By Rowena Carr-Allinson
GOLDENEYE, JAMAICA
Christian Horan
GoldenEye has earned a reputation as an ideal party pad for the rich and famous, so where better for Queen Bey and Jay Z to ring in the New Year? One of Island Outposts' founder Chris Blackwell's properties, Goldeneye was famously home to James Bond creator Ian Fleming, who wrote all 14 of his 007 books here.
The beautiful 52-acre estate, on the coast just 20 minutes away from Ocho Rios, is made up of 13 villas and six cottages, plus the main house: the Ian Fleming Villa. The resort is all secret coves, lovely private beaches and tropical flowers , plus a FieldSpa and two restaurants, the Bizot Bar at the beach, and the Gazebo for more upscale dining
GoldenEye, Oracabessa, Jamaica, 001 876-6229-007. Doubles from £380, B&B .
PUNTA DOS GANCHOS, FLOIRANOPOLIS, BRAZIL
On a private peninsula on Brazil's Emerald coast, this exclusive hideaway is all about laid-back elegance, romance and privacy. The award-winning resort has just 25 private stylish bungalows, including the Especial Vila Esmeralda that Beyoncé stayed in, all with gorgeous ocean views and large wooden decks.
Being away from it all certainly doesn't mean roughing it though . First up, it's a Relais & Chateaux, which means the cuisine is a big deal. Then you've got the spa's hilltop cabanas, the private white sandy beach, nature trails, and even a private island you can book for dinner à deux . It's the kind of place you would be happy doing nothing at all - but when you tire of that, hire a canoe or paddleboard to pootle around on the warm, clear water.
Ponta dos Ganchos, Rua Eupídeo Alves do Nascimento, 104, Governador Celso Ramos, Santa Caterina, Brazil, 00 55 48 39 53 70 00. Bungalows from £380 per night .
LE ROYAL MONCEAU RAFFLES, PARIS
One of Paris' smartest addresses, Le Royal Monceau, is known for its very swish décor (courtesy of interiors maestro Philippe Starck), and its upscale musical clientele, including the likes of Sting, Jennifer Lopez, Will.i.am, Pharell Williams and Beyoncé, who is such a fan she booked in for several weeks 'en famille'.
Many of the regulars come for its two Michelin-starred restaurants, the Italian, 'Il Carpaccio' and the classic 'La Cuisine,' run by chefs Hans Zahner and Laurent Andre, alongside Pierre Herme, known in Paris as the 'Picasso of Pastry'. Far from the stuffy ambience you might expect, La Cuisine is very Parisian-cool combining cosy leather booths, twinkling Murano chandeliers, modern art and photographic prints, with a wine bottle-wall backdrop, plus an 'open kitchen' and a top table where you can pore over your tasting menu.
The bedrooms are plush and luxurious, especially the Ray Charles suite (where the legend once lived a while), with its grand piano and scenic rooftop views. For downtime, the hotel has the largest pool in the city, and a glorious MyBlend by Clarins Spa.
Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, 37 Avenue Hoche, Paris, France, 00 33 1 42 99 88 00. Doubles from £773, room only.
ANDAZ LIVERPOOL STREET, LONDON
Beyoncé stayed at this hip London address during her last UK tour. Set in the heart of the city, the five star hotel is a beautiful red brick Victorian building dating back to 1884, and was one of the original London railway hotels, the Great Eastern.
Today it's a contemporary boutique hideaway with 267 stylish, modern rooms and seven restaurants and bars, including Japanese at Miyako, traditional English pub fare at George's and for fish and fizz, try the Catch Champagne bar.
Another big plus? Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tate Modern in a morning, are all handy, as are all the cool hangouts in Spitalfields, Borough, Shoreditch and Hoxton.
Andaz, 40 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7QN, 0207 961 1234. Doubles from £180, room only (but including Wi-fI and non-alcoholic minibar)
COOL CRUISING
It's tough being a celeb when you really need to get away from it all. In summertime the paparazzi have a field day chasing Beyoncé around the Med. With Jay-Z, Blue Ivy and entourage in tow, the best place to get some private downtime is on a mega yacht cruising the turquoise waters from Dubrovnik to St Tropez .
But the paps don't miss out completely, if they hang around long enough they will catch Beyonce & Co hitting the beach, dining out, jet-skiing in the waves or jumping off the floating palace.
