In the spirit of Halloween, The Travel Corporation team has put together a list of the most spooktacular travel destinations for the ghost hunters, scream queens and fright night aficionados among us.
Here are the destinations around the world that scream HALLOWEEN.
Scotland
Let’s start with one of the most haunted residences in Scotland. With nine ghosts known to regularly haunt the halls of Glamis Castle this place is a ghost hunters dream! The most famous ghost to haunt this castle is The Monster of Glamis; this ‘monster’ was supposedly a deformed child brought up – and eventually dying of old age, in a hidden room that no one alive today knows the location of, within the Castle’s walls. Enjoy a walk about the grounds on Insight Vacations Country Roads of Scotland trip in the hopes of running into some spectral characters.
Transylvania
When it comes to traditional spookfest’s, nothing screams Halloween more than Transylvania and the Castle Bran. This castle is the home of historical Prince Vlad Tepes also known as Vlad the Impaler. Vlad is said to have been the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s iconic Dracula, despite a lack of evidence suggesting he actually drank the blood of his victims. Travellers can spend their next Halloween at the real Dracula’s lair on Busabout’s seven-day Transylvanian Halloween Trek!
France
Have you ever heard of the Empire of the Dead? Well it’s a real place and if it sounds like somewhere you’re already adding to your bucket list Trafalgar can help. Their Delights of London and Paris itinerary takes guests down into the Parisian catacombs where the remains of over 6 million people lie just beyond a doorway that boasts the infamous inscription “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort (‘Halt! This is the Empire of the Dead’). The once disorganised bone depository was renovated in 1810 into a visitable museum famous for its decorative stacking of sculls and femurs. If you find the room set aside for skeletal deformities be prepared for shivers up your spine.
Italy
Interestingly, Venice has an entire island dedicated to the dead. Poveglia is a small island in the Venetian Logoon that was used as a dumping ground for the diseased, dying and deceased during the black plague epidemic in the 14th century. Despite the bell from the islands bell tower being removed long ago locals still claim to hear its chimes. Guests of Uniworld’s Gems of Northern Italy luxury river cruise can explore this island at their leisure, or choose to stay on the mainland and enjoy the Spooky Venice walk which divulges where the hidden passages are, which squares conceal cemeteries beneath the cobblestones and who the ghostly noblemen are that haunt the canals available on select Generational Program sailings.
Australia
Travellers don’t need to head to the other side of the world for a hair-raising experience. Contiki’s Outback Adventure or AAT Kings Outback Safari takes travellers to a remote location in the Northern Territory called Wycliffe Well. Being home to less than 50 full time residents, a petrol station and a holiday park this town holds the prestigious title of UFO capital of Australia! Wycliffe Well Holiday Park’s brochure states that, “UFO sightings are so common, that if you stayed up all night looking, you would be considered unlucky not to see anything”. Supposedly, this is all due to the Ley Lines in the sky, which act as highways for the travelling UFO’s.
England
Another common Halloween tradition is to take part in eating Halloween inspired food and drink. Themed food can range from linked sausage intestines to peeled grape eyeballs and this Halloween Red Carnation Hotels are getting involved in the festivities with some spooky but delicious cocktails. The Chesterfield Hotel’s Terrace Bar is providing the goods with a Pumpkin Bloody Mary where the classic tomato flavour is substituted with homemade pumpkin juice. Not one to miss out on the action The Milestone Hotel’s Stables Bar has created a concoction of Lapsang Souchong tea, Laphroaig 10 year old whisky and Wray & Nephew White Rum titled the Socerer’s Globe that will leave guests feeling refreshed and maybe even a little bit wicked.
USA
To truly experience classic contemporary Halloween festivities, join Adventure World Travel in North America and stay amidst the locals on the Postcards of California trip. Guests stay within the heart of the cities of Los Angeles, Monterey & San Francisco and are suggested to rent a bike or explore the city on foot to best experience what each location has to offer. Booking a trip for Halloween will have each visitor surrounded by Jack O’Lanterns, trick or treaters, over the top Halloween decorations and Spooktacular themed food and drink to sate any Halloween fanatic.
- READ: Your guide to Halloween in Los Angeles
- READ: Tokyo’s Hello Kitty Land is going dark for Halloween