With rumors swirling that the Palace of Versailles will soon be home to a new hotel, we were inspired to find other places around the world (even within the U.S.) where you can live, sleep, and eat like a member of a royal family.
After checking out these regal rooms we can’t help but start planning a vacation to get a glimpse into how the other half lives.
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Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhupur, India
Built between 1928 and 1943 to create jobs during periods of drought and famine, the Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the largest private residences in the world, set on 26 acres. Named after the grandfather of the current Maharaja of Jodhpur, the sandstone palace was built in traditional Art Deco Style of that time.
Who Youâll See: The Maharajah and his family live on the property, but you could also be among fellow guests Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Christian Bale, and Diana Ross.
Amenities: Check out the private museum, Trophy Room bar, and marbled squash court while youâre there. Or take a vintage car ride through Jodhpur with your royal butler. Take your pick from 64 rooms.
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Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhupur, India
Built between 1928 and 1943 to create jobs during periods of drought and famine, the Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the largest private residences in the world, set on 26 acres. Named after the grandfather of the current Maharaja of Jodhpur, the sandstone palace was built in traditional Art Deco Style of that time.
Who Youâll See: The Maharajah and his family live on the property, but you could also be among fellow guests Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Christian Bale, and Diana Ross.
Amenities: Check out the private museum, Trophy Room bar, and marbled squash court while youâre there. Or take a vintage car ride through Jodhpur with your royal butler. Take your pick from 64 rooms.
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Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, England
As the country retreat to the Queen, Sandringham has served as a country home to four generations of British monarchs dating back to 1862. Up until 1977, the House was closed to the public. Now, visitors can enjoy the gardens, church, museum, and main house as well as the estateâs restaurant.
Who Youâll See: The Royal Family, of course (if youâre lucky). Sandringham is the Queenâs private estate, and Prince William and Kate Middleton often trek to Norfolk for a country getaway.
Amenities: There are two houses available for holiday at the estate, Garden House (4-bed former Head Gardenerâs house) and The Granary (3-bed converted barn). Each home is fully furnished and is available for weekly rent.
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Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Initially built as a prince's "pleasure palace" between 1743 and 1746, the Lake Palace sits on Jag Niwas Island on Lake Pichola. After serving as asylum for European families, the hotel began to erode in the late 19th century. Thankfully, the palace was converted into a hotel in the 1960s, and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces took over in 1971.
Who Youâll See: Not only was this palace used in the James Bond movie Octopussy, but First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth, and Vivien Leigh have stayed here.
Amenities: Take a high-speed boat from the town to your luxury suite and enjoy the service of "Royal Butlers," who are actually descendants of the original palace retainers. The palace has 66 rooms and 17 suites.
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Chateau Herálec, Herálec, Czech Republic
Located halfway between the two largest Czech cities— Prague and Brno, Chateau Herláec, which dates back to 1226, was once used as a textile school and special education institute. In 2004, it underwent extensive reconstruction to become a five-star boutique hotel.
Who You'll See: As of now, there are no known celebrity sightings at the Chateau, and the property doesn't disclose the names of its guests. But that's not to say you won't see anyone famous.
Amenities: Feel like a celebrity for the day when you take the hotel's very own Mercedes Benz for a drive through the countryside and enjoy lunch outside from the Chateau's picnic menu. Or, go horseback riding, take a hot air balloon ride, or check out the onsite movie theater and full-service spa. Pay a visit to the Chateau's wine cellar where lords and ladies used to hang out&madash;visitors can sample wine from more than 100 of the region's wine collections. Choose from 20 luxurious castle rooms and suites.
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Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland
Dating back to the 13th century, Ashford Castle sits along the Mayo-Galway border and was once a medieval fortress, Ireland's first School of Falconry, and home to the Guinness family from 1855 to 1939. In 1939, it was turned into a five-star luxury hotel.
Who Youâll See: Look out for celebrity sightings&madash;stars such as Brad Pitt, Barbara Streisand, Pierce Brosnan, and Jack Nicholson have stayed here, as have John Lennon and Ronald Reagan. There's also an entire hallway with photos of every famous person that has paid a visit to the castle.
Amenities: The beauty of the castle alone will make you feel like royalty from the moment you pull in. Set on 350 acres, the estate is surrounded by stunning grounds where guests can play on a nine-hole golf course, go horseback riding, or take a charter cruise along the Lough Corrib lake. Other amenities include tennis, clay shooting, archery, falconry, afternoon champagne, and tea. If you're paying a visit to the castle's Prince of Wales Bar, try the Black Velvet signature cocktail —it's a mixture of champagne and Guinness in equal parts. The castle contains 68 guest rooms and 14 ultra-lux staterooms and suites overlooking the water.
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RELATED: 10 European Castles You Can Visit
Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate, Huntington, New York
Built in 1919, Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate is the second largest private estate in the U.S., set on 443 acres in Huntington, New York. Here, visitors can enjoy the gardens and hotel restaurant, and relive the 1920s in this Gatsby-inspired plantation where extravagant parties are held and royals were once entertained.
Who You'll See: You might see celebrities walking around if you happen to be staying at the castle at the same time as a celebrity's destination wedding. Oheka has become a popular venue for celebrities tying the knot—stars like Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, Megyn Kelly from Fox News, N'Sync member Joey Fatone, and former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner have been married here. Oheka Castle was also used for the classic 1940s film Citizen Kane, the Royal Pains TV series, and was featured in the music video for Taylor Swift's song, Blank Space.
Amenities: The 127-room estate spans 115,000 square feet and includes a library and terrace room for events. Visitors can head over to the Cold Springs Country Club to play tennis or golf on the 18-hole course. Get pampered with an in-room massage, or learn about the castle's fascinating history through a guided tour of the mansion. Take your pick from six styles of rooms, including the Great Gatsby-inspired suites and the Olmsted Suite, which has two balconies overlooking the gardens.
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Thorngrove Manor Hotel, Stirling, Australia
This next hotel looks like something right out of a fairytale. Thorngrove Manor was built on a vineyard in the Adelaide hills in 1994, just 20 minutes from Adelaide city center, South Australia's oldest wine producing region. While the Manor is only a little more than 20 years old, staying here will make you feel like you're going back in time.
Who You'll See: The hotel likes to keep its guest list rather hush-hush, but knighted British celebrities, Belgian royalty, and U.S. and Australian actors and have been known to stay here.
Amenities: Play a round of golf at the Manor's 18-hole golf course, go horseback riding through the hills, or enjoy afternoon tea in the King's Chamber by the fireplace. With just five rooms and suites, you'll feel like the only guest staying in the Manor's ultra-private quarters. The rooms have antique decor with 19th-century stained-glass, custom-made fabrics, canopy beds, and vaulted ceilings. Some in-room amenities include a fireplace, a spa bath, and a German piano.
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More from SmarterTravel:
- 10 Gorgeous Hotel Bathrooms Around the World
- 10 Beaches That Are Better in the Off-Season
- 10 Totally Unique (or Wacky) Ways to Travel
Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter @ashley_stravel for more advice about travel hacks and destination ideas.
Olivia Briggs has worked in the hospitality, tourism, and online travel industries for more than a decade. She has lived in Ireland, traveled throughout Europe, and has been a passionate writer from a very young age. Follow her on Twitter @OliviaOlileibri.
Editor’s note: This article was co-written by Olivia Briggs.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
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