Haunted hotels you can check in, but maybe not check out of

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.