Written by Rosie Buddell for Charitable Travel
Hi Barbie! The sure-to-be iconic Barbie movie premiers this month and it’s got us here at Charitable Travel searching for Barbie-core holidays to keep the vibes going when we’re out of office. So escape the real world with us and check out these alternatives to Barbie Land!
Paradiso Art Hotel, Ibiza
The 4-Star Paradiso Art Hotel in Ibiza offers an adults-only playground with perfectly instagrammable decor. It’s giving Miami vibes in half the flight time. The Paradiso is packed to the brim with art – galleries, a tattoo studio, and Art Deco throughout. The brightly coloured and comfortable guest rooms blend perfectly with the pinky hues of the pool and cabanas. This hotel definitely deserves a spot or two on the grid.
Malibu Paradise Beach Apartments, California
The only accommodation on this list that isn’t visually bringing the pink vibes. Rent a beach house or apartment on Malibu beach with a Jeep and live like Barbie for a week, hitting the beach, and hiking in the local wildlife, or driving the half an hour it takes to spend a day shopping on Rodeo Drive or celeb spotting in the glittering city of LA! Or for even more Barbie vibes – head to the World Of Barbie exhibition in Santa Monica!
The Don CeSar, St. Pete & Clearwater, Florida
Reigning over St. Pete Beach since 1928, the Don CeSar is a landmark pink palace that has hosted celebrities including F. Scott Fitzgerald and enjoyed cameos in several movies and television shows over the years. Dramatically perched atop wind-swept dunes with expansive water views in every direction, the fully renovated Don CeSar is the crown jewel of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The Pink Palace®’s sustainability efforts include a sensor that turns off lights, the exterior lighting of the building is designed to protect sea turtle hatchlings, electric car charging stations, and a system that cleans and reuses water from laundry machines. But the jewel in their sustainability crown is Winnow kitchen food-waste technology, which uses artificial intelligence, a scale and cameras to identify which items in the kitchen are being discarded. Based on this information, it determines menu items that don’t sell and also recommends changes in portion sizes, limiting overproduction and reducing waste.
PinkCoco Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Located in Uluwatu, Bali, a stone’s throw away from the famous Padang-Padang surf breaks, the 4-star PinkCoco Uluwatu hotel has 28 rooms and is just a 5-minute walk from the beach. Wake up to the sound of the ocean in contemporary-chic lodgings, and hit the waves or explore what Bali has to offer.
Experience sunset along one of the most beautiful beachfront in Bali. Lounge under the stars by the pool and dine at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant Tapas del Mar.
Ritz Carlton Abama, Tenerife
For a more elevated, understated pink, the 5-Star Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama is the ‘grown-up’ Barbie destination. An oasis of tranquillity and seclusion, where sea, land and subtropical vegetation effortlessly collide with Moorish-inspired architecture.
Enjoy magnificent views over the Atlantic Ocean, Mount Teide or the hotel’s lush gardens. The resort offers a collection of restaurants ranging from light, simple cooking to world-class gourmet cuisine. At the top end of the scale, the Michelin-starred restaurants – M.B awarded with two stars and Kabuki with one.
Providing a haven of escape, this timeless island retreat features 7 swimming pools, a 2500m2 Spa & Fitness Center and the largest Ritz Kids in Europe. Guests can enjoy an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas, the Abama Tennis Academy, and an exclusive area on the Abama beach with complimentary use of sunbeds and umbrellas.
Rosas y Xocolate Boutique Hotel, Mérida, Mexico
Rosas y Xocolate Boutique Hotel and Spa: Two exquisite, restored, French-style mansions on Paseo Montejo, in the heart of Mérida, Mexico. Designed for memorable experiences and perfect Instagram posts.
Each of the seventeen spacious rooms at Rosas y Xocolate Boutique Hotel and Spa creates a unique experience. All accommodations include a private outdoor Jacuzzi, designer furniture and exquisite details, fused with cutting-edge technology.
The Trixie Motel, Palm Springs, California
The iconic Trixie Motel resides in Palm Springs, California in the equally iconic Old Las Palmas neighborhood, walking distance from all of the city’s main attractions.
This dreamy concept motel, owned by Trixie Mattel, the famous drag queen and her partner, David Silver is full of character, with 7 themed rooms, from the Malibu Barbara room (three guesses who inspired that one) to the Yeehaw Cowgirl western room, to the bee-themed Honeymoon suite. The vibes here are never-ending. Find out more at trixiemotel.com.
Barbie's Malibu Dream House
This oceanfront mansion in Malibu, originally opened to celebrate 60 years of Barbie in 2019, has had a facelift in honour of the Barbie Movie, premiering 21st Jul, and this time, Ken’s hosting.
The pink palace has been redecorated with cowboy motifs throughout – like a cowskin bedspread, horse paintings on the walls and a feature wall of stetsons above the bed. Ken’s also added an outdoor disco on the first floor, and a gym on the second floor, so make sure to bring your ‘Kenergy’.
Book a stay at Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa House with Airbnb from 17th July 2023 at 10 am PT here. In celebration of Barbie hitting cinemas on July 21, and to honour girls’ empowerment, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Save the Children. Save the Children provides learning resources and support to children, families, and communities in 100+ countries to build girls’ confidence and help them excel in school – ensuring everyone has equal opportunity to achieve success.
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