Where the Royals Go On Holiday

16 Breathtaking Holiday Properties The British Royal Family Loves

May 16 2018 by Marcia Moody

The royal family is always criss-crossing the globe for official tours and state visits, but where they choose to spend their personal time is another matter. While the Queen and Prince Philip holiday every Summer in their Scottish home Balmoral, their children and grandchildren prefer to spend their time in exotic and luxurious destinations around the world. From Africa to the US, India to the Alps, we take you on a whistle-stop tour of some of the royals' favourite holiday hangouts.

Image Source: North Island Seychelles

Hotel du Palais — Biarritz, France

When William, Kate, George, and Charlotte escaped on their Summer holidays this year, the Hotel du Palais is where they spent their time. Built in 1855, the grand dame of a property exudes old-school elegance, with sumptuous fabrics in rich colours, gilded furniture, marble floors, and potted palms.

Image Source: Hotel du Palais

The Kubu Queen — Okavango Delta, Botswana

The luxury double decker houseboat has been Prince Harry's go-to holiday spot on more then one occasion. He took then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy there several times, and also celebrated his 21st birthday on board with a group of friends. Located on the beautiful African waterway, the boat is panelled entirely in wood and hung with wildlife pictures.

Image Source: Kubu Queen

Hotel Walserhof — Klosters, Switzerland

The classic Alpine hotel has been Prince Charles's favourite snowy retreat for several decades — it is traditional on the outside, but the rooms are fresh and contemporary with light decor and blonde wood. It was here that William and Harry first learned to ski, and where William and Kate's relationship became public knowledge when they were photographed kissing on the slopes.

Image Source: Hotel Walserhof

Villa Aurora — Mustique, British Virgin Islands

As the Middleton's regular rental, Villa Aurora is where William and Kate have laid their heads on more than one occasion. The contemporary colonial style property incorporates separate little cottages around a central pool, and a pretty plunge pool on the wrap-around veranda.

Image Source: Mustique Island

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Wynn Hotel — Las Vegas, NV

The impressive Encore tower of the Wynn hotel has played host to Harry on more than one occasion — not only during his infamous trip to Sin City in 2012, but also the previous year he also cut loose there with a group of male friends. The party stayed in the Tower Suite, which has a private lift, butler service, a massage table, and mohair-padded walls that absorb sound.

Image Source: Wynn Las Vegas

The Arlberg — Lech, Austria

While Prince Charles has always favoured the Swiss ski resort of Klosters, Diana's preferred spot was Lech in Austria. The Arlberg hotel there brings together a blend of classic and contemporary decor with a fresh, bright colour scheme, and pictures of Diana now hang in the lobby.

Image Source: Hotel Arlberg Lech

Kumarakom Lake Resort — Kerala, India

It's not surprising that renowned environmentalist Prince Charles chose to stay at the property that was named India's leading green resort by the World Travel Awards for four consecutive years. Charles celebrated his birthday there with Camilla in 2013 while they were on tour in India. There, the traditional local architecture of each villa is combined with an outdoor bathroom set around a private courtyard.

Image Source: Kumarakom Lake Resort

Karma Kandara — Bali, Indonesia

The cliff-side resort is sprinkled with luxury villas that each have their own tropical courtyard and private pool, and is where Zara and Mike Tindall have stayed. Mike even said it was the most relaxing place he's ever been, adding, "I did very little. The whole setup is designed to inspire relaxation."

Image Source: Karma Group

Villa 11 — North Island, The Seychelles

It doesn't get much better than a royal honeymoon, and this is where William and Kate chose to escape after their wedding. The villa is set in a private palm-fringed beach with a dreamy four-poster bed, floor-to ceiling windows, and sunken baths. Here there are no set meal times, as guests discuss their individual needs with their private chef, and the spa will open whenever you like.

Image Source: North Island Seychelles

The Peabody — Memphis, TN

The local favourite has played host to not one, not two, but four royals. In 2014 William, Harry, Beatrice, and Eugenie all checked in when they were celebrating the wedding of their friend Guy Pelly. The grand downtown landmark was built in 1925, and in its early days, there were ducks in the lobby fountain — the tradition remains and ducks still visit the fountain twice daily.

Image Source: Peabody Memphis

Rutundu Lodge — Mount Kenya, Kenya

When William proposed, it was in one of the most remote places he'd come across in his beloved Africa. The Rutundu Lodge is actually made up of two simple wooden cottages and is self-catering. The wooden floors are covered with rugs, light comes from a hurricane lantern, and the heat is from the log fire. The breathtaking views are of mountains and wilderness as far as the eye can see.

Image Source: Rutundu

Villa Rocina — Mustique, British Virgin Islands

Although Kate and William had always spent their annual Caribbean holiday at Villa Aurora, in 2015 they headed for a different property. With Prince George in tow, it's thought that they chose Villa Rocina because it was bigger, but equally swanky and beautiful. Overlooking Endeavour Beach, the home features lots of billowing white curtains, a lawn, and an exercise room.

Image Source: Wimco Villas

Columbia Beach Resort — Pissouri Bay, Cyprus

Zara and Mike Tindall chose the funky resort as their getaway back in 2011. Each suite there is different, and the rooms look out over the idyllic bay, lagoon pool, or resort gardens.

Image Source: Columbia Resort

The Great House — Necker, British Virgin Islands

The property is in the style of a Balinese villa and is owned by Virgin founder Richard Branson, who loaned it to Princess Diana and her family on more than one occasion. Prince Harry has also visited there as an adult with Richard's children Holly and Sam.

Image Source: Virgin Limited Edition

Cheval Blanc Randheli Hotel — Noonu Atoll, The Maldives

Kate and William have visited the Indian Ocean on many occasions, but made their first and (so far) only trip to the Maldives in 2014. They chose one of the newest resorts, Cheval Blanc Randheli Hotel, with a sharp design ethos, private infinity pools, water villas with their own gardens, walk-in closets, and food so good it's billed as "culinary art."

Image Source: Randheli Hotel

Hotel Nevai — Verbier, France

Located in the heart of the village, the Hotel Nevai is where Harry holidayed in 2012 with Beatrice, Eugenie, and some of their friends. The property is sleek and modern with minimalist rooms, a 13-foot-long high-tech fireplace, and hot tubs overlooking the Alps.

Image Source: Hotel Nevai