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How do the royals do Norway? In the case of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the answer is "much more modestly than you'd expect." For the couple's first overseas vacation together, the youngest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana took his actress girlfriend to see the Northern Lights and whale watch—only they didn't stay in a five-star hotel. Instead, they spent their trip at a low-key Airbnb rental, dubbed Tromvik Lodge, People reports. Looking at photos of the property, it's easy to see why they picked that spot.
As the listing description reads, "It is located at an idyllic spot, with an amazing panoramic view of the ocean and the Northern lights or the midnight sun. The surroundings are astonishing mountains, forests and meadows where sheep graze." The home, located in a fishing village on Kvaløya Island, is also incredibly remote, ensuring the utmost privacy for the couple. The natural setting is so underdeveloped that there isn't even a single store, restaurant, or cafe nearby.
The benefit of that degree of isolation though is getting to see a bevy of whales during the winter months, up close. “At this time of year the bay is literally full of whales—a ridiculous amount of whales, because they come in to eat the herring, which swim into the fjords near there," local Stig Jakobsen told People. "It is very popular with winter tourists because of the Northern Lights and the whales, of which we have an enormous amount. You can basically go in boats to within ten feet of a huge whale. So it is quite spectacular."
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could have been just as happy sticking indoors, though. The four-bedroom home they rented offers nearly 360-degree views of the coast—and its Instagram-baiting sunsets—as well as a cozy open floor plan with a fireplace in between the living room and dining room. When they were feeling up for venturing into the cold, Prince Harry and Markle could have taken in the Northern Lights from the hot tub on the home's porch. If this doesn't push you over the edge to book a trip to Tromvik, maybe the price tag will: their Airbnb begins at a totally-reasonable $363 a night.