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10 Beach Resorts You Might Have Seen in the Movies

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 No matter if it’s a comedy or a drama, film directors yearn for a gorgeous setting, scouring locations around the globe in search of the perfect place to bring the crew and cast. For fans, the hunt for these locales can sometimes lead to disappointment when you find out the movie was filmed on a set and the hotel doesn’t exist. But other times, the resorts exist in real life, allowing travelers to check-in for a night and relive the film in real time. From the Caribbean to California, here’s where to slip into silver-screen memories.—Kristine Hansen

PHOTO: Four Seasons Resorts

FOUR SEASONS RESORT THE BILTMORE

WHERE: Santa Barbara, California

In the rom-com It’s Complicated, Meryl Streep is a frustrated bakery owner having an affair with her former husband (played by Alec Baldwin) and the architect remodeling her house (played by Steve Martin). The lavish Four Seasons Resort the Biltmore—across the street from the Pacific Ocean—figures prominently into the narrative, with the resort’s front driveway and front exterior featured in the 2009 film. It’s Complicated snagged three Golden Globe nominations.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Santa Barbara Guide

PHOTO: Wallilabou Anchorage Hotel

WALLILABOU ANCHORAGE HOTEL

WHERE: St. Vincent, The Grenadines

Where else but the Caribbean would you film a pirate flick? In two films from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise—The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Dead Man’s Chest (2006)—Wallilabou Anchorage Hotel’s exterior is spotted on the shoreline shots. In fact, the entire faux set—named Port Royal, after the famed pirate town in Jamaica—was built in Wallilabou Bay and the hotel owners preserved the set, turning it into a museum.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s St. Vincent & The Grenadines Guide

PHOTO: Round Hill Hotel and Villas

ROUND HILL HOTEL & VILLAS

WHERE: Montego Bay, Jamaica

In addition to being a celeb magnet for stars on vacation like Julia Roberts and Ryan Gosling, Round Hill Hotel & Villas appears in the 1998 movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back. In the movie, single-mom Stella Payne (Angela Bassett) is wooed by handsome local Winston Shakespeare (Taye Diggs) while on vacation in Montego Bay with her best friend.

Insider Tip: Book Villa 11, where scenes were shot.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Montego Bay Guide

PHOTO: The St. Regis Princeville Resort

ST. REGIS PRINCEVILLE

WHERE: Kauai, Hawaii

Quite a few scenes from St. Regis Princeville on Kauai’s North Shore appear in The Descendants, which won an Oscar for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay in 2012, based on the novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings. This includes the resort’s expansive posh lobby; beachfront (with bed-like cabanas), and the ultra-glam Presidential Suite. Explore the coastal-chill scene further in nearby Hanalei, where scenes—many with George Clooney—were filmed at Tahiti Nui restaurant.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Kauai Guide

PHOTO: One&Only Resorts

ONE&ONLY OCEAN CLUB

WHERE: Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas

Relax with a book in the Library Lounge at One&Only Ocean Club, one of the film locations for Casino Royale (2006), starring Daniel Craig, and you’ll sit right where he did. If you really want to be like Bond, whip out your wallet and book the four-bedroom Villa Residence, with a retractable wall looking out onto the water. Also spotted in Casino Royale is the resort’s main entrance, which you’ll no doubt recognize upon arrival.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Bahamas Guide

PHOTO: Gzzz via Wikimedia Commons, [CC BY-SA 4.0]

THE CARLYLE HOTEL

WHERE: Miami Beach, Florida

Among the late Robin William’s most memorable performances was as Armand Goldman in the comedic film The Birdcage (1996), where he played the gay owner of a drag club, opposite Nathan Lane. Soak up Miami Beach’s art deco vibes with a stay at The Carlyle, snug on Ocean Drive—this is home to the fictitious Birdcage Club and where the couple lives.

