The 5 Best Transatlantic Cruises & Companies

The idea of cruising across the Atlantic Ocean has always sounded a little counterintuitive to me.

Isn’t the Atlantic Ocean massive and subject to Mother Nature’s whims? Also, what about all those icebergs—I remember what happened to Rose and Jack. And wouldn’t it be a waste to lose precious vacation time to a multi-day cruise that could be a short plane ride instead?

Here’s the short of it: the Atlantic Ocean has a hurricane season, which cruises and voyages avoid. Plus, if any icebergs in the Northern Atlantic haven’t melted by now, maritime technology allows captains to sus them out before contact.

Lastly, you aren’t wasting precious vacation time by crossing the Atlantic on a grand cruise ship if the transatlantic cruise is your vacation. Or, at least, a major part of it.

And while this might seem like a very fringe travel sector, it’s growing quickly. The proof? You can book an ocean crossing from Costco, my friends.

Ever wondered about cruise ships that take you across the Atlantic? Here’s a closer look at five of the best cruise companies that offer transatlantic journeys, including a few of the offers that you’ll see on that Costco page.

Who runs the best transatlantic cruises?

I’m including some of the most popular options from these well-known cruise brands, but they’re far from the only offers on the table. Along with these cruise companies, you can find transatlantic offers from major names like Disney, MSC, Norwegian, and more.

Cunard
Virgin Voyages
Viking
Azamara
Seabourn

Best transatlantic cruises

The Crème of the Crop: Cunard Queen Mary 2

Duration: 7 days
Ports: New York City and Southampton, UK, both ways

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the first name you need to know. This gorgeous and grand vessel is one of the most upscale in the business, while also remaining affordable.

With almost two centuries of transatlantic journeying under its belt, Cunard runs a tight ship with all the right features and amenities. (It’s also a subsidiary of Carnival Cruises, interestingly enough.)

The Queen Mary 2 is ideal for anyone who wants to cross the Atlantic for transportation purposes, as there are no stops along the way. (That makes this a voyage and not a cruise.) It’s also one of the best options for taking a large dog across the pond, as the Queen Mary 2 has a pet program.

A close second: Virgin Voyages, Scarlet Lady

Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady lets you take on a transatlantic cruise at your own pace.

The company offers three transatlantic cruises, offering transportation between the East Coast and Europe: a 14-night cruise from Miami to Barcelona, a 14-night cruise from New York to Barcelona, and a reverse 14-night cruise from Barcelona to Miami, in case you want to head home in style.

A little more upscale than other heavy-hitting cruise companies, Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady transatlantic voyages come with a few bonus perks. There are stage acts, speaker sessions that let you learn more about local culture, bridge tours, weekly spa treatments, game clubs, and specialty dishes.

Adults only pick: Viking Cruises, Viking Mars

Duration: 15 days
Main ports: Fort Lauderdale and Barcelona, both ways

This adults-only journey from Viking Cruises takes you from Florida down into the Caribbean before crossing the Atlantic toward Barcelona.

On the way there, you’ll also stop in Madeira, one of Portugal’s most popular islands (and the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo, if you’re a sports fan). That makes this classic journey great for anyone who wants to toss in some Caribbean and Mediterranean flair to their journey.

Here’s where you stop along the way: Fort Lauderdale, St. Martin, Madeira, and Barcelona. Each stop includes optional excursions. Plus, there are also amazing lectures available along the way, from pirate history to exploring Europe’s first oceanic explorers.

(Just a small warning about Viking Cruise excursions: I live in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella where Viking Cruise offers day trips to its passengers in groups of 15. On weekend mornings, Viking Cruise will take up to five groups with15 people each through some of the city’s smallest streets. Avoid these very general tours and strike out on your own—you’ll have more fun, learn way more, and locals won’t stare hatefully as you pass by.)

