No matter how you slash it, Halloween is a holiday meant for fun. Between the sugary treats and over-the-top bashes, there’s an eerie event somewhere around the globe scaring up a good time at the end of October.
From trick-or-treat treasure hunts in Ireland to spine-chilling, champagne-fueled fetes in South Florida, these high-end haunts will help you celebrate Halloween.
The K Club’s Byerley Turk. Credit: The K Club
The K Club
Conjure up some family fun this fall with a getaway to this elegant Forbes Travel Guide Recommended estate just outside of Dublin. Book the resort’s Trick or Treat package to enjoy holiday-themed perks, such as a family pack of tickets to Lullymore Heritage Park (don’t miss its seasonal Terror Train ride), the Bat Talk & Walk on October 27, a Halloween treasure hunt and a trick-or-treat adventure around the property.
Even if you’re not keen on the spooky extras, you’ll still love that the sumptuous accommodations, full daily Irish breakfast and four-course dinner from the property’s classic Byerley Turk restaurant are included in the offer.
The Breakers’ Asian Pumpkin Martini. Credit: The Breakers Palm Beach
The Breakers Palm Beach
Who says Halloween is just for kids? At this storied Four-Star oceanfront resort, spirits are flowing this fall.
Don your spookiest attire (yes, costumes are encouraged) on October 27 to partake in the historic hotel’s HMF Yelloween with Veuve Clicquot, a sparkling-wine-fueled soiree that’s accompanied by sweet and savory treats from the property’s signature HMF lounge.
If you can’t make the party, don’t fret — the resort will serve up fall-themed sips and sweets all weekend long (October 27 through 31). Savor spooky specialty cocktails (like an Asian Pumpkin Martini made with house-infused kabocha wine and Japanese pumpkin vodka) and grown-up goodies (rum almond cake with pumpkin ice cream and caramelized apples) across the palatial property to get you in a festive mood.
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Ojai Valley Inn
Treat your little ones to a Halloween trick with a sweet surprise when you book the Boo to You package at this Four-Star SoCal retreat. Available all month long, this spirited tradition begins with a ghostly knock on the door of your Spanish-inspired room. When you open up, your ghoulish visitor will have disappeared, leaving behind a basket of tasty treats for the whole family.
Complete your seasonal stay with a visit to the Ojai Valley Inn Pumpkin Patch to pick out a gourd and catch the hay wagon for a ride to Camp Oak, the property’s kids club.
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Conrad Tokyo
Sweet treats and decadent delights surprise around every corner this October, especially at this festive Four-Star Tokyo tower.
Dive into an adorable dessert display (dinner beforehand is optional) at either all-day dining venue Cerise (accompanied by Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label champagne) or the elegant China Blue (paired with mesmerizing skyline views). Either way, you can nosh on indulgent bites like a chocolate cup filled with pistachio ganache, pear and caramel mousse or a creamy cheesecake adorned with a chocolate spider.
If you just can’t wait for this post-dinner treat, opt instead for the Otona (adults-only) Halloween Afternoon Tea held at TwentyEight lounge. There, you’ll savor sensational teas along with spooky snacks, such as a jack-o’-lantern pumpkin mont blanc cake, glasses of black cherry mousse and coffin-shaped chocolate tarts with purple sweet potato filling.
Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square. Credit: Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
Explore London’s chilling past this season. With an unbeatable location steps from some of the capital’s most famous sites (not to mention a sumptuous spa and a stylish bar), this city-central charmer is a great perch for some of the spooky sightseeing.
Start your eerie evening with a tour of the Tower of London, a famously creepy castle with nearly 1,000 years of history and, supposedly, more than a few spirited residents.
After you’ve snooped around those dark corners, join author Richard Jones on one of his weekly ghost tours (held Friday and Saturday nights) or reserve a spot on his popular Halloween Ghost Walk to get a peek into London’s paranormal side — the starting point for both tours is at Bank Station, just a 12-minute jaunt from the hotel.
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InterContinental Los Angeles Century City
It’s not Halloween in L.A. without a good movie in a dramatic setting. Luckily, the film-centric city has plenty of ghostly events to get you into the spirit of the season.
Hosted by the same crew that puts on the legendary movie nights in Hollywood Forever Cemetery (also a local haunt for Halloween fun), Willy Wonka + Costume Ball is a festive candy-themed fete for grown-ups held at the Los Angeles Theatre on October 31. Stop by before the film’s screening to enjoy a masquerade party filled to the brim with spun sugar figurines and sweets, live music, a costume contest and full bars on every floor.
When you’ve had your fill of Technicolor treats, head about 30 minutes west to rest your head at the sleek InterContinental Los Angeles Century City. With a 24-hour gym, a sleek lobby lounge and an outdoor pool, this Avenue of the Stars stay is just the spot to retire to after your long night.
Beau Rivage Theatre. Credit: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
A warm-weather Gulf Coast escape, this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended resort provides plenty of ways to unwind this fall. There’s an 85,000-square-foot casino, 10 restaurants, a cabana-lined pool, a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course and much more.
But there’s an extra incentive to visit on October 26. Enjoy Vegas-style entertainment with a spooky twist at this Biloxi, Mississippi, hotel when Here Come the Mummies take the stage at the Beau Rivage Theatre. This eight-piece funk-rock band may look like a novelty act with its members wrapped in tattered gauze, but the talent is dead serious — the group has played back-up for legends like Al Green, Cheap Trick, and KC and the Sunshine Band.
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Imperial Hotel, Osaka
For a taste of fall fit for all ages, make your way to The Park lounge at this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended retreat where a bountiful buffet of Halloween-themed nibbling awaits.
Through the holiday, dine on delightful desserts, such as a chestnut cream mont blanc, chocolate mint jelly parfait, pear sherbet and pumpkin Danish.
If you don’t have a serious sweet tooth, don’t worry — a selection of savory dishes (including chicken and mushroom pizza, pumpkin soup and smoked salmon sandwiches) is also on offer.
Work off those indulgent dishes with a visit to the hotel’s fitness club, one of the largest in Western Japan, or opt for a few laps in the 82-foot indoor pool.
