We could all use a remote location to escape to right about now, and if you have a hefty bank balance the world is your oyster.

On Tuesday we showed you some of the world’s best island hotels, with Mozambique’s Anantara Medjumbe making the cut (HERE), but I guess there’s a chance that islands don’t really float your boat.

See what I did there?

CNN have now focused on the world’s premier castle hotels, so you can have the chance to live like a king or queen without all the waving and paparazzi.

They’ve chosen 15, but with a bit of sifting we’ve knocked that list down to five.

Let’s live a little:

Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland

Fresh off a $75 million renovation, this iconic 13th-century castle is more opulent and over-the-top than ever before.

Its décor has been newly spruced-up with modern Irish art, Connemara marble and lavish Donegal crystal chandeliers.

There’s also a new waterfront spa, billiards room, cigar terrace and a glamorous, 36-seat, red velvet cinema.

Red velvet for the win.

Neemrana Fort-Palace, Rajasthan, India

Carved into a hillside overlooking the Indian countryside, the Neemrana Fort-Palace is worth visiting for the breathtaking views alone.

Built in 1464, the palace is sprawled across 14 tiered levels and spans a whopping six acres.

Not surprisingly, the diversions are endless: there are hanging gardens to admire, two pools, an amphitheater and an Ayurvedic spa. As if all that weren’t enough, it’s also home to India’s very first zip-line.

The Castle Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian, China

This castle may not be centuries-old like the others — it was built in 2014 — but it will still make you feel like royalty.

The Starwood-owned property was modeled after the grand fairytale palaces of Bavaria and features neoclassical columns, rich marble floors and soaring vaulted ceilings.

Its 292 guest rooms — festooned with crystal chandeliers, plush silks and antique-inspired details — are as plush and opulent as any royal residence.

Nothing wrong with a modern take on an old classic.

Hever Castle, Kent, England

Being the home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, this 13th-century castle is one of the most storied castles in all of England.

It’s also allegedly one of the most haunted: legend has it that Boleyn’s ghost wanders through the castle at night.

If you’re game, you can stay in the Anne Boleyn Wing itself, which is lavishly appointed and designed in the traditional Edwardian style.

Parador de Cardona, Cardona, Spain

This enormous medieval castle — dating all the way back to 800 AD — will make you feel as if you’ve traveled back in time to the Middle Ages.

Everything about it has been painstakingly restored to its former medieval glory, from its structural elements (moats, turrets and arches) to its smaller original details (exposed stonework and wooden beams).

Even its 53 rooms have been decorated in a Catalan-inspired medieval style and feature panoramic views over Cardona village and the Cardoner River below.

Rumour has it that there is a castle in the Nkandla area that offers unbridled access to those with the right connections, as well as a very nice view of the rest of the country burning to the ground.

[source:cnn]