What's It Like to Book a Salem Hotel in October?

With just two hotels in the city and a handful of inns, rooms during the busiest month of the year are hard to come by.

At the , weekends are booked a year in advance, said Jonathan Arruda, assistant general manager.

Your best bet if coming from out of town is to book a week day, there are still a few still available.

The same is true at the where weekends are busy, but a few week day stays are still available.

Both hotels attract guests who are there for Halloween revelry.

“Most guests who stay with us have been coming to Salem for years so they have a good idea of what to expect,” Arruda said. “We also provide each guest with a Haunted Happenings Guide at check in.”

Arruda said many of their guests book for the following year upon check-out the year prior.

“We have many overseas guests, but the majority of guests come from N.Y. and N.J.,” Arruda said.

Regional Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hawthorne Hotel Kristie Poehler said many of October guests repeat each year.

“The guests feel the hotel is theirs,” Poehler said. “They all know each other or know each other by the end.”

At the Hawthorne, guests are invited to decorate their rooms. In addition, the hotel decorates each common space in a different theme.

“There is just a great vibe of excitement,” Poehler said. “There is so much going on.”

The hotel holds a Childrens’ Costume Brunch, and a variety of other Haunted Happenings events at the hotel. Poehler says Haunted Happenings is just the start of the holiday events the hotel hosts from to and

While the Waterfront also decks their hotel out in decorations, the hotel also takes part in “”

In addition to the Haunted Happenings, Poehler said the Hawthorne also attracts those looking for a “haunted hotel.”

“We had a paranormal conference here in August,” Poehler said. “We say the findings are 'inconclusive' but we have people that swear the 6^th and 3^rd floor are haunted. We’re an 86-year-old hotel so you never know.”

While the month is busy for employees, both Arruda and Poehler said it is a fun time for them and a break from the daily routine.

“My favorite thing about working here in October is the spirit that comes alive here in the city based on all of the different people who come to our great city,’ Arruda said.

Poehler agrees, “It’s fun to see the city so alive.”