Luxurious Ireland at Ashford Castle, Once the Home of the Guinness Family

Ever dreamed of lording over your very own castle? Learning the art of falconry and flying a hawk? Well you can at Ashford Castle, the castle-turned-luxury hotel in the picturesque Irish countryside. Dating back to 1228 and once the home of the Guinness family, the castle is situated on 350 acres on the shores of Lough Corrib, Ireland's second largest lake. In fact, the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle just featured Ashford in an article called "How the Emerald Isle has added polish." And certainly this posh estate allows its guests to luxuriate. From massages to fishing to golfing on the 9-hole course, Ashford Castle has it all. Best of all: Take a spring vacation for Easter and score your third night free, including full Irish breakfast daily, for a total of 390 euros.