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Keith Chastain of 'Cheaters' on visiting Scotland and booking castles

Keith Chastain of 'Cheaters' on visiting Scotland and booking castles

Keith Chastain of 'Cheaters' on visiting Scotland and booking castles

Unless you've been living in a rock, you probably know that people are obsessed with the reality TV show "Traitors," which airs on the Peacock Channel. In this show, celebrities compete against each other to try to distinguish the cheaters from the loyal contestants. The show features lies, devious tactics, physical and mental challenges to win money, and real standouts, including a group of popular (and infamous) TV show stars like Survivor and Big Brother, as well as an amazing assortment of Real Housewives and Shahs of Sunset. Not to be overlooked, the cast also includes Pilot Pete from the show The Bachelor.

But the main star of this show is not a person, but the native Scotland of host Alan Cumming, which makes sense given that the play takes place in the majestic and beautiful Ardross Castle near Inverness. Immediately after the premiere of the second season of "Traitors," according to Places to Travel, search queries for "flights to Scotland" increased by 159%. Queries regarding "Ardross Castle" increased by 4,500% over the last five years.

To figure out if a trip to Scotland is worth it, TPG reached out to the show's first and second season star Kate Chastain, who you may also recognize from Below Deck. "Scotland feels like you're in a movie," Chastain told TPG. "The fog that rises feels staged, but it's natural. And the castles themselves and the sheep wandering through the green hills, it's all very picturesque and magnetic."

For Chastain, shooting in a Scottish castle is the stark opposite of life at sea on a yacht. "Well," she explained, "both experiences are enjoyable to be honest," and added that one of the biggest changes for her was the many trees in this country. "You know, I've seen enough palm trees and beaches for a lifetime, which of course sounds redundant.

Scotland really has been a wonderful change of scenery."

"Traitors" has already been renewed for a third season. So while we can't go to Scotland and be Alan Cumming's guest, there are plenty of ways to visit Scotland inspired by "Traitors."

Unfortunately, Ardross Castle is not for ordinary tourists to visit, except under certain conditions, such as filming a TV show or organizing a private event such as a wedding. But there are plenty of other castles to visit or stay in.

World of Hyatt members can book the Crossbasket Castle Hotel near Glasgow. There, guests can stay in one of nine beautiful rooms or suites and enjoy the wooden library or the beautiful grounds of the castle. Rates start at 17,000 World of Hyatt points per night. The hotel will also soon enter into a new agreement with the Hilton hotel chain.

Another option (still available through the World of Hyatt program) is Inverlochy Castle, which is about a two-hour drive from where the show was filmed. The starting rate is 25,000 points per night. The hotel has comfortable rooms, boats on the lake, a billiards room, and several restaurants where you can meet other travelers.

If you'd rather be the king or queen of your castle (or at least own a significant portion of it), Airbnb has plenty of options. In Dunblane, you can rent an apartment in Kilbride Castle with starting prices starting at $155 per night, as well as an apartment in an 1889 Victorian-style house with starting prices as low as $145 per night.

If Scotland isn't in your plans and you just want to visit any castle elsewhere, you can always browse the Castles section of Airbnb to find available rentals around the world.

There is also an opportunity for culture and history buffs to stroll around Balmoral Castle, the Scottish residence of the British royal family. The castle will be open to visitors from March 23 to August 11.

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