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Forget cobwebs, creaky floors, and dusty furniture. Some spirits prefer to haunt hotels where they can spend the afterlife in style. You really can't blame them. Who wouldn't enjoy spending eternity in a hideaway where class, comfort, and contentment are paramount?
Several years ago, a Hideaways.com poll revealed that nearly 60% of discerning travelers like you would spend the night with a ghost. That's a lot of adventurous souls! Here, we reveal our Top 13 Haunted Hideaways list. These are places where ghosts enjoy the frills of a stylish hotel, while ghoul-loving guests enjoy a few bump-in-the-night thrills.
Some of these haunts we've been to and highly recommend (though we've never had a ghostly encounter ourselves!), while others we know of only for their ghoulish tales. When you're ready to plan your spooky stay, reach out to your Hideaways Travel Specialist through a Ouija board or more directly at 800-843-4433 or ts@hideaways.com.
 #1 The Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, California. The "ooohhh" factor: One of the few remaining examples of America's Victorian beach hotel architecture, the venerable Hotel Del Coronado—just minutes from San Diego on glistening Coronado Central Beach—has evolved since it first opened in 1888 into something like its own self-contained community, with its Beach Village, California Towers, Ocean Cabanas, and grand Victorian Building. The "booooo" factor: Employees and guests alike have reported a number of ghostly goings on attributed to Kate Morgan, who died on the grounds in 1892 from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Kate's especially active in her room (number 3327), where visitors have experienced sudden cold breezes, items moving on their own, disembodied voices, and the television turning itself off and on. The movie "1408"—and of course, the eponymous Stephen King short story that inspired it—are based on parapsychologist Christopher Chacon's investigation of Kate's room.
 #2 The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado. The "ooohhh" factor: For more than 100 years, travelers have been winding their way up a dramatic mountain pass to spend time relaxing at this now-famous historic hotel, reveling in the valley views and enjoying fine dining, an elegant atmosphere, and gracious accommodations. The "booooo" factor: Right here, in room #217, Stephen King reportedly began his novel, The Shining, inspired no doubt by the spooky surroundings. The Stanley Hotel's "Ghost and History Tour" shares its rich history of ghost stories and sightings while bringing you right into its most haunted rooms and places, including the hotel's underground tunnel (if you dare, that is!).
 #3 Le Pavillon Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana. The "ooohhh" factor: Close to such attractions as the French Quarter and The Garden District, the lavishly decorated "Belle of New Orleans"—built in 1907 and renamed twice before being dubbed Le Pavillon in the 1970—enjoys a rich history, supposedly boasting at one time a lengthy Prohibition-era underground passage used to provide discrete exits by politicians and other dignitaries. The "booooo" factor: Built on the site of an ill-reputed theatre in an area once purported to be a place of "foul deeds and midnight murders," the hotel actually celebrates its vaporous denizens — in particular the ghost of a girl who was crushed beneath a passing carriage in the 1840s, a poltergeist that delights in playing jokes on third-floor guests, and the spiffily attired spirits of a Roaring '20s couple that wander the halls hand-in-hand.
 #4 Ballygally Castle Hotel, Co. Antrim, Ireland. The "ooohhh" factor: Near Belfast, and set on the Antrim coast along a hauntingly beautiful stretch known as the Glens of Antrim, this castle hotel dating back to 1625 was renovated in 2007 and has an abundance of Irish character and charm. The "booooo" factor: According to centuries-old legend, castle owner Lord James Shaw took his newborn son and heir, then locked his wife in the tower. While trying to escape, Lady Isobella fell to her death from a window. Despite her trauma, she is reputed to be a "friendly" spirit who walks the castle corridors.
 #5 The Hotel California, Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The "ooohhh" factor: Downsized in the early 2000s from 16 to 11 rooms, this boutique hotel was originally built in Spanish Colonial style in 1947 by a Chinese entrepreneur. Along with the town of Todos Santos, of which John Steinbeck once wrote "the very air here is miraculous, and outlines of reality change by the moment," the hotel has a storied, colitas-laden hippy history, enjoys comfortable temperatures year-round, and continues to exude a laid-back, flip-flops feel today. The "booooo" factor: Rumored to be the inspiration for The Eagles 1977 Grammy-winning hit of the same name, the Hotel California has had many employees and visitors recount tales of ghosts meandering about the hotel courtyard. Rooms 5 and 14 are both said to be inhabited by the lonely spirit of a beautiful young woman, possibly one of the original owner's seven daughters.
 #6 Rose Hall Great House, Jamaica. The "ooohhh" factor: The modern Rose Hall Resort occupies a slice of breathtakingly beautiful coastline along the sparkling turquoise sea that originally was part of the 18th-century Rose Hall Plantation. Here, you'll enjoy a serene setting and terrific touches like a state-of-the-art spa and Robert von Hagge's new White Witch golf course, set in the rolling hills above Rose Hall where 16 of the 18 holes have spectacular views of the Caribbean. The "booooo" factor: Speaking of that White Witch . . . this plantation property passed through many hands over the years, including those of John Palmer in 1820. John's wife, Annie, supposedly possessed "voodoo" powers and, during her time as the plantation's mistress, is said to have done away with John and two subsequent husbands as well as countless slave lovers. This "White Witch of Rose Hall" was found dead in her bedroom (foul play?) and is said to still wander the halls of the Great House, now a museum.
