Classic Tinseltown glamour meets modern sophistication in digs once frequented by Charlie Chapman and Marilyn Monroe, now the haute destination for Condé Nast travellers and A-list celebs.

Inspired by Hollywood icons, famous artists, Mick Jagger, and Bobby Kennedy, as of 2005 the Thompson Hotel Group restored the 1927 birthplace of the Academy Awards, The Hollywood Roosevelt, located along the Walk of Fame, across from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on the Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. A $30 million posh renovation transformed the landmark into a playground to stay and frolic among Hollywood’s acclaimed, with 300 rooms, venues for private parties, a raucous nightlife lounge, and two restaurants.

The Thompson line of luxury boutique hotels target elite clientele “who know exactly who they are and where they want to hang their hats.” L.A. designer Dodd Mitchell has captured the interests of the chic, urban, and bohemian with a Spanish Colonial grandeur atmosphere with iron wrought chandeliers, archways and columns, and gorgeous Art Deco stencil work entailing the ceilings.

Dine on rib eye melting with bone marrow butter at The Bridge before slipping out to the Tropicana Bar. The velvet-roped lounge beside an Olympic-size pool painted with a David Hockney mural is the place to be seen when the sun and the starlets come out to play. Later, gorge late-night at the 1950’s 25 Degrees on a build-your-own burger, washed down with a Guinness milkshake.

Spacious 250 square foot pool-side cabana and balcony rooms feature garden views, plush Sferra linens, hardwood floors, and mini-bar stocked with Dean & Deluca handfuls. A warm chestnut and cream palette complements original artwork and vintage Hollywood snapshots. The cabana suites provide guests a chaise longue, fire pit, and access to the Tropicana Bar patio.

But located at the top of the 15-storeyed building, under the massive neon pink Roosevelt Hotel, the Gable Lombard Penthouse is where the most exclusive organize a gathering. Said to be where the steamy romance between Clark Gable and Carole Lombard was sparked, with 3000 square feet, a three bed and bath duplex, and 1,000 square foot rooftop deck to accommodate up to 200 beautiful people, it’s not hard to imagine the stirrings of a Hollywood fling.

There is one warning — keep a wary eye out for the ghosts of Monroe floating across the Blossom Ballroom and Montgomery Clift rumoured to haunt the ninth floor hall.

Fashionable visitors to England’s capital city now have a retreat destination in the well-heeled South Kensington neighbourhood.

Following a CA$32 million facelift, The Kensington Hotel prides itself as “the jewel of London’s Regency quarter.”

Part of The Doyle Collection hotels, The Kensington is located at Queen’s Gate, a stone’s throw from Hyde Park, venerable museums, and Buckingham Palace. The restored heritage property amalgamates four, white, gingerbread Victorian townhouses into a pristine row with 149 rooms.

Spacious deluxe and luxury studio rooms feature full-height windows, Minaret posts, Bella Figura lamps, antique brass and distressed mirrors, 37-inch LCD TVs, and clawed bathtubs and marble surfaces in the bathroom.

Sip afternoon tea and nibble on delicate pastries while perched on a velvet sofa under shimmering crystal chandeliers in the drawing room, and later retreat like a diplomat with a brandy to green leather seating, and mingle between dark bookcases and pastoral England paintings in the cosmopolitan Aubrey Restaurant and Bar.

This fall, well-heeled guests will delight in seasonal offers including the Harvey Nichols Wintour Package, an overnight accommodation, champagne greeting, breakfast, and personal shopping trip to Harvey Nichols.

Finally, all the delights of a five-star hotel, little bottles of smelly shampoo to sweep into your suitcase, and percale cotton sheets, have come home.

Onefinestay.com, an online home rental program launched this August in London by Greg Marsh, the “Unhotelier” or CEO, Demetrios Zoppos, the “Webmaster” or COO, and technology head Tim Davey, invites vacationers to book a home away from home while they provide a mobile boutique “unhotel” experience.

A small roster of photographed flats, listed by area and holiday type, is selected to suit your staying interests. For example, there is The Brewer Street apartment in Soho, Central London, is located minutes from the Piccadilly Circus, but you can also waste the afternoon lounging in this Georgian townhouse stocked with an Xbox 360 and a Lavazza espresso machine.

Upon your arrival, bellhops on scooters take your bags, housekeeping and 24/7 service appear at beckon, (always a good sign when “at beckon” is advertised,) and they’ll even stock the fridge.

In addition, Onefinestay.com promises to initiate guests in the ways of locals by providing personal recommendations for restaurants and bars and favourite haunts.