Haunted Hotel Destinations

Usually, the accommodations that you choose during your vacation is secondary to the destination itself. You find a place to stay while you are off seeing or doing something else nearby. Not very often do you take a trip simply for the accommodations themselves.

If you are interested in paranormal phenomenon, then finding a good haunted place to stay is the point of the trip. Being able to stay at a haunted location (especially overnight) is the best way to increase your chances of seeing something unexplainable, rather than just taking a quick tour. This is why haunted hotels and B&Bs are the most common destination for "ghost-hunters".

There are countless places that hint at otherworldly activities, but there are some that really stand out as hotspots for ghost sightings and spiritual happenings.

Please note, I've given basic room rates as well, but remember that rates do change frequently through the year and these figures are only rough guidelines. They may be higher or lower, depending on the season.

Castle Stuart is certainly a step beyond your typical hotel. This is a 17th century Scottish castle, complete with turrets and suits of armor. There have been reports of unexplained screams and icy touches all over the castle, but the upper bedroom of the East Tower is the most haunted spot of all. There are only 8 guest bedrooms in the castle, and the rates start at £390 per night (that's approximately $790US). If you wish to play Lord of the Manor, you can rent the entire castle for £2950 per night. Castle Stuart is near the city of Inverness and only 20 minutes away from the famed Loch Ness. Also nearby is the haunted battlefield of Culloden Moor.

Tucked away in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Banff Springs Hotel is a 250-room luxury resort. Not your typical creepy old inn. There are a number of various ghost tales from this hotel. One is of a bride who died coming down the main staircase when her long gown caught fire from the candles. She turned and fell down the stairs to her death. Many people have seen a woman in a white gown dancing in the halls or coming down that staircase. There is also a ghostly bellhop named Sam who is reported to actually help out from time to time by opening locked doors and activating elevators. Room start at around $400 per night, and there are extensive services available. Beautiful Lake Louise is nearby, and the provincial capital of Calgary is a 2-hour drive away by shuttle bus.

I'm sure you won't be surprised that a haunted hotel lies in the Old Quarter of New Orleans, near the famed Bourbon Street. This little inn is actually a grouping of townhouses and cottages, with a total of 23 guest rooms. If you're after a ghostly encounter, try to book your stay in Audubon Cottage 4. A soldier with a love for country music "lives" there, and you may find he plays with the radio stations. Cottage 2 has also had its share of haunted moments. Room rates start at around $179 for a weeknight stay, but the two cottages just mentioned are 2-bedroom suites and go for $599 per night.

Not a typical hotel, but a ship that has been converted to 365 rooms of guest accommodations. Though originally a cruise ship, she was used as a transport ship during World War II and has seen plenty of on-board deaths over her 60-year history. No shortage of potential hauntings. There have been more than a dozen different sightings, so too many ghost stories to list here. Staterooms start at a bargain $81. There are regular ghost tours, but they are filled with special effects that will interfere with any real sightings. Best to explore on your own. The hotel is moored in California, USA just south of Los Angeles at Long Beach. It is only a few miles to the nearest airports.

You may recognize the name of this haunted place, as the location from Stephen King's book "The Shining". He actually stayed in room 217 while writing most of the book. Needless to say, the events in the movie are exaggerated so don't expect to be writing "redrum" on the walls in your sleep. But there have been a number of real ghostly sightings through the building, most of them concentrated on the 4th floor. Children are frequently heard playing in the halls. The hotel is located in Colorado, USA just 6 miles from the Rocky Mountain National Park and an hour away from Denver. There are 138 guest rooms, and the rates start at $199 per night.

This 210-year old B&B has 11 rooms and is considered one of the most haunted places in America. There are many stories told about the history of the Myrtles, and not all of them are true. It can be hard to tell fact from fiction, but there are definitely a number of haunted events. One is of Chloe, a slave who was killed for accidentally killing the house owners children with poison. She may never have really existed, but there is a ghostly woman seen around the plantation. The central staircase is another hotspot for spirits. The Myrtles is located in Louisiana, USA a short distance north of Baton Rouge. Rooms start at $115 per night.