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Designer hotels: the most fashionable pit stops in the world

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Donatella Versace

Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Australia

Want to live like Donatella Versace for a week? Look no further than Palazzo Versace, found nestled on one of Australia's most famous coastlines.

Expect nothing but pure glamour from this luxury hotel, which boasts a private marina as well as spectacular architecture. All rooms and suites are naturally decorated with Versace prints and furnishings, set off with gilded accents, while light floods in through floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests can pamper themselves in the Aurora Spa Retreat and enjoy three award-winning restaurants.

Seeing stars: Beyoncé and Jay Z as well as The Rolling Stones have opted to call this fashionable pad home Down Under, and the lavish setting soothes the cast of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! after they've completed their gruelling stint in the jungle camp.

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Alice Temperley

Tipi, One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius

Not many tipis are hand-decorated with jewels, lit by a Parisian glass chandelier suspended from the 17ft canopy, and finished with a custom-made wooden floor and golden fabric. Nor do many come with a butler, but One&Only's resort in Mauritius boasts just such a rarity.

English fashion designer Alice Temperley has created a beach love nest worthy of a romance novel, andwhile it's not used as accommodation, guests can enjoy boho chic dinners, indulge in lavish spa treatments and sip on rum there into the wee hours.

Says Alice of the partnership: "To me, travel is about raw experiences under the stars and discovering theunexpected."

Seeing stars: Famous guests at this luxe resort brand include Jennifer Aniston and Milla Jovovich.

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Oscar de la Renta

Tortuga Bay, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The late, great Oscar de la Renta became famous for his exuberantly beautiful clothes, but his influence on one of the most luxurious resorts in the Caribbean is centred around simplicity and open spaces.

Tortuga Bay, situated in an exclusive enclave in Punta Cana Resort & Club, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, boasts 15 villas perched along five miles of immaculate private beach. Decked out in a palette of natural island colours, they feature wicker and wood furnishings manufactured locally alongside chic linens, creating a look that is at once luminous, serene and utterly elegant.

All just a stone's throw away from gourmet restaurants, a Six Senses Spa and an ecological reserve.

Seeing stars: Julio Iglesias has a home on Punta Cana, and the Kardashians and Justin Bieber are also fans of the Dominican Republic.

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Ralph Lauren

Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Jamaica

All 36 oceanfront guestrooms at Round Hill have been designed by US icon Ralph Lauren, who has his own private villa there. Plush white furnishings and stone floors are offset by mahogany four-poster beds, while modern touches like iPod docking stations complete the sophisticated nautical-themed surroundings.

Built in 1953 by Jamaica-born entrepreneur John Pringle, this hospitality haven is steeped in history and elegance. There's an exquisite spa, in a building that was once an 18th-century plantation house and lies nestled on a lush tropical hillside beside a private bay of turquoise waters; an old-school cocktail bar peppered with black-and-white photographs of esteemed guests from way back when, and award-winningdining. It all makes the 110-acreresort something to remember.

Seeing stars: A favourite ofcelebrities for years, it's the spotJohn and Jackie Kennedy chose fortheir honeymoon, while AlfredHitchcock, Clark Gable and TrumanCapote all visited. Recent fashionableguests include Anna Wintour,Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors.

HOTEL LE BELLECHASSE

Christian Lacroix

Le Bellechasse, Paris

Nestled in the fashionable and historic district of Faubourg, Paris, just walking distance from the Louvre and the Seine, it's little wonder Christian Lacroix describes his masterpiece as "a journey within a journey".

Grouped into three categories, Discovery, Original andPrivilege, each floor has a different style and boasts original murals on the walls.

The petite Parisian hotel's 34 bedrooms fit into seven themes, including 'Patchwork', 'Quai d'Orsay' and 'Avengers', and reflect the French fashion icon's love of sumptuous fabrics and his inimitable way with colour.

Seeing stars: Many of the fashion world's movers and shakers have chosen to nest here, so close to the show venues of Paris Fashion Week.

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Philip Treacy

G Hotel & Spa, Galway, Ireland

Hats may be famous Irish milliner Philip Treacy's lifelong passion, but his award-winning creative flair was put to use on a larger scale in 2005 when he designed the interiors of the G Hotel & Spa in his home-town of Galway, in the west of Ireland.

"I am a perfectionist and like to create pieces that people love to wear. With The G, we create a place where people will love to be," said Philip, who's created hats for everyone from the Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen to Sarah Jessica Parker and Lady Gaga.

Vibrant and flamboyant, G is committed to offering a truly unique experience, kicking off with a dark and intimate reception area with black glass walls, which act as a frame for a tank of Connemara-bred seahorses. Salons range from the Grand, adorned by 300 twinkling mirror balls which reflect the waters of Lough Atalia, through the Pink to the masculine Blue, and are complemented by individually themed bedrooms that offer panoramic views over the water andthe city skyline.

Seeing stars: Actress Jessica Chastain, film producer MichaelMoore and folk rock bandMumford & Sons are just some ofthe recent celebrity guests.

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Diane von Furstenberg

One&Only Hayman Island Suite, Australia

After falling in love with surroundings which include the Great Barrier Reef, DVF put her stamp on a penthouse at this resort.

The result? A place that exudes her signature style, where bold prints and daring swathes of colour adorn a spacious lounge and dining area, two bedrooms and twobathrooms. A balcony with sweeping views of the secluded beach and neighbouring islands, complimentary water sports activities and a concierge service are all on hand.

Seeing stars: Sporty couple Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky stayed at One&Only Hayman Island earlier this year. The Aussie actor called the stay "a real highlight", and especially enjoyed the scuba diving.

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Christian Dior Suite

St Regis Hotel, New York

Inspired by Dior's ateliers on Paris's Avenue Montaigne, this suite features Louis XVI-style furniture, the brand's signature bows, and an abundance of haute fabrics in its signature "whispering" grey that transforms this 1700-square-foot space into one of the most fashionable settings in the world.

The 1,700-square-foot space on the 12th floor of the landmark hotel on Fifth Avenue provides the perfect finish to a day of New Yorker glamour, which might include cocktails at the hotel's famous King Cole Bar, or an exclusive dinner at its Table 55.

Seeing stars: A New York institution since 1904, the St Regis is a royal favourite. Marilyn Monroe and Salvador Dali are among an endless roll-call of famous guests.

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Giorgio Armani

Armani Hotel, Dubai

Occupying 11 floors of the world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, Armani's Dubai masterpiece has all the understated chic you'd expect from the maestro, teamed with Italian hospitality.

Minimalist modernity, total comfort, and, naturally, lots of soothing greige tones are keynotes in its 160 rooms and suites. The hotel has its own grand entrance and is walking distance from the Dubai Mall.

Seeing stars: Armani's fashion world colleagues like Roberto Cavalli and Philipp Plein are naturally at home here.

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