Six of the world's most haunted hotels

Why not add an extra shiver to your Halloween and book a stay in one of these spooky haunts?

Ballygally Castle in Northern Ireland. Courtesy hotels.com

Take your Halloween experience one step further and stay in one of the world's most haunted hotels, put together by the accommodation experts at hotels.com.

1. Ballygally Castle, Northern Ireland

Ballygally Castle is rumoured to have as many as three ghosts, two of which roam around the turrets. However, one room in particular is said to still be home to the original owner of the castle’s wife, Lady Isabella Shaw. Guests who have stayed in this haunted room, at the top of the spiral staircase in the oldest part of the castle, have reported hearing her ominously knocking on the door. The castle also offers a ghost tour where you can encounter the other two apparitions as well as learn about the history of the building.

Ballygally Castle is available to book from Dh430

2. Bourbon Orleans Hotel, New Orleans  

Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Courtesy hotels.com

The iconic Bourbon Orleans Hotel, located in the French Quarter, has a rich and vibrant history. The hotel used to be the Orleans Ballroom and Theatre and then in the late 1800s was converted into a convent, meaning stories of the haunted rooms are as old as the hotel itself. The Loved by Guests hotel ranks as one of New Orleans’ top haunted hotels and is so spooky that it is a key part of the New Orleans Ghost & Spirits walking tour.

Bourbon Orleans Hotel is available to book from Dh490 per room 

3. Hotel Burchianti, Florence

Hotel Burchianti, Florence

Whilst beautiful, this boutique hotel isn’t for the fainthearted, as it is rumoured to be brimming with ghosts and trapped spirits. Guests have not only claimed to have seen children skipping down the halls, but also the ghost of a woman sitting in a chair. Alongside the haunted atmosphere, guests can enjoy the original 16th-century murals displayed around the hotel. Last year, a ghost was actually captured on camera at this hotel.

Hotel Burchianti, Florence is available to book from Dh410 per room, per night

4. Toftaholm Herrgård, Sweden

Toftaholm Herrgård, Sweden. Courtesy hotels.com

Are you brave enough to stay at the idyllic Toftaholm Herrgård set on the shores of Lake Vidostern in southern Sweden? Guests at the hotel, a former country manor from the 14th century, have experienced inexplicable incidents from strange noises to doors and windows closing shut in the morning. The hotel is thought to be haunted by a young peasant boy who fell in love with the daughter of the baron, who hung himself when she was forced to marry someone else.

Toftaholm Herrgård is available to book from Dh490 per room, per night

5. The Russell Hotel, Sydney

The Russell Hotel, Sydney. Courtesy hotels.com

The Russell Hotel offers ghost tours for guests wanting to learn more about its haunted past. Situated in the now trendy area known as The Rocks, this part of town used to attract some shady characters as well as mischievous sailors. One such sailor is said to have never left, and still haunts the halls in room eight, with some guests even reporting that they have seen him staring at them from the foot of the bed.

The Russell Hotel is available to book from Dh390 per room, per night

6. The Mermaid Inn, Rye

The Mermaid Inn, Rye. Courtesy hotels.com

The Mermaid Inn in Rye, East Sussex, is plagued by numerous spirits and has its own designated Ghost Room, with several celebrities reporting they have been awoken by mysterious noises in this bedroom.

The Mermaid Inn, Rye is available to book from Dh409 per room, per night

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