6 Haunted Hotels Around the World That You Can Actually Stay In

Ever feel like your hotel stay is just a little too… quiet? No mysterious footsteps in the hall, no disembodied whispers, no ghostly figures at the foot of your bed? How boring. If you’re tired of uneventful vacations and crave a little paranormal activity with your room service, I’ve got just the list for you.

Forget five-star ratings; we’re looking for five-scream accommodations. These are the haunted hotels where the long-term residents checked out permanently but never really left. So, pack your bags (and maybe an EMF meter) because we’re taking a tour of six haunted hotels you can actually book. If you dare, that is.

The Stanley Hotel: A Real-Life Overlook

Let’s start with the big one, one of the haunted hotels that gave Stephen King nightmares and inspired The Shining. No, not the Timberline Lodge from the movie exterior shots—we’re talking about the real deal, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. This place is basically the Disneyland for ghost hunters. Before King’s spooky stay in room 217, the hotel was already known for its spiritual squatters.

The original owners, Freelan Oscar and Flora Stanley, apparently loved their hotel so much they decided to stick around for eternity. Guests report hearing Flora playing the piano in the concert hall and seeing F.O. himself photobombing pictures in the Billiards Room. Children’s laughter echoes through the halls of the fourth floor, even when no kids are checked in. Room 217, where King stayed, is particularly active. A former head housekeeper named Elizabeth Wilson supposedly still tidies up the room, moving luggage and folding clothes. It’s a bit intrusive, but at least the service is diligent. If you’re looking for a classic haunting, The Stanley is one of the haunted hotels blueprints.

The Hollywood Roosevelt: Where Stars Never Fade

Hollywood is full of ghosts of careers past, but at The Hollywood Roosevelt, some of those ghosts are a bit more literal. This iconic hotel has hosted countless celebrities since it opened in 1927, and it seems a few of them enjoyed their stay so much they refused to leave. The most famous spectral celebrity is Marilyn Monroe, whose reflection is often seen in a mirror that once hung in her favorite suite.

But she’s not the only star clinging to the spotlight. The ghost of actor Montgomery Clift has been heard pacing the hallways of the ninth floor and practicing his bugle. Guests have also reported cold spots and photographic orbs in the Blossom Ballroom, where the first Academy Awards were held. You might check in hoping for a celebrity sighting, but you could get one from beyond the grave. It’s Tinseltown terror at its finest.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa: America’s Most Haunted Hospital-Turned-Hotel

Nestled in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa proudly calls itself “America’s Most Haunted Hotel.” And honestly, they’ve earned the title. The building has a grim history, having served as a “cancer hospital” in the 1930s run by a con artist named Norman Baker, who had zero medical training. Spoiler: his “cures” didn’t work. Many of his patients died, and their spirits are said to linger.

The hotel’s most famous ghost is Michael, an Irish stonemason who fell to his death during construction. His ghost reportedly haunts room 218, where he likes to mess with the TV and slam the door. Other apparitions include a nurse pushing a gurney and various “patients” wandering the halls. The hotel even keeps its old morgue intact, which you can visit on their ghost tour. It’s a charming feature, isn’t it? A stay here isn’t just a spooky overnight; it’s a deep dive into some seriously dark history.

The Bourbon Orleans Hotel: A Spirited Stay in the Big Easy

New Orleans is a city soaked in history, voodoo, and booze, so it’s no surprise it’s crawling with ghosts. The Bourbon Orleans Hotel is a hotspot for paranormal activity, which makes sense given its past. Before it was a hotel, it was a grand ballroom, a theater, and a convent. That’s a lot of historical baggage.

Ghostly children and nuns are frequently seen and heard, remnants of the building’s time as an orphanage where a yellow fever epidemic broke out. A lonely dancer is often spotted twirling under the ballroom’s crystal chandelier, and a Confederate soldier limps through the sixth and seventh floors. If you’re looking for variety in your hauntings, the Bourbon Orleans offers a whole spectral smorgasbord. Just try not to mistake a ghost for one of the French Quarter’s many street performers.

Hotel Chelsea: A Bohemian Haunting

The Hotel Chelsea in New York City is a cultural landmark, a long-time residence for artists, writers, and musicians like Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, and Janis Joplin. It’s also infamous for the 1978 death of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious. With a history that vibrant and tragic, of course, it’s haunted.

The ghost of poet Dylan Thomas, who died after a heavy drinking session at a nearby tavern, is said to remain. But the most prominent spirit is Sid Vicious, whose ghost is often seen near the elevator. Guests have reported paranormal activity ranging from strange noises to full-on apparitions. It’s a haunting with a rock-and-roll edge, a place where creative energy and spiritual residue seem to be permanently intertwined.

The Founders Inn and Spa: A Surprisingly Spooky Resort

Virginia Beach might conjure images of sun and sand, but The Founders Inn and Spa offer a different kind of chill. This place looks modern, but it’s built on the former site of the Christian Broadcasting Network. It seems some spirits found the location particularly heavenly.

Guests and staff have reported encounters with a female spirit from the 18th century, as well as the ghost of a soldier. The most common haunted hotels experiences are disembodied voices, flickering lights, and objects moving on their own. It’s a bit more subtle than a full-on spectral opera, but it’s enough to make you question if that shadow in the corner of your eye was just a trick of the light. For those who prefer their hauntings on the milder side, this might be the perfect entry point.

The Bottom Line

If you’re brave enough to check in, these haunted hotels promise an unforgettable mix of history, mystery, and spine-tingling chills. From eerie whispers in the halls to ghostly figures said to linger in the night, each stay comes with stories you won’t soon forget. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, haunted hotels offer the ultimate adventure for thrill-seeking travelers.