The most haunted hotels in the world

Would you dare stay in a place full of witches and ghosts ? We have searched for you the most haunted luxury hotels in the world and reserved for the brave.

The most haunted hotels in the world

Hotels always give impression of leading a life that is a little more luxurious than it actually is, the freedom of knowing your bed will be perfect when you arrive in the evening, the incredible food at the breakfast buffet, the super soft bathrobes and warm bedrooms are the perfect touch to escape the routine and worries, unless you have to spend the night in one of the most haunted hotels in the world, where everything can be a nightmare. There are a few haunted hotels around the world, their rooms have been the scene of violent deaths, suicides and murders, and some ghosts still stay there to terrorize guests. The Stanley Hotel, for example, is so haunted that it even rocked Stephen King and inspired him to create the infamous and starving Overlook Hotel in The Shining. There are one in Los Angeles believed to be home to the spirits of celebrities who died before their time and one in Canada that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, although guests swear they saw the ghost of a governor there died in the late 1600s. Some hotels are very old, others are abandoned, and a few more have simply become the scene of a series of very unfortunate events, but they all have something in common, among theirs permanent residents are found the bereaved souls of all kinds of colorful, terrifying and interesting characters, and only the brave dare to spend the night there. What are the most haunted hotels in the world?

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

Any fan of Stephen King's novels should know the Stanley Hotel, which is located in the shadow of the famous Rocky Mountain. The Stanley is a famous hill station that, according to history, inspired the master of terror to create the terrifying hotel that drove Jack Torrance crazy in The Shining. Legend has it that an explosion in room 217 in 1911 injured a woman who worked at the hotel, leaving a paranormal imprint. The woman recovered, but it is said that upon her death her soul returned to the place where she worked in her youth, along with the spirits of the hotel owners, Flora and F.O. Stanley. Some guests say it's possible to hear Flora playing on the hotel's old piano, which F.O. shows up when someone is playing pool and they even mysteriously find their bags unpacked. It is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world.

Chelsea Hotel, New York

Many celebrities have died in the rooms of this famous hotel in Nancy, Sid Vicious's girlfriend who was stabbed in room number 100, to poet Dylan Thomas. The Chelsea Hotel have been visited by celebrities like Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Jimi Hendrix and Patti Smith, and it is said to trap the souls of all who come to die there. For now, no new visitors are received (renovations are underway), but the ghosts are said to be still there, awaiting the return of the guests.

The Omni Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia

One of the oldest resorts in the U.S., the Homestead began life as a simple lodge as early as 1766 before evolving into a grand, European-style spa resort in the mid-1850s. In between facials and floats on the lazy river, keep an eye out for anyone asking for the time on the 14th floor--legend has it that a jilted bride from the early 1900s still awaits her on-the-lam fiancé in the hotel.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta

Built in 1888 to encourage Western tourism and to sell train tickets, this chateau-style hotel sits pretty by the Rocky Mountains in Banff National Park. But the Fairmont gets a tad more Gothic once you get inside—and we aren't talking about the architecture. Several ghosts have been reported as regulars, including a bride who supposedly fell down the stone staircase during her wedding. But there’s a less tragic spirit, too: Sam the bellman, who worked at the hotel until 1975 and claimed he’d come back to haunt the joint. His spirit supposedly pulls shifts helping people with their bags before disappearing.

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles

You've never met ghosts as famous as the ones that haunt the Hollywood Roosevelt. The first Academy Awards were held at this oft-filmed hotel back in 1929, and movies stars tended to live there for long stretches of time. Today, there have been reports that Marilyn Monroe's spirit hangs out in one room's mirror, while Montgomery Clift's voice echoes throughout his old suite. Even if you're not a fan of bygone film legends, you can still get goosebumps from the hotel's high-drama lobby and views of the Hollywood sign.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Québec, Canada

This hotel is located in Old Quebec City and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Fairmont is named after the governor of New France in the 17th century, Louis de Buade de Frontenac, who died there in 1698. Over three hundred years later, visitors to the Château Frontenac still claim to have seen The governor's spirit roam the halls of the hotel.

The Omni Mount Washington, New Hampshire

Like many of the hotels on this list, Mount Washington's Omni is a grand space with an even grander history. Built in 1902, the hotel has hosted some seriously noteworthy guests, including Thomas Edison and three U.S. presidents. The Omni also has some clientele that skews more notorious than noteworthy, like Carolyn Stickney, the widowed wife of the hotel's original owner who stuck around after her death. Her four-poster bed still sits in one of the third-floor guests rooms, and guests have reported waking up to find Stickney brushing her hair at the foot of the bed. But let's face it: you'll be spending too much time on the hotel's sprawling porch (seriously, it's one of the best we've seen) to notice any flashes of paranormality.

Parador de Jaén, Spain

Located in an 18th-century Arab fortress overlooking the Andalusian landscape, Parador de Jaén has a few spooky stories hiding behind its imposing walls. According to the hotel's website, a guest in Room 22 was rudely awakened one night by sounds of a women crying and someone knocking on the door. A team of paranormal investigators was called in to check the room out in the 1980s, and they concluded that the room was, in fact, haunted by the spirit of a young woman who had died of heartbreak in the fortress several centuries ago. The room has been quiet since the investigation, but that's not the only ghost story 'round these parts. The hotel is also said to be haunted by the spirit of "Terrible Lizard," the nickname of a prisoner who died of hunger while locked up in the fortress.

