Skip the Beach Resort. Book a Castle Instead.
Ashford Castle, Ireland
Quick reminder — I am in Europe for the next few weeks! Follow my adventures on Instagram. My responses will be a bit delayed during this time, especially from July 24 to August 1 when I will be in training.
Let’s Talk about Castle Stays…
As we get close to back-to-school season, many families are looking for a last minute esca…with a twist. They want something different.
Here's what I've learned about family trips: the best ones give everyone something to do without anyone getting in a car. Castles are built for this. Falconry before breakfast, archery after lunch, a proper dinner while the kids collapse from fresh air and medieval ambitions. Pair a few castle nights with a nearby city and you have a spring break, summer trip, or fall break that nobody forgets.
Most of these are Virtuoso properties, which means when you book through me you get upgrades, breakfast, and resort credits you won't get booking direct. Here are my favorite castle properties, country by country, easy to pair with a city with a large airport! My picks include two wild cards at the end that most people have never heard of. Ready to talk castles? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.
Ireland: The Castle Capital (Pair with Dublin)
Ashford Castle, County Mayo(Virtuoso) The one everything else gets measured against. 800 years old, once the Guinness family estate, and home to Ireland's School of Falconry — your kids will fly a Harris hawk off their own glove. Archery, horseback riding, a nine-hole golf course, and a private cinema round it out. Fly into Shannon or Dublin, spend two nights in the city, then head west. One caveat: it books far ahead...plan six months out for summer.
Dromoland Castle, County Clare (Virtuoso) Fifteen minutes from Shannon Airport, which makes it the easiest castle landing in Europe. Falconry, archery, golf, and a spa the adults will fight over. Base yourself here for the Cliffs of Moher, then end the trip in Dublin.
Scotland: Highlands and Lochs (Pair with Edinburgh)
Inverlochy Castle, Fort William(Virtuoso) A Victorian castle at the foot of Ben Nevis. Small, quiet, and formal in the best way — this is the one for families with older kids who appreciate a proper dinner. The Jacobite steam train departs from Fort William, and yes, it's the Harry Potter train. That fact alone has sold this trip more than once.
Glenapp Castle, Ayrshire (Virtuoso) Turrets, towers, and 110 acres above the sea in southwest Scotland. The estate runs sea safaris out to Ailsa Craig — puffins, seals, and a granite island that supplies the world's curling stones. Two hours from Glasgow.
England — Tudor History, Real Walls (Pair with London)
Thornbury Castle, near Bath The only Tudor castle in England you can sleep in. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed here in 1535 — your kids can sleep in a bedchamber a king actually used. Combine it with Bath and the Cotswolds, or make it the countryside chapter of a London trip.
France: Off the Beaten Path (Pair with Paris or Bordeaux)
Domaine des Etangs, Charente(Virtuoso) A 700-year-old château on 2,500 acres between Bordeaux and the Dordogne, now part of the Auberge Collection. This one is built for families: rowboats on the ponds, horseback riding through the forest, a zipline, trampolines, and an attic playroom stuffed with costumes and games. Parents get a Michelin-starred restaurant and one of the best spas in rural France. The farmhouse cottages sleep families of any size. Fly into Bordeaux.
Austria: Castle on the Lake (Pair with Salzburg and/or Slovenia)
Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden, Lake Wörthersee(Virtuoso). After living in Austria for so long, the country never gets boring for me. Here, you have a yellow lakefront castle dating to the 1590s on the "Austrian Riviera" — Wörthersee is the largest and warmest Alpine lake in Europe, with more sunshine hours than anywhere else in Austria. Summer here means swimming off the hotel's lake club, boat trips, windsurfing, and evenings on the promenade in Velden. Great family suites. This is a great combo with Slovenia — Lake Bled and Otočec Castle (below) are each about an hour away.
Germany: Royal, and 20 Minutes from the Airport (Pair with Frankfurt and/or Heidelberg)
Schlosshotel Kronberg, near Frankfurt Built by Empress Victoria — Queen Victoria's daughter — in 1893, and still full of the family's art and antiques. It played Sandringham House in the film Spencer. An 18-hole golf course, English gardens, and a location 20 minutes from Frankfurt Airport, which makes it a smart first or last stop on any European itinerary.
Italy: Castles with Better Food (Pair with Florence)
Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany(Virtuoso) A 10th-century castle on one of the largest private estates in Tuscany. Archery, horseback riding, truffle hunting, and cooking classes where your kids make the pasta you eat that night. An hour from Florence and Siena — do three nights here, then the city.
Hotel Castello di Reschio, Umbria(Virtuoso) A thousand-year-old castle on 3,700 acres, restored by the family that owns it. Horseback riding on Andalusian horses, a lake for swimming, and design so beautiful it's been on every hotel list since it opened. Better for families with teens — younger kids will be happier at Casole.
Denmark: The Wild Card (Pair with Copenhagen)
Dragsholm Slot, Zealand Denmark's oldest castle, an hour from Copenhagen inside a UNESCO Geopark. A Relais & Châteaux property with a Michelin-starred restaurant in the cellar, a bistro for the kids, and its own organic farm. It also comes with three resident ghosts — the White Lady, the Grey Lady, and the Earl of Bothwell, who died a prisoner here. Your kids will not stop talking about this. Two nights here, then Copenhagen, where Tivoli Gardens finishes the job.
Slovenia: The One Nobody Knows (Pair with Ljubljana)
Otočec Castle, near Novo Mesto Slovenia's only water castle — a 13th-century Relais & Châteaux property on its own island in the Krka River, reached by bridge across the moat. Sixteen rooms, golf next door, and Ljubljana an hour away. One caveat: this is castle charm, not cutting-edge luxury...the setting is what you're paying for, and it delivers. Pair it with Lake Bled and Ljubljana for a week in Europe's most underrated country.
Ready for Your Castle Stay?
The timing math: spring break castles should be booked by September, summer by January. Falconry sessions and family suites are the first things to sell out — the castle may have rooms when the good stuff is gone.
If a castle trip belongs on your family's list, request a travel consultation here. I'll match the castle to your kids' ages, build in the city time, and arrange the private drivers so nobody has to remember which side of the road to drive on. If you’re ready to talk castle stays, book a complimentary vacation consultation here.
About Krista
I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in Palm Beach, Florida. I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and I have my MBA from the University of Chicago. Before building my travel business, I spent 20 years in the investment management industry and over a decade living and working in London, England. I’ve personally traveled to 80 countries and now design thoughtful, highly customized trips for travelers who value expertise, access, and a seamless experience.
I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation for travelers considering a custom itinerary or luxury cruise.c
For travel inspiration and real-time updates, you can follow along on Instagram or connect with me on Facebook. I also share a curated list of travel products I genuinely use and recommend in my online store.
What I Offer…
Custom itinerary design for complex, multi-stop trips
VIP hotel benefits through Virtuoso and preferred partner programs (including complimentary breakfast, hotel credits, and priority for upgrades where available)
Luxury ocean, river, and expedition cruises with added onboard credits
Vetted villa rentals with concierge services worldwide
Private guides, small-group touring, and unique local experiences
Private aviation and yacht charters through trusted partners
Airport transfers, VIP arrival and departure services, and full ground logistics
Travel protection and support when plans change
I work best with travelers who want expert planning, trusted partnerships, and someone in their corner from start to finish. That’s what I am best at! Ready to talk travel? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.
