Most girls have, at some point in their lives, wanted to be a Disney princess.
So TravelGround thought it a rather fine idea to source some princess-perfect places for holidays that would encapsulate the style of a Disney© fairy tale for the everyday princess making waves in our world today. That’s right, we’re talking about you!
Disney© taught us that one day a handsome prince will come and rescue you from your existential crisis and sweep you into a glass-slippered, prettily dressed, perfect-haired world full of glitter … a world where you would never have to clean again or have parents or stepsisters or problems of any kind because the credits generally tend to interrupt any possible dangers to the obvious “and they all lived happily ever after”.
Since we’ve already established that every girl who has ever seen a Disney© movie has wished upon a star to be one, we might begin to ask ourselves why. You might turn green with envy at the sight of Ariel’s purple clam bra or you might dream of having long, magical hair like Rapunzel. But there is one thing all Disney© princesses seem to have in common that is the envy of most rent-paying readers: a stylish, rent-free and perfectly awesome abode.
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible for real-life women to live in awe-inspiring animated homes. We at TravelGround understand our readers’ love of living spaces as well as their insatiable appetite for peeks into the homes of others, so we’ve compiled a selection of holiday rentals where everyday princesses can break away to holiday spots inspired by some of their favourite Disney© homes.
Knysna Houseboats: Ariel from The Little Mermaid
Private and close enough to the water so that your inner mermaid will be more than satisfied. Allow your own Prince Eric to captain your houseboat en route to the adventure of a lifetime. During a stay on Knysna Houseboats you can swim, soak up the sun or even make friends with a seagull. You will receive all the necessary information and emergency items you could potentially need, so you can steer yourself along the Knysna estuary and into a fantasy Disney© world.
Kurland Villa: Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Kurland Villa in Plettenberg Bay reminds us of Beast’s beautiful, magical castle with its rolling green lawns and impressive structures, not to mention the extensive library that is reminiscent of the (very unrealistically) large library that Beast gifted Belle. The horses and pretty rooms will leave you feeling like royalty as you curl up in front of the fire with a book or go for a horseback ride on the majestic grounds.
Forest Bird Lodge: Aurora from Sleeping Beauty
Deep within the woods there’s a wooden cottage next to a stream. Forest Bird Lodge is tucked away deep inside an evergreen forest in Magoebaskloof. Channel your inner Aurora and stroll into the woods to befriend the abundance of birds that can be found in the leafy canopies. You and your own prince can meet at this forest abode and escape the evil clutches of the outside world.
Lancewood TiPi Lodge: Pocahontas from Disney’s Pocahontas
A Powhatan princess deserves to live in a tipi with some style. Lancewood TiPi Lodge in Robertson is just the place to be if you want to play Pocahontas. These gorgeous tents are surrounded by nature and beautifully decorated with all things traditionally Native American, such as feathers and bear paw prints. See if you too can sing along with all the voices of the Langeberg Mountains and paint with all the colours of the wind at this unique establishment.
Tenahead Mountain Lodge: Elsa and Anna from Frozen
These stone cottages are located in the highest mountain reserve in South Africa and they are generally surrounded by lush, green, rolling hills and mountain ranges. This is reminiscent of the Norway-inspired, make-believe country in Frozen called Arendelle. The best thing about this area is that it occasionally gets covered in deep, deep, deep, deep snow as Arendelle did when Elsa lost control of her ice powers. Here in the Eastern Cape you too can envision yourself as a powerful ice queen while your other half gallantly rides across the vast hills and rocky outcrops on horseback.
Fairview Estates: Rapunzel from Tangled
Rapunzel made living in a tower seem effortless, and so can you. The Twin Towers at Fairview Estates reach for the sky in a rural setting so you can pretend to be a princess with no knowledge of the cruel, outside world. Create your own sunshine in a unique living space with rounded walls and natural tones whilst mountain critters and creatures roam the forest around you.
Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve: Nala from The Lion King
In the words of Helen Reddy: “I am woman, hear me roar!” Make your inner lion purr as you feast your eyes on these stunning, unique stone structures where you can sleep like a true queen of Pride Rock. This interesting lodge is located in the Southern Cederberg Mountains in the Western Cape and will help anyone to escape the pressures of modern life, away from smartphones and rush hour traffic. Relax in these natural surroundings and take the time to do some soul-searching. Cave-living has never been more worthy of royalty.
So there you have it. We everyday princesses have aspired to Disney© status ever since childhood and are just as worthy of a fairy tale home as those belonging to the animated world. TravelGround has proved that magical holidays are not as out of our reach as we had imagined.
Who is your favourite Disney princess? Which castle, cottage or tower do you envy most? Tell us in the comments and book your dream holiday today!
Feature Image: Wallpapers for Disney Castle Backgrounds
