5 Meghan Markle-approved holiday destinations

Follow in her footsteps and explore these incredible European destinations 
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Today, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they are expecting their first child in spring 2019. And it's likely they'll try get as much travelling in before the baby arrives - starting with their southern hemisphere tour .

Meghan Markle is pretty well travelled. In fact, pre-Harry she spent the time she wasn’t filming Suits, jetting around the world and sharing her travel tips on her now defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.

Despite being snap happy in the likes of Tulum, Montreal and New York though, one look through her (also now-defunct) Instagram and it’s obvious she has a real thing for Europe. Over the last three years she’s ticked off countless cities, beaches and islands in our neighbouring countries.

From Ibiza to Capri, Hydra to Madrid - here are the Meghan-approved destinations that are worth booking for 2019.

Ibiza and Formentera, The Balearic Islands

Girls trip to Ibiza anyone?
Instagram/Meghan Markle

Ibiza is a paradoxical island. On one side (literally) you have a party animal's paradise - some of the most extravagant clubs this side of the hemisphere and world renowned DJs that fly in weekly - and on the other a chiller's haven. Lush beaches, yoga retreats, unspoilt rolling hills dotted with olive trees and hilltop villages.

For those that aren’t partiers - avoiding July and August is wise. The shoulder months will provide fewer crowds, less traffic, the opportunity to get bookings at sought after lunch spots as well as more forgiving temperatures.

Split your time between between Ibiza and Spain’s smallest Balearic island, Formentera. Every-supermodel-ever approved, rent bikes and ride around the island. Stop when you fancy a dip in the neon turquoise waters or for lunch at one of the luxe beach clubs where ice cold rosé magnums are de rigueur. Gecko Club or Beso Beach are good options.

Come evening you can get a 40 minute ferry back to Ibiza in time for tapas.

The top beaches on Ibiza included Cala Moli, Cala Mastella and Benirras. Situated in a pebbly cove, Cala Moli offers great snorkeling opportunities with its crystal clear water. You're much more likely to be joined by locals rather than tourists which is never a bad thing.

Cala Mastella is a small, picturesque beach and although secluded, it does get busy so make sure to get there early. The restaurant on the beach, El Bigotes, offers what’s widely regarded as the best fish stew on the island but book well in advance.

If you’re looking for something a little different, venture to Benirras on a Sunday and watch the sunset to the sound of hippie drums.

Positano, Italy

Meghan with one of her best friends, Jessica Mulroney in Italy
Instagram/Meghan Markle

Situated on the Amalfi Coast, this small fishing village is located just one and a half hours from Naples but feels like a different world with its pretty pastel houses that cascade down cliff rocks towards the sea. It’s so photogenic, the mayor of Positano actually introduced a €1,000 photography fee for all advertising or commercial property this year due to high demand.

Once a town that rivalled Capri as a destination for the jet-set, it still enjoys visits from silver screen veterans and remains the most expensive town in the region. The jack-pot booking? A night in the world-famous Le Sirenuse where Meghan, Sienna Miller and Reese Witherspoon have all stayed.

A family-run hotel, the ox-blood red villa was the family's holiday house before they converted it into a luxury hotel during the 1950s.

Each room offers a balcony to look out over the ocean, there’s a Michelin starred restaurant with an oyster bar and of course a private pool for those who don’t want to schlep back up a hill after the beach.

Perhaps the best thing about the property though is it’s ability to provide quiet luxury. It has all the frills without any of the pretension.

Capri, Italy

Meghan, a self-described foodie, eating the local cuisine in Capri
Instagram/Meghan Markle

Another Amalfi hotspot, Capri is a small island located 40 minutes by boat from Naples. Regarded by many as Italy’s “Rivera on the rocks”, it’s long been a magnet for the rich and famous.

As predicted there’s a slew of luxury hotels (Capri Palace, Grand Hotel Quisisana and JK Place to name a few) as well as excellent restaurants and pristine white beaches.

The island is in fact just four miles long but there are plenty of walks for keen hikers (not all vertically up a limestone crag) as well as two towns.

Capri Town is where to go to watch yachts, impeccably dressed women swan about in Melissa Odabash cover-ups and dine on just-out-of-the-sea fresh shellfish.

If you want less-razz more-rustic though head to Anacapri where most of the island’s population lives and farms. It’s just a 15 minute bus ride between the two.

Madrid, Spain

Meghan with friends in Madrid 
Instagram/Meghan Markle

Madrid’s a city where you’ll find people queuing to see Goya masterpieces as well as crowds dancing away at festivals set in dreamlike fairgrounds.

You’ll enjoy Michelin-starred dining as well as some of the world’s best backstreet tapas.

You can opt for bars on the strip where they’ll serve you goblets of G&T before you hit a club or while away an evening at a neighbourhood wine bar where the Spanish elite sip white rioja.

This really is where to go if you want both heavyweight culture as well as blow-out fun.

If you want to “do” all of the sites, stay centrally at somewhere like Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques. Within walking distance of all the main attractions, the hotel itself is worth touring. Velázquez reproductions line the walls, one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, Dos Cielos, is on the same site and there’s a rooftop that’ll give you unrivalled views across the city.

For those who want to go a little more rogue, the Malasaña neighbourhood is essentially the Hackney of Madrid. Independent hotels and Airbnbs galore, by day you can drink craft beer, visit independent bookshops and boutiques and dance to live music come evening. This is the laid back option.

Hydra, Greece

Meghan looks diving in this maxi white dress in Greece
Instagram/Meghan Markle

Meghan previously wrote about her experience of Hydra on The Tig after she planned her friend’s hen party there back in 2016.

Why here? “The thought of running around a city trying to get into clubs and wearing headbands of the phallic persuasion didn’t seem very ‘on brand’ for us, I opted instead to woo the bride-to-be with a more low-key stagette,” she wrote.

Low-key indeed, Hydra is one of the lesser-known Greek Islands and a haven of relaxation. Here it’s about the three pillars of a great summer escape. Good food, reliable weather and the feeling of being away from “it”.

A two hour ferry from Athens, the Saronic island is fringed with stoney enclaves and aqua waters. It’s an island of two seasons - sometimes it’s home to royalty and celebs alike (Sophia Loren holidayed here) and sometimes just to locals.

With no wheeled vehicles allowed (not even bikes) or street names, it's about as traditional as you can get.

Explore though and you will find excellent food. Ask around and you’ll either be told about the secret luxe hotel on the far side of the island or invited by a local to rent their upper apartment. This is proper island life and it couldn’t sound more idyllic.

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