George Clooney Slept Here

Last summer, when news of Courteney Cox and David Arquette’s trial separation hit the air waves, the Hollywood couple were together in Ann Arbor, Michigan doing what brought them together in the first place—filming a Wes Craven “Scream” movie, Scream 4 that debuts in 2011.

And while Arquette admitted to Howard Stern a fling with a certain waitress, it seemed his real “love affair”—at least at that time–was the city of Ann Arbor. He tweeted continuously about the hip college town 40 miles west of Detroit. He played pinball at Pinball Pete’s, dug breakfast at The Broken Egg and announced that Zingerman’s Deli “rocks!” He even designed a Michigan t-shirt for his new clothing line, Propr.

Arquette is not the only star to fall in love with A-squared, as locals call Ann Arbor. Drew Barrymore, who filmed “Whip it” in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Detroit, publicly gushed about how much fun she had in Michigan on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

Likewise, Hilary Swank, whose recent “Conviction” was filmed in and around Ann Arbor, couldn’t say enough good things about her time in the University of Michigan town where she carted a brand-new husky puppy around in her monster-size tan Suburban.

“I love Michigan,”  she raved, “Zingerman’s Deli is the best deli in the United States.”

Another Ann Arbor destination to regularly spot Hollywood wattage is at Eve, a gourmet Kerrytown restaurant lovingly presided over by Eve Aronoff, a former competitor on “America’s Top Chef.” Robert DeNiro, Rob Reiner, Swank, Barrymore, Cox and Arquette are just a few who regularly frequented this slow food paradise described regularly by critics as “food as art.”

So why so many stars in A-squared? One simple reason. Michigan has the highest film tax incentive in the country. Since it was introduced in 2008 as a way to diversify an economy that depended entirely too much on a floundering auto industry, more than 70 films have been shot in this state far, far from Hollywood.

The aggressive 42 percent rebate is why Ann Arbor played body double for Massachusetts where “Conviction” was allegedly set, why Ypsi and Detroit imitated Texas where “Whip It” was set and why Richard Gere, Michael Cera, Clive Owen, Hayden Panettiere, Diane Lane, Christina Ricci, Adrien Brody, Kim Cattrall, Sean Astin and many more have fallen in love with the Wolverine State.

For more information on the new Hollywood hangout, click here.

As fitness instructors go, the blonde in black at a gym in Mexico City’s upscale Bosques de las Lomas neighborhood last Monday was about as fit as you’ll find anywhere.

Yep, the Material Girl herself led a 20-minute dance class after cutting the ribbon at her “Virgin” Hard Candy Fitness center in Mexico City. It’s the first of a whole chain the 52-year-old pop icon plans to unveil.

And while she won’t likely be teaching any more classes, her face and her tastes are everywhere in the 30,000-square-foot gym.

According to Chris Dedicik, her partner in the gym, Madonna weighed in on everything from the weight machines to the lighting to the choreography.

The diva says she chose Mexico City to launch her new fitness empire because she liked the energy of the people she met there on last year’s Sticky & Sweet tour.

“Our plan is to use Mexico as a place to fine-tune our brand and then expand it to other countries,” she said.

Esme, Schesme! Call it whatever you like, but Bella Swan and Edward Cullen’s honeymoon took place in Paraty, Brazil, a quaint colonial town about three hours southwest of Rio.

Of course, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson (along with Stephanie Meyer) did due diligence in the vibrant capital city (a few scenes were filmed in Rio’s Lapa district, a hotbed for samba and forro bars and they spent a night or two at Copacabana Palace), but it’s the old cobblestoned, colonial town of Paraty that plays “body double” for Isla Esme.

Probably a good thing, since Brazilian Twihards swarmed the young stars from the moment they arrived on a private chartered jet at Rio de Janeiro’s Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport.

