Is it time to chill down at night?

Some haunted hotels just may chill you to the bone

If you are tired of the summer heat, you may want to think ahead to something a bit cooler. Whether you are getting away this summer or planning for the fall, we found some places that just may chill you to the bone. Across the country and around the world, there are many places where you can stay the night alone, with a loved one or perhaps with someone of a ghostly nature. From bed and breakfasts in stately old buildings around New England to high-end ocean resort hotels in California, you can explore a bit of history and maybe even feel the past come back to you.

AllStays.com has a feature section on haunted hotels and other lodging ( /Special/haunted.htm ) with links, stories and guest comments. "It's probably the most interesting project when dealing with lodging research," says Jonathan Stocker of AllStays.com. "We started working on it a few years ago, along with our pet friendly hotel and Lighthouse rental directories, to give travelers something different."

There are places in almost every state in the United States, in all different price ranges and AllStays is constantly adding more each month as they find them and try to fill in the history. For one example, and perhaps one of the most haunted, there is the great Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach, CA. This ocean liner, now permanently docked at the Port of Long Beach, was commissioned in 1936 and journeyed a thousand Atlantic crossings. Many incidents of strange rapping noises, moving objects, disembodied voices, and ghostly apparitions have been reported by staff, guests, and investigators on the docked ship. The First Class Swimming Pool, said to be the most haunted place aboard, is haunted by the ghosts of two women who drowned there. One is dressed in 1960s clothing and the other wears 1930s attire. The forlorn ghost of a little boy who fell overboard near the pool has also been sighted in the passageway.

In Washington D.C., there is a hotel with some classic haunting stories that appear to be linked to the inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge did not attend his own inaugural ball in 1925 because he was mourning the death of his 16-year-old son. Every year since 1937, on Jan. 20 (Inauguration Day) the lights in the Grand Ballroom flicker and dim at around 10 p.m., the time that the first guests were announced for Coolidge's inauguration. Hotel staff have past reported of finding a plate of exquisite hors d'oeuvres and a glass of fine wine in Grand Ballroom balcony. Neither item had been served at any function on that day. And one elevator refuses to move from the eighth floor to the lobby level until 10:15 p.m. -- the approximate time Coolidge would have arrived at the ball from his waiting room.

If smaller places are more to your interest, there is the bed and breakfast at the Farnsworth House Inn in Gettysburg, PA, one of the most haunted areas in America. The loss of life at Gettysburg was tremendous, and the entire area is steeped in heavy energy, and riddled with restless ghosts almost anywhere you go in town or around the countryside. The Farnsworth House Inn offers more than just a bed and some sleep. Several of the rooms are haunted with six actually being cited on their web site.

There is the unsolved mystery at the Lizzie Borden Bed And Breakfast in Massachusetts. Several ghosts and tragic stories abound at The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. The Stanley Hotel and Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado is a popular one because Stephen King wrote part of "The Shining" while staying there. The ABC mini-series was also filmed there on location. Any ghosts you find there are friendly and probably the original owners playing piano or hanging out in the Billiard room. There aren't any evil spirits lurking about.

"Many people contact us for our best recommendations for one night or want to know where they can get a real fright," says Stocker." Ghost encounters are never for certain. In fact, most of these places only have a few documented events spread out over many years. And many of these seem to be from people who didn't know the stories or didn't believe in ghosts before something happened to them. It's more about the history, the imagination and what you think could happen while visiting. You just never know what may be around the next corner, in the shadows or what may wake you up at night. It's fun and adds a little something to another night away from home"

So if you are looking for something really different in this world, try spending some time at places with occasional visitors from another world. Plan ahead if you are looking to stay around the end of October as many of these places are busy or have special events for Halloween. Some of them wish the ghost would move on and others relish the added attention and business. Many of the larger hotels will not deal with reserving of a particular room tied to a ghost story, but you may get lucky. Or unlucky depending on your point of view.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Is it that time of year?

