Experience a Halloween to remember with Booking.com’s selection of seven ghostly getaways. Dive into mythology, culture and celebrate in the spooky festivities with the global leader in connecting travellers to the widest choice of incredible places to stay.
Leave behind the creaky floorboards, icy drafts and haunted hallways and opt for comfort and luxury. You don’t have to stay in a house of horrors to celebrate Halloween 2016, let your imagination run wild in these top spooky destinations.
Braşov, Romania – Vila Katharina
Brasov, Romania is the home of the legendary Dracula and the historic region of Transylvania. This mysterious land is best known for its medieval towns, mountainous borders and gothic castles. Whether you think the folk legends of bloodthirsty vampires and howling werewolves are fact or fiction, Brasov is the place to be for your Halloween festivities. Brasov is a widely visited destination for Halloween with top nationalities visiting last year including Italians, Americans and Spanish.
Placed in the medieval heart of Brasov, the four-star boutique Vila Katharina hotel is an architectural jewel of the 18th century. Guests can enjoy various nearby activities including skiing and hiking; the Council Square is 350 yards away, while the Brasov Synagogue is a mere 100 yards away from the hotel.
You can savour delicious a la carte breakfasts in the restaurant, or served on silver trays to your room. The Vila Katharina oozes an elegance and sophistication from the past, yet offers guests the comfort and luxury of the present.
Travellers to this hotel can also learn of the legend of Katharina. In December 1455, a beautiful young lady yearned for the love of the infamous Vlad Dracula. Although religious townsfolk kept the two apart, their love still drifts through the mysterious streets of Brasov.
Paris, France – Hôtel Brighton
Whether you are looking for a trick or a treat, Paris can deliver it all; from extravagant Halloween displays at Disneyland Paris, to ghostly tours through the city of fright. Top endorsements for Paris include museums, sightseeing and culture, and top nationalities that visited Paris for last year’s Halloween include Italians, Chinese and Japanese.
This 19th-century building is situated in the heart of Paris, opposite the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens, beautifully furnished with antique furniture, chandeliers and Parisian décor. Combining historical charm with modern comfort, rooms feature picturesque views of the courtyard, the Eiffel Tower or the les Tuileries Gardens.
New Orleans, USA – Soniat House
New Orleans, known for its eccentric carnival celebrations does not disappoint when it comes to Halloween, second only to Mardi Gras. New Orleans is a city so rich in haunted history it is known as the most haunted city in America. Experience haunted tours, voodoo shops and street parties such as the famous Krewe of Boo. The top three nationalities that booked accommodation in New Orleans for last year’s Halloween include Americans, British and Turkish, and the top endorsements for the city are food, live music and nightlife.
The 1700’s Soniat House is located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, comprising of three historic townhouses and just three blocks away from the National World War II Museum. This elegant French Quarter inn is a three-minute walk from Bourbon Street and an eight-minute walk away from the historical French market. Spacious rooms provide deluxe bathroom amenities and antique furniture, offering an authentic New Orleans experience.
Oaxaca, Mexico – Hotel CasAntica
Although a little later than traditional Halloween celebrations, Mexico is the number one destination with the famous Day of the Dead and the Sugar Skull Tradition on the first and second of November. A famous Mexican tradition, the Day of the Dead is a celebration of the departed souls returning to earth to visit their loved ones.
Candles, flowers and favourite foods are presented to graveyards and travellers dress up in imaginative costumes and parade through the streets of Mexico. This colourful ritual celebrates the day of the dead and is a true celebration of life.
This 16th century hotel features an outdoor heated pool, a waterfall and the former chapel frames the El Pombo restaurant. Ideally situated just one block away from Zocalo the main plaza of Oaxaca and the Hotel CasAntica can arrange tours to any destination within the city, ideal for Halloween festivities. Top endorsements for this city include culture, food and architecture and the top three nationalities that travelled to Oaxaca for last year’s Halloween include American, Italian and French.
Tarrytown, New York – Castle Hotel & Spa
Tarrytown is a few miles away from the infamous village of Sleepy Hollow and the legendary headless horseman. Experience haunted hayrides, gothic mansions and street parades in the ghoulish historic town of Sleepy Hollow. Top attractions include Sleepy Hollow cemetery tours, horseman’s hollow and Irving’s legend. Top nationalities that booked accommodations in Tarrytown for last year’s Halloween include American and Spanish and top endorsements are history, food and monuments.
Set in a 19th-century Norman-style caste overlooking the Hudson River, this historic five-star hotel offers a full-service spa and an outdoor pool complex with a hot tub. The Equus Restaurant at the Castle Hotel & Spa offer two unique dining rooms and the Garden Terrace serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Washington Irving’s estate and other historic sites like the infamous Sleepy Hollow Cemetery are located in just a 10-minute drive from the hotel. With over a hundred years of history, the Castle is undoubtedly a sumptuous escape to the enchanted era of American’s Gilded Age.
Londonderry, UK – Beech Hill Hotel
Nobody does Halloween like Northern Ireland with the bewitching Banks of the Foyle Halloween festival; the renowned street carnival is back with its 30th anniversary. The Halloween parade is deemed the biggest in Europe, making Londonderry the ideal destination for Halloween enthusiasts. A devilish week of firework displays, street parades and mythical mayhem. Top nationalities that booked accommodation in Londonderry for last year’s Halloween festivities include French, American and Spanish and top endorsements are history, sightseeing and culture.
This four-star 18th century country house hotel is situated in the countryside, just a short drive from Derry city centre and within reach of the City of Derry Airport.
Beech Hill Hotel is situated just outside the historic walled city of Derry, perfectly placed for visiting the city and exploring the surrounding countryside. The hotel aims to combine all the best traditions of a country house hotel, offering elegance, charm and genuine warmth and hospitality. The hotel is famed for its tranquil atmosphere and superb dining at its Ardmore Restaurant.
London, UK – The Langham Hotel
From its dark history of Jack the Ripper to its new attractions London Dungeons and Tombs, London is the place to be to revel in Halloween festivities. The capital is bursting with ghoulish events from the Tower of London, ghost bus tours, haunted house parties and vibrant firework displays. The top three nationalities that booked accommodation in London for last year’s Halloween include British, French and Belgian and top endorsements for the capital include sightseeing, museums and culture.
The renowned Langham hotel with its distinctive charm and character opened in 1865 as Europe’s first grand hotel, and it has accommodated royalty, foreign dignitaries and celebrities in luxury for over 150 years.
At the top of Regent Street, the prestigious Langham hotel has an award-winning glamorous bar, Artesian, and a stylish restaurant, Roux at the Landau. The Artesian bar features a sumptuous cocktail menu, and Roux at The Landau restaurant has gourmet dinner, guests can enjoy afternoon tea at Palm Court.