Paraty (pronounced Par-ach-ie, like the sandals) is off-the-beaten path and charmingly subdued. In fact, its cobblestone streets (at least in the Historic Central District) have sworn off cars, letting them in on Wednesdays only for deliveries. Allowed vehicles are bikes and horse-drawn carriages.

Stewart and Pattinson spent much of their time on boats, frolicking in Pedra Branca and Andorinhas waterfalls and jetting to the 300 beaches of Paraty’s Bay of Ilha Grande.

Dotted with tropical islands, this picturesque bay was once the port from which gold from Minas Gerais, one of the world’s richest gold mines, was transported. Pirates, hiding in the many coves, plundered the ships and drank cachaca, a sugar cane liquor produced by more than 250 local distilleries. The 720-mile Gold Trail starting in Paraty and leading through the Bocaina mountains and one of the last stands of Atlantic rainforest is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After Brazil gained its independence from Portugal and gold production slowed down, Paraty was all but forgotten. The population declined from 16,000 to around 600. Today, it has been revived as a popular vacation spot for Brazilians who come to enjoy the pristine architecture, the low-key beaches and hikes through the rainforest.

As for Stewart and Pattinson, they enjoyed being “vampire newlyweds” in 17^th century paradise.

Punta del Este, Uruguay, often called the Riviera of South America, attracts so many vacationing A-listers that there’s now a Hollywood bus tour.

Stops include the hotel where George Bush stayed (it’s also a popular spot for international summits), the beach where Naomi Campbell was caught sunbathing nude, the bar where Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack drank martinis and the chic just-down-the-road village of La Barra where Ralph Lauren paid $12,000 a day to rent a villa. Oh, yeah, and did I mention there’s a section of town called Beverly Hills.

With 20 miles of beaches, three casinos, all-night discos, a popular yacht harbor (others prefer to fly into the helipad) and Calle 20 where designer-brand stores are as ubiquitous as pizza joints, this ultra-chic peninsula at the mouth of the Rio del la Plata has long been an exclusive getaway for well-heeled South Americans.

But then in the 60’s, the Rat Pack showed up, high-rise hotels and international attention followed and this once-sleepy fishing village became the “it” spot for such luminaries as Robert DeNiro, Princess Di and Fergie, Pablo Neruda and Leonard DiCaprio. Even happily-married Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon have been known to slip away to this glittery Latin American outpost for a bit of sunbathing, shopping and snogging.

When not partying hearty, Punta del Este’s holiday crowd amuses itself shark-fishing, surfing and oogling the 200,000 southern fur seals on nearby Isla de Lobos.

Another popular spot is Casapueblo, a whale-watching promontory outside of town where Uruguayan painter, sculptor, musician and all-around artistic treasure Carlo Paez Vilaro built a home and studio. It’s open to the public with a museum, hotel and a fascinating homage to what Vilaro calls “his personal war against the right angle.”

Also unique in Punte del Este are street signs sponsored by Visa, official parades of bikini-wearing models and restaurants serving seaweed omelettes.

But the most glamorous of all, if you can score it, is an invitation to power-boat racer Laith Pharaon’s annual end-of-the year bash. Held at Estancia El Noor, a rustic 280-acre property near La Barra, the party draws film stars, fashionistas, the world’s best DJ’s and other party people

Starting December 23 and continuing through Easter, Punta Del Este features 25 hours a day of shameless, shallow and tremendous fun.

Not only is Angelina Jolie in the Hungarian capital working on an unnamed film (it’s her directorial debut) about a Serbian man who attempts to rescue his Muslim lover from a Bosnian POW camp, but the Budapest edition of Robert DeNiro’s Japanese restaurant Nobu had its grand opening.

Paparazzi hoping to snap photos of Angelina and her brood lined up at several of Budapest’s luxe hotels (the Kempenski, the Corinthia and the art nouveau Four Seasons, to name a few), but the savvy mother of six rented a 10-bedroom villa on 8.6 acres in Hegyvidek, a gorgeous garden-filled suburb far from media eyes.