Small ship, upscale features: Azamara Cruises, Azamara Quest

Duration: 13 days
Main ports: Miami to Lisbon, Portugal

Looking for a more upscale experience? While popular cruise liners like from Disney to MSC to Celebrity offer fantastic transatlantic journeys, they’re usually geared toward families looking for budget-friendly, grand adventures. Azamara Cruises, like Seabourn (below), is better for adults who want a quieter and more lux transatlantic journey.

Just keep in mind that the Azamara Quest doesn’t offer many transatlantic journeys. The next option is scheduled for March 2026 with stops in Bermuda and the Azores.

Luxury options: Seabourn

Like Virgin Voyages, you have multiple choices for a transatlantic journey with Seabourn. Considered one of the most luxurious cruise options that’s still within reach, you’ll be treated to tasteful décor, fantastic lounges, and top-tier entertainment on each voyage.

Best of all, you can choose from 28 different transatlantic options, some of which run for close to six weeks. That’s tons of variation for the more discerning cruise fan.

Road Trip 101: How to Read Road Maps & Mile Markers

I have a secret navigational skill that nobody will care about until a survival situation rolls around.

I can read a road map. A physical road map. An analog road map, if you will.

While this skill might seem a little unimpressive to older Americans, it’s a flex here in Western Europe.

I grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri, where people still give directions using the cardinal directions—which I never thought twice about until moving to Barcelona and telling someone to head north.

I was met with stunned silence. Soon after, they wanted to know if I actually knew where north was… and I felt a similar suspicion.

Did this person actually not know which way was north? How does someone lose track of the cardinal directions? And what other inherent knowledge are they missing?

As it turns out, you’re more likely to know the cardinal directions if you grew up driving longer distances and living in a more sparsely populated area. (Also, you’re more likely to know the cardinal directions if they’re part of your language, culture, and cosmology—but that’s another very intriguing story.)

This short exchange about knowing which way is north led to another novel idea about directions and navigation.

I blurted out, “So do you not know how to read a road map?”

They, in fact, did not.

If you don’t know how to navigate, consider this your short-and-sweet introduction on how to read road maps and mile markers. Even if you don’t have any plans on abandoning your Google Maps app, you might want to know a thing or two in case of emergency.

Road maps & mile markers in the United States

Maps probably sound like they’d be uniform, but every country has a different way of mapping roads and marking them. In the United States, our road maps designed to help us find interstate highways, state boundaries, and principal roads.

You can find national maps, state maps, and regional maps—and you might need all three for more dynamic road trips that take you onto side streets and byways.

That being said, they all come with one uniform feature: a key.

Every road map in the United States comes with a key—that will tell you about key features, landmarks, cities, and roads listed on the map. The key will also list all interstate highways and state abbreviations, along with a back-of-map gridded guide to finding cities. If you want to find Reno, Nevada, for example, you’ll be given a letter and a number, which correlate to a grid on the map.

Additionally, the key includes a scale so that you can measure the distance between locations and estimate how long it will take you to get there.

If you’re using a road map, you’re also probably using mile markers to gauge your progress. Mile markers are listed on either side of a road, telling you how far from the state border you are. They increase as you head north and east, decreasing as you head south or west.

How to read road maps in the US

Reading road maps sounds and looks more complicated than it is. Here’s how you can read a US road map.

Orient yourself. Use the compass rose on the map to start in the right direction.
Get familiar with the key. Make sure you understand the symbols on the map; your main priority is to find the interstates. You also need to know the map’s scale.
Plot your route from where you are to your destination. If you know where you’re going, just mark the spot. If not, use the map’s town index to find your destination using the grid. As mentioned above, the grid includes letter and number lines, which you can cross-reference to find any town or city.
Find the fastest way to get there. Interstate highways are your best friend; they’re almost always listed in bright red color and start with I-XX, such as I-75. Even numbers indicate the highway runs east-west, and odd numbers indicate north-south.
Map out your journey. The further into the boonies you’re heading, the more militant you need to be about planning out stops. Remember: in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions, fuel stations can be few and far between.