Haunted hotels are getting more active

If you are looking for a chill other than from the cool outside air, you may want to think about a more spooky source. Whether you are on a Halloween getaway or looking for fall colors turning into winter's fallen dead, we found some places that just may chill you to the bone. Across the country and around the world, there are many places where you can stay the night alone, with a loved one or perhaps with someone of a ghostly nature. From the beaches of Florida and southern plantations in the southeast to the heart of hollywood in California, you can explore a bit of history and maybe even feel the past come back to you.

AllStays.com has a feature section on haunted hotels and other lodging (/Special/haunted.htm) with links, stories and guest comments. "It is probably the most interesting project when dealing with lodging research," says Jonathan Stocker of AllStays.com. "We started working on it a few years ago, along with our Pet Friendly, Bed and Breakfast and Lighthouse rental directories, to give travelers something different."

There are places in almost every state in the United States, in all different price ranges and AllStays is constantly adding more each month as they find them and try to fill in the history. For something warm and on the high end, you can visit St. Pete Beach, Florida.

"Time is infinite. I wait for you by our fountain . . . to share our timeless love, our destiny is time." Thomas Rowe received the above note upon the death of his beloved Lucinda. The two met in the 1890s when Rowe was attending school in Europe. Lucinda's parents forbade the relationship and the forlorn Rowe returned to America. For years his letters to her were returned unopened. Then in 1925, Rowe built the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The lobby of the hotel included a replica of the courtyard and fountain where Rowe and Lucinda used to meet. Although the fountain no longer exists, employees at the Don CeSar tell tales of seeing a couple who suddenly appear walking hand-in-hand in the hotel and then disappearing.

For another example, and perhaps one of the most haunted, there is the Myrtles Plantation located in St. Francisville, Louisiana. It is on the Smithsonian's list of the most haunted places in the world and you could argue that it may have as many ghosts as any place in America. No less than ten murders have been committed here since it was built in 1794 by General David Bradford. It is said that he built it on an Indian burial ground, which is not usually a good start for a haunting depending on how you look at it.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, in Hollywood, California, was named after President Theodore Roosevelt. After opening in 1927, it became the center of Hollywood. The first Academy Awards ceremony (then called the Merit awards) was held in the Blossom Room in 1929 and the Academy held their meetings here from 1927 to 1935. Montgomery Clift stayed at the Roosevelt for three months during the making of "From Here To Eternity" and some say his ghost stayed here for eternity. On windy nights, some may hear his bugle playing in the hallway or his room 928. Marilyn Monroe lived on and off in Cabana 246, posing for her first ad on the diving board of the swimming pool. Her own mirror is still there, only now located in the lobby. Some have seen her reflection still gazing back from this mirror.

Not all ghosts behave as though they know they are depressingly dead. A happy ghost known as The Lady in White haunts the Flanders, a grand historic hotel, located on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. Within this architectural masterpiece on the Jersey Shore, Emily, as she is affectionately known, appears and disappears into walls, plays with door locks, unscrews light bulbs, and sings happily in its halls.

If smaller places are more to your interest, there is the bed and breakfast at the Haceta Head Lighthouse at Yachats, Oregon. Many say the Keepers House is haunted. The folklore is documented in such notable publications as "Life Magazine." Several books chronicle the tales and the lighthouse and keeper's house are featured in the PBS Television series "Legendary Lighthouses." If you go, look here along the coastline's rocky cliffs for a ghost named Rue. This 1893 Victorian bed and breakfast, which was a former lighhousekeeper's house, says it is home to her. She is believed to be the mother of a girl who fell off the cliffs and died.

Various residents and visitors to the lighthouse have reported similar unexplained occurrences over the years. One family heard screams and would find things moved around or even missing. In the 1970s, a worker cleaning the attic windows said he went face-to-face with Rue, who he described as a woman with silver hair in a long, dark dress. And still others have reported hearing small, light footsteps up top in the attic. And reports have come in of seeing an elderly woman looking down at them from an attic window or spotting a glimpse of a shadowy female shape.

