Hotels where celebrities stayed in 2025‑26 (and how to book discreetly)

Want the glamour without the commotion? The definitive guide to hotels where celebrities stayed in 2025–26 (and how to book discreetly)

Short version: If you want an A‑list hotel stay without the paparazzi, start with hotels that hosted high‑profile events in 2025–26, then layer privacy tactics—direct booking, private transfers, in‑advance concierge briefs, and off‑peak timing. This guide names the celebrity hotspot hotels by city, explains recent 2025–26 trends, and gives step‑by‑step tactics for truly discreet hotel booking.

Why this matters in 2026: new patterns in celebrity travel

Travel patterns changed sharply in late 2024–2025 and those ripples are still shaping choices in 2026. High‑profile guests increasingly demand whole‑floor buyouts, private docks and separate service entries. Hotels now advertise privacy concierges and dedicated “privacy concierges.” At the same time, global events—large weddings, film festivals and sports—created predictable peaks that sent celebrities to familiar properties, creating repeatable windows for travelers who want the glamour without the swarm. Read more on how festival and event cycles shift hospitality demand in our review of festival and event impacts.

That means two things for you: first, the list of celebrity hotels 2026 is concentrated but not impenetrable; second, the right timing and the right questions before you book will get you the atmosphere (and the stories) without unwanted attention. Hotels with robust privacy teams and clear press protocols are the ones that succeed at keeping guests out of headlines.

How to read this guide

We lead with hotels that saw notable high‑profile activity in 2025–26, grouped by city. For each property you’ll find:

• Why celebrities choose it
• What happened there in 2025–26 (verified recent activity)
• Practical discreet booking tips and best times to visit

Top celebrity hotspot hotels (2025–26) and how to visit quietly

Venice — Gritti Palace & Aman Venice

Why celebrities choose it: A historic palazzo on the Grand Canal with private jetties, boat access and old‑world exclusivity. Celebrities prize water‑taxi arrivals and the ability to board discreetly away from tourist quays.

2025–26 highlights: The June 2025 wedding celebrations hosted high‑profile guests who disembarked on the small wooden jetty outside Gritti Palace—an event that revived interest in the hotel among luxury travelers.

Discreet booking tips:

• Request a private water taxi transfer arranged by the hotel and confirm a back‑door jetty pickup time by text the morning of arrival.
• Book an upper‑floor suite with canal access and ask the concierge for a room with a private internal stair where available.
• Visit outside major Venetian events—avoid June and late August. Consider mid‑November to mid‑December or late January (post‑Carnival window) for low tourist traffic and a more private feel.

Los Angeles — The Beverly Hills Hotel & Chateau Marmont

Why celebrities choose it: Privacy, historic discretion and a culture of “leave people alone.” These hotels are famed for shielding guests during awards season and premieres.

2025–26 highlights: The 2025 awards season and several film premieres brought high‑profile arrivals; both properties reported expanded private‑check‑in offerings and villa bookings.

Discreet booking tips:

• Ask for the villa or bungalows rather than standard rooms. These are often set apart from the main guest flow and have private entries.
• Book midweek stays during non‑award months (late spring or early fall) to avoid the publicity spikes.
• Use a trusted travel advisor or the hotel’s privacy team to hold your arrival details off public reservation systems.

New York — The Mark & The Carlyle

Why celebrities choose it: Classic townhouses with discreet entrances, private lifts and proactive privacy teams. Proximity to private limos and private jet terminals makes these hotels favorite bases during Fashion Week and awards weeks.

2025–26 highlights: Fashion Week 2025 and the fall gala circuit produced several notable A‑list visits; hotels expanded “private arrival” protocols in late 2025.

Discreet booking tips:

• Reserve an arrival time outside of peak check‑in (late morning or late evening) and request private check‑in in your suite.
• Use connecting suites for family travel—close proximity without using public corridors.
• Visit in February (after Fashion Week) or September (post‑gala lull) for fewer street photographers and quieter lobbies.

