He has traveled to every continent multiple times by almost every means imaginable. After all, he was the first passenger aboard the royal yacht Britannia (she sailed to the Mediterranean on her maiden voyage at five to meet his parents).
And the king became the first member of his family to officially visit places as diverse as Bhutan, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
As a young man he led independence ceremonies in Fiji and the Bahamas. In his 70s he watched the Royal Standard come down in Barbados.
But where did our new king enjoy himself?
Spanish residence
In the 1980s, King Charles, Princess Diana and their sons spent many happy holidays in Mallorca as guests of the Spanish monarch. Above is the island’s Calo Des Moro beach
King Charles and Diana – pictured above with King Juan Carlos and his family – enjoyed many boat trips along the coast during their stay in Mallorca
In the 1980s the Prince and Princess of Wales and their sons spent many happy holidays in Mallorca as guests of the Spanish monarch.
King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sophia received them at their summer residence, the Marivent Palace, just outside Palma. The king kept his yacht close by and excursions along the coast were common. The Prince’s cousins, the Knatchbulls, also owned a mansion in the area.
BOOK IT: Three nights bed and breakfast at the five-star Hotel Cap Rocat (caprocat.com) costs £1,120 based on two people sharing a room in mid-October. Ryanair (ryanair.com) London to Mallorca from £73 return.
Sunshine in Corfu
Greece was a frequent travel destination for much of the king’s life. He made several leisurely pilgrimages to Mount Athos in northern Greece, and he and the Queen Consort also enjoyed private holidays in Corfu, the island with strong personal ties; Corfu was the birthplace of the King’s father, Prince Philip.
BOOK IT: Seven-night luxury five-bed villa St George’s House (cvvillas.com) near Kassiopi, from £765 per person, based on 10 people traveling in early October. Flights with easyJet are included.
Transylvanian Castle
King Charles, who is a direct descendant of Transylvanian nobility, felt connected to Romania during his visit in 1998. Above is Bran Castle in Transylvania
In 1998, after the collapse of communism, the Prince of Wales paid an official visit to Romania and was enchanted by the Saxon towns and churches.
Descended directly from the Transylvanian nobility, the prince felt connected. He started making private visits and became fascinated with the rural way of life that was under threat.
BOOK IT: One night full board in The Prince’s Room at King’s Zalan Valley Guesthouse (zalan.transylvaniancastle.com) from £186. Wizz Air (wizzair.com) London to Brasov from £138.
Art of Florence
Young Prince Charles found great solace in painting, a hobby and skill he inherited from his father. However, it was Charles’ first official tour to Italy with Diana in 1985 that was a revelation.
He loved Venice, Milan and Florence. It was also the first tour on which he invited a professional artist to accompany him, and he always brought one with him thereafter.
BOOK IT: A six-day half-board watercolor course in Florence on July 8 with Painting Holiday Italy (paintingholidayitaly.com) costs from £1,811 per person. London to Florence with British Airways (ba.com) return fares from £244.
Welsh cottage
Charles was the first Prince of Wales to bother to learn Welsh in six centuries. Before his inauguration in 1969, he spent a semester at Aberystwyth University learning the basics and to this day likes to sprinkle a little Welsh into every speech he gives there. In 2007 he bought a small Welsh farm through the Duchy of Cornwall and stayed there when he could.
BOOK IT: A three-night stay for four in a converted two-bed West Range cottage ( duchyofcornwallholidaycottagesco.uk ) at the Prince of Wales’s royal residence in Llwynywermod is £857.50 based on early September departures.
Swiss slopes
King Charles has been skiing at the Swiss alpine resort of Klosters for over 40 years
There is no foreign holiday destination that King Charles loves more than the Swiss alpine resort of Klosters.
He has been skiing there for over 40 years and lives with his friends Charlie and Patti Palmer-Tomkinson, with whom he has been skiing ever since. His love for sport and for this beautiful town, located on the Davos ski area, is fully reciprocated by the people of Klosters.
BOOK IT: B&B double room at Hotel Wynegg (wynegg.ch) from £106 per night. EasyJet (easyjet.com) London to Zurich, 1hr 40min journey, from £54 return.
Perfect insulation
After the death of King George VI. The Queen Mother found great comfort and joy in the renovation of a small fortress near the most northerly point of Scotland – the Castle of Mey.
After her death in 2002, the Prince of Wales was determined to keep the site going as a local visitor attraction and as a tribute to the grandmother he adored. He still enjoys staying several nights a year and is a proud patron of the Highland Games.
BOOK IT: Three bed self-catering accommodation The Captain’s House (castleofmey.org.uk) sleeps six for a week’s break on 10 June for £1,217.
Royal favourite
There is no doubt that Balmoral is the place where the King is happiest. He has loved the Scottish Highlands since childhood, just like his mother before him. So much so that he even wrote a children’s book about it, The Old Man Of Lochnagar.
Since the Queen Mother’s death he has gone to live at her old house on the Birkhall estate.
BOOK IT: Two nights’ B&B at the Fife Arms Hotel (theFifearms.com) in Braemar in early September costs £1,002.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
