Top 5 Haunted Hotels

1: Omni Royal Orleans: New Orleans, Louisiana

Behind the Omni’s French Quarter facade of wrought iron lace, each room boasts luxurious marble baths and grand 19th-century-inspired decor—some have private balconies overlooking NOLA nightlife. Perhaps the view is what draws dozens of specters that are said to hang out here. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself on the wrong side of a jammed lock in a certain room (the suite number is kept secret)—if it doesn’t unlock after a few minutes, call the front desk or slip out via the connecting suite; 888/444-6664 or omnihotels.com

2: Rosario Resort: Orcas Island, Washington

Arrive by seaplane or ferry to this isolated location and you’ll find yourself ensconced in nature, with 360-degree views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound—each room has a water view. The 1909 mansion contains a spa, a restaurant and lounge, and a museum full of paintings and photographs from the early 1900s. On the second floor, watch out for the specter of a woman in a red dress and heels atop a Harley—that’s Alice Rheem, audacious wife during the 1930s of the mansion’s second owner. Guests report hearing her stilettos echoing in the hallways and seeing darting shadows in brightly lit areas. Rates start at $109; 360/376-2152 or rosarioresort.com

3: The Fairmont Algonquin: St. Andrews-By-The-Sea, New Brunswick

Set on sparkling Passamaquoddy Bay, the 122-year-old Tudor-style “castle-by-the-sea” has modern touches that allow you to enjoy its historical charm in comfort. At check-in, you’ll see a 1900s photo of the hotel, showing a headless bride in the window; she is said to have died of a broken heart after being jilted at the altar. If you dare, stay in room 473, where guests claim to have witnessed the floating, wedding gown–clad apparition and heard weeping at night. For more spirited tales, request an evening by the outdoor fire pit with one of the Algonquin storytellers, and order some hot chocolate to soothe your goose bumps; 866/540-4403 or fairmont.com/algonquin.

4: Hotel Galvez & Spa: Galveston, Texas

Celebrating 100 years of glamour, historic Hotel Galvez welcomes guests with towering palms and a grand lobby with twinkling chandeliers, high archways, and plush seating. If you’re staying on the fifth floor, you might encounter Audra, whose spirit remains at the hotel to search for her fiancé, who was thought to be lost at sea. Audra stayed often and would climb the ladder to a hotel turret to gaze over the water and wait for his return to the Port of Galveston. After a particularly severe storm, she received word that his ship, and its entire crew, were lost. For weeks, she continued to visit the turret. When her prayers went unanswered, she hanged herself. Tragically, the groom-to-be arrived at the hotel a few days later, ready for his wedding; 409/765-7721 or wyndham.com

5: Hochelga Inn: Kingston, Ontario

Follow the cobblestone walkways to the Sydenham District and discover this historic 21-room, French-influenced mansion. The decorative brick exterior and towering central turret creates a majestic facade; inside, the sweet, sleepy rooms contain antiques and fireplaces. Surrounded by so much history in Kingston, you might not blink an eye if you notice the woman dressed in black Victorian garb stiffly perched in the inn’s large bay window. You’d probably think she’s just another storyteller in period dress from the popular ghost tour—until she fades before your eyes. She and her dark, shadowy children also roam the grounds; 877/933-9433 or hochelagainn.com.

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