Halloween is approaching and spookiness is in the air, so we thought we’d bring you some of the country’s most notorious haunted hotels to consider for your next trip. Why settle for a plain old hotel stay when you could add apparitions, strange noises in the night, locking and unlocking doors, and more to the experience?

Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans - Image credit: Flickr

Check out these haunted spots from the Victorian seaport town of Port Townsend, WA to the land of voodoo and witchcraft itself, New Orleans, LA, and find the spot that’s right for your next journey!

If you’re planning an exciting, one-of-a-kind vacation, why stay in a conventional accommodation? The world is filled with hotels, motels and hostels that can add a much-needed sense of adventure to your trip. From underwater hotels to piles of hay, check out some of world’s most interesting places to lay your head.

Hôtel de Glace. Photo: lander2006

Jules Undersea Lodge

Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Fla., provides its guests with the opportunity to scuba dive 21 feet down to the hotel and enjoy a night watching angelfish, barracuda, snapper and all sorts of underwater life swim past the 42-inch windows. Situated in a tropical mangrove habitat, this eccentric accommodation doesn’t lack in traditional amenities such as a shower, a fully stocked kitchen, a refrigerator and microwave, books, TV and movies.

For more information, visit www.jul.com.

Zum Alten Marstall

This refurbished historical building situated at the foot of castle Burg Guttenberg is just one example of the newest lodging craze overtaking Europe—heuhotels, or “hay hotels.” At Zum Alten Marstall in Germany, you can choose to stay in a traditional room with the option of hay-filled or feather-filled pillows, or bring your sleeping bag and sleep on a pile of hay in the barn with up to 60 other guests.

For more information, visit www.heuhotel.cc.

Hôtel de Glace

Built completely out of ice and snow, Hôtel de Glace in in Québec, Canada is rebuilt entirely every year. The temperature inside the hotel remains between 26 and 23 degrees Fahrenheit, so make sure to bring a lot of warm clothes. Stay in a theme suite or book a room with a fireplace if you’re especially sensitive to the cold. Make sure you warm up with a stiff drink at the Ice Bar before you go to sleep on a solid ice bed—but don’t worry, an artic sleeping bag will be delivered to your room.

For more information, visit www.icehotel-canada.com.

Jumbo Hostel. Photo: Jumbo Hostel

Jumbo Hostel

Even for travelers who have a fear of flying, boarding this 747 jumbo jet won’t cause you to cower in fear—it doesn’t take off. Jumbo Hostel in Arlanda, Sweden is actually a 1976 vintage plane with 25 rooms and 85 beds. If you didn’t think this hotel could get any more offbeat, book the luxury suite that’s located in the cockpit.

For more information, visit www.jumbohostel.com.

Art Hotel Atelier sul Mare

Every room is a work of art at Art Hotel Atelier Sul Mare in Italy. This hotel-museum boats 40 rooms, 20 of them art rooms uniquely decorated by international artists. The hotel encourages guests to switch rooms every night in order to get the most out of their stay. Rooms with names like Mystery for the Moon and The Mouth of Truth provide the backdrop to an inspirational and moving vacation.

For more information, visit www.ateliersulmare.it.

Let me introduce myself: I’m Marley Bubbakin Skywalker Jedi Kibble Hound—but my friends call me Marley. I’m TravelMuse’s dog blogger, and I want to remind you that we pets like vacations, too. Sometimes we appreciate the time to chill out at home while you’re off on holiday; but remember, we’re part of the family too, and we enjoy tagging along so long as there’s enough food to make it worthwhile.

Many individual hotels recognize that people love their pets—and have added special packages and amenities for dogs and cats. My family and I recently stayed at the Cayucos Beach Inn in Cayucos, Calif., and I got cookies, bowls for food and water, a plush blanket and a beach towel, for only $10 extra per night. The hotel even had gas barbecues on the lawn area, so I could enjoy meals with my family.

Sometimes it can be hard to find that pet-friendly individual hotel at your vacation destination, and that’s where the chain hotels come in. There are some well-recognized hotel brands, from budget to luxe, that allow pets. Add this list to your travel resources:

• *Kimpton Hotels*—Special pet packages at Kimpton properties can include toys, treats, comfy beds and concierge-arranged services like pet sitting, grooming, walking and massage. Many hotels have pet ambassadors that greet pet guests and ensure a happy stay, such as Monaco Maverick (a chocolate Lab like me) at San Francisco’s Hotel Monaco.
• *Loews Hotels*—Gifts at check-in include treats, water bowl and a pet tag, but additional available items range from beds to scratching posts. Pet guardians receive a thorough listing of hotel and local pet services, and the room-service menu includes snacks for Fido or Fluffy. The hotels charge a one-time cleaning fee of $25.
• *Starwood Hotels and Resorts* (with nine brands, including Sherton, Four Points, W and Westin)—In 2003, Starwood hotels adopted its “Love That Dog” program (which I heartily approve). Hotel pet amenities include lush beds, water and food bowls, and an ID tag. The W brand has a pet package that offers toys and treats as well.
• *Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts*—Many Four Seasons properties allow pets 15 pounds and under. At my svelte 95 pounds, that doesn’t include me. But those teeny pets can enjoy a welcome package that includes a placemat and bowl, bottle of water and a toy.
• *Days Inn* and *Travelodge*—Many of the hotels in these two budget-conscious chains allow pets, but extra charges may apply. Be sure to contact the hotel at your destination directly and ask about its pet policy.

If you have great pet-friendly hotel recommendations, please add a comment and let me know (especially if they offer yummy treats). I work hard and can always use a vacation!

Within the last week, we completed a major upgrade to our hotel and destination database to ensure the most current and freshest content possible. Having a body of accurate and actionable reference content is essential for effective travel planning and booking, and we’re committed to keeping this information as up to date as possible.

Working with our booking partner World Choice Travel (a subsidiary of Travelocity), we increased our hotel count to 105,000—up from about 90,000. These 105,000 hotels cover more than 17,000 destinations and provide the widest selection of trusted hotel options throughout the world. Our hotel pages connect directly to the central reservation systems of hotels worldwide, which results in better rate and room descriptions, and in many cases, a greater variety of rates.

Working with our destination content provider WCities, we increased the number of points of interest (restaurants, shopping and attractions) from roughly 85,000 to 92,000 covering over 200 destinations.

Obviously, with this amount of data, there will be bits of obsolete or wrong information. We work closely with both partners to report and fix any data inaccuracies and you can let us know of anything you find by sending an e-mail to: feedback@travelmuse.com.