Four Questions to Ask Before You Book

1. What's your style? Decide upfront if you're okay with basic accommodations or want to go the luxury route. It depends on your budget, of course, but then you'll have to break it down further. Do you want an entire castle or a hotel room? Would you prefer self-catering (you cook and clean), bed and breakfast, or bed only (four-poster, double or bunk)? Will a shared bath weird you out?

2. Where do you want to be? Pick an area, then a pull out a map. In the United Kingdom., you can go remote (Glengorm Castle on Scotland's Isle of Mull), town (Dornoch, Scotland) or easily accessible from London (Bolebroke, East Sussex, England). You can also search for a style or historic period (Norman, medieval, etc.).

3. Are you after romance or a big family outing? It makes a big difference. Patti Slavin of Connecticut-based Prestige Villas (800-336-0080, http://www.prestigevilla%20vacations.com/ ) arranges rentals for family reunions and groups. "Grandparents often do a lot of the planning" and pay, she says. "For a large group, it's best to do a large property on one estate with full staff."

For romance, there are plenty of choices. For instance, Bovey Castle (011-44-1647-445016, http://www.boveycastle.com/ ) in Dartmoor National Park, England, provides rose petals on the coverlet and champagne. Rates start at $315 a night double.

4. What sort of activities do you like? Narrow your focus if you want to play tennis, ride horses, hunt ghosts, learn history, etc. Chillingham (011-44-1668-215359, http://www.chillingham-castle.com/ ) in England, for example, proclaims itself haunted -- and it includes a torture chamber. Rates start at $83 per person per night.

-- Sue Kovach Shuman