You gobble up celebrity blogs and magazines. You can recite all the names and ages of Angelina and Brad’s kids. You knew right away which ex Taylor Swift is so subtlety referencing in her latest revenge anthem.
See the best places for celeb spottings >
You’re a pop culture connoisseur.
A vacation is the perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of your favorite stars in the flesh. While trekking to LA or New York City and setting up camp outside of Chateau Marmont or the Bowery Hotel is always one (very sketchy) option, here a 10 amazing vacation spots that will maximize your fun and offer a greater chance of running into an A-lister.
See the best places for celeb spottings >
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Hawaii
Hawaii is a top celebrity vacation destination (and the home state of President Obama).
In 2012, the island teemed with stars. Katy Perry relaxed in Kauai, while Kanye West and Kim Kardashian showed off their love in Honolulu. Britney Spears, Charlize Theron, Will Smith and Cameron Diaz have all paid visits to the Aloha state recently.
But with 8 different islands spread out over 6,423 square miles, it’s not easy to guarantee that you’ll be sharing a beach with Beyonce.
We suggest aiming your stays at Kauai. At 533 square miles, Kauai is 33 miles long and 25 miles across at its widest point. Kauai is Hawaii’s 4th largest island and known for heavy celebrity foot traffic. You can maximize your celebrity spotting potential by booking a room (like Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck and Alicia Keys did) at an impeccable 5 star resort like the St. Regis Princeville overlooking Hanalei Bay (rooms start at $360 a night).
Nestled among verdant sea cliffs, the resort caters to the restful and the restless: boasting everything from an 11,000 square foot spa to a working cattle ranch where you can horseback ride, zip line through the trees, or hike to an 80 foot waterfall. With 19 dining options, there’s little reason to step foot outside of the resort’s grounds—making it the perfect protected celebrity hideaway.
Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan is a must-stop destination for celebrities promoting their films. But with a population of 8,731,000, spotting a celebrity in the city is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Our suggestion for celeb spotting in Japan? Head to the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Jessica Alba (family in tow!) have all visited the Magic Kingdom also known as Tokyo Disneyland Park. At 115 acres, it’s bigger than Florida’s Disney World or Disneyland and offers unique cultural offerings like soy sauce flavored popcorn. Love “It’s a Small World After All”? You’ll love it more in Japanese!
To stay like a celebrity in Tokyo check in at the Park Hyatt or Ritz Carlton and get psyched for major pampering. Japanese hotels are known for their impeccable service, regardless of your rank on IMDB. A few requests you might consider making: have them book you an English speaking tour guide (essential!), ask them to snag you a table at the hip Code Kurkku in Yoyogi Village (a tranquil urban retreat in the heart of Tokyo) or arrange for a total holistic body massage—2 hours of intensive treatment designed to reset your internal clock and rejuvenate the body.
If the Ritz’s price point is outside your budget, consider stopping by for a bite at one of their 8 restaurants like contemporary Japanese cuisine Hinokizaka, recipient of a 2010 Michelin star. If the food doesn’t tempt you, its prime celeb spotting location (next to the lobby) should be lure enough.
Bedford, New York
If you must pay a visit to NYC to indulge your celebrity sighting needs, consider a side trip on the Metro-North to Westchester, specifically Bedford.
Just 48 minutes from NYC, this tony (and tiny) town, is home to many an A list celeb. Most recently, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds bought a home here and have been seen visiting their local gym. Glenn Close, Martha Stewart, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones have homes in town. At 39.3 square miles, Bedford is 1/10th the size of New York (468.5 square miles) with only 17,335 people.
Center your visit around the picturesque town green in the heart of the historic district (listed in the National Register of Historic Places). Soak in the colonial glory of the clapboard homes, 17th century cemetery, and old one room schoolhouse. Richard Gere owns the quaint Bedford Post Inn, making it the ideal launching point for a Fall weekend of celeb spotting, leaf peeping, and apple picking in New York State.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider