Ideal Vacation Spots for Rich and Not-So-Rich Bankers

1. Dorado Beach, Dorado, Puerto Rico

Tucked just outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dorado Beach is one of the hottest high-end vacation destinations for New Yorkers, according to one Manhattan travel consultant. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel was born on the footprint of financier Laurance Rockefeller’s personal resort, and carries on his sustainable, eco-friendly legacy. The hotel is spread across 50 acres of land and one mile of beachfront, yet only sports 115 guestrooms.

It’s known for big rooms, each of which looks out over the ocean, five-star dining and a five-acre spa. The coastal views are breathtaking.

“It’s very exclusive, very high-end and ridiculously-priced,” said the consultant.

A standard in-season room will run you $1,499 a night, or you can rent the four-bedroom villa for $30,000 a night.

2. Cap Juluca, Anguilla, British West Indies

Consistently ranked as one of the best hotels in the Caribbean, Cap Juluca is more old-school, and perhaps less posh, than other destinations resorts, but its turquoise oceans and sandy white beaches keep affluent Wall Street families coming back. It’s known to be more old money than new money, more relaxed than hip.

“It’s quaint and gorgeous” said the daughter of an asset manager who traveled there in December.

In the winter season, the cheapest room will run you $995. A five-bedroom villa with a private pool costs just under $8,000 per night.

3. Mustique Island, St. Vincent, West Indies

Why go to a resort when you can vacation at a private island sanctuary? Part of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mustique Island is known as much for its high-profile guests as it is its exotic beauty. The island made headlines when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge vacationed there in February.

Along with the Cotton House boutique hotel are 74 villas and nine individual beaches. It may be remote, but the island offers plenty of amenities. Mustique has a health spa, scuba-diving facility, equestrian center and tennis club.

Prices range from as low as $5,000 per week to as high as $45,000 per week depending upon the villa and the time of year.

4. Auberge Du Soleil, Rutherford, California

It’s an adult’s playground. Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, Auberge Du Soleil features one of the most highly-acclaimed restaurants in California. You can enjoy wine and $175 per ounce caviar at night, and spa treatments and lounging on private sundecks during the day. But perhaps the best feature for couples: the hotel is not suitable for children under 16. You can’t do much better on the West Coast.

Depending on the time of year, rooms, suites and private maisons will cost you anywhere from $1,200 to $2,500 per night.

5. Three Forks Ranch, Savery, Wyoming

If you’re looking more for adventure than simple R&R, Three Forks Ranch may be worth a look. The resort offers fly fishing, wildlife tours, skeet shooting, horseback riding, mountain biking and even a cattle drive. In the winter, you can go skiing, ice fishing snow showing or enjoy a sleigh ride. Oh, and you don’t need a ski lift. Private snowcats take you up 1,100 vertical feet, then you cruise down your choice of 20 untouched, private runs.

Three Forks Ranch is spread across the Colorado-Wyoming border, 40 miles north of Steamboat Springs. Rooms run anywhere from $695 to $845 per night. All meals, even cocktails and hors d’oeurves, are included.

6. El Encanto, Santa Barbara, California

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. in March opened this “California “Classic” by updating a hotel with a glittery Hollywood past with fashionable American Riviera décor. A glamorous hideaway for screen stars for nearly a century, El Encanto sits on seven acres of carefully preserved landscaped gardens and is part of Santa Barbara's social, cultural and architectural heritage. The hotel has been fully restored and now consists of 92 individually designed California-style bungalows, with hardwood floors, plantation-style shutters and bespoke accessories. Maintaining the hotel’s historic architecture was paramount, and Orient-Express collaborated with Santa Barbara’s Historic Landmarks Commission. Each bungalow has its own private patio or garden, where guests can dine al fresco. There are telescopes on each terrace to take in views of the Pacific Ocean. The 800 square-feet Hummingbird Bungalow has its own outdoor rainforest shower. Executive chef Patrice Martineau’s Californian Coastal cuisine incorporates seasonal produce from the region, as well as fresh herbs and vegetables from the hotel’s Chef’s Garden. Situated between the Pacific Ocean and the rolling hills of Santa Barbara’s wine country, the spa’s signature soothing treatments are inspired by the natural landscape.

June rates start at $475 a night for a superior bungalow.

7. Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado, California

California’s premier Pacific resort celebrated its 125th anniversary this year. Hotel del Coronado became one the Victorian era’s most sought-after seaside resorts, welcoming guests from across the country and around the world. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark in San Diego County with a world-class spa, seaside dining and the addition of Beach Village, an enclave of luxury beach cottages. Executive Chef John Shelton joined in 2006, and in 2010 he oversaw the re-vamping of Sheerwater to a fish-focused eatery where guests can choose local and sustainable seafood including the freshest catch of the day from local fisherman. The resort offers a natural paradise for adventure. Coronado’s white sand beach is ideal for jogging or walking along the Pacific Ocean. The small waves are perfect for beginner surfers or boogie boarders. The Coronado bike trail, which runs along Glorietta Bay and the beachfront walk, is accessible year-round.

June rates start at $319 a night.

8. Inn By The Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Voted one of the World's Best by Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2012, Maine's premier luxury beach destination is still little known to many vacationers. You can pamper yourself in a full-service spa with facials, massages and treatments using products made from active ingredients of rejuvenating seaweed, marine-based peptides, nutraceutical extracts and pure essential oils, or simply appreciate the unspoiled beauty of Crescent Beach. The resort’s Sea Glass restaurant boasts authentic Maine cuisine prepared from the freshest local ingredients. Minutes away from Portland, the Inn offers the same high service standards as any world-class luxury resort. Every guest room, suite and cottage includes maple furnishings and locally commissioned artwork. Large ocean view suites feature deluxe bathrooms with oversized showers or tubs, plush bathrobes and luxurious bedding.

June rates start at $359 a night for a traditional room.

9. Chatham Bars Inn Resort and Spa, Chatham, Massachusetts

Cape Cod is a popular summer destination for many East Coasters, and the Chatham Bars Inn has been a family vacation retreat recognized for its service, cuisine and natural surroundings since 1914. Nestled near the center of picturesque Chatham on 25 landscaped acres overlooking Pleasant Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the turn-of-the-century landmark boasts an expansive lounge, front veranda and main dining room which have been returned to their original splendor. Take in the ocean views and cool down with calm sea breezes. The Inn operates a fleet of luxury boats and unique excursions including Cape Cod sunset cruises on Pleasant Bay, big game sport fishing, sailing tours, family activities and private charters to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Besides golf, tennis, fishing, water sports, sailing and bird watching, the Inn offers beachfront theme dinners, spa treatments, fitness center, children’s programs and family activities. The village is replete with historical homes, shops, art galleries and gardens.

June rates start at $299 a night for a deluxe room.

10. Hotel Casa Del Mar, Santa Monica, California

Hotel Casa del Mar strives to make every guest feel like a regular, promising “the glamor of an authentic California beach club, without any of the rules.” The 1920s-style lobby is a central place to meet other guests, friends and locals, with views of the Pacific Ocean. Originally opened in 1926 as a grand beach club hotel, the historic building underwent a $50 million renovation in 1999 transforming it into a 5 star boutique luxury hotel. The fifth floor Palm Terrace features a plunge outdoor heated pool, whirlpool spa and towel service. Soak in the sun from chaise lounges a deck made from Italian granite stone and lush landscaping. The Sea Wellness Spa offers skincare, massage and body treatments. The Catch Restaurant serves up coastal cuisine highlighting fresh local seafood, produce from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market and a wine bar and creative cocktails.