By Lacey Pfalz, TravelPulse

Inspired by popular historical drama series and social media, a growing travel trend encourages travelers heading to Europe to enjoy a different accommodation style than a hotel or private cottage: castles.

Castles, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland, increasingly turn to the travel industry for historic preservation. They’re being restored and refashioned into luxury hotels and vacation rentals for travelers, sustaining both the local communities and the structure’s unique architecture and story.

But why are they becoming more popular? What’s behind the trend? And what should travelers know about staying at these historic properties?

Why are castle stays a growing trend?

There are many reasons people want to stay at historic castles instead of traditional hotels, especially in destinations like the United Kingdom.

By watching historical dramas and traveling with heritage in mind, travelers are inspired by the past and want to immerse themselves in history, admire historic architecture and enjoy peace and quiet in a secluded area away from city life.

A Brendan Vacation private chauffeur and guest in front of Dromoland Castle. (Travelpulse/Travelpulse/TNS)

Don’t believe me? Brendan Vacations, a well-known tour operator specializing in travel to the U.K. and Ireland, has seen a growing interest in itineraries that offer at least one stay in a castle. In 2024, nearly 60% of bookings included at least one overnight stay in a castle. This year, 70% of the operator’s bookings will include an overnight stay in a castle.

“More travelers are seeking immersive experiences that bring a destination’s history and culture to life,” Catherine Reilly, managing director of Brendan Vacations, explains. “From distinctive accommodations to memorable dining, they want stays that leave a lasting impression. Ireland and Scotland conjure images of grand estates, medieval knights and royal courts — romantic visions fueled by both history and popular shows like “Outlander” and “Bridgerton.”

“Whether drawn to real historical sites or inspired by period dramas, many visitors are eager to explore or even spend the night in a castle, indulging in the fantasy of living like royalty.”

Castle hotels also offer experiences that travelers can’t have at a hotel, no matter how many stars it might have.

Aerial view of historic Ashford Castle, now a luxury hotel. (Travelpulse/Travelpulse/TNS)

Ashford Castle is one such castle hotel. Located in County Mayo, Ireland, the five-star castle hotel boasts 800 years of history, luxury accommodations and plenty of unique experiences.

“Home to Ireland’s oldest established falconry school, guests can enjoy this unique tradition alongside activities such as fishing, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, archery, scenic heritage walks, and tennis,” explained Nial Rochford, Managing Director at Ashford Castle. “Each experience is designed to encourage guests to slow down, spend time outdoors, and share meaningful moments in a place full of character and stories. The castle also features a luxury spa …”

A castle stay is often the choice of luxury travelers looking to enjoy all a destination has to offer.

Archery is one of the many experiences guests can enjoy at Ashford Castle. (Travelpulse/Travelpulse/TNS)

Even travel advisers have noticed the growing trend.

“I’ve absolutely noticed an uptick in clients wanting to stay in a castle over the past few years. Most especially in Ireland — it seems every request I get for Ireland wants to spend a few nights in a castle,” said Heather Grodin, CTA-ACC Travel Planner Affiliated with MEI & Mouse Fan Travel.

“Clients are seeing these castle hotels all over social media, or even their favorite TV shows, and they’re wanting to experience that for themselves,” Grodin continued. “It’s the whole ‘when in Rome’ mentality — when else will they have that opportunity and they’re taking advantage of it!”

The difference between castle hotels and rentals

While castle stays are becoming more popular, not all are alike. They can typically be split into two categories: castle hotels, which function just as traditional hotels, and privately owned vacation rentals, which are rented like a Vrbo or Airbnb.

There are a few differences. Vacation rental castles can be great options for large groups, friends or families, special speaker events or big celebrations like destination weddings. They can offer different amenities than a more traditional hotel experience.

Owners Stef Burgon and Simon Hunt restored and transformed Kilmartin Castle into the fairy tale Scottish castle escape that it is today. A popular Vrbo, the castle provides a private chef, veggie garden and local guides who offer experiences ranging from foraging to archaeologist-led history excursions.

