Step Into: 'A Five Star Life

Director Maria Sole Tognazzi always knew who would get top billing in her award-winning film A Five Star Life, about a woman with the enviable job of evaluating luxe lodgings around the world: the hotels themselves.Watch Jav


And she's right. Margherita Buy is excellent as hotel critic Irene, who demands absolute perfection in these properties even though her own personal life would never pass a white-glove test. But it's the seven hotels featured in the film that are most memorable. The camera wanders through marble-floored lobbies, lingers in soothing spas, and even settles in beside Irene as she takes a dip in a glistening swimming pool.



If all this makes you want to book a reservation, you're in luck: Except for the Hôtel de Crillon, a Paris landmark currently undergoing a $110-million renovation, all of the properties will welcome you even if you aren't a world-famous travel writer. Head to Tuscany to stay in the Fonteverde Tuscan Resort Spa, or the Italian coast for the Borgo Egnazia, or one of the other properties that Fodor's has ranked among the best in the world.Hot Jav
HOTEL ADLON KEMPINSKI, BERLIN



Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate is visible from the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, one of the city's most prestigious addresses. Completely destroyed during World War II, the hotel was reconstructed on its original location on Pariser Platz in 1997. It's a winner in every way, from its Michelin-starred restaurant, Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer, to its sybaritic Adlon Spa (where Irene indulges in the film), which is why our reviewer awarded it a Fodor's Choice designation.
GSTAAD PALACE, GSTAAD, SWITZERLAND



The Gstaad Palace could be mistaken for a fairy-tale castle, as the stunning structure towers over this tiny village in the Swiss Alps. In winter this Fodor's Choice property is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, which make an appearance in the film, though the interior scenes were filmed in June. The interior is lavish, with rustic details here and there (wrought-iron lighting fixtures beside the beds, for example).Jav Streaming
PALAIS NAMASKAR, MARRAKECH



Just months after it flung open its doors in 2012, the palm-fringed Palais Namaskar welcomed Tognazzi and her crew. Set on 12 acres of lush gardens, this impossibly posh resort—on the list ofFodor's 100 Hotels in 2013—surrounds a dazzling swimming pool in its center, ringed by graceful arches. You can lounge beside it, as Irene does in the film, or enjoy dinner on the nearby terrace. If you crave more privacy, retreat to your own outdoor hot tub.

Design Lover's Guide to Palm Springs

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An oasis in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is the perfect destination for lovers of architecture from the Mid-Century Modern and Desert Modern periods (1930s-1970s). Design enthusiasts flock here year-round to cozy up in retro motels or sip martinis at throwback eateries. The Southern California desert community of 45,000 hosts the world's largest collection of Mid-Century Modern architecture, from residential properties to commercial buildings. Fresh off its 75th anniversary last year, Palm Springs is poised to impress design fans from around the globe. Consider this your guide.
WHAT TO SEE
PALM SPRINGS MODERN TOURS



Jump into a van driven by a Palm Springs Modern Tours guide for a three-hour tour ($85) to see exterior examples of Desert Modern and Mid-Century Modern architecture in neighborhoods like Vista Las Palmas (home to Elvis and Priscilla Presley's honeymoon pad) and South Palm Canyon. Coachella Valley Savings & Loan, designed by E. Stewart Williams, is another highlight. Arrive early at the tour's starting point (Palm Springs Visitors Center, 2901 N. Palm Canyon Drive) to shop for souvenirs inside the former 1960s gas station with a cantilevered canopy.
PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM



For a town the size of Palm Springs, the Palm Springs Art Museum is mammoth, consisting of 28 galleries spread across four stories, plus two sculpture gardens. Among the most acclaimed works in its 55,000-piece collection is Pablo Picasso's "Owl" sculpture, born out of painted fired clay. Free admission is granted on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jam
UPTOWN DESIGN DISTRICT



Snap up a 1950s cocktail dress at Déjà Vu Vintage Finery, one of many shops along North Palm Canyon Boulevard in the Uptown Design District. Score Midcentury Modern furnishings, from a curvy sofa designed by Milo Baughman to a 1950s teak daybed, in pristine condition at consignment dealer Christopher Anthony Ltd. Twenty-some shops serve coffee, cocktails, and pastries during the Uptown Brunch and Art Walk Series, the third Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
WORKSHOP KITCHEN + BAR



Snug in the Uptown Design District, Workshop Kitchen + Bar features a industrial interior marked by concrete booths, Heath Ceramics serving-ware, and 27-foot ceilings. Popular farm-to-table dishes to share include duck-fat fries and octopus carpaccio prepared sous-vide. Chill down with the signature "Palm Springer" cocktail (vodka, grenadine, bitters, and pineapple juice).
PURPLE ROOM SUPPER CLUB


For a peek into 1950s and 1960s supper-club culture, drop into Purple Room Supper Club, owned by Midwest natives Tony Marchese and Mark Van Laanen since 2009, although the swanky spot dates back to the early 1960s. Live music several nights a week pairs with comfort foods like deviled eggs, New Zealand rack of lamb, and crab cakes.Jav Red Hot Jam