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Star Gazing
By : Jill Fergus
The Caribbean and the Atlantic, with their many and varied islands, have long been the getaway of choice for celebrities seeking a little secluded rest and relaxation. Whether they choose the glamour of St. Barths or the laid-back vibe of Anguilla, stars know that while on-island they can unwind in tropical luxury.
Clockwise from top left: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com; Tony Barson/WireImage.com; Brian Ach/WireImage.com; Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
The Bahamas
A string of 700 islands, The Bahamas has plenty of pristine beaches, casinos, golf courses and duty-free shopping. Numerous movies were filmed here, including Pirates of the Caribbean, After the Sunset and Into the Blue.
Who goes: Tiger Woods, Matt Damon, Cindy Crawford, Oprah Winfrey, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins.
Where to stay: The One&Only Ocean Club (oneandonlyresorts.com) on Paradise Island is a luxe hideaway with British Colonial-style rooms and stellar service. At Pink Sands (pinksandsresort.com) on Harbour Island, guests unwind in pastel-colored cottages featuring Bahamian decór.
Where to eat: Dishes like lobster in a cream sauce are on the menu at Nassau's Graycliff Restaurant, located in an 18th-century mansion. On Harbour Island, try the spicy conch chili and a Kalik beer at the beachfront Sip Sip.
What to do: Swim with dolphins, go deep-sea fishing for wahoo and marlin or try your luck in the casinos.
St. Barths
The tres chic island of S. Barths in the French West Indies has long been an exclusive and decadent playground for the rich and fabulous. St. Barths is known for its sublime beaches, refined cuisine and fabulous shopping.
Who goes: Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Diddy, Uma Thurman, David Letterman, Bruce Willis, Penelope Cruz.
Where to stay: Privacy-seekers stay at Hotel Le Toiny (hotelletoiny.com) with just 15 villas (each with its own private pool). At the larger Hotel Guanahani & Spa (leguanahani.com), guests stay in gingerbread cottages set on a scenic peninsula and enjoy a Clarins spa.
Where to eat: Dine on refined French fare and sip the Champagne-based Carl Gustaf cocktail at Carl Gustaf Hotel (the perfect spot for sunsets). Join the locals for burgers and beers at the casual-but-cool corner bar Le Select.
What to do: Soak up rays at beaches like Saline and St. Jean or hit the boutiques in Gustavia for sexy sarongs and jewel-encrusted sandals.
Bermuda
This proper British territory with pink beaches, golf courses and historic towns is like stepping back in time to a more genteel era where the afternoon tea tradition is a must.
Who goes: Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Adam Sandler, Rod Stewart, Samuel L. Jackson.
Where to stay: Ariel Sands (arielsands.com), owned by Michael Douglas' family, is one of Bermuda's traditional "cottage colonies" and is known for its restaurant Aqua. Cambridge Beaches (cambridgebeaches.com) is an exclusive beachfront hideaway with elegant cottage-style rooms and a brand-new infinity pool (it also provides free ferry service to Hamilton).
Where to eat: Expect dishes like pan-sautéed duck foie gras at La Coquille overlooking Hamilton Harbour. Dine on pub grub and sample the famous Rum Swizzle at the Swizzle Inn.
What to do: Partake in sports like golf, tennis and croquet; rent a scooter and visit the quaint town of St. George's dating from 1612 and the museums in the restored Royal Naval Dockyard.
Puerto Rico
This sizzling island has miles of beautiful beaches as well as historic Old San Juan with its colonial plazas and cobblestone streets lined with shops, cafes and galleries. Late night, casinos and salsa clubs keep things interesting.
Who goes: Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Kid Rock, Pamela Anderson, Derek Jeter, Benicio del Toro, Enrique Iglesias.
Where to stay: In the upscale Isla Verde area is the swanky Ritz-Carlton (ritzcarlton.com) with a gorgeous pool, soothing spa and hopping casino. The San Juan Water & Beach Club (waterbeachclubhotel.com) is a hip boutique property—be sure to visit the hotel's rooftop bar, Wet, for mojitos and great views.
Where to eat: Enjoy filet mignon and fine wines at celebrity Chef Laurent Tourondel's BLT Steak in the Ritz-Carlton. Dragonfly in Old San Juan serves Latin-Asian dishes like duck nachos with wasabi sour cream.
What to do: Explore the imposing El Morro Fort, shop duty-free or hike to stunning waterfalls in El Yunque Rainforest.
Anguilla
A-listers flock to Anguilla because of the posh boutique hotels, postcard-perfect beaches (such as shoal and Meads Bay) and flavorful West Indian cuisine—think fried fish, grilled crayfish and rum punches.
Who goes: Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael J. Fox, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick.
Where to stay: Cap Juluca (capjuluca.com) features romantic whitewashed villas overlooking a pretty crescent-shaped beach. At the beachfront CuisinArt Resort & Spa (cuisinartresort.com), guests can enjoy organic cuisine at Santorini restaurant and mineral baths and hot stone massages in the Venus Spa.
Where to eat: Dine on fresh seafood at the Straw Hat with stunning sea views and don't miss a visit to Scilly Cay, a private island reached by water taxi.
What to do: Check out local artwork in the numerous art galleries, golf at the new Temenos course and groove to reggae bands at The Pumphouse.
Book your trip today! Visit www.aa.com, call American/American Eagle reservations at 1-800-433-7300, or call your travel agent for more information.
Barbados
This former British outpost not only has stellar stretches along the famed west coast (dubbed the Gold Coast) but also beautifully restored plantations, a lush interior called the Scotland District and some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean.
Who goes: Prince William, Prince Harry, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Sarah Ferguson, David and Victoria Beckham, Cindy Crawford, Elton John.
Where to stay: Rooms at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion (fairmont.com) have ocean views and are surrounded by tropical foliage. Sandy Lane (sandylane.com) is one of the Caribbean's most exclusive hotels with lavish rooms and three golf courses; guests are picked up at the airport in a Rolls-Royce.
Where to eat: Dine on fresh seafood at Pisces, a colonial-style restaurant in St. Lawrence Gap. In the capital Bridgetown, everyone stops by the casual Waterfront Café for fish sandwiches and to listen to live music.
What to do: After touring the Mount Gay Rum Factory, dating from 1703, visit Sunbury Plantation, a restored 17th-century estate with Victorian furniture.
Book your trip today! Visit www.aa.com, call American/American Eagle reservations at 1-800-433-7300, or call your travel agent for more information.
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