“We have noticed a significant rise in travelers seeking unique experiences beyond traditional hotels, said Burgon and Hunt. “With the prominence of social media, people are eager to share memorable moments, and staying in a castle provides the ideal backdrop for that.”

“Furthermore, after the pandemic, many are in search of safe, spacious and picturesque retreats, qualities that castles offer in abundance,” they said. “Travelers now prioritize experiences over materialism, and the chance to stay in a historic castle resonates deeply with that modern traveler desire.”

Castle rentals are typically quite pricey, so if you aren’t traveling in a big group, booking a castle hotel might be more cost-effective. Castle hotels may provide more amenities, on-site experiences, and dining and wellness opportunities than a vacation rental.

The Basil Brooke room inside the Lough Eske Castle Hotel. (Travelpulse/Travelpulse/TNS)

Lough Eske Castle Hotel is a 5-star castle hotel in County Donegal, Ireland. The stunning property offers a luxury hotel stay within a 150-year-old castle and opportunities to immerse guests in Irish culture with archery, falconry and traditional Irish music performances.

“While Lough Eske Castle boasts all the modern amenities one would expect from a luxury hotel, it retains its timeless historical charm,” said Dónal Cox, General Manager of Lough Eske. “Guests will enjoy a unique combination of opulent comfort and rich heritage, with the castle’s elegant architecture and interiors steeped in history…”

“Don’t miss the opportunity to savor gourmet dining that emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and be sure to treat yourself to the traditional afternoon tea served in the castle’s cozy drawing rooms – a delightful way to immerse yourself in the castle’s regal atmosphere.”

Tips on how to sleep like royalty

So, what should you or your clients know about planning a stay at a castle?

The first is that no two castles are the same — and that’s true from the experiences available at the castle to the castle’s general accessibility.

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Suppose you or your clients have any physical mobility challenges. In that case, it’s going to be essential to research the individual accessibility of any accommodation you book, especially so for a castle, as some might not have elevators, ramps or other accessibility offerings. If the website doesn’t provide adequate information, contact the general manager directly to inquire.

“With many castles dating back to the European feudal era, from Medieval to Renaissance times, these structures were not created with thoughts of elevator access; modern heating and cooling requirements or for that matter, spa facilities,” explained Camilla Davidson, the UK & Ireland and France Specialist at Red Savannah.

“In many cases, guests could expect steep staircases – with no lift access for luggage; rudimentary air conditioning [if at all] or worse still, accommodation with a modern wing or ugly purpose-built separate building, not remotely resembling the chivalric dream of the main castle property.”

Travelers should consider working with a travel adviser or tour operator to avoid accessibility pitfalls and ensure they book the best castle stay for them.

“…Many are not as ADA-friendly as the U.S. standard,” explains Ronda Helton, Owner and Luxury Travel Designer of The Travel Connection Group. “I was in France last week and was staying in the Loire Valley. The hotel was only two floors high, and no elevator was available.”

“For some, this is not a big deal, but to others, it’s a complete deal breaker,” said Helton. “Also, the grounds may be cobblestones or rough, making it difficult to walk. Handrails are often absent as well.”

Beyond accessibility, some castles might offer different experiences due to the region or other factors. It’s also important to consider how you will be arriving at the castle, as many are located in more remote country areas and require a vehicle transfer or car rental.

“When looking for a castle property, travelers really need to be mindful of location. Choose a property that fits into your itinerary so you’re not driving far out of your way to get to one,” explains Heather Grodin. “They’ll also want to be aware of the amenities offered. Castles can offer dinner shows, falconry, skeet shooting, hunting, golf — the list is endless.

“But not every castle offers all of these things,” Grodin said. “So decide ahead of time what is important to you and select a castle that offers or specializes in that activity.”

No matter what, research and expert help will always improve your chances of finding the perfect place to sleep like royalty.

©2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Isabel Allende has been a literary legend for more than four decades.

The novelist made a living with words before she turned her attention to fiction. Allende worked as a journalist in Chile until she was forced to leave the country two years after the 1973 military coup that led to the suicide of her cousin, Chilean President Salvador Allende, and the installation of Gen. Augusto Pinochet as the dictator of the nation. She continued her work as a reporter while in exile in Venezuela.

