Hurricane Patricia thrashes Mexico's luxury resorts

Costa Careyes, Mexico

MEXICO may have dodged a bullet from the fury of Hurricane Patricia, but jet setters such as Bill Gates, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cindy Crawford will have to find a new playground for now after the storm ravaged some of the world's most exclusive holiday homes.

Patricia, packing 266 kph winds, carved a swathe through relatively remote parts of rural Mexico last week, hammering exclusive retreats favoured by A-list stars.