AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Halloween is nearly upon us, and all the spooky feels are in the air. For those of you who want to embrace the season of the supernatural, what’s better than spending your All Hallow’s Eve at a haunted hotel? Doing it with points, of course! Here's a list of seven fantastically freaky haunted hotels you can book with points.
Page Contents
The Driskill [World of Hyatt]
The Driskill was designed by cattle baron Col. Jesse Driskill and constructed in 1886. To this day, it remains one of the most iconic properties in Austin, Texas. However, this World of Hyatt hotel isn't only rich in elegance and prestige; rumors of ghostly apparitions and unexplained paranormal activity have existed since the hotel’s early beginnings.
Tragic stories about accidents on the property have spread over the years. Some say the property was built with blood money from the Civil War, and its many sad stories reflect a kind of karmic revenge. These include the tale of a young child who — while chasing her ball — fell down the hotel’s grand staircase to her death. There have been reports of ghostly giggling and mysterious ping-pong ball sounds.
Another rumor tells of two distraught brides who — on the exact same day but 20 years apart and in the exact same room — took their lives after being left at the altar on their wedding day. The spirits of both are said to still haunt the hotel.
How to book an award night at The Driskill
If you want a genuinely bone-chilling experience, guests can book the same room as the brides: Room 525. Any standard room at the Driskill (including Room 525) is bookable with World of Hyatt points.
This category six property will cost you 25,000 points per night on standard nights. Or, you can book a suite for 40,000 points per night. Since Hyatt has implemented peak/off-peak pricing, standard room awards vary between 21,000 and 29,000 points per night — the latter of which a free night at this hotel will cost over Halloween.
How to earn Hyatt points
There are several gruesomely great options for earning the Hyatt points necessary to book a free night at The Driskill. Here are some of the top ways to stockpile points quickly:
- Earn a sign-up bonus or spend on The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees) or the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees).
- Transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.
- Buy Hyatt points outright.
- Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Up to 9X points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4X points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5X points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- 2X points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- 1X point per $1 everywhere else
Related: How To Earn Hyatt Points On Hyatt Stays, Meetings, Card Spending, and More
The Emily Morgan San Antonio [Hilton]
If haunted historical landmarks are your thing, look no further than the Emily Morgan San Antonio. Overlooking the Alamo, the famed site of one of the bloodiest massacres in Texas History, this beautiful Hilton DoubleTree property was once a hospital that allegedly included a mental hospital. Rebuilt as a hotel in 1984, it now tops many lists of the most haunted hotels in the U.S.
Spirits of the dead have been spooking guests for years. Shadowy specters are said to wander the haunted hotel halls, and disembodied voices can be heard throughout the floors of this ghostly property. There are reports of bathtubs filling with blue water, lights flickering, floating orbs, and general ghostly mischief afoot. Book a room on the 7th, 9th, or 14th floor for the most ghostly action.
How to book an award night at The Emily Morgan San Antonio
As a Hilton property, Hilton Honors members can experience all the spooky feels at this ominous inn. Award nights at this haunted hotel cost generally range between 36,000 and 50,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a standard king bedroom.
Members with elite status can also book five consecutive nights and get the Hilton fifth night free when using points for their stay.
How to earn Hilton points
Of all the hotel points currencies, Hilton Honors points are some of the easiest to come by. Here's a quick overview of some ways to accrue a scary-big balance of points freakishly fast:
- Earn a welcome offer or spend on a Hilton Honors credit card.
- Transfer points from one of the many Hilton transfer partners, such as American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and more.
- Buy Hilton points outright.
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $150 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 12X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
- 6X bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
- 4X bonus points on U.S online retail purchases
- 3X bonus points for all other eligible purchases on your card
Related: How To Earn Hilton Honors Points
The Shelbourne [Marriott]
Located in Dublin’s city center, the 200-year-old Shelbourne Hotel is one of the most prestigious properties in Ireland. But, a building this old is bound to be full of dark secrets.
As one tragic story goes, in the early 1900s, a 7-year-old child by the name of Mary Masters died at the Shelbourne after contracting cholera. She’s believed to reside at the place of her death and haunt one of the rooms of the Shelbourne. Ghost hunters have even been sent to the haunted hotel to investigate the mysterious activity supposedly instigated by the menacing Mary.
How to book an award night at The Shelbourne
Nights at The Shelbourne won't come cheap. That's where Marriott Bonvoy points come in handy. As a function of dynamic pricing, the number of points necessary for a free night will vary as the wind blows. But throughout the rest of this month, you can secure an award night for as few as 62,000 points — or 70,000 points if you prefer to check in on October 31.
How to earn Marriott points
Fancy a night at The Shelbourne? You'll need Marriott Bonvoy points. Here are some of the best ways to earn them.
- Earn a sign-up bonus or spend on a Marriott Bonvoy credit card.
- Transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy.
- Buy Marriott points outright or multiply the points you've earned on a previous stay.
- Earn up to 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 85,000 points after you spend $5,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Marriott Bonvoy® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Related: Which Marriott Hotel Brands Earn the Most Points?
Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Quarter [IHG]
The Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans is a hotel where some guests who check in never check out. Established in 1852, the time when the city of New Orleans earned the name City of the Dead due to an outbreak of yellow fever, this property didn't become a hotel until the 1990s.
