Exotic Celeb Vacations

Even before the World Cup, stars flocked to the gem country of Africa for safaris, shopping and amazing beaches. Oprah has made the country home to her school for girls, and Matt Damon and Clint Eastwood have traveled to Cape Town for fun. One&Only Cape Town is the celebrity hotel of choice in the oceanside town, before stars head to Johannesburg for tours of Nelson Mandela’s original home in Soweto.

This French Rivera town is sizzling with stars in the summertime. From Tom Cruise shopping to Diddy’s infamous yacht parties, St. Tropez is the shore to be on. The playground of the rich and famous features delicious terrace cafes, slow-cruising expensive cars and classy nightclubs.

Jetting to French Polynesia is a privilege few enjoy. But for Nicole Kidman and Quincy Jones, Bora Bora is a divine destination for a little R&R. A lagoon and a barrier reef surround the isle where most visitors stay in huts situated on the water. Popular star spots include Le Meridien resort and Bloody Mary’s restaurant.

Sir Richard Branson’s private island paradise in the British Virgin Islands is hired privately for a maximum of 28 guests costing a minimum of $53,000 per night for the group. Celebs like Mariah Carey and Kate Winslet have been guests on the white sandy beaches that offer kitesurfing and solitary lazy hammocks throughout the property. Even after an August 2011 fire demolished his Great House, Branson has already rebuilt the estate in time for his daughter's wedding this month.

Another star magnet, the Maldives is a gorgeous island in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem both escaped to this small island retreat in the beginning of their romance. Boasting private ocean villas and pristine white beaches accompanied by warm waters, this is the getaway of getaways.

Drop-dead gorgeous actor George Clooney put this Italian lake on the map with his 18th century villa. Throughout the year and on holidays, Clooney can be found recharging at his Italian villa with friends like David Beckham, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt. Talk about a guys’ getaway!

The Italian island of Capri has been a coastal resort location of the stars for decades. Celebs like Eddie Murphy and Bill and Giuliana Rancic cannot get enough of the champagne-filled nights and exclusive shopping at Anacapri, which is tucked in the hills at the far end of the island. Temptation is guaranteed every step of the way.

Stars like Hugh Jackman and Gisele Bundchen have embraced the cocktails, culture and caliente weather of Rio de Janeiro. Whether it’s for the annual Carnival or for the laidback beach culture, Rio is a must-visit city. We’re sure that tons of Hollywood heavyweights will make the journey down south for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics just two years later.

Power couple Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough took to the City of Lights last year with a trip to Paris alongside his family. Taking in the best of the city, the duo dined at Frederic Simonin restaurant and braved the cold to catch Monet’s sold-out exhibition at the Grand Palais.

This party town off the coast of Spain attracts an A-List crowd year-round. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has frequently chartered a yacht for mid-summer vacations with the guys (and sometimes his girlfriend of the moment) and gets out for some snorkeling and sightseeing.

Around Christmas each year you can catch President Obama and the first family vacationing in Maui for a warm weather getaway. Who can blame them? It’s breathtakingly beautiful, with endless golf courses and golden sunrises. Stars like Pierce Brosnan and Sophie Monk agree, and their sun-kissed tans prove it.

The gem of the United Arab Emirates is fast becoming a popular playground for American celebrities looking to try sandboarding, five-star ethnic cuisine, and to visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Actor Tom Cruise spent weeks in the city and performed his own stunts for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol dangling from the famed skyscraper. Meanwhile, Chris Brown just returned from a weekend trip to Dubai with his new girlfriend where the pair raced in the sand dunes.