London — Claridge’s, The Dorchester & The Connaught

Why celebrities choose it: Longstanding relationships with British and international celebrities, robust security teams and private entrances. These hotels are skilled at managing press and paparazzi because they do it so often.

2025–26 highlights: Late‑2025 political and entertainment events increased demand for whole‑floor bookings and private dining rooms.

Discreet booking tips:

• Ask for a “privacy rider” to be added to your reservation—hotels know what this means and will route requests to the privacy team.
• Book a suite facing the courtyard or internal lightwell to avoid noisy front facades and unsolicited photographers.
• Visit outside bank holiday weekends and summer fashion events; late January and October shoulder months can be quieter. If you plan to explore on foot consider nearby walking routes and urban hikes from Piccadilly to avoid tourist chokepoints.

St. Moritz & Alpine retreats — Badrutt’s Palace, Kulm

Why celebrities choose it: Ski privacy: private chalets, whole‑hotel buyouts and secure helipad/valet access. Winter stars prefer properties offering complete seclusion between pistes and wellness zones.

2025–26 highlights: The 2025–26 winter season featured an uptick in celebrity and influencer chalet bookings; hotels increased private‑lift and discrete ski‑drop options to accommodate high‑profile guests.

Discreet booking tips:

• Book a private chalet or compound and arrange a private ski instructor and discrete valet for gear.
• Avoid peak Festive season and mid‑February school holidays; late January or early March offer quieter slopes.

Cannes & the Riviera — Hotel Martinez, Grand Hotel du Cap‑Ferrat

Why celebrities choose it: Iconic seaside privacy, private beaches and discreet marina access during festival and yachting seasons.

2025–26 highlights: Cannes Film Festival 2025 saw the usual high‑profile arrivals, and late‑2025 yachting season kept the Riviera busy with celebrity guests.

Discreet booking tips:

• If you must visit during a festival, book dates outside the festival week—arrive earlier in the week and depart before opening night to dodge red‑carpet crowds.
• Ask for a room with private beach access or a villa; many properties now offer private moorings for chartered boats.

General hotel privacy strategies: how to book discreetly (step‑by‑step)

1. Call the privacy team before you book. Many luxury hotels have a privacy or VIP desk. Call and ask directly: private entries, separate luggage handling, and whether arrival details can be kept off third‑party channels.
2. Book direct and use a VIP code or travel advisor. Direct bookings allow notes on your reservation and negotiation of privacy needs. Trusted travel advisors can shield your plans and negotiate off‑menu options.
3. Request a private arrival. Ask for a late check‑in, private entrance, or in‑suite check‑in. Confirm vehicle transfer details and insist on a private drop‑off away from taxi ranks.
4. Choose accommodations with private access. Villas, bungalows, whole‑floor suites and chalets reduce public exposure. If that’s beyond budget, ask for rooms with internal corridors, courtyard access or minimal window exposure to public spaces.
5. Use alternate transport. Private boats, helicopters or chartered limos can bypass crowded public arrival points. For famous hotels Venice or Cannes, boat pick‑ups are standard privacy enhancers—we’ve seen advisors coordinate private boat pickups to avoid main canals.
6. Time your visit. Weekdays, shoulder season, and mid‑week stays are quieter. Avoid event weeks (film festivals, major sporting events, awards) unless you want the energy without the media circus.
7. Manage your digital footprint. Don’t post live travel details. If you need to share a photo, wait until you’ve left the property.
8. Plan your exits. Quiet check‑out and staged departures can prevent last‑minute crowds; ask the concierge to schedule a departure window that avoids peak check‑out times.

“Privacy is rarely a single request; it’s a small program of arrival, stay and departure that you coordinate with the hotel’s privacy desk.” — a senior luxury travel advisor

Hotel privacy tips: small requests that make a big difference

• Note “private arrival” in reservation comments and follow up by phone.
• Ask that your room be held off public room maps and that the front desk use a separate alias for billing if needed.
• Check for service entrances and back stairs; ask to be directed to those on arrival.
• Request that bell staff use unbranded vehicles for transfers to avoid attention.
• Use non‑descriptive room names if you’re booking through friends or assistant—“Room X” instead of “The Presidential Suite.”

