Most haunted hotels around the world part 1

Ruthin Castle Hotel & Spa, Wales

Situated next to the scenic Clwydian Range in North Wales, Ruthin Castle has had many renowned tenants since its 1277 construction, including King Henry VII and his daughter Mary (aka Bloody Mary). The castle was also briefly inhabited by Lady Jane Grey, Henry VII's great-granddaughter and so-called “Nine Days' Queen” of England. Lady Jane was eventually executed for high treason in London in 1554, but her spirit is said to have wandered back to Ruthin Castle to wander the banquet hall and castle battlements. Even if you miss a run-in with the Lady's ghost, you can still explore the castle's objectively creepy dungeons, whipping pit, and drowning pool.   

The Omni Mount Washington, New Hampshire

Like many of the hotels on this list, Mount Washington's Omni is a grand space with an even grander history. Built in 1902, the hotel has hosted some seriously noteworthy guests, including Thomas Edison and three U.S. presidents. The Omni also has some clientele that skews more notorious than noteworthy, like Carolyn Stickney, the widowed wife of the hotel's original owner who stuck around after her death. Her four-poster bed still sits in one of the third-floor guests rooms, and guests have reported waking up to find Stickney brushing her hair at the foot of the bed. But let's face it: you'll be spending too much time on the hotel's sprawling porch (seriously, it's one of the best we've seen) to notice any flashes of paranormality.                                                                                                                             

Parador de Jaén, Spain

Located in an 18th-century Arab fortress overlooking the Andalusian landscape, Parador de Jaén has a few spooky stories hiding behind its imposing walls. According to the hotel's website, a guest in Room 22 was rudely awakened one night by sounds of a women crying and someone knocking on the door. A team of paranormal investigators was called in to check the room out in the 1980s, and they concluded that the room was, in fact, haunted by the spirit of a young woman who had died of heartbreak in the fortress several centuries ago. The room has been quiet since the investigation, but that's not the only ghost story 'round these parts. The hotel is also said to be haunted by the spirit of "Terrible Lizard," the nickname of a prisoner who died of hunger while locked up in the fortress.                                              

Castle Leslie Estate, County Monaghan, Ireland

After staying at Castle Leslie Estate, former deputy digital editor Laura Redman reported, "This castle was what you imagine of a 16th-century Irish homestead—red ivy snaking up the walls, deep copper tubs, a library stocked with first-edition novels, afternoon tea overlooking 1,000 wooded and lake-spotted acres." Indeed, the secluded country hotel makes you feel like you're the only person in Ireland—unless you run into a Leslie family member's ghost, of course. Luckily, all reported ghost sightings have been pleasant, like catching sight of Norman Leslie shuffling papers in the hotel's Red Room. Hey, with accommodations like these, we're more than willing to encounter a non-threatening ghost or two.                           

Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India

Taj Mahal Palace is a five-star hotel located in the heart of Mumbai, consistently voted one of the best hotels in India by our readers. Along with amazing views and interiors fit for a royal, one of the property's more macabre claims to fame is its aura of mystery. According to legend, the building's architect jumped to his death from the fifth floor after discovering the hotel was facing the wrong direction. His spirit now allegedly (and harmlessly) roams the halls, running into guests in the hallways and walking around the roof.                                                                                     

The Read House, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Originally opened in 1872, The Read House is one of the premier historic hotels in downtown Chattanooga. Aside from its recent $28 million renovation, the hotel is perhaps most famous for Room 311, the room where a woman named Annalisa Netherly was allegedly beheaded in the bathtub by a jealous lover. Several guests have reported paranormal activity in the room over the years, including unexplained noises, flickering lights, running water, and shadowy figures. The Read House decided to leave Room 311 unmodified during the hotel's renovation, complete with vintage claw foot tub and an AM radio that doesn't work. For guests who prefer scares over sleep, the hotel even offers a "Room 311 Experience" package: overnight accommodations, a decanter of "bathtub gin", cocktails at the bar, $100 dining credit, and breakfast service (should you make it until morning). The starting cost? $666.