Feature
C
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO BALANCOURT
urious about the high-flying habits of the jet set? It often involves a private jet, a butler for becks and calls, a bodyguard for protection, and a nanny to mind the children. It might also require a personal helicopter, like the $1.6-million chopper Angelina Jolie bought for then-fiancé Brad Pitt. And why not? Their chateau in the South of France already had a helipad, so it seemed like a fun surprise. The well-to-do certainly have their own way of traveling. You can be sure the accommodations are outrageously extravagant, to the tune of $20,000 a night for a suite favored by Beyoncé and Jay-Z. And if one’s between homes — or spouses? Why, moving into a hotel suite is perfectly suitable, especially if it’s at Hotel Bel-Air. From an English estate fit for Meghan Markle to a Swiss palace once home to Coco Chanel, here’s where the rich and famous like to stay while on vacay. –Anne Roderique-Jones
THE BRAND O T E T I A R O A , F R E N C H P O LY N E S I A GUEST LIST: Barack and Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi,
Pippa Middleton, Margot Robbie
T
his ultra-exclusive resort lies 30 miles north of Tahiti on the private atoll of Tetiaroa. First beloved by Tahitian royalty, it was later discovered by Marlon Brando, who came to the island while filming Mutiny on the Bounty and purchased the property in 1967 to host a slew of celebrity friends. While it’s still owned by Brando’s estate, hotelier Richard Bailey has created a sustainably chic resort that’s a favorite among the affluent. In 2017, for example, Margot Robbie honeymooned while Ellen and Portia vacationed while Obama spent a month writing his book. They were here for the beach-facing villas, the private pools and the utmost privacy, all for just $10,000 a night. (Interestingly enough, they all met in the gym.)
JET-SETTING THROUGH THE YEARS
128
1910S
1910–1920S
THE RISE OF THE ROAD TRIP
OCEAN-FARING OPULENCE
Wealthy Americans ditched filthy industrial cities for the scenic countryside by car, which cost upward of $1,300 while average salaries often didn’t surpass $500 a year. Weekend road trips allowed the affluent to emulate idealized aspects of the transient gypsy lifestyle, like picnicking on the side of the road.
Crossing the ocean on a luxury liner was the next jet set status symbol. Those who could afford it traversed the Atlantic aboard steamships (think Titanic, but with more success) in upper-class accommodations akin to the finest on-land hotels and restaurants.
Artful Living