The tradition of celebrating Halloween has long been no longer the prerogative of English-speaking countries; all over the world at the end of October, young people organize themed parties and dress up in costumes of witches, dead people and other evil spirits. On the other hand, this holiday is a good reason to think about whether there really is an other world and where you can meet ghosts? Especially for those who are ready to take risks and test their nerves, we have compiled a selection of hotels where spooky stories have happened and it is believed that ghosts live there.
Cecil Hotel (currently Stay on Main),
Los Angeles, USA
The hotel was built in downtown Los Angeles in 1924. Over the entire period of its existence, criminal cases have repeatedly occurred there, including three murders, but what is more interesting is that a number of suicides have also occurred there. The most famous and widely discussed case was the case of Elisa Lam, a student from Canada, who drowned in one of the technical water tanks on the roof of the hotel. The fact is that during the investigation, surveillance camera recordings were made public, which clearly show that Eliza, being completely alone in the elevator, waves her arms as if pushing someone away from her and defending herself, and mortal horror is written on her face. In 2011, the hotel was renamed Stay on Main. Guests continue to regularly report paranormal activity.
Today Stay on Main is a modern design hotel with brightly decorated rooms, fast Wi-Fi and parking in the city center. Guests can choose to stay in a comfortable room with a double bed and a private bathroom, or choose a cheaper option – a shared room with double beds. The Los Angeles Flower District and Grand Central Market are within walking distance of the hotel.
The average price for a double room is 6,000 rubles.
Toftaholm Herrgård, Lagan, Sweden
The estate on Lake Langan, surrounded by endless green meadows and shady groves, was once the family estate of a Swedish baron. A young man from ordinary workers who lived on the estate fell in love with the baron’s daughter, but the imperious father flatly refused to marry the girl to a commoner, and, in confirmation of his firm intention, immediately arranged a wedding for her with another, more noble applicant. The ardent lover could not withstand such a blow and on his wedding day he hanged himself in one of the rooms, but was never able to find peace.
If you are not afraid that his ghost will steal your sleep, and they say that this is exactly what he often does to guests, bringing sad thoughts and melancholy to them, then you can fully enjoy a peaceful holiday in a large country house home, leisurely walks on the lake on a wooden boat and long evenings by the large fireplace. Toftaholm Herrgård has been welcoming guests for over 6 centuries and is now run by the 27th generation of owners who welcome guests with children and pets. The hotel features a sauna and spa, and a spacious wedding suite for a romantic getaway.
The average price for a double room is 12,000 rubles.
Grand Hyatt Hotel Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
The hotel of the world famous Grand Hyatt chain was built in the Taiwanese city of Taipei in 1989, so the reports of guests about strange sounds in empty rooms, and especially their stories about encounters with ghosts, do not sound very believable. However, there were really a lot of similar rumors. It turns out that the hotel was built on the site where Japanese soldiers were executed and buried during the Second World War. It is said that ghosts are most often found on the upper floors of the hotel. Since such rumors had a very negative impact on the reputation of the hotel, the managers called Feng Shui experts, and at their insistence, they hung parchments with Chinese calligraphy in certain places of the hotel, which should calm down the souls who had not found peace.
Paranormal activity aside, the five-star hotel is a classic Grand Hyatt hotel with a full range of amenities, an outdoor pool, sauna, spa and fitness center. For business trips there is a modern conference center.
The average price for a double room is 20,000 rubles.
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, USA
Opened in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado was at the time the largest resort in the world, hosting presidents, kings and celebrities of the time. From the side, its turrets and sharp peaks of the roofs give it the appearance of a Disney castle, but guests often meet within the hotel’s walls not cartoon characters, but the creepy ghost of a lady in a black evening dress. In November 1892, a young woman stayed in room 304, now room 3327, who introduced herself as Kate Morgan and said she was expecting her brother to arrive. Her brother never showed up, and three days later her body was found on the steps leading to the beach. The killer was never found, so Kate’s ghost cannot calm down and from time to time appears at the crime scene, reminding descendants of the unsolved mystery. Inexplicable phenomena also occur in the deceased’s former room: periodic power outages, drafts with doors and windows closed. Those who dared to stay in room 3327 complained of strange whispers coming from nowhere and an unrelated depressive mood. By the way, Stephen King based his work “1408” on a story from the life of parapsychologist Christopher Chacon, who investigated Kate Morgan’s room at the Hotel del Coronado.
In total, the oceanfront resort hotel has 680 rooms and an almost endless list of amenities and services: private beach, large outdoor pool, golf course, tennis court, spa center, fitness room and massage rooms, children’s club and professional nannies. The journey to the city’s bustling tourist center takes about half an hour.
The average price for a double room is 45,000 rubles.
Hotel LaFer, Gerchiki village, Russia
The former estate of the Scottish Leslie family near Moscow is also shrouded in terrible legends. The history of the estate began in the second half of the 18th century, when the first buildings were erected on the land donated by the Emperor to Alexander Leslie. By 1830, a huge two-story house with a mezzanine in the classical style, a Trinity Church and a spacious park with ponds had grown in Gerchikovo. For almost four centuries, the estate changed owners several times, and at the same time became surrounded by various rumors. According to one of them, somewhere in the house there is a treasure hidden that cannot be found. Another story says that the ghost of a girl lives in the house, who sometimes walks along the corridors in a white dress. They say that this is the soul of a noblewoman who tried to escape with her lover. The girl was caught and, as punishment for her daring rebellion, she was walled up in the wall of the estate, right in her wedding dress. It is believed that those who meet her within the walls of the house are promised great luck, but only if their heart does not stop from horror when meeting a ghost.
After the revolution, the old estate was nationalized, and either a school or a summer health camp operated on its territory. In 2009, the new owner began restoration, and since the end of 2010 it has been hosting guests as a luxury hotel with 16 spacious rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a golf course, a sauna and a restaurant. In the summer you can ride bicycles on the territory of the estate, and in the winter – skiing, but the main specialization of the hotel is special events.
The average price for a room for two is 3,500 rubles.
Hotel National, Moscow, Russia
Urban legend says that the ghost of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin lives in the National Hotel, which periodically appears in the corridors and reflections of mirrors. At night, guests can hear the sound of footsteps, as if someone is walking from corner to corner in the room, and then the rustling of papers at the desk. Sometimes you can hear the sound of a spoon clinking against the walls of a cut glass, and sometimes a ghost can suddenly turn on or off the light. Perhaps the ghost of the leader settled here, because during his lifetime, Vladimir Ilyich most liked and remembered the week he spent with his wife Nadezhda Krupskaya in room 107 of the National Hotel in 1917. Or maybe the whole point is that this is the five-star hotel closest to the Kremlin and the Mausoleum.
In fact, you can only hear a ghost here if he comes to your room personally, since the hotel is equipped with a modern soundproofing system. In addition, there is an indoor pool, sauna, fitness and spa center. Rooms range from standard to presidential suites overlooking the bright lights of downtown Moscow.
The average price for a standard double room is 16,000 rubles.