While in that country, Allende began writing “The House of the Spirits,” which follows four generations of a family in an unnamed country much like Chile. The novel was originally published in Spain in 1982, and quickly became an international bestseller, making Allende one of the most talked-about authors of the era.

She would go on to write more than 20 works of fiction, including “Of Love and Shadows,” “Zorro,” and “The Japanese Lover,” as well as several works of nonfiction and a children’s book, “Perla the Mighty Dog.” She also founded the Isabel Allende Foundation in 1996 in honor of her late daughter, Paula Frías; the foundation invests “in the power of women and girls to secure reproductive rights, economic independence and freedom from violence.”

Allende’s longtime feminism is evident in her latest novel, “My Name Is Emilia del Valle,” published May 6 by Ballantine. The book tells the story of the title character, the fiercely independent American-born daughter of an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat, who convinces a newspaper editor to send her to Chile to cover the nation’s Civil War of 1891. While in Chile, she falls in love with another reporter, Eric Whelan, and meets her long-lost father.

Allende talked about her new novel via telephone from her home in northern California. This conversation has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.

Q: How did the character of Emilia arrive to you?

It all started with the [1891] Civil War in Chile. I was interested in that event because it echoes what happened 80 years later in Chile, with a military coup in both cases. In the first case, it was a civil war, and in the second case, it was a military coup, but there are a lot of similarities. I started researching the Civil War, and then I thought, “I want to tell this story from a neutral point of view. I don’t want it to be on either side of the conflict.” So I thought my narrator would be a foreigner, probably, and then one thing after another led me to the idea of having a woman journalist from California.

Q: What interested you about the Chilean Civil War of 1891?

In the months of battle during the Civil War, more Chileans died than in four years of the War of the Pacific [in 1879-1884], which was against Peru and Bolivia, and they killed each other in the most brutal way. It reminded me of what happened later [in the 1973 Chilean coup], because in both cases, it was a progressive visionary president who wanted to make changes, especially to empower the poor people. In both cases, they had the opposition of the conservatives, and eventually, the military intervened. In 1891, the military split, and that’s why we had a civil war. But in 1973, all the armed forces were against the government. In both instances, the president committed suicide.

Q: Like Emelia, you worked as a journalist. Did you find that your background in journalism helped you when you first started writing fiction?

Of course. I learned everything in journalism, how to conduct an interview, how to research and check the research of more than one source, how to use language to make it efficient so that you chop your reader by the neck in the first few lines and don’t let the reader go until the very end. 

Q: When you started writing the book, did you know that that was the profession you wanted Emilia to have?

Well, what else could it be? I needed someone who would go to report the war. There were very few women journalists at the time, and they were not war correspondents for sure, but I thought I would have to create a character that would have a very good reason to go to the civil war in Chile. So probably she has roots there. That’s how I came up with the idea for Emilia to be an illegitimate child of a Chilean man that is passing through San Francisco and has this child and never cares for her at all. She speaks Spanish because she lives in the Mission, which is at the time the only Mexican neighborhood in San Francisco. She has a Mexican stepfather, so she speaks Spanish. When she tells the newspaper that she’s the right person to report the war, she has these two things: She speaks Spanish and she has roots in the country.

Q: What kind of research did you do while you were writing this novel?

I didn’t know much [at first], but I knew that it had happened and that President [José Manuel Balmaceda] had committed suicide. That’s all I knew. But my brother, Juan, who is a scholar, now retired, helped me with the research. He sent me so much material that I was just drowning in links, documents, books, you name it. The research is there, but it shouldn’t show in the book. It’s like the dancer who leaps across the stage. You don’t want to know how much training there is behind it. You just want to see the dancer leaping. It’s the same with research for a novel. You want to have all the background, but it doesn’t have to show.

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Q: What do you think leads Emilia to strive for more and to challenge the gender roles of that era?

