We’ve all stayed in hotels, motels, B&Bs, lodges, and maybe a luxury resort or two. But, have you ever fancied a stay amid structural grandiose and palatial hospitality? If yes, then it’s high time to check in at an authentic medieval castle. There are several fantastic forts, castles, and palaces around the world serving as luxury hotels and resorts delivering guests an experience to remember. Here are a few handpicked international selections for you.

Schloss Sommersdorf, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Located along the famed Castle Road of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, the Schloss Sommersdorf is a classic palace. This 14th-century battlement structure is completely surrounded by a water-filled moat, just like a genuine functional fort. This protection likely helped the castle to survive the ravaging Thirty Years’ War from 1618-1648, which plundered the local village. The inside of the stracture includes ivory-draped stone walls, a cozy B&B, and seven spacious rooms with impressive views.

Neemrana Fort Palace, Rajasthan, India

The West doesn’t hold the monopoly of having jaw-dropping fortresses and awe-inspiring palaces. Neemrana fort-palace in Rajasthan, India is a 15th-century castle built on a commanding hillside. Astoundingly, the 14-level lavish structure is spread on an abandoned and crumbling fixer-upper, leading to its rebranding as a luxury modern resort. One can easily get lost in this glittering labyrinth, which includes hanging gardens, a huge swimming pool, several eateries, countless palatial suits, and also an amphitheater.

Parador De Cardona, Catalonia, Spain

The castle of Cardona differs from other Spanish castles with a foreboding structure that looks like a sorcerer’s stronghold. Located at the Pyrenees foothills in Catalonia, the ninth-century Parador De Cardona looms above the medieval town. The grand structure boasts an imposingly striking mix of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, with numerous squared parapets, vaulted passageways, and hospitable accommodations with canopy beds. For dining, the guests can choose from a range of lip-smacking Catalonian delicacies.

Amberley Castle, Sussex, England

The site of Amberley Castle in Sussex of England resembles a period movie set. With a long history dating back to 683, the site first hosted a fortified manor house in 1086. During the English Civil War, the castle was sacked by anti-royalists. Since then, a series of lords and dukes supervised the upkeep until its full restoration in 1989 as a hotel. As history says, many royal figures like King Henry VIII passed through the twin tower gatehouse of the castle. Dripped in English country-style hospitality, the castle’s structure still holds a medieval touch with its suit of armors and exposed stones.

Is there anything worse than getting holes in your camping equipment when you’re backpacking? If you’re in the middle of nowhere, you’re unlikely to be able to pick up new camping equipment very easily either. We’re not sure if Amazon Prime works in the Belize rainforest! Never fear, here’s how you can repair it all yourself.

What you’ll need

The first thing you’re going to want to invest in before you go backpacking or camping is a patch repair kit. Most manufacturers will have their own repair kits, ones you can buy as an extra or at least advice on what you’ll need. Gear Aid’s Tenacious Tape is a popular option for all kinds of camping equipment, from tents to sleeping bags, and even clothes. Make sure you have plenty of the tape handy, just in case you ever get any holes or tears. You may also want to invest in a sealer like Silnet.

Repairing tents

Got a hole in the nylon material of your tent? First, clean the area with some soapy water and let it dry fully. Use a sealer to coat the edges of the hole to ensure the fibers are bonded together and the hole doesn’t get any bigger. Once that has dried, use your patch kit to cover the hole up. Make sure you’re using a waterproof patch kit or Tenacious Tape, so that you don’t end up getting soaked when it rains.

Repairing sleeping bags

If you get a hole in your sleeping bag, then you’ll want to follow the same steps as patching up a tent. However, you won’t be able to patch from the inside like you would be able to a tent, so ensure it’s really clean and dry before fixing. Make sure your patch is around one inch larger than the hole and that it doesn’t overlap any seams.

Now you know how to repair holes in your camping equipment, you’ll never have to worry about getting drenched again!