We thought we were just booking a simple Airbnb in Otranto, but the week turned into something else. The house was unsettling from the moment we arrived. All over the ground floor there were strange openings built into the floor, some of them dropping into deep stone shafts. One was filled with bottles, others just sat dark and empty, and they made the whole place feel uneasy. By the second day we found an extinguished cigarette left on a ledge that hadn’t been there before. At night the noises started, sounds we couldn’t explain that kept us awake and on edge.

In this episode we talk about the week we spent in what we started calling our ScareBNB. We share the details that made the stay so unnerving, how it felt to live in that house for days on end, and why this trip to Puglia became one of the strangest travel experiences we have ever had.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day
License code: G7J4UDC0NAOFRJYL

A former monastery turned hotel in the south of France. Guests report lights that flicker, footsteps echoing in empty halls, and something brushing past them at night. Built in the 1500s and once used as a military hospital, the Hôtel Cloître Saint-Louis holds centuries of stories. Some of them still speak. This is a true haunting from the heart of Avignon.

Based on guest reviews, local legends, and historical records about the Hôtel Cloître Saint-Louis in Avignon. Built in the 16th century as a monastery and later used as a military hospital, the hotel has been the subject of multiple firsthand accounts describing unexplained footsteps, lights, and cold spots. Some details have been adapted for clarity and pacing.

Dragsholm Slot in Denmark looks peaceful. A boutique hotel with chandeliers, a moat, and whitewashed walls. But guests have heard chains dragging through the halls, footsteps that don’t belong, and whispers in the dark. Some say the Earl of Bothwell never left. Others have seen a woman in white gliding past their door. This castle claims to have over 100 ghosts. Would you spend the night?

Based on historical accounts of Dragsholm Slot, including the imprisonment of the Earl of Bothwell, Danish folklore about the White Lady, and reports from paranormal investigators and hotel guests. Some details adapted for narrative flow.

Leap Castle in Ireland is known as one of the most haunted buildings in the world. Behind its stone walls lie centuries of bloodshed, an infamous hidden oubliette, and a terrifying entity known only as the Elemental. Guests report footsteps, voices, and cold hands in the dark. Would you stay the night?

Based on public folklore and firsthand accounts shared by Leap Castle owner Sean Ryan, visitor testimonials, historical records about the O’Carroll clan and Leap Castle, and reports from paranormal investigators and bloggers. Certain details adapted for narrative clarity.

A guest checks into a beautiful five star hotel in Amsterdam. They expect luxury, not fear. But when the curtains in their room begin to move on their own, and the lights flicker with no explanation, the stay turns unsettling fast. There are whispers. Footsteps. A chair no longer where it should be. This is one of the city’s most chilling modern hauntings. Based on a true story. Would you stay?

Based on a true account posted to Reddit’s r/Paranormal subreddit in 2019. Additional background drawn from public records about the Grand Hotel Amrâth in Amsterdam and reports from paranormal forums. Certain details adapted for clarity

A solo traveler books a quiet Airbnb in Budapest, expecting a peaceful week in the heart of the city. But when footsteps echo above his head and the upstairs apartment is supposed to be empty, his stay takes a chilling turn. From unexplained noises to a final message from the host, this is one rental that may have come with more than just a key code.

This episode was inspired by a real Airbnb experience shared on Reddit. Background on Budapest's haunted history was drawn from articles on We Love Budapest, CrimeReads, and local coverage of the House of Terror museum.

Reddit thread: “Terrible Night in Budapest”
 Haunted Budapest articles from We Love Budapest and CrimeReads
Historical context from Rambling About – The Dark Side of Budapest

A luxurious hotel in the heart of Edinburgh. A perfectly normal room until the clock hits 2:00 a.m. In this episode, we uncover the chilling true story of Room 11 at The George Hotel, where more than one guest has reported the sound of a woman sobbing in the dark. No public records. No ghost tours. Just whispers on Reddit and the sound of grief that refuses to leave.

If you’re handed the key to Room 11, sleep light.

This story is based on firsthand accounts and public reports of paranormal experiences in Room 11 at The George Hotel in Edinburgh.

– Reddit threads discussing haunted hotel rooms in Edinburgh
– Guest posts referencing strange events in Room 11 (2018–2023)
– The George Hotel history: InterContinental Edinburgh George
– Background on Edinburgh ghost stories from VisitScotland and The Scotsman
– Narrative adapted for audio using verified and anecdotal reports

This true story follows four study-abroad students who rented a historic apartment along the Arno River, only to discover something was already living there. From unexplained footsteps and flickering lights to a chilling knock in the dark with no one on the other side, this haunting builds one eerie moment at a time. Set in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, The Knock at the Door explores the terrifying edge between old-world charm and something much older that never left.

This episode is based on a true story shared by a study-abroad student in Florence, Italy. The original account was posted anonymously on Reddit in the r/Paranormal and r/creepy subreddits between 2018 and 2021, and has since been widely reshared across forums and expat communities.

Music: “Empty Minded” by Horror Suspense (via Pixabay Music)

This true story follows Pedro Arruda, the winner of an Airbnb Halloween contest, who spent the night deep inside the Paris Catacombs—surrounded by the bones of six million souls. What started as a promotional stunt became an unforgettable night marked by silence, whispers, and the unsettling feeling of being watched. With real accounts from urban explorers and viral Reddit threads, this episode takes you into one of the most haunted underground networks in Europe. Some guests make it out. Others… may never leave.

This episode is based on the true experience of Pedro Arruda, the winner of Airbnb’s 2015 Halloween contest to spend the night in the Paris Catacombs. Additional research and references include:

– PBS NewsHour: “Airbnb contest winner spends Halloween night in Paris catacombs”
– BBC News: “Paris catacombs: Airbnb stay in 'world's largest grave’”
– The Guardian: “Paris catacombs offer on Airbnb: spend the night with 6 million dead bodies”
– AP News: “Breakfast with skulls: Halloween night in Paris Catacombs”
– Time Magazine: “The Winner of This Competition Will Spend Halloween in What Is Basically the World's Biggest Grave”
– Smithsonian Magazine: “This Halloween, Who Wants to Spend a Night in the Paris Catacombs?”
– Wikipedia: “Catacombs of Paris”

All story elements are drawn from public reporting, historical records, and firsthand accounts. As always, listener discretion is advised.

A guest checks into the sleek, modern Bodmin Jail Hotel in Cornwall—unaware their suite was once a cluster of prison cells. This true story follows what unfolded over three nights: tapping inside stone walls, flickering lights, and the chilling moment something tugged at the back of their shirt while no one was there. And then came the whispers. Echoes of suffering from centuries past, still trapped in the stone. Some say renovations disturbed the energy. Others say it never left. Either way… if the walls start talking, you might want to listen.

This episode is inspired by true events reported by guests who stayed at the Bodmin Jail Hotel in Cornwall, UK. Their accounts—including unexplained tapping, whispers, and flickering lights—have been shared in public reviews and paranormal forums.