How to read mile markers for road trips

The best way to stay on track while using a physical road map for navigation is mile markers. Mile markers were created to help drivers know how far they’ve made it and how long they’ve got to go.

As mentioned above, mile markers are listed separately in each state. When you cross over the border into a new one, you’ll start see a new set of mile markers start.

Almost all mile markers are written on green signs with white lettering. In most states, mile markers also correlate to exit numbers for even easier navigation. For example, Exit 317 sits at mile marker 317.

Like interstate highway numbers, they run differently depending on your direction:

Mile markers increase as you travel north and decrease as you travel south. If you’re on a north-south interstate, you’ll know you’re heading north when the mile markers increase.
Mile markers increase as you travel east and decrease as you travel west. If you’re driving on an east-west interstate, you can tell you’re heading west if the numbers decrease.

8 Fantastic Spanish Hotel Brands for Your Next Trip

Whether or not you lost a great Airbnb rental for your upcoming trip to Spain, the writing is on the wall: you need to have a backup hotel in mind when you visit the country.

I sincerely doubt that Airbnb, Booking, and VRBO will lose their footing in Spain. While the Spanish government nixed 66,000 rentals in mid-May, tens of thousands more remain on the market. And many of them have legitimate licenses.

That being said, so long as private rental platforms allow anyone to register their home or apartment without verifying licenses, the problem is likely to recur.

More Airbnbs will be uploaded, then taken down by authorities—meaning your favorite rental in Barcelona or Malaga might not be there forever.

Here’s the good news: Spain has a handful of fantastic hotel brands, including three that you’re always aware of, Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. But let’s kick off the list with a few Spanish hotel brands that will set you up for a great vacation.

Best Spanish hotel brands for your next trip

H10 Hotels

When my family visits me in Barcelona, they usually stay at H10 Hotels. This popular chain has 63 hotels in 222 destinations around the country, along with others in Europe and the Caribbean.

These four-star hotels offer a comfortable and familiar setup, with added extras like rooftop lounges and other similar features. Staff have always been very helpful with my family, as well, offering suggestions and information anytime they needed.

That being said, it looks like H10’s reputation internationally isn’t the best. For that reason, I’d recommend sticking to H10 Hotels only when booking in Spain.

Eurostars

Eurostars is the most famous hotel brand of the bunch, and is owned by Hotusa Group. The company runs over 250 properties around the world, from three to five-star locations.

Its properties run a pretty large gamut, so I suggest reading reviews closely before booking a location. Because it’s such a popular hotel chain, you can also search for Eurostars Hotels in cities easily, like in Madrid.

Meliá Hotels

Meliá is the champion of Spanish hotel brands, with the largest number of resort properties and urban hotels. It runs almost 350 unique locations around the world, but I’d suggest looking into their resort properties in Spain. They’re renowned for their luxury resort stays, making them a great pick for beachside vacations.

RIU Hotels

With less than 100 properties, RIU Hotels is a smaller, more boutique brand—one that’s focused on sustainability efforts, in particular. If you’re looking for more elevated and unique hotels for your vacation in Spain, look at RIU hotels first.

While you still need to comb through reviews to avoid dud properties, some of RIU’s hotels have landed high on US travel lists.

Silken Hotels

Silken Hotels runs 35 hotels in Spain, which are designed to be unique, boutique, and geared toward hosting international visitors. That makes Silken Hotels a fantastic pick for any tourists who want a bit more care and assistance throughout their trip.

First-time visitors to Spain will do well at Silken, similar to H10. While all Spanish hotel brands strive to make the landing process easier for visitors, Silken has baked it into their overall mission and programming.

Best American hotel brands that operate in Spain

Marriott

Marriott International operates a few different hotel brands in Spain, including AC Hotels, Sonder, Design Hotels, Moxy, Autograph Collection Hotels, and more. AC Hotels will offer a basic setup, which makes it perfect for anyone who’s part of Marriott Bonvoy.

If you want to pay a bit more for a more boutique and stylish experience, book one of the Sonder or Autograph Collection rooms.

