Japan has more than a hundred castles. It lets you walk through most of them between nine and five, but only two hand you a key overnight. At Ozu on Shikoku, you arrive at 5 pm after the public leaves. You are announced as lord of the domain in a reenactment of the 1617 procession with conch-shell horn and squad. You sleep on the ground floor of a four-storey keep rebuilt from … [Read more...]

Most of Europe's great castles sell you a ticket and send you home at five. But here are ten of them that hand you a key instead — and the entry point isn't what you'd guess. However, at the Parador de Sigüenza, a 12th-century Moorish citadel ninety minutes from Madrid, a double room starts around $95. Additionally, in the Polish lake district, a 14th-century Teutonic fortress … [Read more...]

Ireland has more castles per square mile than almost anywhere in Europe, and nearly all of them hand you a ticket at the door and send you home at five. A dozen of them hand you a key instead. We reviewed the open castles that take bookings and are worth a two-night stay. The price range was wider, from $150 per night at a Dublin-area castle to a Gothic pile, the Mayo estate. … [Read more...]

75 Tours, Almost 1,200 Departure Dates to pick from and all have NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHARGES!! Click here for details. … [Read more...]