15 Popular Vacation Spots for the Wealthy

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Being rich and famous means that you have some perks in life. One of the best perks is the ability to travel wherever, whenever and to thoroughly do it up. Most of the world’s wealthiest people don’t have to save for vacation or wait for the best possible airfare to pop up – or work with a budget. They get to choose a destination, pack a bag, and go. If you’re looking to travel like a celebrity or simply live vicariously through your favorite celeb’s vacation destinations, read on to find out the most popular vacation destinations for the world’s wealthiest travelers.

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New York City

Okay, so a lot of people don’t come to New York to vacation, yet they do come often, and they live well while they’re in the Big Apple. It’s a big place for wealthy businessmen and women to come when they have meetings, but it’s also the kind of place they like to stay a few days longer to enjoy. From the world’s best and most expensive restaurants, to hotels such as the Plaza Hotel, to the world’s best shopping, it’s a no-brainer that the world’s wealthiest people like to come to the Big Apple to relax and get away.

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Anguilla

The island of Anguilla is one of the most famous and most popular in the Caribbean. Since the Caribbean as a whole is a favorite vacation destination for many of the world’s wealthiest travelers, this island is no different. Anguilla is a mecca of wealthy visitors. It has pristine beaches, private resorts that are so discreet and posh that even the world’s biggest divas (think Mariah Carey) come here to relax and get away from the stress of day to day life at home. When it’s the busy season, you can’t tell. The island is practically as private as they come.

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Mustique Island

It’s always been an exclusive place to visit in the Caribbean, but it became an even more popular vacation destination in recent years. Why? Well, for one, it’s a completely gorgeous and very private island in the Caribbean. The weather is beautiful all year, the resorts are as high-end as they come, and there is plenty of relaxation here for people who usually work too hard at home. Additionally, it’s the place where Kate Middleton likes to vacation. If it’s good enough for the Duchess of Cambridge, it’s good enough for the rest of the world’s wealthiest people.

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Turtle Island, Fiji

It’s a place in which many celebrities like to visit, including ex-spouses Kevin Federline and Britney Spears as well as Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. The hotels are all on the water, they’re high-end and they’re amazing. The rooms sit atop the completely see-through water, the restaurants are world-class and the privacy is unbeatable. It’s not easy to reach this island, which is why you have to have a pretty large bank account to get here. It’s also famous for gourmet dining and beverages, as well as adventures you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

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Paradise Island, Bahamas

Located immediately next to the island of Nassau in the Bahamas is Paradise Island. It’s so close you can walk across the bridge or take a quick cab ride that will only last five minutes. This is home to the Atlantis Hotel, which is a hotspot for celebrities and wealthy people who want to vacation in the tropics. Additionally, the island is also home to many celebrity homes, so it’s even more popular for the world’s wealthiest people since they have homes of their own right on the island. They’re all waterfront; and the Atlantis houses famous restaurants such as Nobu.

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Seychelles

It’s only about a thousand miles from Africa, and it’s one of the most beautiful islands in the world. People such as Bill Gates, Kate Middleton, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie like to visit here when they’re on vacation. The island is very environmentally friendly, which is a big deal for the rich.  It’s also exclusive. It’s expensive to stay here, and most people that aren’t wealthy and/or famous can’t afford to stay here, so there’s very little bother to those who can afford a trip to the island. There’s a luxe spa, water sports, amazing restaurants and everything in between.

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St. Barth’s

It’s long been the most exclusive Caribbean Island in the world. It’s the most traditional. It’s a little bit French and a lot Caribbean. It’s colorful and fun and absolutely glorious. It’s also home to some of the most amazing resorts in the area. Decades ago some of the world’s richest and most famous people decided to make St. Barth’s their home away from home, and the place gained popularity as being an elite vacation destination for the wealthy. It’s not uncommon to see several famous faces on the streets of St. Barth’s on any given day of the week throughout the year.

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Necker Island

This gorgeous Caribbean island is located in the British Virgin Islands. It’s also owned completely by a really rich and really famous man by the name of Richard Branson. He rents out his massive luxury villa to his famous friends for an exorbitant amount of money; he even rents out his impressive staff. Famous faces that like to vacation here include Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Steven Spielberg, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and even Jay-Z and Beyonce. It’s rare for there not to be a celebrity lounging on the island because it’s completely private and relaxing.