Hyatt

Hyatt operates six locations in Spain—and I’d recommend any of them. The Grand Hyatt Barcelona is the most impressive of the bunch, along with La Zambra Resort in Marbella and the Thompson Madrid. But you also have one Centric and two Regency hotels to choose from, if you want to stay more casual.

Hilton

Like Marriott, you can shop around dozens of different hotels from the Hilton brand in Spain. From luxury Tapestry Collection properties to budget DoubleTree locations, there’s a Hilton in reach in all major Spanish cities.

Sardinia vs Corsica: Key Differences You Need to Know About

Just west of Italy are two islands, sitting one on top of the other. Nestled in the Tyrrhenian Sea in one of the Mediterranean’s most gorgeous stretches, these islands are distinct isolates that have their own histories, languages, and traditions.

To the north is Corsica, a French region that could soon obtain autonomous status. To the south is Sardinia, an already-autonomous region in Italy.

Despite the fact that France and Italy are some of the most high-traffic tourist zones in the world, few foreigners venture to Corsica and Sardinia. And while they each fly different flags, they’ve got more in common than not.

Though I haven’t made it to either country, I’m hellbent on having a grand adventure in Olbia, a Sardinian town that’s popular with domestic Italian tourists thanks to its stunning beaches and laidback lifestyle.

If you’re heading to the Mediterranean, a trip to either island is bound to tickle your travel itches—in more way than one.

Ready for your crash course on Sardinia vs Corsica? Dive in below.

Sardinia vs Corsica: key differences

Each island has its own language(s)

The beautiful little town of Corte on a summer morning, Corse, France. (Getty)

I don’t have the time to dive into the history of each island, but know that they’ve been populated for millennia, and have been part of empires, principalities, republics, and more.

Corsicans mainly speak Corsican and Ligurian, along with French. Corsican is a Romance Italo-Dalmatian language, meaning it’s very similar to Italian. The same for Ligurian, which became a common tongue when Corsica was part of the Republic of Genoa.

Meanwhile, in Sardinia, the main tongue is Sard, a Romance language that’s a bit more distinct than Corsican. Along with Sard, locals speak Italian, Sassarese, Gallurese, Ligurian, and even Catalan.

While you’re sure to notice elements of French and Italian culture on both islands, know that they have long and unique histories that have only recently made them officially French and Italian.

Sardinia is larger and more populated, making it busier

Photo taken in Bosa, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy (Getty)

Sardinia has a population of just over 1.5 million, while Corsica has less than 400,000 full-time residents. That makes it one of France’s least-populated regions. (More on this below.) Sardinia, by contrast, is home to larger cities like Cagliari and Olbia.

For this reason, Sardinia is the booming tourist destination of the two. It’s mostly a hotspot for domestic Italian tourists because the secret isn’t quite out. On top of that, its remote nature has made it a popular choice for celebrities who want a bit of privacy. You’ll see them lounging at five-star resorts and floating on boats in the cerulean blue sea.

Corsica has a stunning mountain range & gorges

The crystal clear Fango river near Galeria in Corsica with the snow capped mountain of Paglia Orba in the distance (Getty)

Sardinia and Corsica are both jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but Corsica is much more remote. Its mountains and gorges have flown under the radar for many tourists—even those in France who know about the island.

If you’re a fan of hiking, mountaineering, and otherwise getting into nature, don’t write Corsica off your list. While you need to manage the high temperatures in summer, it’s a feast for outdoor adventurers in the cooler months.

Monte Cinto is the highest peak on the island, which you can hike. I’d also recommend exploring the vast gorges of Spelunca, which stretch between two gorgeous villages.

Ancient history comes alive in Sardinia

Aerial view with drone of the Nuragic archaeological complex of Su Nuraxi di Barumini. The Bronze Age fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Getty)

You’ll find a balance of natural wonders and history on both islands—but Corsica is the better pick for adventurers, while Sardinia is ideal for delving into ancient history.

The island’s southern half was once home to the Nuragic civilization, which is remembered through unique beehive-like structures that dot the island, known as nuraghi.

