In these 8 beautiful hotels, it really is haunted.
From true crime documentaries to all the CSI variants they show on TV, I quite enjoy a bit of crime and mystery. But only with the lights on, and the story must always contain elements that make me sure it could never happen to me. Even if the main character says at the beginning: ‘I thought it would never happen to me.’ I know I'm not the only one, because especially among women, thrilling crime & ghost stories are very popular. Strangely enough, we are looking for that kind of fear, searching for something inexplicable, a mystery. If you really want to be fully immersed, it's recommended to book a trip to these hotels. I hope everyone who books here consciously chooses a haunted hotel, and doesn't end up there by accident thinking it's just a nice hotel for their cozy weekend away.
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – Banff, Canada
It was a bit of a shock, because I have slept here myself. The hotel itself is truly stunning. It was built in 1888, in Banff National Park (which is located in the Rocky Mountains). This is really one of the most beautiful places I have ever woken up. But there is also a ghost story attached to it, and if I had known that before I went to sleep there, I don't know if I would have closed an eye. There are said to be several ghosts living in this hotel, including a bride who fell down the stairs during her wedding, and Sam, who worked in the hotel until 1975. Nowadays, he occasionally comes back to work a shift, helps people with their luggage, and then disappears again for a while. So now I wonder if Sam was the one who brought my bags upstairs...
The Hollywood Roosevelt – Los Angeles, California
If you've ever dreamed of meeting Marilyn Monroe, then you want to spend a night here. The Roosevelt was literally the home of many great movie stars in the 1930s when filming had to take place. Besides the view of the famous Hollywood sign, you can also find the reflection of Marilyn Monroe in your mirror. It is said that she is not the only Hollywood legend who appears in the hotel.
Tubac Golf Resort & Spa – Tubac, Arizona
If you're in need of a relaxed golf vacation, then it's advisable to skip this golf resort. It's very relaxed there, with a spacious golf course and the surroundings are green. But you do need to be willing to have a small chat with the family that owned the estate before it became a hotel. There are several people who have said they encountered these ghosts, but no worries: they are apparently very friendly. It would involve a small boy, a grandmother, a well-dressed man, and... a cowboy. Okay, then.
Ballygally Castle – County Antrim, Northern Ireland
In this seventeenth-century castle, the ghost of a woman who died tragically lingers. She fell from the window of one of the turrets and died. Now she resides forever in the hotel, they even gave her a room of her own: ‘The Ghost Room’. She entertains herself in the hallways of the hotel by knocking on doors. So that's not housekeeping.
The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection – Dublin, Ireland
A very reliable source reported that she was kept awake by the ghost of this hotel. Actress Lily Collins told Jimmy Fallon that she woke up to doors slamming, icy wind, and a strange kind of giggling. When she went to inquire at the reception, she heard that there is indeed a ghost living on the sixth floor, where she was sleeping. It is said to be a girl who only lived to be 7 years old before she died in 1846. Other people reported that faucets turned on by themselves and some even claim to have seen the girl.
El Hotel Mesón de Jobito – Zacatecas, Mexico
In this beautiful five-star hotel, you will hopefully be in a deep sleep around four o'clock in the morning. Because that is the time when most people reported having issues with ghosts. It starts with the sound of horses’ hooves in the lobby, but you might also encounter miners searching for gold. Make sure you get some sleep, because these ghosts certainly do not intend to wake you up.
The Langham – London, England
In 2014, the English national cricket team kindly thanked for their stay in this hotel. At night, they were troubled by the presence of none other than Louis Napoleon III (former president of France), and a German prince who jumped out of the window of the top floor. I can imagine that such a night with these men is not the best preparation for an important match.
The Marshall House – Savannah, Georgia
This hotel was built as a hospital during the American Civil War, around 1851. The ghosts of deceased soldiers still like to stay here, which you can notice by wobbly door handles, faucets that turn on by themselves, and toilets that overflow while not being flushed. It's not just soldiers who don't want to leave here. People also hear playing children skipping and tossing a ball. It became extra spooky when they found human remains under the floors during the renovation of the hotel. Sleep well, huh.
