Want to have a truly haunted Halloween? How about a stay in one of the most haunted hotels in the world? If that sounds a little too spooky, just reading about them might be enough to send a chill up your spine.
Credit: bigstock.comStanley Hotel, Estes Park, ColoradoStanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado (Prices and photos)
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, a small town at the eastern end of Rocky Mountain National Park, is said to have frightened horror master Stephen King so much that it became the inspiration for the setting of 'The Shining'. Open for more than a century, spooky events have always been a part of its history, with the sounds of children running and laughing through the halls frequently reported on the fourth floor, and Mr. Stanley, the original owner of the hotel and the inventor of the Stanley Steamer Automobiles, long with his wife, is said to frequently walk through the lobby. Mrs Stanley can sometimes be heard playing her piano in the music room, while a former housekeeper who died here in 1911 is said to frequently assist guests in room 217 by unpacking and storing their belongings.
Credit: Average JaneHotel Roosevelt, Hollywood, CaliforniaHotel Roosevelt, Hollywood, California
Hotel Roosevelt, Hollywood, California (Prices and photos)
Marilyn Monroe was once a resident of Hollywood's elegant Hotel Roosevelt, and she is considered one of the many restless spirits haunting the establishment today. Guests and hotel staff have reported seeing a blonde woman in the mirror found in her former suite, and her presence has also been felt in the hotel's Tropicana pool. Reports of mysterious calls to the hotel operator, orbs and cold spots are frequent - and the ghost of the late Montgomery Clift has even reportedly been heard playing his trombone from room 928, where he once stayed.
Credit: david_shankbone The Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, ColoradoThe Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, Colorado
The Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, Colorado (Prices and photos)
For over a century, the Brown Palace Hotel has set the standard for luxury accommodation in Denver, hosting numerous celebrities, presidents and other dignitaries. It is also said to host many spirits, with many tales of unexplained paranormal activity reported by staff and guests over the years. Stories have included sightings of a string quartet in St. Mark's Hall, where guests used to enjoy musical performances, with the group reportedly assuring several bellhops that "we live here".
Credit: castleleslie.comCastle Leslie, County Monaghan, IrelandCastle Leslie, County Monaghan, Ireland
Castle Leslie, County Monaghan, Ireland (Prices and photos)
The somewhat eccentric but extraordinarily magnificent Castle Leslie was completed in 1871, but the estate dates back hundreds of years. Today, this luxurious hotel is considered home to several reported spirits, including Norman Leslie, who supposedly lives in the Red Room. A dusty grey monk is occasionally seen in the banquet hall, while Lady Constance is said to frequent the Mauve Room.
Credit: commons.wikimedia.org/Ross Castle, IrelandRoss Castle, Ireland
Ross Castle, County Meath, Ireland (Prices and photos)
This 5-bedroom stone tower-style castle, built in 1536, is now run as Bed and Breakfast accommodation. If you stay here, there's a good chance you won't get much sleep. Guests often wake up at night hearing voices and doors slamming and closing on their own. Some have even felt the presence of a spirit sitting on the edge of their bed. The spirit of an English lord's daughter is said to haunt the castle along with the ghost of Myles "The Slasher" O'Reilly, an Irish folk hero who spent his last night at Ross Castle before dying in battle in 1644.
Credit: bigstock.comHotel Del Coronado, Coronado, CaliforniaHotel Del Coronado, Coronado, California
Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, California (Prices and photos)
This luxury resort built in 1888 has had its share of famous visitors, including former presidents, and is said to be where King Edward VIII first met Wallis Simpson. The hotel's most famous ghost guest is Kate Morgan, who was found dead several days after checking in in 1892, with a gunshot wound to the head. Guests who stayed in her room witnessed the flickering of lights, the television turned on by itself and even a beautiful woman standing by the window. Kate was also seen walking in the corridors, through the garden and along the beach.
