The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Travelling life
Iwan Rheon Actor
How often do you travel?
I’m lucky that I get to travel to a lot of different places and experience different cultures. In the past year I’ve been back and forth to the States a lot filming Marvel’s Inhumans series. Hawaii is such a beautiful place. If you leave Honolulu and visit the north shore of Oahu it’s spectacular. On Hawaii itself we took a boat trip to an active volcano and watched lava pouring into the sea, an amazing sight.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
It’s important to be with someone you want to be with, so for me that’s my girlfriend. I don’t like to have an itinerary; I’d rather just soak up the vibe and discover cool local spots.
Your earliest memory of travelling abroad?
When I was six I flew to Legoland in Denmark with my parents and brother, which was an absolute dream. I remember walking through the Lego cities and thinking how cool it was.
Your most adventurous travel experience?
Coasteering near St Davids in west Wales. The highest cliff from which I jumped into the sea was about 40ft. Half the battle is getting your head round doing something so ridiculously stupid, but once you’ve done it, seconds later you want to do it again.
The most remote place you’ve been?
When I was filming Our Girl in South Africa we drove five hours from Cape Town to this remote place called Kagga Kamma, where we stayed in caves. We arrived at night and the last hour of the journey was on this tiny dirt track. It was only when we left in daylight that we realised there was a 100ft sheer drop either side.
Which ‘Game of Thrones’ location did you enjoy most?
I’d always wanted to go to Iceland where some of it was filmed, but I spent my entire time shooting close to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, which is also very beautiful.
Your favourite Welsh destinations?
Pembrokeshire is such a beautiful part of the world. It’s got amazing beaches, interesting cliffs, and you can get a boat over to the RSPB nature reserves too. I also love the rugged terrain and breathtaking views of Snowdonia, where I spent a lot of my youth.
Your most relaxing destination?
Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire, where we used to go camping as kids. It’s always maintained that tranquillity and sense of freedom for me. You can just chill out on the beach, make a fire and switch off.
Best holiday ever?
I’ll never forget that first holiday to west Wales with my friends when I was 16 and had just finished my GCSEs. I remember that sense of having completed
Most memorable meal abroad?
One New Year’s Eve I was in Granada with my girlfriend, who is a vegetarian. We found a place online which seemed to have vegetarian dishes, but when we arrived it was a 13-course set menu with nothing suitable for her. I had to eat everything myself, so that turned into a bit of nightmare.
Best grooming tip for travelling?
Bring a water spray, which can rehydrate your face brilliantly after a long flight.
Worst experience?
I ate a salad on the final day of my trip to Venezuela and had a nightmare flight across the Atlantic where I spent most of the time in the toilet. That was a deeply painful experience.
Your one essential?
It’s a bit weird and OCD but whenever I fly I have to be wearing something red. My girlfriend also tucks little notes into my suitcase saying, “Good luck when you fly”, so I never take them out. I don’t want to change the rules, otherwise something terrible might happen.
What do you hate about holidays?
Disrespectful tourists. People should do a bit of research and speak a tiny bit of the language.
Where next?
Next up is San Diego for a Comic Con for Inhumans, then if my next movie is green-lit, I’ll be heading to Prague for that. Otherwise, I’ve always wanted to see Patagonia in Argentina. Iwan Rheon is an ambassador for Visit Wales. For more information, see visitwales.com/legends