With all the sweets, parties, and dressing up involved, Halloween has risen in popularity over the years and become the fourth biggest holiday in terms of retail spending. Despite that, only 3 in 10 Brits actually celebrate Halloween! So if you’re looking to get your spook on, there are better places to be! <br> <br>
New Orleans, America
<br> <br> As the most haunted city in America, New Orleans is top of our list! Their celebrations last longer than just All Hallow’s Eve, and you can attend the Krewe of BOO! 2022 Parade Rolls on Saturday, October 22nd at 6:30pm. <br> <br> Bourbons Orleans Hotel is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in New Orleans. The infamous second-floor ballroom hosted many of New Orleans’ most prestigious events, however now it is said to have a lone dancer who sways under the crystal chandelier. If you hang around in the lobby for long enough and begin to smell a cigar even though no one is smoking, look out for an elderly ghost who sits reading a newspaper whilst smoking a cigar. <br> <br> Want to learn more about the history of New Orleans and hopefully see a ghost or two in the process? Check out the Haunted History Tours to get your spooky historical fix! <br> <br>
Meath, Ireland
<br> <br> Though most of our modern traditions are American, the origin of Halloween is much closer to home. Ireland is widely regarded as the birthplace of Halloween, with ancient Celtic harvest festival Samhain developing into what we know as Halloween today. If you’d like to join a more traditional celebration, the Spirits of Meath festival just an hour outside Dublin may tickle your fancy. This week-long festival offers both daytime and nighttime events, depending on your taste for fright. <br> <br> For extra spooky vibes, stay in Trim Castle, which offers special packages to festival goers. <br> <br>
Tokyo, Japan
<br> <br> In Japan, Halloween may not have any connections to any traditional celebrations, but that doesn’t stop them from celebrating in style. In Tokyo, Halloween is treated as a huge street party, with tens of thousands of people gathering every year. The main hotspots are the Shibuya district, with its famous scramble crossing, or the Ikebukuro district, where cosplay lovers show off their scariest costumes. <br> <br> To take the Halloween spirit through your stay, we’d recommend the Hotel Metropolitan Edmont that throughout October decorate the hotel and rooms with all things scary, and offer Halloween sweets to their guests. <br> <br> From today (September 15th) til October 31st you can round out your Japanese Halloween celebrations by visiting Disney Resort Tokyo for their annual event, filled with parades, light shows and fireworks, music and decorations! We’d recommend sticking around the park until 7:30pm when you can catch the Nighttime Parade followed by the ‘Night High Halloween’ fireworks display a 8:30pm. <br> <br>
Salem, America
<br> <br> No one quite knows why Salem became the epicentre of the 17th century witch hunt that claimed the lives of over 150 lives. Half a million visitors go there for Halloween every year – perhaps to figure out the mystery, or perhaps just for the variety of events the city puts on. Whether you’d like to join a séance, tour the witch hunt graveyards or visit a haunted house, this city truly has it all! <br> <br> The Hawthorne Hotel, founded in 1920, hosts a spectacular Halloween ball every year – this year’s event is unfortunately sold out, but rooms are still available from £250. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the event, or perhaps start planning for next year. <br> <br> Does the Hawthorne Hotel ring a bell? You’ve probably heard of it before! It is said that Bridget Bishop, the first woman executed during the Salem Witch trials, owned an apple orchard that the hotel was later built on. Many guests claim they have encountered her spirit within the hotel. If you’re looking for a paranormal encounter of your own, ask to book one of the infamous rooms 612 or 325, and bring the ghost hunting equipment! <br> <br>
Transylvania, Romania
<br> <br> Transylvania is mostly known for the myths about vampires and the legendary Count Dracula created by Irish writer Bram Stoker. But for centuries Transylvania was colonized by several transient populations that have shaped its history and generated their own folk creations. <br> <br> For a true Dracula experience, take a tour of one of the spookiest places in Europe that takes you to Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), which inspired the setting for the world-famous gothic novel. Real vampires are not guaranteed, though it may be safe to wear a scarf and cover your neck… just in case! <br> <br> We’d recommend this hotel in the heart of Braşov, so you can stay out until the wee hours of the morning indulging in the spooktastic events and roaming the history-filled streets. <br> <br>
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