Savour International

What do Bono, Steffi Graf, Clint Eastwood, Michael Douglas, Francis Ford Coppola and Gloria Estefan all have in common?

 

They are constant travellers and spend a lot of time in hotels - whether they are on tour, in tournaments or shooting films. They know better than most people what is essential for hotel living, and what is easy to do without. Perhaps this insider knowledge is the inspirational reason why they ventured into the hotel trade. Our feature highlights a top selection of particularly interesting celebrity hotels.

 

 

 

 

 

Mission Ranch Resort

Carmel

 

Just 4,081 residents live here, but the tiny Californian coastal resort of Carmel-by-the-Sea, about 190 km south of San Francisco, attracts visitors for a special reason. Many famous authors and artists have always lived in the region, at least for a while, and nature features in their works.

 

 

Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck and Jack London are just some of the famous authors in the group. This is the home of the owner of Mission Ranch Resort, sympathetically restored in original detail. With a little luck, guests will also meet Hollywood star Clint Eastwood as he collects his morning cup of coffee in the historic farmhouse. Eastwood purchased the ranch in 1986 (the year in which he was elected mayor of Carmel with a large majority) - he intended to save the ranch from property speculators who wanted to build terraced houses on the extensive site along the Pacific coast. He employed local craftsmen to carefully restore the different buildings to their original rustic charm. Today, the resort has 30 individually furnished rooms, many with ocean views, a fireplace and - very important for Californians - Jacuzzis. In the hotel's popular restaurant (open from 17:00) the fabulous panoramic views are complemented by classical West Coast cuisine with Italian flair. Reservations are only accepted during the AT&T golf championship, a US PGA Tour tournament (the venue is Pebble Beach and nearby courses where, incidentally, Eastwood is also part-owner).

 

 

Cypress Inn

Carmel

In her screen roles, she personified the lovable blond, the simple, honest and erotic child-woman in the spirit of the 1960s. For hotel fans, the American actress and singer Doris Day ("Pillow Talk", "The Pajama Game") was remembered as the owner of quaint and cosy 'Cypress Inn' on 7th Avenue, at the corner of Lincoln, in Carmel.

 

The 44-room residence is a special kind of bed & breakfast. Nothing matches the contemporary zeitgeist. Minimalism is not really Mrs. Day's preference. Everything is "cosy" and comfortable: carpets, plush sofas, lots of cushions, wooden furniture and open fireplaces in most rooms. The Mediterranean façade matches the style and luscious lemon trees, fuchsias and bougainvilleas in the garden's inner atrium, the welcoming lobby as well as Terry's lounge (named in memory of her late son, Terry Melcher). Freshly brewed tea is served here everyday from 13:00 to 16:00. Loving details like these ensure that dog and cat lovers also always enjoy stopping over "at Doris's" (the hotel exceptionally welcomes four-legged pets) when they are in Carmel. The first thing to do is order the delicious, thickly filled sandwiches or crispy baked scones, served either in front of a crackling, open fire or on sunny days on the terrace in the atrium.