Lights, Camera, Action: 9 Accommodations as Seen From the Big Screen
9 Accommodations as Seen From the Big Screen
In the past, before the days of endless streams and scrolling of photos and videos on social media surrounding travel, movies and films helped transport viewers all around the world from the comfort of their homes.
Over the years, as travel becomes more accessible for many, these are 9 luxury accommodations as seen from the big screen which you can visit and reimagine the movie for yourself.
1. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992): The Plaza Hotel, New York
New York City’s Plaza Hotel has been featured in many Hollywood movies and out of the many, some notable movies include Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
In the 1992 sequel of Home Alone, the film follows Kevin, a 10-year-old boy, who has mistakenly separated from his family on their Christmas vacation and checks into the 20-story luxury hotel.
The movie was so popular that in 2017, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the classic Christmas movie, the hotel offered a package that invited guests to live like Kevin McCallister for a night and recreate the movie.
The package also includes a copy of the Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Anniversary DVD, a one-of-a-kind Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Anniversary backpack, as well as take part in an interactive photo booth experience and an epic ice cream sundae in-room, just like Kevin did in the movie.
Other movies that were filmed at The Plaza include North by Northwest (1959), Arthur (1981), and The Great Gatsby (2013).
2. Pretty Woman (1990): Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Los Angeles, USA
This iconic movie was released in 1990 and since then, many tourists have been flocking to the front doors of Beverly Wilshire Hotel which was the primary filming location for the movie and also a landmark of history and glamour. This luxury hotel was featured throughout the film.
The movie was such a hit among guests and fans that the hotel launched a glamorous “Pretty Woman for The Day” package. Guests can be the star of their own love story with the hotel’s most quintessential luxuries.
Enjoy over-the-top accommodations in the highly sought-after Specialty Suites, and indulge in a variety of VIP offerings: a behind-the-scenes tour of Rodeo Drive’s most famous fashion houses with your own personal wardrobe consultant and stylist, an exclusive dining experience with a special menu items from our Executive Chef, and a romantic dinner for two in the privacy of your Suite.
Retreat to the hotel’s award-winning Spa for a couple’s massage and allow our Bath Butler to continue the lavish experience in your accommodations with a hand-drawn bath using personalized aromatherapy oils.
3. Crazy Rich Asians (2018): Four Season’s Resort Langkawi
In reel life, Rachel attended Araminta’s extravagant bachelorette party, which takes place in the bride-to-be’s family-owned private island resort in Indonesia. In real life, this “private island resort” features Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia, a five-star hotel that’s tucked into Southeast Asia’s first UNESCO Geopark.
Four Seasons Resort is located in a UNESCO Global Geopark with a stunning natural landscape featuring rainforest, ancient rock formations, mangroves, caves, coral reefs and waterfalls. The recently renovated 91-room property features pavilion- and villa-style accommodations, as well as two pools, a stunning thatched-roof spa with floor-to-ceiling windows and 48 acres of beachfront tropical gardens.
4. Lost in Translation (2003): Park Hyatt Tokyo
Awarded with three Golden Globes and nominated for four Oscars “Lost in Translation” has become one of the most critically acclaimed movies. It was shot entirely in Japan, in Shinjuku and Shibuya.
The movie tells the love story between Bob Harris, an American actor in his mid-life crisis, who travels to Japan for an appearance in a whiskey commercial, and, an equally depressed, young American lady, who accompanies her husband on a business trip.
Park Hyatt Tokyo was the location where Bob and Charlotte met each other and it sits in Shinjuku, a large business and entertainment district around Japan’s busiest railway station. Occupying the 14 top floors of a 52-storey skyscraper, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is one of the city’s best and most expensive hotels.
Today, the hotel is often referred to “the Lost in Translation Hotel” and many fans of the movie has since visited. The staff may even honour your request to book the same suite that was used for the filming, which served as the room for both main characters.
5. The Hangover (2009): Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Recreate your own hangover experience in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace.
While the movie was shot entirely in Las Vegas, including a majority of the hotel and casino including the front desk, lobby, entrance driveway, pools, corridors, elevators, and the infamous rooftop, the suite shot in the movie was actually a Warner Bros. Studios’ sound stage and set. The producers had replicated the accommodation, modelled after two of the hotel’s existing luxurious suites, including a penthouse and the ‘Rain Man suite’.
However, you can visit the elevator, lobby and hallway on the 24th floor of the hotel, shown in the movie. Other movies that were filmed at Caesars Palace include Rain Man (1988), Iron Man (2008), Dreamgirls (2006), and The Big Short (2015).
6. Crazy Rich Asians (2018): Raffles Hotel Singapore
This 130-year-old heritage hotel was featured in the movie and plays the part of the Kingsford Hotel, owned by the Khoo family.
Raffles Hotel remains to be the most iconic hotel in Singapore till date. The stunning colonial-style hotel has played host to many celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin and Elizabeth Taylor. The hotel also invented the iconic Singapore Sling cocktail.
The hotel has since gone through a restoration and has reopened its doors to guests. The newly restored hotel also features restaurant collaborations with Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, of the three-Michelin star Maison Pic in Valence, France; French Master Chef Alain Ducasse; and Chef Jereme Leung, who is known for his innovative Chinese cooking. The restoration was led by acclaimed interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud and supported by Aedas, a leading global architecture and design firm.
7. Ghostbusters (1984): Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles
No other Los Angeles property has appeared on screen more often and in more iconic productions than the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The hotel has been featured in over 300 productions such as “Ghostbusters”, “Pretty in Pink”, “Independence Day”, “Glee”, “A Good Place”, “Beverly Hills 90210” and many more.
To look for the iconic location where the Ghostbusters were mistaken for “some kind of cosmonaut,” visit the hotel’s main ground floor elevators, located midway down the galleria.
8. Midnight in Paris (2011): Le Bristol Paris
In this 2011 Woody Allen movie, Owen Wilson plays Gil Pender, a writer traveling with his fiance’s family. The movie and scenes of the accommodations was based at the Oetker Collection’s Le Bristol hotel during their Parisian vacation.
On screen, viewers can take notice to the hotel’s façade, the elegant suites, characters wearing “Le Bristol” bathrobes, and even one of the hotel’s actual doormen. Re-create and visit the scenes for yourself by checking in to one of the Panoramic Suites (you may try to request for snag suites 727 and 728 and lounge in the elegant lobby)
Due to the popularity of the movie, the family-owned property unrolled a “Midnight in Paris” package in 2011 which includes accommodation for two, Bristol bathrobes, American breakfast and dinner at the 114 Faubourg restaurant, and two movie tickets to see “Midnight in Paris.
9. Notting Hill (1999): The Ritz London
In 1999, ‘Notting Hill’ starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, featured several scenes shot at The Ritz. These included the scene in which Julia Roberts’ character, film-star Anna Scott, is holding a press conference in the hotel’s Trafalgar Suite, and bookshop owner William Thacker, played by Hugh Grant, passes himself off as a reporter from Horse and Hound magazine.
Two real Ritz team members, Head Hall Porter at The Ritz, Michael deCozar, made on-screen appearances and was featured in the concierge desk scene. The Trafalgar Suite is still often requested by name by fans of the film.