She enrolled Pax and Maddox in an exclusive private school in Mariaremete where Pax allegedly has a Hungarian sweetheart.

Brad joined Angelina on Friday, flying in with the twins, after filming scenes for his upcoming “Moneyball” in Boston. He has been spotted riding the streets of Budapest on a shiny BMW motorcycle and even accidentally zoomed up to meet his family at the wrong house, not that the neighbors minded.

Robert DeNiro, of course, was also in Budapest this week for the Eastern European debut of Nobu, the Japanese restaurant he started with celebrity chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa. Jeremy Irons was also in attendance and although Brad and Angie were invited, they either snuck in the back door for quick nibble of Nobu’s famous yellow-tail sashimi with jalapeno (as some reported) or they sent their regrets.

Either way, Budapest is buzzing this week with paparazzi.

Welcome to George Clooney Slept Here, the “IT” site for luxury travel! Pull up a Spazio lounge chair, pour yourself a glass of Krug Dlos du Mesnil 1995 and let us tell you what we’re all about.

Whether you just want to peek in on celebrities and their notorious indulgences or you’re ready to climb on through to the world’s most exclusive vacations, you’ve come to the right place.

It only makes sense to vacation where the A-list vacations. When you want a new great room for your mansion, you look to an architect. When only a pre-nup will do, you head straight to a lawyer.

When it comes to travel, what better experts than the unapologetically wealthy? With all their promotional junkets, film festivals and red-carpet appearances, celebrities not only rack up frequent-flier miles, but they have wallets big enough to do  it with panche. Enjoy!!

Trains no longer woo-woo through Nashville’s Union Station. Instead, this 19th century railroad station is now a ritzy hotel that draws the A-Plus list.

Just blocks from Nashville’s world famous honky-tonks, this splendidly-restored train station is a Music City landmark with exquisite architectural detail, custom-made furniture and more than a century of local lore including a pair of alligator ponds that once greeted Nashville train passengers. Famous faces have passed through here including Mae West, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mafia kingpin Al Capone while being escorted to Alcatraz. It’s within easy walking distance of the Ryman Theater, Grand Ole Opry and the music-filled bars on Broadway.

A Wyndham Historic Hotel, Union Station has a stunning lobby with barrel-vaulted, 65-foot stained glass ceilings and gleaming Italian marble floors.

Prime 108 (named after Bully 108, the first steam engine to chug through Nashville) is among the city’s most celebrated restaurants. It has lots of original art including a piece by Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Woods and faux-crocodile bar stools.

No two of this boutique hotel’s 125 rooms are alike. Tip: Many of the rooms on the fifth floor overlook the ooh-la-la lobby and have exceptionally high ceilings. Rooms start at $199. Click here for more info.

You don’t find hotels with grounds this big anymore. Certainly not in Hawaii. Turtle Bay Resort, the luxurious property where Jason Segel set his hit movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” is an 880-acre paradise, standing alone on the very northern tip of Oahu.

When it was built in 1972, development was focused on Honolulu and Waikiki, about an hour away, so its owners scored a chunk of beautiful not easy to come by these days.

With twin beaches, as different as coal and diamonds, Turtle Bay is the perfect hideaway for such Hollywood types as Charlie Sheen, Morgan Freeman, Minnie Driver, Dennis Quaid, Carrie Underwood and Owen Wilson, whether they’re filming a movie there or not.

Located in the country, out where roadside shrimp trucks sells sweet, local corn and plump, succulent shrimp, Turtle Bay has 375 recently-renovated rooms and 42 luxury beach cottages with Brazilian walnut floors, 15-foot ceilings and deep soak tubs. All that’s between you and the sand is a fringe of sea oats.

Even though it’s a haul from Honolulu, Turtle Bay has plenty to do. There’s kayaking, 12 miles of seaside hiking trails, two ooh-la-la golf courses, helicopter tours and even shopping. And if you’re hankering to hang ten, Turtle Bay Resort says, “bring it on, dude.”