 #7 Ballyseede Castle, Co. Kerry, Ireland. The "ooohhh" factor: Set on 30 acres of pasture and gardens, this is Kerry's only castle hotel. Here, guests enjoy a delicate mixture of old-world decadence (five-course dinners) and modern luxury (spacious rooms) fit for royalty—and golfers will love its proximity to several championship courses. The "booooo" factor: When you've been around for centuries, your long history can sometimes prove to be quite colorful, as it is at Ballyseede. The ghosts of previous landlords are said to roam the long corridors, and each March 24th the castle's friendly ghost—known as Hilda—makes her return appearance.
 #8 Shelbourne Hotel , Dublin, Ireland. The "ooohhh" factor: This majestic, city-center hotel dates to 1824, when would-be hotelier Martin Burke purchased three townhouses and converted them, thus establishing the elegant Shelbourne. Following a massive restoration project in 2005, the hotel now features luxurious guestrooms re-imagined by award-winning designer Frank Nicholson. The "booooo" factor: The Shelbourne's "ghost-ory" dates back to 1965, when the famed British psychic Sybil Leek claimed to have invited a frightened young girl by the name of Mary Masters into her room—feeling, but not seeing, a diminutive presence crawl into the bed next to her, after which she awoke the next day with a numb right arm. Ghost hunter Hans Holzer, who was also visiting the hotel at the time, determined that Mary had died on the grounds in 1846.
 #9 Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Canada. The "ooohhh" factor: This delightful grand hotel rises from the center of Canada's capital, a landmark of turquoise-topped turrets, and has impressed its guests for generations with its superb amentities, from enchanting views of Parliament to a distinctive Art Deco-style pool. The "booooo" factor: Just 12 days before the hotel's grand opening in 1912, its chairman, Charles Melville Hays, died on the Titanic. Some say Hays did indeed make it for the opening, and that his spirit still occasionally makes an appearance to 21st-century staff and guests.
 #10 The RMS Queen Mary Hotel, Long Beach, California. The "ooohhh" factor: At one time a world-class crown jewel of the sea, the proud Queen Mary has been converted into one-of-a-kind hotel featuring period-correct 1930s artwork and sumptuous Art Deco décor, with each stateroom offering its own unique personality for guests to enjoy. The "booooo" factor: While the Queen Mary annually celebrates Halloween in garish, ghoulish style with elaborate monsters and mazes, the ship has supposedly seen 49 deaths over the years, and many areas of the ship are said to be haunted. Haunts include a sailor in them the engine room, a specter in the captains quarters, and shadowy swimmers in the first-class pool. Guided paranormal tours, both individual and group, are offered to give guests a chance to discover their own phantasmal phenomena.
 #11 The Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta, Canada. The "ooohhh" factor: This stately, turreted, Scottish baronial castle-cum-hotel sits inside Banff National Park at the intersection of three glacial valleys, with vistas of mountains, meadows, and rivers. The resort delivers just what its 19th-century founder intended—a unique blend of majestic scenery, European-style luxury, and flawless service--which even today, few hotels can rival. The "booooo" factor: The hotel is said to be haunted by bellhop Sam Macaulay, who died in 1978 after he was forced to retire. In the years since, this friendly white-haired ghost has walked the hallways and assisted guests—carrying luggage and letting those with lost keys into their rooms, then vanishing before there's time to offer a tip.
 #12 The Langham Hotel, London, England. The "ooohhh" factor: This Victorian icon opened in 1865 as Europe's first "Grand Hotel." Since then, it has enchanted royalty, celebs, dignitaries, and scores of discerning travelers like you. Sure, you'll find afternoon tea here, but thanks to its recent £80million restoration, you'll now find impeccable touches along with its legendary "service with poise." The "booooo" factor: Room #333 is a popular choice for ghost guests. In 1973, a phantom—looking very much like an Edwardian gentleman—chased BBC announcer James Alexander Gordon out of the room, and in 2003, a woman abruptly checked out of the hotel after reporting that her slumbers had been interrupted by a ghost who continually shook her bed during the night.
 BONUS: Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland. The "ooohhh" factor: Okay, so it's not a hotel! This remarkable historical edifice has withstood the march of time for some 900 years and is a crowning attraction for visitors to the city. Described by Hideaways' President Mike Thiel as "a virtual city unto itself," the castle magnificently encapsulates the medieval splendor of Edinburgh's Old Town district.
The "booooo" factor: Given its nine centuries of history, the castle can hardly have escaped becoming a source of terrifying tales. Among the spooky sightings seen wafting about the castle over the years: a headless drummer, a phantom piper, the apparitions of prisoners from the Seven Years War and the American Revolution, and even a dog — although the spectral spaniel seems to limit its wanderings to a pet cemetery on the grounds.
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