It was the beginning of a women’s liberation movement, but the word feminism didn’t exist yet. I wanted her to be educated, and that’s what the stepfather does. The stepfather tells her, “You are more intelligent than everybody else. You can do whatever you want. No one can put you down.” At one point, the mother says, “She cannot do that. No women are journalists. She will have to do 10 times the effort of any man to get any recognition.” And the stepfather says, “Yes, she can do that.” He gives her that self-confidence, which in a way I think I had when I was a child, somehow I got it in me that I wanted to be financially independent. I must have been 6 years old, and when I was asked, “What would you like to be when you grow up?”, my answer would be, “I want to support myself.” That’s all I wanted, because if you cannot do that, there’s no independence.

Q: Do you have any message for young women, young feminists especially, who might be getting discouraged by what’s happening in the world these days?

I have a book called “The Soul of a Woman,” which is about feminism and how I have experienced it. What I keep telling young women is that a woman alone is very vulnerable. Women together are invincible. So you have to be connected and informed and realize that all what your mothers and grandmothers have gained through incredible struggle, you may lose it in 24 hours. You have to be always vigilant and alert and keep going because this is just the beginning of a very long struggle. Patriarchy has been here for thousands of years. To change the patriarchy for a better way of living will take a long time, and there will be backlash. We have to just keep going,

Q: Would you say that you’re optimistic about the field of journalism as it’s under threat from a lot of quarters?

I have lived through this before. When we had the military coup in Chile, the first thing that happened on the first day was censorship of the press. They closed and eliminated newspapers, radio, TV programs; I had a TV program that was canceled. Immediate censorship is there to control public opinion, and any authoritarian government will try to do that. Teachers and professors are also targeted because they form the minds of the young. This can happen for a very long time, but eventually the truth comes out; eventually, things change. I am 82 years old, I have seen everything, and I know that there are cycles. Things seem really bad. You think that you cannot get out of this, it’s going to get worse probably, but we will get out of it. Don’t give up.

With Memorial Day just around the corner, my culinary thoughts turn to grilling season. Informal gatherings with the main course fired up on the barbecue are a source of spring-to-summer fun.

As a side dish, flavorful rice is often my choice. It can be prepared in advance and transferred to a microwave-safe dish. If prepared more than 1 hour in advance, cover and refrigerate after cooling. Then just before serving, microwave it to heat it up. Done.

Herbed Green Rice

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons fennel seeds

1 cup chicken broth plus 1 1/4 cups water

1/2 cup packed Italian parsley

1/4 cup packed mint leaves

2 tablespoons minced chives

1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves

1 teaspoon hot sauce, see cook’s notes

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

3/4 cup finely diced fresh fennel bulb

3/4 cup finely diced red onion

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups raw white basmati rice

1 tablespoon butter

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cook’s notes: The original recipe called for adding 1 crumbled chili arbol when sautéing the vegetables. I prefer to use one teaspoon of Frank’s RedHot sauce to the cooking liquid in Step 2. I like it because it adds a spark of acidity and (for me) has just-right spicy heat. If you use Sriracha “rooster sauce” use 1/2 teaspoon.

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DIRECTIONS

1. Toast fennel seeds in a small pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until they release their aroma and turn light golden brown. Cool. Grind in mortar and pestle, or place in small zipper-style plastic bag and pound with mallet or bottom of a pot until ground.

2. Bring chicken broth and water to a boil in medium-large saucepan. Turn off heat.

3. Place parsley, mint, chives and cilantro in blender. Add 1 cup of hot liquid and puree herbs at medium speed (cautiously hold down lid of blender with potholder). Add remaining liquid and puree at high speed for about 2 minutes, stopping to wipe down sides and lid as needed. You should have a smooth, very green broth.

4. Rinse out pot and heat it over high heat. Add oil, fennel, onion, toasted ground fennel seeds and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until onion and fennel are translucent. Add rice, 1 teaspoon salt and pinch of pepper; toss to coat and cook just until rice starts to turn a very light brown. Add herb broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Add butter. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender and liquid is absorbed. Turn off heat and leave rice covered for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with fork. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Source: Adapted from Chef Suzanne Goin and “The A.O.C. Cookbook” (Alfred A. Knopf, $35)

Award-winning food writer Cathy Thomas has written three cookbooks, including “50 Best Plants on the Planet.” Follow her at CathyThomasCooks.com.