Insider Tip: Although it’s no longer a hotel, residences here are available for rent.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Miami Guide

PHOTO: The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort

THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN

WHERE: Honolulu, Hawaii

You literally can’t miss The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort—just look for the hot-pink building on the ocean side of Waikiki Beach. The 90-year-old luxury property has hosted many movies on location including, most recently, the biopic Big Eyes (2014) by Tim Burton about American artist Margaret Keane. In one scene, the characters sip cocktails at the very pink hotel bar.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Honolulu Guide

PHOTO: Fontainebleau Miami Beach

FONTAINEBLEAU MIAMI BEACH

WHERE: Miami Beach, Florida

Who could forget the dynamic duo of Kevin Costner and the late Whitney Houston in the romantic thriller The Bodyguard (1992)? Bunk in what is now Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s Le Ciel Presidential Suite (with a sweet ocean-view terrace), where part of the movie was filmed. The resort’s pool and ballroom also appear prominently in the film.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Miami Guide

PHOTO: Turtle Bay Resort

TURTLE BAY RESORT

WHERE: North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Nine years ago, comedian-stars Kristen Wiig and Russell Brand descended upon Turtle Bay Resort, the setting for Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a movie about a guy who tries to get over his girlfriend by fleeing to Hawaii—only to spot her there with her new guy.

Insider Tip: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, starring Zac Efron and Anna Kendrick, is the latest comedy to shore up this coastal setting. In that movie, the resort’s guest rooms, the beach area, banyan-tree grove and pool are seen.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s North Shore Oahu Guide

PHOTO: Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

PHULAY BAY, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE

WHERE: Phulay Bay, Thailand

Ever since Leonardo DiCaprio starred in The Beach in 2000, Thailand’s beaches have been hot filming spots. This includes The Hangover Part II (2011), a comedy where four dudes (including Bradley Cooper) travel to Thailand for their buddy’s wedding. The nuptials take place at the luxe Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which was the first Ritz-Carlton reserve property (others are now in Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico; and Ubud, Bali).

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Thailand Travel Guide

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United Arab Emirates

Melia Dubai Hotel

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Located in Dubai, the hotel is within a 20-minute drive of Dubai International Airport and provides a rooftop pool, a Turkish steam bath and a rooftop terrace. It also offers a sauna, reflexology and free Wi-Fi.

Melia Dubai Hotel treats guests to deluxe amenities, including a limousine service and YHI Spa. There is also free private parking on site for guests travelling with a car. The hotel also features a well-equipped gym.

The rooms at Melia Dubai Hotel are air-conditioned and offer a mini bar, a refrigerator and an iPod docking station. Each includes a private bathroom with slippers, a hair dryer and bathrobes.

Melia Dubai Hotel features a restaurant and a bar where guests can relax of an evening with a meal and a drink. Guests are able to watch their favourite sports on the big screen in the hotel’s sports bar. At Quantum, an extensive menu of beverages and live televised sport can be enjoyed.

For those wishing to dine out during their stay at Melia Dubai Hotel, there are a selection of restaurants situated nearby. The helpful staff at the tour desk are available to book tours and sightseeing trips in Dubai.

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United Arab Emirates

The Oberoi Dubai

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Less than 20 minutes’ walk from Business Bay Metro Station, The Oberoi Dubai provides guests with an ideal base when visiting Dubai. It offers 5-star accommodation with air-conditioned rooms.

Featuring views of Burj Khalifa, The Oberoi is an ideal place to stay for those looking to scope out local attractions in Dubai. Facilities include free wireless internet, 24-hour room service and valet parking.

The rooms have a coffee maker, an iPod docking station and a mini bar. They all feature a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV and an alarm clock.

Guests are able to relax with a drink at The Oberoi Dubai’s bar and dine on Indian style food in the restaurant. There is also a range of breakfast options on offer each morning.

The Oberoi provides easy access to Business Bay. The hotel’s multilingual staff will make sure that every guest has a comfortable visit.

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United Arab Emirates

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

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Featuring a swimming pool, a private beach and free Wi-Fi, the resort is situated in Dubai and presents views of The Walk and Dubai Marina. It offers 5-star accommodation and views of the bay.

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach has a gym with cardiovascular equipment, a steam room and a sauna. There are a wide range of activities, including snorkeling and windsurfing, meaning the whole family will have an entertaining stay.

After a day of exploring the nearby region, guests can relax in the comfort of their air conditioned rooms. Each provides its very own bathroom with a shower, bathrobes and a bathtub.

Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach offers a varied dining experience with BICE and Studio One. Places to dine at the resort include Axis Lobby Lounge and Oceana. The on-site sports bar is a convenient venue for guests to relax and follow their favourite teams while away.

Dubai’s attractions, such as Silverene and Al Sahab Tower 1, are within easy walking distance of Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach. There are also a variety of popular restaurants serving local and international cuisine in the surrounding area.

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