Dating back to the Bronze Age, the Nuragic civilization outlived other neighboring heavy-hitters that you’ve likely heard of, including the Minoans and Mycenaeans. When you visit Sardinia, you can explore Nuragic sites like the village of Tiscali, letting you take a look at ancient history you won’t find elsewhere.

Both have world-class beaches & world-famous culinary traditions

Overwhelmingly, when you think about Corsica and Sardinia, you should be picturing delicious meals and stunning coastlines. Though not many travelers make it to the islands, those that do often head back to revisit their favorite beaches and dishes.

In Sardinia, don’t miss out on Spiagga di Maria Pia, Cala Mariolu, Teurredda, and Is Arutas. When it comes to mealtime, don’t miss specialties like porcheddu (baby pig), culurgiones (stuffed pasta), and pane carasau (thin crispy bread).

In Corsica, make sure to visit Plage de Cupabia, Plage du Grand Sperone, and Palombaggia Beach. When it comes to famous dishes, make sure to try civet de sanglier (wild boar), veau aux Olives (veal stew), and brocciu (whey cheese).

FAQs: Sardinia vs Corsica

Giottani bay, with its emerald blue waters. Corsica. (Getty)

Do you need to rent a car to explore the islands?

You’ll have a much easier time exploring Sardinia and Corsica if you rent a car. Though Sardinia has triple the population of Corsica, many of its towns and cities are spread out.

While public transportation is functional, it’s not geared toward tourists. I highly recommend renting a car to stay dynamic on your vacation—who knows what far-out beach a local will recommend to you?

Sardinia vs Corsica: How long should you spend on each island?

Both islands are small and accessible by car, meaning you can explore them over the course of a few days. Though Corsica is much smaller than Sardinia, it’s more rustic, meaning you might spend longer on the road as you drive from town to town.

Either way, you can create a full week-long itinerary for either Sardinia or Corsica.

If you like to keep busy with tours, museums, and other experiences, four days on either island will be enough time to get the lay of the land and dig into its culture. That being said, if you want to lounge on the beach and eat well at restaurants overlooking the water, you could waste away for a whole summer on either island without batting a lash.

Italy, Sardinia, Spargi island, Spiaggia Cala Granara beach (Getty)

Sardinia or Corsica: Which is more affordable for tourists?

Sardinia is more affordable than Corsica when it comes to hotels, meals, and tours. Part of the reason is Sardinia’s existing tourism infrastructure. Because it’s more populated and popular with visitors, its hospitality industry is more developed and accessible.

Can you visit both islands on a single trip?

You can easily travel between Sardinia and Corsica via ferry (there aren’t any direct flights), which includes options to transport a vehicle. Plus, both islands are part of Schengen, meaning there’s no border crossing.

Theoretically, that makes it easy to travel between the islands on a single trip. That being said, unless you’re planning a trip to Europe specifically to visit Sardinia and Corsica, it might be easier to explore these islands by adding them on as a weekend getaway on a longer European excursion.

You can reach Corsica easily via Paris. The same with Sardinia and major hubs like Rome, Milan, Barcelona, and Paris.

Travel Tips: 4 Ways to Search for Places Using Another Alphabet

One of the most nerve-wracking parts of travel is navigating language barriers.

Language barriers can have a profound effect on your trip. At best, things get a little uncomfortable at times. Maybe you order the wrong dish or accidentally tell someone they’re welcome instead of thanking them.

At worst, you could board the wrong train, offend someone important, or wind up in a place where tourists aren’t welcome. You might even be the perfect target for a scam, whether being overcharged for a taxi or sold a fake ticket.

These risks are present any time you venture to a new linguistic zone—but they’re even more apparent when you visit a place that uses a non-Latin alphabet. When you can’t pronounce or even attempt to pronounce a word, it’s easy to feel confused, isolated, and out of place.

Even researching where to go, figuring out where to stay, and what sorts of experiences to book can feel like a part-time job when you’re heading to a destination that doesn’t use the Latin alphabet.

