Rooms with a boo: the world's spookiest hotel stays

You can't miss the grand old building on Sixth Street, with its Germanic Tudor-inspired architecture and a bright neon sign on the roof that can be seen from miles away. Blood-red in colour, the sign spells out "Hotel Alex Johnson" in a haunting Hitchcockian style. It's not surprising to learn the hotel was featured in Hitchcock's film North by Northwest.

Opened in 1928, the self-proclaimed residence of presidents has hosted several US Presidents, many celebrities, and quite a few spooky spirits. The most frequent ghostly guest is a jilted bride who is said to have fallen to her death from a room on the eighth floor.

Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, the hotel reports countless episodes of paranormal activity over the past 95 years, including sightings of Alex Johnson (the hotel's founder) himself, long after his death. Now part of Curio Collection by Hilton, the hotel embraces its spooky reputation, offering guests a Ghost Adventure Package of haunted accommodations and a ghost detector. There's a section on the hotel's website for guests to share their experiences.

I approach the check-in desk with some trepidation, slightly freaked-out by the ghoulish appearance of the receptionist. Are they relishing the opportunity to dress up and scare guests? Or have they been stuck behind the counter since the 1930s? Either way, they've been expecting me.

I'm handed the key to Room 812. "Wait, isn't that the room with the ghostly bride?", I say. "I won't be able to sleep."

Scary Receptionist says many people request that room and are even willing to pay $70 extra for the privilege. Not this guest. She moves me to a room down the hall, shrugs and says the entire eighth floor is haunted anyway. Gulp. We settle on a corner suite, one level up, on the ninth floor.

"You'll probably still feel the ghosts up there, plus you'll have a good view of the 4th of July fireworks," she says, not at all reassuringly.

I head up to Vertex, the rooftop bar and restaurant, as the sun sets. There are strong cocktails and a delicious Sky Burger to steady the nerves. People are sitting around firepits, toasting marshmallows and eating s'mores. The view of downtown city blocks segues into the surrounding Black Hills. Celebratory fireworks fill the night sky, but there's a persistent uneasiness I can't seem to shake, a sense that there's something odd lurking just out of sight.

Is the hotel really haunted or are the goosebumps on my arms the result of an overactive imagination? Can't say for sure, but when the time comes to check out next morning, I run to the Uber and don't look back.

See hilton.com. The writer travelled with assistance from greatamericanwest.com.au.

Q Station, Sydney

The site of the old North Head Quarantine Station in Manly is one of the most haunted places in Sydney, according to those in the know. For more than 150 years, ships and their passengers were forced to quarantine there before gaining clearance for entry to the city. Many died of contagious diseases like Spanish influenza and smallpox before ever stepping foot in Sydney. Today, Q Station runs spooky ghost-hunting tours for all ages, filled with scary stories and paranormal investigation. Overnight accommodation options (if you can sleep after the tour) include heritage suites and three-bedroom officers' cottages.

See qstation.com.au

The Hotel Chelsea, NYC

Oh, the sordid tales the walls of this hotel on Manhattan's West 23rd Street could tell. Reopened last year after prolonged renovations and litigations, the Hotel Chelsea is again welcoming guests to the city that never sleeps. Room 100, where Sex Pistols' Sid Vicious allegedly stabbed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen to death, has been reconfigured and can no longer be booked. Some say the spirit of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas is still wandering the halls. He died while living at the hotel, battling the demon drink. Squint and you might see the ghost of Andy Warhol, camera in hand, still shooting his favourite subjects as they party 'til dawn.

See hotelchelsea.com

The Langham, London

Only the bravest souls check in to Room 333 at The Langham, London. Rumours of paranormal activity in this most haunted of accommodations include sightings of a Victorian-era doctor who offed his wife and then himself, a shoeless butler and a German prince in full military costume. The hotel, opened in 1865, is less than five minutes' walk from Oxford Circus, with views that stretch to the London Eye. Traditional afternoon tea is a must, with a spread that includes featherlight scones, pastries, sandwiches and a glass of fizz.

See langhamhotels.com

Hotel Kurrajong Canberra

Heads will roll in the nation's political capital, and sometimes the ghosts of powerbrokers live on. The four-star Hotel Kurrajong, within cooee of Parliament House, was home to prime minister Ben Chifley throughout his parliamentary career. He preferred the simple comforts of room 214 to the lavish appointments of The Lodge, setting off on a head-clearing walk each morning to the House. It was in his room that he suffered a heart attack (and later died on the way to the hospital) on the night of June 13, 1951. Guests report seeing his grey-suited ghost, forever at home in the art deco gem.

See hotelkurrajong.com.au

The Hollywood Roosevelt

It seems celebrity treatment at this LA landmark hotel includes eternal room service. Maybe that's why guests swear they've seen the ghost of Marilyn Monroe in the full-length mirror of her favourite room. She lived at the hotel for two years, which opened in 1927 to impress the stars of the day. Other A-listers who rested their heads at the address include Carole Lombard, Errol Flynn and Montgomery Clift. Spooky tales of mysterious knocks on the door and phones ringing in the dead of night continue to this day.

See thehollywoodroosevelt.com