Castle Leslie Estate, County Monaghan, Ireland

After staying at Castle Leslie Estate, former deputy digital editor Laura Redman reported, "This castle was what you imagine of a 16th-century Irish homestead—red ivy snaking up the walls, deep copper tubs, a library stocked with first-edition novels, afternoon tea overlooking 1,000 wooded and lake-spotted acres." Indeed, the secluded country hotel makes you feel like you're the only person in Ireland—unless you run into a Leslie family member's ghost, of course. Luckily, all reported ghost sightings have been pleasant, like catching sight of Norman Leslie shuffling papers in the hotel's Red Room. Hey, with accommodations like these, we're more than willing to encounter a non-threatening ghost or two.

Roch Castle Hotel, Wales

Built in 1195 in Pembrokeshire, Roch Castle is a five-star luxury hotel (and restaurant) featuring six suites. In the early 1600s, the castle was occupied by the Walter family and their daughter Lucy, who became a mistress of King Charles II in 1648 before dying in Paris a decade later. Visitors to Roch Castle have claimed to see a woman in a white dress passing through closed doors—presumably Lucy Walter returning to her childhood home.

Chateau de Marcay, France

Located in France's extremely scenic Loire Valley, Chateau de Marcay is a 15th-century castle that was converted into a hotel in 1973. The turreted chateau looks like something from a fairy tale—but as well all know, fairy tales usually have a bad guy or two. As the urban myth goes, one of the ladies of the Chateau de Marcay was actually a werewolf, and a farmer shot her by mistake after she transformed one night. The lady decided to stick around, apparently, as guests and staff alike have reported encounters with a ghostly woman dressed in white.

Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein, South Africa

South Africa might be most famous for its game reserves, but it has its fair share of charming—and haunted—hotels. One such place is Lord Milner Hotel, located on the edge of the remote Great Karoo in Matjiesfontein Village. The town served as command headquarters during the South African War, as well as site of subsequent (and controversial) war crimes hearings. No surprise, then, that the Lord Milner Hotel has some paranormal activity going on. According to the hotel, there are a couple of ghostly guests who never seemed to check out, including "Lucy," a negligee-wearing specter who makes noises behind closed doors from time to time.

The Shelbourne, Dublin, Ireland

Known as the Grand Dame of Dublin, the Shelbourne has hosted the likes of Princess Grace of Monaco and drips with luxury: think sparkling chandeliers and afternoon tea services. With all that opulence, you probably won't even notice the ghosts. According to some tabloids (they never lie, right?), one hotel room in particular gets frequent reports of paranormal activity, like water faucets turning on by themselves and a seven-year-old girl appearing out of nowhere. Actress Lily Collins had an eerie experience herself when she stayed at the Shelbourne back in 2013, which she recounted on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

The Don CeSar, St. Petersburg, Florida

It’s hard to believe a hotel could be haunted and so pleasantly pink at the same time. But rumors of ghost sightings around St. Petersburg’s sprawling Don CeSar have persisted, and the story behind them is actually quite romantic. The hotel’s founder, Thomas Rowe, opened the hotel in 1928, and he and his true love Lucinda have been occasionally spotted walking hand-in-hand around the grounds since the 1970s. We dare say that's as cute as the hotel's facade itself.

La Posada de Santa Fe Resort, New Mexico

One of Santa Fe’s oldest and most elegant places to stay is also one of its most famously haunted. La Posada de Santa Fe Resort was originally a mansion built in 1882 by entrepreneur Abraham Staab for his wife, Julia, who loved the premises so much she may have never left. Today’s guests can stay quietly in one of the surrounding studios, or in the original main house. But for those who lodge in Julia’s former bedroom—now suite 100—be sure to greet her pleasantly like the staff do. To stay in her good graces, you may even want compliment her gorgeous home.

The Langham, London

The spirits are so active at this 153-year-old hotel, they drove out several English national team cricket players back in 2014, who cited sudden heat and lights, and an unexplained presence during the night. Ghosts have long been associated with the tony hotel, says Visit Britain, and it's thought to house elite spirits such as former resident Emperor Louis Napoleon III and a German prince who jumped to his death from his upper-level window.

Bowery Hotel, New York

Walking into the lobby at The Bowery feels like stepping back into a Gothic version of the 19th century, complete with crimson velvet and oil paintings. (To be honest, we can see how ghosts might like it as much as swanky party-goers.) According to reports, poltergeists hang out in the elevators, which mysteriously go up and down at 1 a.m. every night. So if the lobby fireplaces and antique Turkish rugs don't transport you to another era, switching floors after hours might to the trick.

The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

Rumour has it that the hotel's architect, W.A. Chambers created the floor plan for the hotel and then left for a trip to his homeland. Upon his return, he found out that the hotel had actually been built in the opposite way than his plans indicated. Devastated by this mistake, he jumped from the hotel's 5th floor and killed himself. Since then, guests and staff alike have reported seeing his ghost wandering around the hotel.

The Langham Hong Kong

The Langham Hong Kong is a hotel big enough to accommodate a variety of guests, both alive and dead. Many guests have reported feeling an eerie dark presence around them and in their rooms, while some of them have felt tapping noises made right next to their ears, even though no one else was around them. If you think staying at a big hotel like this one will make you lonely, it's time you reconsidered.

OUR HOTELS COLLECTION

VISION Destinations | January 21

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