There are corners of the planet that the world’s elite choose over all others to rest and recharge their batteries, and among these is our Atacama Desert. According to an article in Forbes magazine “these are the authentic complexes of leisure and residential communities, where the world’s richest people retreat from the world.” Places whose hallmarks are design excellence and luxury combined with environmental responsibility. They range from the Mexican Pacific to Florida or French Polynesia.” Below is a list of some of the spots most coveted by the mega-millionaires.
- Punta Mita, Mexico
This place located on the Mexican Bay of Banderas is a real jewel on the shores of the Pacific. While it has private beaches, 54 villas, two hotels and a golf course designed by famed Ohio golfer Jack Nicklaus, it also provides a variety of experiences that make this corner a favorite among Hollywood stars and Silicon Valley types. Its paradisiacal landscapes, in the State of Nayarit, are steeped in the architecture and craftsmanship of the two indigenous peoples, the Huicholes and the Cora. Its beaches feature a variety of marine fauna and turtles. Artisanal and sport fishing are available. And in the winter months, visitors can watch the passage of humpback whales on their migration to the South. One of the must-sees is Marietas, a small archipelago of volcanic islands that fascinated explorer and marine researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Link: https://www.puntamita.com/es/
- Mar a Lago, United States
Surely more than a few of you have heard about this place. Located in Palm Beach, Florida, it is the residence where the Trump family retired to after leaving the White House. This venue was built in the 1920s at the request of Marjorie Merriweather Post, founder of General Foods and heiress to the great Kellogg’s packaged cereal empire. Its purpose was to have the place become a vacation residence for U.S. presidents upon her death. “Tons of the best marble was brought from Italy and more than 20,000 terracotta tiles were procured from an old Cuban mansion. A valuable collection of some 36,000 antique tiles, some dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, was imported from Spain. Tapestries by the Flemish school came from the Netherlands. The ceiling of one of the halls is a copy of that of the Academy of Venice and is not the only one entirely covered with gold leaf,” according to a description of this exclusive place of rest in Expansion magazine. In 1978, following Post’s death, it was donated to the U.S. presidency, but the cost of maintenance led President Jimmy Carter to return it to the family’s foundation in 1981. A couple of years later it was bought by Donald Trump as a place to do business. This is how he went about creating an exclusive Social Club. While in one part of the property is his residence, the other part can be used for lodging by members and their guests. According to The Washington Post, the revenues generated from these memberships amount to US$15 million a year. It currently has 500 members, an entrance fee of US$ 100,000, and annual dues of US$ 14,000. Trump made numerous trips to Mar-a-Lago while in the White House and hosted leaders there, including Chinese President Xi Jiping.
Link: https://www.maralagoclub.com/
- Tetiaroa Private Island, French Polynesia
It is known as Marlon Brando’s private island because in 1962, during the filming of the movie Mutiny on the Bounty, he fell in love with the place. “It had belonged to the Tahitian royal family and subsequently passed through many private hands, until in 1966, after several unsuccessful attempts, the actor finally obtained a 99-year lease granting him exclusive ownership,” reports the Spanish magazine Hola. The Brando Resort finally opened its doors in 2014 commemorating the tenth anniversary of the actor’s death. The site has 35 luxury villas built in the quintessential Polynesian style. The resort also has two gourmet restaurants, two bars, a luxury spa on the water, and an organic fruit and vegetable garden. The resort is also a pioneer in “sustainable technology, with an air conditioning system run on seawater, air, and renewable energies thus offering great luxury in the midst of unspoiled nature,” according to the travel supplement of the Spanish newspaper ABC. Two-bedroom bungalows start at US$3,700 a night. Beyoncé and Barack Obama are among the distinguished guests that have visited the island.
Link: https://thebrando.com/
- Isla Nihi Sumba, Indonesia
Sumba is rustic within the most rustic of worlds. It covers an area of more than 11,000 kilometers of jungle, with rudimentary houses and tents, and villages that are a true journey back in time. “The island, which many call ‘Indonesia’s great forgotten one,’ holds to ancestral customs and rites and many of its inhabitants live as their ancestors did. The modernity seen in other of the country’s islands is light years from what we will encounter here. There is still no trace of supermarkets, schools are scarce and hospitals are also in short supply,” reports Traveller magazine. The hotel is located on 567 hectares, of which only 65 are used. That is where the 33 private villas on offer are located. The hotel offers excursions of all kinds and has its own Chris and Charly’s Chocolate Factory, which is supplied by a plantation of over 2,000 cacao plants. The island of Sumba is also one of the best areas on the planet for surfing, so it is not uncommon to find groups of surfers in this Southeast Asian paradise riding big waves in this idyllic environment.
