantasy and even their larger rooms can be reserved for about $300.00 a night.
www.timberlinelodge.com / www.stanleyhotel.com
The Movie: EVERY DISNEY MOVIE
The Hotel: DISNEY WORLD RESORT, ORLANDO
Every time you see a Disney or Pixar movie, you inevitably see a shot of the renowned Cinderella Castle. This is no fantasy – you can actually visit this thing and stay in a variety of resorts that feature their own personality and settings. This place is so large and complex there is no way to even begin describing it – but children, parents and Disney buffs never seem to complain.
The Movie: FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
The Hotel: TURTLE BAY RESORT, HAWAII
Whether you loved the movie or not, the centerpiece of the film was clearly the azure waters, spacious cabanas and incredible grounds of the Turtle Bay Resort. This is the only resort on the famed North Shore of Oahu and offers a ridiculous array of amenities. You can channel your inner Russell Brand in peace here for about $1,500 a night.
The Movie: CITY SLICKERS
The Hotel: GHOST RANCH, NEW MEXICO
Sometimes a great outdoors experience reminds you how much you love nature – or how much you would rather stay at a five star resort. While what makes this area so special is the nature, the views and the privacy are spectacular. For a couple of hundred a night you can stay in charming accommodations – and don’t worry, the tour guides are quite normal.
The Movie: OCEANS 11, 12 AND 13
The Hotel: THE BELLAGIO, LAS VEGAS
There’s Las Vegas, and then there’s LAS VEGAS. The Bellagio is the ALL CAPS version, providing only the best of what this resort city has to offer, Five-star meals, gambling, entertainment, it’s all here. And like anywhere else in Vegas you can find a great deal or take out a Penthouse Suite starting at $750. Perhaps all 11, 12 or 13 of you can split the tab.
What are your favorite movie hotels?