Ready to level up your game? Here’s how to search for places in destinations that use a non-Latin alphabet.

Popular destinations that use another alphabet

Americans heading to these countries are going to navigate a non-Latin alphabet for part of their trips. Additionally, you might want to search for places using the local alphabet to find spots that locals like. If only tourists use the Latin alphabet, your results might focus on tourist trap locations.

Japan. The primary Japanese alphabet is based on a blend of adapted Chinese characters (kanji) and native syllables, but it’s a complex operation. And there are two other alphabets in play. If you want to learn about the Japanese alphabets, start here.
China. Chinese characters are used to write various Chinese languages, along with parts of other alphabets like Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. (The primary language spoken in China is Mandarin.)
South Korea. The Korean alphabet is known as Hangul. Like Japanese, it relies on certain Chinese characters along with a native syllabic writing system.
UAE. The official language of the United Arab Emirates is Arabic, but locals speak an Emirati version. The alphabet is called the abjad, which is written right to left in a cursive style.
Thailand. The Thai alphabet is usually called Thai script, which is based on consonants and vowels that create unique tones.
Greece. Don’t forget that some European countries use non-Latin alphabets, including Greece. (The other common alphabet is Cyrillic, used in Russia and Ukraine.)

How to search for places using another alphabet

The simple way: translate your searches

If you’re in a bind and want to find a great sushi place in Tokyo, don’t search for sushi using the Latin alphabet. Instead, use a translation app to look for sushi in the Japanese alphabet or use Google’s voice search feature.

The former can help you transliterate Japanese words into written form (in either alphabet) in case you know the word for a place, but don’t know how to spell it in either language.

Just know that there’s not much recourse for you to check your work when you search for places using self-guided translation methods. If you’re putting together an itinerary this way, I’d highly recommend you ask your hotel concierge to double-check your work.

The official way: use the tourism department

The most straightforward way to get reliable information about a destination that uses a different alphabet is from the tourism authority. English language resources aren’t hard to find for most countries around the globe, meaning almost every tourism authority has an English language page available.

I recommend starting here when you’re visiting a new place that uses a different alphabet. Not only can you read through the pages to find great recommendations, but these channels are often suited toward your cultural needs, as well.

In other words, you should be able to quickly glean which neighborhoods, sites, and restaurants are ideal for tourists like you.

The most common way for modern travelers to figure out where to go is from word of mouth. From travel creators to Reddit forums, direct recommendations on what to do and what not to do are your best friend.

As per my advice on trawling forums, always look for posts from travelers like you—they’ll have the most relevant tips.

If you want to lean on social media, you can follow accounts that revolve around your destination. Most posts showcase the best things to do and where to find them. Just make sure you’re looking at content with a keen eye; it’s easy to romanticize travel adventures, especially when you’re getting paid to make travel look easy.

The studious way: read travel guides

You can still rely on written travel guides when it comes to uncovering new information about your next destination—and there’s no better time to dig in than when you’re heading into the unknown. Lonely Planet, for example, still produces physical (and digital) guides for most destinations in the world.

Medieval Hotels in Europe: 5 Real-Life Hotels With Dark Ages Vibes

The Middle Ages spanned almost a millennium, stretching from around 400 BCE to the late 1400s.

We also remember this time as the Dark Ages, a period in which the Western Roman Empire fell, and life shifted to revolve around feudal lands owned by nobility.

Christianity overtook pagan beliefs, while the foundations for universities were formed in major hubs around the continent. These would eventually produce important scholars, architects, and leaders, spurring on the Renaissance. At the same time, natural disasters, witch hunts, and the Black Plague caused widespread chaos.

No matter how you look at the Medieval period, it’s got enough intrigue and drama to keep you hooked for hours.

And while we like to summarize the Dark Ages as just that—dark—this period spanned one thousand years, making it hard to summarize easily.