Not only is it near Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay, both big time surfer hangs, but Turtle Bay Resort talked pro surfer Hans Hedemann into calling the shots at their premier surf school. Luckily for beginners, the lessons take place in the calmer waters of Kawela Bay where turtles are more common than swells.

As for Sarah Marshall, Segel hired Kahu spiritualist Auntie Netty to bless the 33-day production. And it worked. All 33 days had perfect idyllic conditions.

Find out more about Turtle Bay and its five miles of coastline here.

It’s a good thing St. Regis Bora Bora has private massage rooms. So private, in fact, that you’re taken by your masseuse to your own island.

That was the good news for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban who honeymooned at this five-star resort in 2006. The bad news is Eva Langoria and hubbie Tony Parker had also chosen this resort on Motu Ome, one of the small Pacific islands that constitute Bora Bora, for a summer getaway. Located on 44 acres, this tropical paradise was also featured in Vince Vaughn’s recent groaner, Couples Retreat.

Luckily, the resort is a thousand times better than the movie. The resort has 30 bungalows and 70 1,550 and up-square-foot villas, all spread out over the lagoon where octopi, tropical fish and turtles swim. Many of the villas have Jacuzzis and private swimming pools (thank goodness, for the honeymooners).

Activities at this private resort include jeep safaris, diving, hiking, sailing and shark and ray feeding, absolute must-do’s.

Cyclone Oli left its mark last February, but in reopened in June with special offers through October 31. Call 877.787.3447 or check out their website here.

While Brad is busy filming at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (he plays Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane in the upcoming film, “Moneyball”), Angelina and the kids are enjoying the amenities of the Claremont Resort Club and Spa in Berkeley.

They’re not the first stars to enjoy this Berkeley landmark with the spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Frank Lloyd Wright (one of Brad’s heroes) said its “warmth, character and charm” made it one of the world’s best hotels.

Spread over 22 acres, this sprawling hotel that looks more like a castle than a hotel was built in 1915 to replace an actual castle built on the property by a Kansas farmer who struck it big in the Gold Rush. His wife had always dreamed of living in an English castle and since there weren’t many in Claremont Canyon, he built the castle along with stables for pedigreed horses and pens for the English foxes he used for hunting parties.

Unfortunately, the original castle burnt down and the property fell into the hands of the famous miner “Borax” Smith who eventually lost it in a checkers game to Frank Havens who, along with some partners, built what at that time was the largest resort on the Pacific Coast.

After Prohibition, when liquor began to flow again, the hotel suffered a blow when a California state law dictated that alcohol could not be sold within a mile radius of any university. Because the Claremont straddles the border between Oakland and Berkeley (home of the University of California), the Claremont was the only hotel in the area without a bar.

In 1936, an enterprising U.C. Berkeley coed decided to measure and found that, even using the shortest route, the front steps of the Claremont were a good three feet longer than a mile from campus. She was awarded free drinks for life.

Today, the Claremont has 279 rooms, no two alike, an award-winning 20,000-square-foot spa and gorgeously-coiffed grounds including a smells-yummy rose garden and lots of palm trees.

Although the Claremont staff is used to catering to presidents and Hollywood gliterrai, they compared preparations for the Pitt-Jolie entourage to a military operation. They installed what they called “anti-paparazzi” reflective material on windows of their wing on the sixth floor to deter unwanted cameras. They cleared out all celebrity magazines from the lobby’s newsstand and reserved the whole spa on certain nights for special Brad and Angelina date nights. Signs declaring the swimming pool “Under repair” just meant the couple’s five kids were splashing around.

While Brad is on set, Angie spends time at the University of California-Berkeley library (a short one mile, three feet away) doing research for a book about the international refugee crisis.

Find out more at www.claremontresort.com.