Kinnitty Castle, Ireland
With one Trip Advisor review leaving two stars because of apparitions, you know there’s some spooky stuff going on here. Kinnitty Castle was built in 1213, and has since been converted into a hotel. The most famous of the apparitions to haunt the halls is the Phantom Monk of Kinnitty Castle. As the Trip Advisor guest put it, “we heard breathing coming from the corner of the room. I never slept a wink all night. My boyfriend then told me he saw a shadow in the room at 3am.” While some guests might find the apparitions disturbing, others flock to the castle to search them out.
Banff Springs Hotel, Canada
This spooky and not at all haunted looking hotel was built in 1888 and is considered one of the most haunted places in Canada. It’s unclear where the spirits originated from, but it could be the family that was murdered in room No. 873. Guests of the room were greeted with horrible screams at night, and housekeeping had to routinely wipe away bloody handprints that would appear on the walls. The doorway to the room has since been bricked over, but guests still report mysterious and horrifying events happening within the walls of the hotel.
The Heathman Hotel, Oregon
Built in 1927, the Heathman Hotel is one of the last remaining historical hotels in Portland. It has also been profiled as one of the most haunted places in the Pacific Northwest. Guests report that rooms 703, 803 and 1003 are hotspots for spooky shenanigans including inexplicable sounds, intense cold spots in the room, and even ghost-like figures in the mirrors. One guest even posted that they were dragged out of their bed, only to find the room to be completely empty. Spook E. Stuff!
Crescent Hotel, Arkansas
Originally built as a luxury resort and spa in 1886, the Crescent Hotel is now known for being one of the most haunted hotels in the US. According to guests and hotel staff, there are 8 different ghosts that sweep the hotel with spookiness. They are believed to be the apparitions of 8 guests that met untimely deaths throughout the hotel’s dark past.
Grand Hyatt Taipei, Taiwan
While the Grand Hyatt Taipei is relatively new and deemed one of the best luxury hotels in Taiwan, it’s what it was built over that gives it a troubled past. The Grand Hyatt was built over a former wartime political prison, and it is said the souls of those tortured and executed on the grounds now roam the halls. Shouting and items being violently smashed have been reported, to the extent that staff have placed sacred scrolls throughout the resort to try and calm the ghosts.
Karosta Prison, Latvia
Originally used as a Nazi and Soviet military prison, thousands of prisoners were tortured and killed within the confines of the Karosta Prison. Today, you can treat yourself to being a prisoner yourself, and check in to the full inmate experience. And if your cell seems lonely, guests have reported intense paranormal activity, so you’ll never be truly alone. Yay!
Dr. Holms Hotel, Norway
In the mountains of Southern Norway, the Dr. Holms Hotel sits amongst the small ski village of Geilo. It’s reported that in 1926, a young woman hanged herself in the attic of the hotel, and her ghost now haunts the room 320. It has become a tourist attraction for paranormal enthusiasts.
Hotel Del Coronado, California
Nestled on the island of Coronado right by sunny San Diego, the Del Coronado doesn’t immediately strike you as haunted. When it was opened in 1888, the Del Coronado was the largest resort in the world, and when you enter it you can almost immediately feel a bizarre sense of an eerie past. One such incident in 1894 was that of a young woman by the name of Kate Morgan. She checked into the Del Coronado to meet a man she had fallen in love with. After he didn’t show for five days, she took her own life. Guests have reported seeing her roaming the halls, calling out for an unknown man.
The Driskill Hotel, Texas
Built in 1886 right in the middle of downtown Austin, The Driskill Hotel is still a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. However, just walking into the hotel will instantly give you a “oh ok there’s probably ghosts here” kind of vibe. It also doesn’t help that there’s a giant mural of Col. Jesse Driskill that will stare into your sole at the top of the main staircase.
As legend has it, a young girl was chasing her bouncy ball in 1887 when she fell off the main staircase meeting an untimely death. Guests and staff have said at quiet hours, you can hear a child laughing and the sounds of a bouncy ball on coming from the staircase.
The other main fable is that of the suicide brides of room 525. It’s said that two brides on their honeymoons killed themselves in the same room, 20 years apart to the day. The room is available by request only.
Ballygally Castle Hotel, Northern Ireland
Built in the 15th century, the Ballygally Castle was converted into a hotel and is a haven for ghost sightings. The most famous of which is of Lady Isobel Shaw, who is known to knock on guests doors and then disappear. It is told that she jumped to her death after her husband locked her in the room. The room which she was a resident has since been blocked off to guests due to too many supernatural things occurring.
Dragsholm Slot, Denmark
The original Dragsholm Castle was built in 1215, and has had a dark past throughout the centuries. Once used as a prison for the noble and ecclesiastical, the castle-turned-hotel is now host to quite a few supernatural guests. It is said that three ghosts roam the grounds: a grey lady, a white lady and a man by the name of Earl James Hepburn who was imprisoned in the castle and died in the cellars in 1578. Guests have reported seeing the Earl riding through the courtyard in a full horse and carriage.
Hotel Chelsea, New York
A magnet for the famous and elite, the Hotel Chelsea in the heart of NYC is well known in pop culture. One of its most famous feats of notoriety came from the violent stabbing death of Nancy Spungen by boyfriend Sid Vicious. After a heavy night of drinking, an argument escalated leading to punk rocker Vicious stabbing Spungen in the stomach and leaving her to die in the bathroom of room 100. Vicious later killed himself, and it is thought the two now roam the hotel.
Skirrid Mountain Inn, Wales
The Skirrid Mountain Inn is one of the oldest pubs in Wales with a history dating back over 900 years. The events that took place over the almost millennium of its existence are rather stark. During the Welsh revolt, over 180 men were hanged in the inn, with rope marks still visible on the beams. Guests have claimed they awoke to what felt like a rope being tightened around their necks.
The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
If this hotel looks familiar, it’s because it inspired one of the greatest horror novels and films of all time. While staying at the hotel, author Stephen King was inspired to write the bestseller “The Shining.” Although King stayed in room 217, it has been said that room 418 has the most reports of ghostly activity. The hotel is supposedly haunted by the owner’s late wife Flora, who likes to play the piano late at night and her ghost is said to be highly visible.
The Haunted Mansion, Disneyworld
This is one of the spookiest places that I’ve ever personally stayed in, and the rates per night are unbelievably high. To even get on the grounds it’s $117, and then a $3,400 per-night mandatory fine if you want to stay overnight and be super spooked-out (plus a lifetime ban). The ghost of Lord Paul Frees can be heard throughout the night, yelling things like “we saw you jump off the ride and we know you’re in here, you need to come out.” If it wasn’t for Disney’s top-notch security, I would have for sure been ghost lunch! I do not recommend, 3spooky5me!
(h/t: List25 – Lead Photo: Nelo Hotsuma / Flickr)