Credit: CaptainOatesDalhousie Castle, Edinburgh, ScotlandDalhousie Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Dalhousie Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland (prices and photos)
The ghost of Lady Catherine is the most frequently reported ghost at this 13th century fortress turned hotel, a hotspot for honeymooners. Only a teenager at the time, Lady Catherine is said to have locked herself in the castle's highest room and starved herself to death after her parents forbade her to see the young man she was in love with. She was overheard on numerous occasions, touching doors, rustling her skirt and even sometimes pulling the host's hair.
Credit: facebook.comThe Ragged Cot, Gloucestershire, EnglandThe Ragged Cot, Gloucestershire, England
The Ragged Cot Inn, Minchinhampton, England (Prices and photos)
The Ragged Cot, a 17th century inn, has a rather gruesome history. It is said that in December 1760, the drunken owner decided to rob a stagecoach on its way to London. While his wife was holding their baby, he tried to intercept it at the top of the stairs, with the scuffle forcing both mother and child down the stairs to their deaths. He put the bodies in a trunk, and when he was arrested, he saw their ghostly apparitions return upstairs. Presumably, they have been there ever since, making apparitions in the bar.
Credit: bigstock.comHotel Chelsea, New York City, New YorkHotel Chelsea, New York City, New York
Hotel Chelsea, New York City, New York (prices and photos)
This famous New York hotel was built in the late 18th century and is well known for its former high-profile guests such as Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin. It is believed that Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who died here after a night of excessive drinking, never left. Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, who was suspected of stabbing his girlfriend Nancy to death in room 100, and later died of a heroin overdose while awaiting trial, is said to make occasional appearances in the hotel's east lift. Some say Nancy's spirit lingers here as well.
Credit: wikimedia.org Queen Anne Hotel San Francisco Queen Anne Hotel San Francisco
Queen Anne Hotel, San Francisco, California (prices and photos)
This beautiful B&B in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighbourhood is said to be haunted by a woman who was the headmistress of the school that once existed inside the building. Mary Lake's Spirt is sometimes seen wandering around, keeping an eye on her 'guests'. She likes to make sure that her guests are comfortable and has unpacked and hung up their clothes, as well as picking up items from the floor that have fallen. She has even tucked blankets in and around people in the middle of the night. The demonstrations are said to be the strongest in room 410, his former office which is now an elegant suite.
Credit: Tracy Omanresa Castle, Port Townsend, Washington. Manresa Castle, Port Townsend, Washington
Manresa Castle, Port Townsend, Washington (Prices and photos)
This former 30-room mansion turned hotel was once the largest in the region, originally completed in 1892 as the residence of Charles and Kate Eisenbeis. Today, it is said to be haunted by two ghosts, one, a former guest who was waiting for his beloved to return from the war. When he heard of her death, he jumped to his death from the hotel. The other is a monk who hanged himself in the attic. Rooms 302, 304 and 306 are haunted by ghosts, and in the hotel bar, glasses are known to explode and suddenly turn upside down.
Credit: Wikimedia CommonsHawthorne Hotel, Salem, MassachusettsHawthorne Hotel, Salem, Massachusetts
Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, Massachusetts (Prices and photos)
Set in the Salem Witch Trials house, guests at this hotel in downtown Salem, Massachusetts, have reported hearing eerie sounds in the stairwell and feeling uncomfortable during their stay. In a room known as the 'Lower Deck', a hotel employee who was responsible for setting up the room and arranging the tables said he was quite surprised after he had performed his duties and left the room, only to return and find that it had been rearranged. The employee then refused to work night shifts after the experience. The land on which the hotel is located was reportedly once owned by the first person to be hanged because of her love for the practice of witchcraft, Bridget Bishop.
Credit: Jim LinwoodThe Bell Inn, Norfolk, England The Bell Inn, Norfolk, England
The Bell Inn, Norfolk, England (Prices and photos)
The Bell Inn Hotel in Norfolk is also known to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. The building has been a hostel since it was established some six centuries ago and has 46 rooms, one of which is said to be haunted by a hooded monk, with a number of guests reporting seeing him during their stay. Staff members have claimed to have heard children playing in empty rooms and keys slamming at night. Paranormal investigators who have visited here have noted this site as one of the most haunted in the UK.