Despite the complexity of this long epoch, it’s stayed at the forefront in pop culture. Renaissance Fairs (or Ren Fairs) are a popular way that modern people like to celebrate the Middle Ages.

That being said, you don’t need to dress up as nobility and gnaw on a turkey leg to celebrate Medieval life. You can live and breathe the experience at these themed Medieval hotels across Europe.

Some offer a more aesthetic take, while others will toss you right into the Dark Ages.

Ready for the adventure of millennia? Book a stay at these medieval hotels in Europe.

5 amazing medieval hotels in Europe

The fairytale version: Castello di Petroia (Umbria, Italy)
Heavy on history: Ruthin Castle (Ruthin, Wales)
A true fortress: Hotel de la Cité (Carcassonne, France)
Pure medieval fantasy: Hotel Detenice (Detenice, Czech Republic)
Fanfare for the masses: Warwick Castle (Warwick, UK)

Medieval hotels in Europe

The fairytale version: Castello di Petroia in Italy

Nestled in the heart of Umbria is Castello di Petroia, which was built in the 4^th and 5^th centuries BCE. Back then, the castle was designed to protect Gubbio, a nearby town, from invaders.

In 1422, the castle was occupied by the infamous Duke of Urbino, and then changed hands frequently over the next centuries. In 1920, it was bought by the current owners before being painstakingly restored in the late 1900s.

When you stay at Castello di Petroia, you can choose between nine rooms. The Medieval Tower and Nobilaire bedrooms offer the most authentic Medieval décor. If history is your focus, you can also book special services like a lord and lady welcome, along with a private candlelit dinner in the grand hall.

Heavy on history: Ruthin Castle Hotel in Wales

Completed in 1277, Ruthin Castle Hotel was originally built for King Edward I of England. It played a pivotal role in the War of Roses and other Welsh-English conflicts until the 15^th century.

In 1508, it was sold to the famous Henry VIII, and then his daughter Mary I. After many other ups and downs, the castle changed hands, first being resorted and expanded in the 1800s before being converted into a castle hotel in the 1960s to promote tourism.

If you want a pure Medieval stay at Ruthin Castle, book their History and Heritage Break program. Not only can you take a closer look at Medieval history in the castle, but you can also learn more about the town’s best stories from the Middle Ages.

A true fortress: Hotel de la Cité in France

Hotel de la Cité is a luxury hotel located inside a famous and massive Medieval fortress town, Carcassonne, in France’s L’Occitane region.

Carcassonne’s fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s famous enough to draw visitors from around the world—but within that fortress is a second citadel, Hotel de la Cité. Once a bishop’s palace, it’s now an opulent hotel that includes a balance of neo-Gothic and Art Deco design.

Think: modern luxury in a Medieval package. If you’re looking for more straightforward fun from the Middle Ages, you can venture into the fortress for themed events like jousting and feasts.

Pure medieval fantasy: Hotel Detenice in the Czech Republic

Detenice is a medieval town in the heart of the Czech Republic, which was founded back in the 11^th century. Today, you can find many buildings and landmarks that date back to these first centuries, from the chateau brewery and the medieval tavern, to the architecture and décor around town.

Hotel Detenice is a celebration of the town’s long history. Though completed in 2009, the rooms are a faithful representation of what you would have found in the Middle Ages—just with electricity and a few other modern amenities, like a functional toilet.

The real star of the show is the Medieval tavern and the larger-than-life shows that the grounds host throughout the year.

Fanfare for the masses: Warwick Castle in the UK

This castle stretches back to the era of William the Conqueror. From a humble wooden fort, the castle took shape in the early 1000s.

It played a crucial role during the Hundred Years’ War before being turned into a country house in the 1600s. Since the 1980s, it’s been slowly converted into an entertainment venue and hotel.

The grounds now include an are for accommodation, along with arenas and show grounds. Warwick Castle hosts some of the UK’s most famous historic shows, including the Falconer’s Quest, which is a larger-than-life bird show that includes vultures and bald eagles. There’s also a Sword in the Stone show and other Middle Ages-themed exhibitions.