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Maui

Hawaii is, hands down, one of the most natural and most beautiful places in the world. In fact, my husband and I consider Hawaii our favorite vacation destination ever; we love to visit. However, Maui is the hottest and most popular Hawaiian island when it comes to the world’s wealthiest travelers. It has so many five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful views and a wonderful ambiance that simply cannot be described in writing. It’s a truly beautiful place in which you can dine while enjoying your meals overlooking the ocean, have tropical cocktails on beautiful beaches and spend time with your loved ones.

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Cabo San Lucas

Mexico is not everyone’s cup of tea. Cancun is too “spring break” for most people, but Cabo San Lucas is practically a weekend home away from home for most celebrities and wealthy people that live in Southern California. It’s not a long flight to get here, which makes it accessible. On any given day, you will find multiple famous faces at Cabo’s most famous hotels, restaurants and landmarks. It’s a lovely place to visit if you love the Mexican culture, food and entertainment; and many wealthy people do.

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Aspen, Colorado

Not everyone wants to spend all their time in the sun and surf. Some wealthy travelers prefer to spend their time outdoors in another manner, and that’s in the snow. When the weather permits, the streets of Aspen become a secondary Hollywood for most people. It’s a very “It” place for those who want to ski and play in the snow. There are upscale resorts, first-class restaurants, high-end shopping and so much more for the wealthy to enjoy while they’re here. Some even call it home, it’s such a gorgeous place to visit.

(Photo by Jason Bahr/Getty Images for The St. Regis Aspen Resort)

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Lake Como, Italy

When you hear the name Lake Como, you probably automatically think of George Clooney. He has a home here that’s so elaborate, and he spends so much time here that he might as well run for mayor or just rename the area. However, he’s not the only celeb who likes to vacation here. Plenty of other wealthy people like to spend their time on the shores of the lake, enjoying the beautiful weather, the glorious Italian food and the wonderful wine. Dozens of celebs and wealthy businessmen and women come here all year for the luxury the area has to provide.

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Las Vegas

It should come as no surprise that the wealthiest people in the world like to spend a great deal of time vacationing in Las Vegas. For one, there are dozens of high-end luxury hotels, especially those such as the Palms Resort and Casino. Secondly, wealthy visitors can shop in all their favorite stores, from Louis Vuitton to Prada and Gucci and everything in between. There are also dozens of amazing, world-class restaurants in Vegas for celebs to enjoy. That doesn’t even include the night clubs, the shows and the ability to gamble all day long.

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Bora Bora

This tropical island is located in French Polynesia. The area is one of the most beautiful in the world and celebrities and the world’s wealthiest flock here to enjoy fun in the sun and absolutely luxurious accommodations. Most wealthy travelers stay in high-end hotels that have over the water huts with all the modern amenities and upscale accommodations imaginable. They dine in exclusive restaurants, charter yachts for days at sea, swim, frolic, and indulge while they’re in the place that can only be described as the ultimate in luxury vacation destinations.

(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

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Saint-Tropez, France

The French Riviera is considered the playground of the wealthy, but Saint-Tropez is considered the ultimate getaway destination for the world’s richest and most famous people. This gorgeous, elite vacation destination has it all. It has waterfront accommodations, large yachts for rent, high-end shopping, amazing restaurants, beautiful views and some of the most elaborate hotels in the world. Celebrities such as Jay-Z and Beyonce, Paris Hilton and Tom Cruise frequent Saint-Tropez when they have a little time off from their work schedules. There is almost never a time in which there are a few exceptionally famous faces wandering through the streets of Saint-Tropez.

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Written by Tiffany Raiford

Tiffany Raiford is a lifelong Floridian, wife to my high school sweetheart and mother of four littles (two girls and boy/girl twins...no, they are not identical and yes, I'm sure). My kids love to whine, so I love to wine. My loves include nap time, bed time, date night, travel and evenings and weekends when my husband is home because he handles all diaper changes.