"Many people contact us for our best recommendations for one night or want to know where they can get a real fright," says Stocker. "Ghost encounters are never for certain. In fact, most of these places only have a few documented events spread out over many years. And many of these seem to be from people who didn't know the stories or didn't believe in ghosts before something happened to them. It's more about the history, the imagination and what you think could happen while visiting. You just never know what may be around the next corner, in the shadows or what may wake you up at night. It's fun and adds a little something to another night away from home."

So if you are looking for something really different in this world, try spending some time at places with occasional visitors from another world. Plan ahead if you are looking to stay around the end of October as many of these places are busy or have special events for Halloween. Some of them wish the ghost would move on and others relish the added attention and business. Many of the larger hotels will not deal with reserving of a particular room tied to a ghost story, but you may get lucky. Or unlucky depending on your point of view.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.

Need a romantic spark ?

Lodging that provides special attention so you can pay attention to your special person.

Anytime of year is a great time for romance but February is the month with it marked on the calendar. Lovers, spouses and family face the pressure to search for a great gift. Candy goes quickly and flowers pass on so you may want to go for long lasting memories of a bed and breakfast instead.

AllStays.com, a leading online worldwide bed & breakfast directory ( /BandB/bandb.htm ) has all the listings you need to find the perfect B & B. Whether you want one near you in North America, the hills of Italy, the south of France, or just one that provides that special service, AllStays.com has the place for you.

People searching for the perfect gift for their special person are pleased to find accommodations with romantic touches such as in room Jacuzzis, candlelight dinners, breakfast in bed and wonderful service. From old fashioned New England inns and wonderful romantic bungalows to California wine country inns and secluded villas in Tuscany, B&Bs may offer just the thing to spark or re-ignite the passion in a relationship.

Innkeepers take pride in providing service to each guest that a 3,000 room luxury resort has a hard time accomplishing. You may be one of only a few guests, or even the only pampered guests in locations that cater to one room lodging. They are willing to go the extra mile to make your bed and breakfast stay memorable and special for Valentine's Day or any other time of the year.

Valentine's Day is one the most popular for bed & breakfasts, according to Adam Longfellow of AllStays.com. "They propose marriage, get married, renew wedding vows or just create special memories they can cherish forever. Some people only think about bed and breakfasts for Valentine's Day so there is a rush in reservations. But they really are good for getaways and special occasions all year. Fall colors or spring exploring. They are in big cities, near great attractions as well as in the middle of nowhere. And sometimes you want to go to the middle of nowhere."

Skip the wedding planners and work with a bed and breakfast to make your day special. Many innkeepers will go out of their way to help you create memories. And many have a long history of experiences to help your special moment be the best it can be. They may be a witness, a matron of honor, a best man, a photographer, or even a justice of the peace.

Bed and breakfasts are found at all levels of service. You can be left alone or pampered. You can be in modern luxury or a simple room from a hundred years ago. If you want to share your time with someone from the past, you can even find haunted bed & breakfasts. ( /Special/haunted.htm )

AllStays.com is a bit different in that it links directly to tens of thousands bed & breakfast websites around the world. They do not block the inns contact information or try to be a middle person where a message can get mistaken or misplaced. The information is accurate from the innkeeper and not stale or waiting to be updated from long ago. "We believe your special moment is between you and the innkeeper. We help you and then get out of the way and let you find the perfect place for a weekend of gourmet dinners, breakfasts in bed, roses, truffles and canopy beds.

AllStays.com, online since 2000 and based in Arizona (US), lists all kinds of lodging, from primitive campgrounds and RV Parks to luxury and haunted hotels and spa resorts. AllStays also links directly to official websites to make sure you have the real scoop on the latest and most accurate information.