Credit: Grand Hyatt HotelGrand Hyatt Hotel, Taipei, TaiwanGrand Hyatt Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan (Prices and photos)
Some guests have reported seeing ghosts in the corridors of this fine Taipei resort, while others have heard strange noises coming from unoccupied rooms.
Credit: bigstock.comFairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, CanadaFairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada (Prices and photos)
Two of the most famous ghost stories at the magnificent Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel involve a bellboy and a bride. In the first, guests and staff members claimed to have encountered a bellhop dressed in full uniform on the ninth floor, who appears to disappear after helping guests. The ghost is thought to be that of a long-time employee who died in 1975 - apparently he has promised to return to haunt the place. The other is thought to be a young bride who died on her wedding day at the hotel. Guests reported feeling a mysterious breeze around the marble stairwell where she fell to her death.
Credit: toftaholm.seToftaholm Herrgard, Småland, SwedenToftaholm Herrgard, Småland, Sweden
Toftaholm Herrgard, Småland, Sweden (Prices and photos)
This 14th century country manor, located on the shores of Lake Vidostern in Sweden, has been the home of numerous unexplained incidents. Guests have reported everything from doors and windows closing by themselves after being left open, as well as strange and unexplained noises.The hotel is thought to be haunted by the ghost of a young farmer who fell in love with the daughter of the rich baron who owned the manor. Unfortunately, due to her status as a commoner, the baron refused to allow a marriage and found her a husband he thought more suitable and forced her to marry. The boy hanged himself in room 324 on the morning of the wedding, and it is believed that his spirit never left.
Credit: bigstock.com1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Arkansas1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Arkansas (rates and photos)
The 1886 Crescent Hotel is known as one of the most haunted hotels in America. Legend has it that many guests who checked in were never picked up, including Michael, an Irish stonemason who fell to his death while building the hotel in 1885, and also Theodora, a cancer patient who seems to be searching for her room key. Occasionally an unknown patient wearing a white nightgown even appears at the foot of the bed in some of the luxury suites. Another apparition, Norman Baker, wanders around in a white suit with a cat.
Credit: David Holt LondonLangham Hotel, London, EnglandLangham Hotel, London, England
Langham Hotel, London, England (Prices and photos)
The most haunted room in London is said to be Room 333 at the Langham Hotel. Opened in 1865, it has been visited by many literary greats such as Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain and several ghosts. The most common report is of guests seeing a silver-haired man wearing a Victorian suit, although he only made appearances in October. A German prince who jumped out of a fourth-floor window shortly before the start of the First World War is often seen in the early hours of the morning walking through doors, particularly the door to Room 333.
Credit: purple sea donkeyChillingham Castle, Northumberland, EnglandChillingham Castle, Northumberland, England
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, England (prices and photos)
This medieval castle dating back over 800 years is considered one of the most haunted places in England, with hundreds of paranormal events recorded here. There have been several accounts of strange moans and whimpering sounds believed to have come from a boy known as 'Blue Boy'. It is thought that he may have been locked behind a wall where his bones and pieces of blue clothing were discovered. The ghostly sounds of a dress rustling down the stairs are said to belong to Lady Mary Berkley who continues to search for her husband who has fled with her sister.
Credit: bigstock.comHotel Queen Mary, Long Beach, CaliforniaHotel Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
Queen Mary Hotel, Long Beach, California (Prices and photos)
The Queen Mary is often found on lists of America's most haunted places. Once a world-class liner, the Queen Mary Hotel offers unique and perhaps very spooky accommodations that can't be found anywhere else. The first class pool is said to be haunted by the ghosts of two women who drowned there, one in the 1930s and the other in the 1960s. A young girl who broke her neck sliding down one of the ship's railings is another of the many people who died on the ship and apparently never disembarked. Strange occurrences were reported all over the ship, including its first class cabins. A tall, dark-haired man, dressed in a 1930s suit, seems to have appeared occasionally. In the middle of the night, guests reported that the water flowed on its own and turned on inexplicably.
