THE HORIZON
PALM SPRINGS,CALIFORNIA
Built in 1952 by desert modernist architect William F. Cody as a family and friends retreat for an entertainment mogul,24 low-slung bungalows punctuate a one-hectare grassy carpet where slender palms surround the pool. Minutes from downtown Palm Springs,these dynamic structures framed in slender steel with wafer-thin roofs are shaped around secluded patios with breathtaking views of Mount San Jacinto. Restored in 2006,some still have their original outdoor showers where Marilyn Monroe once caused a stir showering in the buff. These adult-only upscale accommodations have celebrity in their DNA,particularly when the complimentary continental breakfast can be requested for room,patio or poolside. Rooms from $US129. Seethehorizonhotel.com.
FLAMINGO
LAS VEGAS,NEVADA
Once the epitome of 1940s'gangster chic (Bugsy Siegel project managed its construction for Meyer Lansky's East Coast mob),the Flamingo wasn't built on Vegas's Strip - the Strip was built around it. During the'60s,the mob skimmed $36 million"off the books". Over the decades,entertainment's big names have headlined here while Bugsy's Bar at the heart of casino action still pumps 24/7. Set on six hectares,the renewed casino resort boasts water playgrounds and tropical gardens,remodelled Fab rooms with wood-toned floors,crisp white bed-linen and sleek bathrooms,while signature touches of flamingo pink and glossy quilted bedheads give a nod to the'60s at the forever fabulous Flamingo.
Average nightly rate for Fab Deluxe room $US53 ($56). See flamingolasvegas.com.
THE GEORGIAN
SANTA MONICA,CALIFORNIA