There isn't much information on why the hotel is haunted, but it could be due to its proximity to some of New Orleans' most haunted landmarks of the French Quarter. Many guests have made claims that the property is crawling with spirits and specters. Want some extra spooky on your trip? You can book a New Orleans ghost tour or even visit the nearby Museum of Death. Yikes!
How to book an award night at the Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Quarter
IHG award nights are dynamically priced, so the redemption rate will depend on the cash price of the room. Some nights are as spookily low throughout the rest of this month, while others are scary high!
How to earn IHG One Rewards points
It's a scary good proposition that you can book the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Quarter with IHG One Rewards points. So, how should you come up with the points necessary for a free night? Here are some great ways:
- Earn a sign-up bonus or spend on an IHG credit card, such as the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), or IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees).
- Transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards to IHG One Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
- Buy IHG points outright.
- Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
- Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay.
- Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card member
- Earn 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
Related: How Many IHG Rewards Points Can I Earn on Hotel Stays?
Walworth Castle [Best Western]
Is a castle really a castle if reports of ghostly apparitions and spooky encounters haven't been passed around throughout its history? Walworth Castle near Darlington, UK, is the epitome of a haunted castle. It's full of tales of scandal and murder and is the perfect haunted castle option for those looking for the fright of their life. Better yet, it might be the only hotel on this list with a dungeon in its basement.
The most notable story tells of a pregnant maid murdered by her lover, a lord. Fearing for his reputation, he fell into a rage after finding out about her pregnancy. The spirit of the maid resides in the library tower of the castle and can be heard screaming and popping out of walls.
How to book an award night at the Walworth Castle
The Walworth Castle is a bargain if you book with cash, but an even better deal if you book with Best Western Rewards points. If you check in on October 31, your spooky night will cost as few as 16,000 points.
How to earn Best Western points
Similar to all of the hotels mentioned above, there's a handful of great ways to score a lot of Best Western Rewards points. However, the following two ways are the easiest:
- Earn a sign-up bonus or spend on a Best Western credit card.
- Buy Best Western Rewards points outright.
The Savoy London [Accor]
Not only is the The Savoy London (a Fairmont property) known as one of the most luxurious hotels in the entire UK, but it is also known for being one of the most haunted. This haunted hotel’s most prominent poltergeist is that of a young girl said to wander the halls of floor five, where she also operates one of the property’s lifts. Guests have reported paranormal activity galore including flickering lights and returning to their belongings in disarray.
How to book an award night at The Savoy London
The Savoy London belongs to the Accor Live Limitless program, which is revenue-based. So, the number of points used will depend on the price of the hotel night.
Accor members must redeem a minimum of 2,000 ALL points, which unlocks a €40 discount. The Savoy in London comes with a price tag as terrifying as the ghosts who reside there, which is around $850 per night (after taxes). If you want to use points to book, the property would cost ~39,000 ALL points (after currency conversions).
How to earn Accor ALL points
The most straightforward way to earn the Accor points necessary to book a night at The Savoy London is via transfers from partner rewards programs. Though, it's worth noting that some programs have better transfer ratios than others.
So how many credit card rewards points should you transfer to book a night at The Savoy London if it requires 39,000 Accor points? You'll need to scrounge 78,000 Capital One miles, 78,000 Citi ThankYou® points, or 58,500 Bilt Rewards Points. That's a lot of points for one night, but if you want to experience this hotel and all its spookiness, it could be worth splurging for.
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
The Queen Mary [Independent]
If you are looking for a truly unique experience, head to Long Beach, California for a stay on a historical ship. Functioning as both a hotel and a history museum, The Queen Mary is known for its spooky paranormal activities.
Areas aboard that are known to be haunted include the Mauretania Room, the Mayfair Room, and Shaft Alley where a former crew member who was crushed to death by a hatch door now roams. Guests often report mysterious knocking and lights flickering.
In the fall, the Queen Mary hosts a creepy carnival of sorts, the Dark Harbor Holloween. Enjoy a spooktacular festival with haunted mazes, live entertainment, rides, and more.
How to book an award night at The Queen Mary
The Queen Mary is not part of a chain, but it is bookable through the Capital One Travel portal. That means that you can redeem your Capital One miles to book a stay aboard the Queen Mary! Additionally, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business holders receive an annual $300 travel credit to use on bookings through the portal. Booking this hotel could be a scary good use of that credit.
But what will it cost? This Halloween, you could book a night's stay for $179.29 or 17,929 Capital One miles.
Related: How To Use Points and Miles To Book Hotels With No Rewards Program
How to earn Capital One miles
Capital One has a sizable portfolio of cards with ghoulishly great welcome bonuses. Earning a welcome bonus on one of its miles-earning cards is the best way to stockpile these ultra-valuable rewards. Here are some of the offers on tap right now:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 Miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months, and an additional 200,000 miles once you spend $200,000 in the first 6 months.
- Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchase
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔® (up to $120)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
Final Thoughts
Nothing screams Halloween quite like staying an evening at a haunted hotel. Using points to book your stay makes the experience that much more freakishly fantastic without terrorizing your wallet. And if you check out one of these spooky properties, let us know in the comments below what your experience was like!
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (Rates & Fees), World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