Credit: bigstock.comGettysburg Hotel, Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaGettysburg Hotel, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg Hotel, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Prices and photos)
The Gettysburg Hotel has a very long history dating back to 1797. At least a few times a year, guests tell of a friendly encounter with a Civil War nurse named Rachel, who wanders the rooms as if she were still caring for wounded soldiers. Several guests reported similar encounters of drawers being opened and clothes mysteriously removed. Others have reported the ghost of a man who must have been Union soldier James Culbertson strolling through hotel rooms.
Credit: bisbeegrandhotel.comBisbee Grand Hotel, Bisbee, ArizonaBisbee Grand Hotel, Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee Grand Hotel, Bisbee, Arizona (Prices and photos)
This Bisbee Grand has been open for over 100 years, originally established to accommodate travelling mining executives. Today, travellers enjoy elegant rooms filled with antiques and family heirlooms, along with a few resident ghosts. One is a male spirit who has often been seen downstairs, while a female can occasionally be seen on the upper level. She is usually described as wearing a Victorian-style dress, carrying a tea tray and sometimes even at the foot of the bed in Room 2 or 3. Sometimes, the normally silent piano starts playing a few notes on its own when all is quiet and few people are around
Credit: Jekyllclub.comThe Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island, GeorgiaThe Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island, Georgia
The Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island, Georgia (Prices and photos)
Looking at the striking beauty of this hotel in Jekyll Island, Georgia, you probably wouldn't think it was one of the most famous haunted places in the state. But this luxurious hotel is considered home to three different ghosts. It was once home to many wealthy Americans such as J.P. Morgan, who was known to smoke his favourite cigar every morning at 5am in the Annex.Some claim he still takes up the habit, with cigarette smoke hovering at the same time every day, more than a century after his death. Guests also say that in former railway officer Samuel Spencer's last digs, they had their newspapers and other materials opened, rearranged and scattered - and even coffee missing from what they thought was a full cup.
Credit: commons.wikimedia.com1859 Historic National Hotel, Jamestown, California1859 Historic National Hotel, Jamestown, California
1859 Historic National Hotel, Jamestown, California (Prices and photos)
The staff of this hotel often recommend that you only say hello if you meet the live-in ghost. Referring to Flo, he is said to be friendly, but occasionally causes some disturbances. Flo is sometimes seen hovering in hotel windows, but more often she likes to clang dishes in the kitchen. Guests sometimes feel a 'chilling cold' in guest rooms, even when the heat rises. Flo, it is said, was a woman whose fiancé was shot on the premises in the 1800s and never left. On New Year's Eve, still desperately depressed, she put on her wedding dress and sobbed uncontrollably. In the end, she died of heart failure, although many say it was indeed a real broken heart.
Credit: hastingshotels.comBallygally Castle Hotel, County Antrim, Northern IrelandBallygally Castle Hotel, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Ballygally Castle Hotel, County Antrim, Northern Ireland (Prices and photos)
Guests at the Ballygally Castle Hotel have reported many strange occurrences over the years, including the feeling of a ghostly presence, unexplained noises and even a mysterious green mist over the castle. Isobella Shaw, former Lady of the Castle in the early 17th century, is said to have paid spooky visits to guests shortly before she disappeared into the night. Lord Shaw reportedly locked her in a room in the tower shortly after she gave birth to his son. In an attempt to escape and retrieve her child, she is said to have fallen out of the window to her death. She may continue to roam the castle, searching for her lost child.
Credit: Haydn BlackeyBullock Hotel, Deadwood, South DakotaBullock Hotel, Deadwood, South Dakota
Bullock Hotel, Deadwood, South Dakota (Prices and photos)
There have been dozens of reports of the ghostly figure of Seth Bullock, the original owner of the Bullock Hotel, seen in various areas of the establishment, including the restaurant and basement. Guests and staff have felt a strong paranormal presence inside several rooms and in the corridors of the second and third floors. At times, guests have also been tapped on the shoulder by invisible hands, while others have heard whistling in the corridors when no one is around. In the restaurant, plates and glasses have even been known to shake and suddenly take flight, while electrical appliances inexplicably turn themselves on and off.