- My group of 20 went on a multi-generational trip to Austria and stayed in a castle for a week.
- Our stay cost about $151 per person per night, which felt surprisingly affordable for all we got.
- We had a great time and especially enjoyed exploring the extensive grounds and castle facilities.
The average price of a hotel in Austria tends to be over $200 per night – even higher if you want a five-star experience.
But if you get a group of 20 people together and they all check in, you’ll each pay about $151 a night for stay in a castle for a week.
That’s what my family did last summer when our big group booked a stay there Wasserburg Castle, a 12th century wonder in Austria.
As expected, our multi-generational family vacation to a European castle ended up being pretty awesome.
We were after castle life and we got it
We spent a lot of time eating and hanging out together. Kathleen Willcox
To be clear, castles are not palaces.
Castles were traditionally built to protect people and places, while palaces were built as symbols of extreme wealth. However, castles tend to be large and impressive, often with incredible grounds.
The castle we rented sleeps up to 20, with 10 bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The rental comes with a staff member who does basic cleaning and prepares a breakfast each morning for guests.
Redesigned in Baroque style, the ground floor of the Wasserburg opens onto a small entrance hall, a large hall with an open fireplace, a small salon, a sauna and an elevator.
On the first floor there is a large, gilded lounge that we call the “WiFi room” because it had the best cell reception.
There was also a library with a fireplace where the older generations liked to gather, and a secret room behind the library that my son discovered one afternoon.
We also spent some time in the property’s pool. Kathleen Willcox
Most memorably, the castle has a large dining room with a table that seats 24, a spacious balcony overlooking the grounds, and a kitchen with a mute outdoor waiter that descends to the grill area.
The waiter proved to be an invaluable tool so we could avoid running up and down the narrow stairs with plates piled high. Even the youngest members of our clan had fun using it.
Otherwise, wwe spent most of our time in the kitchen playing cards, creating night parties, sampling many local libations and sharing more.
But our time enjoying the terrain was definitely the most memorable part of our trip.
The castle is set in a large park with a moat, pond, private swimming pool, tennis court set in a rock garden, small forest, horse stables and gravel-lined walking paths.
There was also plenty of charm and fun nearby
We enjoyed our time in the Wachau wine region. Hiroshi Higuchi/Getty Images
Although we could have spent days around, the main location of the castle in St. Pölten meant we were within driving distance of some exciting spots.
One of our favorite excursions was to the Wachau wine region less than an hour from the castle. There, we explored vineyards producing full-bodied, fruity yet razor-sharp Riesling and Grüner Veltliner.
The capital of Austria, viennait’s also less than an hour away and worth visiting for at least a full day. We also visited Salzburg and Bratislava, both a few hours drive from the castle.
I will never forget our incredible stay
Our family made many memories on this trip. Kathleen Willcox
We would have had fun no matter where we stayed, but our time at the castle still resonates with me.
The Castle was the destination and is one of my favorite spaces we have rented as a clan over the years.
Staying in such a fascinating place helped us embrace the history of the region we were visiting – its culture, traditions, food and drink.
Living, cooking, traveling and laughing together, if only for a week, reminded us all of our shared history and traditions and gave us hope and energy to face a future together no matter what it may bring. distract us and divide us.