Link: https://es.lhw.com/hotel/nihi-sumba-sumba-indonesia
- Tierra Atacama, Chile
This boutique hotel is located adjacent to San Pedro de Atacama, facing the Licancabur Volcano. “It is an oasis in the middle of the driest desert in the world where guests can enjoy a few days of relaxation surrounded by the Atacameño culture. This is the inspiration for the hotel’s architecture and design, which is wonderfully complemented by the local gastronomy and excursions in the area that open the door to the universe of the Atacama Desert,” explains White Paper magazine. The hotel has 32 rooms facing the area’s mountains and volcanoes. “Its décor is thoughtfully designed to offer maximum comfort: soft beds draped in fine cotton, private terraces and an open-air bathroom to enjoy a shower under a starry sky,” details White Paper. The Spa is named Uma — “water” in the Aymara language and has everything that is needed for total relaxation. There are bubble beds, waterfalls, steam baths, and relaxation areas. “In addition, it features a whirlpool tub from which you can witness a breathtaking sunrise or a completely starry sky. It is the ideal environment to restore mind, body and soul,” promises White Paper. Excursions in the driest desert in the world are tailor-made for guests: geysers, salt ponds, star observatories to view the clearest starry skies on the planet, and trekking through unique landscapes. A place to lose yourself and be free of the paparazzi.
Link: https://tierrahotels.com/atacama/es/
- Soneva Jani, Maldives
They say that paradise is in the Maldives and its name is Soneva Jani. “It is a super luxurious resort, consisting of 46 villas with varying amenities and services, located within a crystalline lagoon, and surrounded by islands with pristine beaches and covered with lush vegetation. A place where less is not more,” according to Expansión magazine. The villas are sustainably built from wood, bamboo and thatch, and have retractable roofs to see the stars from bed, private pools, and outdoor showers. Some have outdoor baths with water fountains, tree houses for children, and steam baths. The most expensive four-bedroom villa runs US$17,450 per night. The venue also offers a stay in a yacht with a glass-bottomed tub for six people. It is name Soneva En Aqua and costs US$ 4,200 per night. “In essence, what we offer is a slower lifestyle and cleaner air than what you breathe in the city,” explains the resort’s website. Its environmentally responsible style made this the first resort in the Maldives to pioneer super-luxury, yet back-to-nature oriented vacations.
Link: https://soneva.com/resorts/soneva-jani/
- Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa in Trancoso, Brazil
This destination was chosen by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler as the World’s Best Resort. This award, considered the oldest and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry, is derived from a survey of 800,000 readers. “’Uxua,” in the language of the region’s Pataxó Indian inhabitants, means “wonderful.“ With this as his inspiration, Dutch designer Wilbert Das inaugurated the resort in May 2009. His objective was to carefully restore five of the historic houses in Quadrado, the central point of Trancoso, and create new ones working with local artisans using traditional construction methods and recovered materials,” according to Weekend magazine. The southern coastal region of Bahia is famous for its African influences, tropical climate and hundreds of kilometers of idyllic beaches. “In 1586, Jesuit missionaries traveling through the area founded Trancoso, carving a grassy plaza out of the jungle atop a cliff overlooking the sea and surrounding it with fifty small houses and a church. This area, known as the Quadrado, has been preserved for centuries and today is one of the most picturesque and well-preserved settings in Brazil, as well as being the embryo for this award-winning hotel,” according to Ladevi magazine. This five-star hotel offers 13 totally exclusive one to three-bedroom homes that blend perfectly in the historic center of Trancoso. The restaurants specialize in traditional Bahian cuisine with an organic and contemporary twist, and there is an exclusive swimming pool with medicinal properties, a lounge and a beach restaurant built using old fishing boats. In the hotel gardens, two antique looms weave organic cotton kaftans and kimonos for sale to guests. Quadrado plaza or square is the site of major celebrations, such as carnival and the festivity of Yemanjá, goddess of the sea in Candomblé folklore, whom the natives honor by dancing, singing and playing drums. Famous guests have included Leonardo di Caprio, Calvin Klein, Valentino and Al Gore.
Link: www.uxua.com/