How to avoid paparazzi hotels and crowded hotspots

Not all famous hotels are paparazzi magnets. The difference is usually: physical layout (private docks/lounges), local law enforcement support and a hotel’s track record enforcing privacy requests. If you want to avoid paparazzi hotels:

• Choose hotels with private arrival infrastructure (jetties, private drives, helipads).
• Research whether a hotel works frequently with production companies or festivals—these properties will be busier and more visible.
• Avoid ground‑floor rooms that face main streets or promenades.
• Contact the hotel and ask how they handle press and paparazzi—hotels that are used to celebrities will have clear procedures. For hands‑on tactics on photographing low‑light scenes safely and discretely see the Night Photographer’s Toolkit, which helps explain how photographers operate and what hotels can do to shield guests.

Best times to visit the celebrity hotspot hotels (quick reference)

• Venice: mid‑November to mid‑December, late January (avoid June and Carnival).
• Los Angeles: late spring and early fall (avoid awards season and major premieres).
• New York: late January (post‑holiday) and late September (post‑Fashion Week lows).
• London: late January and October (outside fashion weeks and bank holidays).
• St. Moritz/Riviera: late January or early March (after holiday peaks and before spring breakers arrive).

Advanced strategies used by insiders and advisors

Luxury travel advisors and celebrity handlers use multi‑layered approaches. Here are strategies you can adapt:

• Book ancillary services (spa, private dining) in advance and request consolidation in one private suite or dining room.
• Reserve a nearby satellite room for security or a personal assistant to stage luggage and arrivals without drawing attention.
• Ask for photographer‑free zones; reputable hotels will cordon off areas or schedule press embargoes for VIP events. If you’re planning a micro‑event or private celebration, the micro‑events playbook covers logistics that apply to private hotel programming.
• Consider renting a private residence in the same hotel group (residences often receive the same concierge perks without the hotel traffic). See our notes on buying or leasing long‑term vacation residences in vacation home timelines.

Real‑world examples: how travelers used these tactics in 2025–26

We’ve worked with travel advisors who secured private boat pickups at Venetian palazzi during June 2025 wedding activity by confirming jetty times 48 hours in advance and instructing boat captains to wait in quieter canals. Ski clients in St. Moritz booked private chalets and in‑resort heli‑drops in late January 2026 to avoid holiday crowds. These are repeatable, not exceptional, approaches.

Checklist: Before you finalize a booking

• Contact the hotel privacy or VIP desk by phone—ask for a privacy plan in writing.
• Confirm private arrival and exit logistics, and get driver/boat contact details.
• Request a room away from street‑facing windows and public patios.
• Ask the hotel to withhold room number and floor from delivery services and third‑party apps.
• Double‑check event calendars in the city for festivals, film premieres or major sports events.

Final takeaways: the smartest way to get A‑list hotel stays without the circus

In 2026, where celebrities stay is less about the brand and more about the program—how arrival, stay and departure are managed. You don’t need a celebrity budget to enjoy the same privacy protocols: a direct booking, a clear set of requests to the hotel, off‑peak timing and a private transfer will change your experience entirely. If you’re interested in longer‑term quiet stays or boutique strategies, our Slow Travel & Boutique Stays playbook is a useful companion.

Whether you’re chasing the history of a Gritti Palace jetty or the discreet bungalows of Beverly Hills, the practical steps in this guide will help you secure an A‑list hotel stay without the crowds or cameras.

Ready to book your discreet stay?

If you want help finding the right property or negotiating a privacy plan, our team curates hotel options and drafts privacy briefs you can send directly to the hotel VIP desk. Reach out for a tailored shortlist based on your dates, city and privacy needs—get the glamour, keep the quiet.

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