It was a tough decision picking which haunted hotel we wanted to stay at when we visited New Orleans, but I ultimately decided on the Hotel Monteleone. It was at the top of our budget, but you know what? Sometimes it’s worth it to splurge.
In this case it was well worth it.
In addition to having a history of ghosts and hauntings, the Hotel Monteleone is loaded with history period and it’s a literary landmark. In fact, it’s one of only three hotels designated as such a landmark. Plus, it proved to be an excellent location for getting all around the French Quarter easily.
The best part was our room.
It was just a regular room in that it was not a suite or anything fancy like that. No, what made it so great was what floor it was on: the 14th.
Why am I so excited about a room on the 14th floor of a hotel? Because the staff at the Hotel Monteleone listened to me and respected a request I made.
You see, when I made our reservation online, I used the comments section to explain I was the Director of Paranormal Tourism for Haunt Jaunts, and if it was possible we’d like be placed in either a room, or on a floor, noted for paranormal activity.
I wasn’t sure they’d read that section, but guess what? They did!
When we checked in and got our room, I asked the front desk clerk where the most activity was.
“Both floors seven and fourteen. But mostly on fourteen.”
“Oh good! So we’re there.”
“Yes, ma’am. We saw your request in the comment section.”
Fantastic!
The haunted rumor mill has it that the ghost who appears as a 10-year-old boy enjoys haunting the 14th floor most and playing with another child spirit also thought to live in the hotel.
We, however, didn’t encounter any paranormal activity the night we were there. I did wake in the middle of the night and thought someone was sitting at the end of the bed on my side, but I can’t say it was paranormal. I didn’t see anyone. It just felt like something was there. Since I was missing my animals, who sleep at my feet, I could’ve been experiencing phantom pet pangs. Or it could’ve been my healthy imagination trying to manifest some activity.
Still, we did spot something odd, though. Take a look at the next picture and see if you spot it too.
Do you see it? If not, I’ll give you a hint: do you notice anything odd about the floor numbers?
That’s right! There is no thirteenth floor.
I’ve always thought that’s such a funny superstition. You can renumber a floor all you want. It’s not going to change the fact that it’s still technically the 13th floor.
Which I just can’t help but wonder: does that have anything to do with why the Hotel Monteleone’s fourteenth floor is haunted?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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We have stayed at the Monteleone twice. Halloween 2009 and 2010. It was last year that we requested a room on the 14th floor and boy were we in for a treat. We had just gone to bed, it was around 2am, my husband and I were talking and as usual just before going to sleep I had to go to the restroom. I stood up, started walking towards the bathroom and all of the sudden we heard a loud noise. It sounded like a large chain sliding off of a table, one link at a time and landing in a pile. I took off towards the bathroom like a chicken! When I came out we turned on the light to look and see if there was anything on the floor around the one table in the room, of course there was nothing. It was so strange that we both heard the noise loud and clear but there was nothing in the room that could have made it. Just wanted to share!
WHOA! What a GREAT story! I’m so glad you took the time to share it! I would’ve freaked out if we’d heard anything like that. But been excited too. SO jealous! Thanks so much again for stopping by with it!
I like this one very beautiful hotel and it’s fantastic room.The Monteleone is very nice and great hotel.I have impressed to watch this hotel.
Hotel promocao
Aw, I wasn’t that bold. All I did was fall asleep! LOL Thanks for the comment.
My husband and I just stayed at the Monteleon during Mardi Gras (2012). We requested and got a room on the 14th floor. I didn’t have any experiences but my husband did (and he does not believe in ghosts). He was awaken around 4 a.m. to someone tapping on his wrist. He looked but saw nothing so he went back to sleep. A short time later, he was awoken by a tapping on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw a black shadow on the ceiling that moved along the ceiling towards the drapes where it disappeared. He said very loudly “what the hell” which woke me up. We were in room 1460. I wish it happened to me instead of him as he thinks it was just his imagination.
Hi Lauren! OH WOW! I am SO excited you stopped by and shared your story like this!!!! It gave me chills and envy. Why was your hub so lucky to get to experience it? Darn it! I would’ve been curious to hear what you thought if you’d experienced it. Still, it makes for a great share. Thanks for stopping by with this!
I just stayed at the Hotel Monteleone this past weekend. The other night, I decided to stay-in and go to bed early. During the middle of the night I was awakened by a loud sound in the room. It sounded like someone had taken a heavy book and dropped it on the floor. This freaked me out, but I didn’t think anything of it. Then, later the same night I woke up and saw a dark shadow right next to my bed. This, again, freaked me out and I closed my eyes. When I opened them again the shadow was gone. Only moments later I woke up in a panic, but could not move or speak. This was probably the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. It lasted for what felt like hours and all i could do was just breath very loudly. Surprisingly enough, I did not know about the hotel being known for haunting until later during my trip. I have no idea what happened that night, but it was extremely frightening!!
Oh, Lee, it certainly sounds like you had some kind of experience there. I’m curious, what floor were you on? What room? I’m sorry it scared you but I’m glad you were not harmed in any way. (Not that people usually are by these sorts of things. It’s mostly just that it scares them because they’re sleeping and unaware they’re in a place where restless spirits roam.)
i just left Monteleone! I have traveled to New Orleans dozens of times but had never stayed there. While my friend was out getting her hair and makeup done for a wedding, I was taking a nap. I heard someone come in the room during my nap and tried to wake me up by touching my back. I just assumed my friend had come back for something. But I was so tired, I just ignored it for a while. After I heard someone say “wake up” and it wasn’t my friend, I rolled over and no one was there!!! I have never been so scared. I didn’t know the hotel was haunted until after we left!
WHOA! What a great story, Kelli. Spooky. Now that would freak me out. Yet, I’m also jealous. What a great experience.
Hello Courtney, I loved reading all of these stories. I was reading to get a feel on what to expect in July on my trip to New Orleans. Twelve friends and I are staying in the Monteleone for the LCA meeting at the Super Dome, Im frightened of the 14th floor and im hopeing im not stuck there. When i come back and if there is any cool stories i could tell i will glady post them 🙂
Oh, Danielle, I hope you have a blast! I will look forward to hearing if you have any stories. I sure hope you have a blast in NOLA and at the hotel! (It really is a beautiful one to stay in.)
My husband & I stayed in Rm. 1065 at the Monteleone for 10 days 12/11. At appx. 6:30 a.m. on the 19th, I was laying in bed sort of idly musing. I was aware of the muffled sounds of kids playing in the hall, but since we lived a half-block from a playground, that sort of noise was “audio wallpaper” to me. The sounds didn’t register consciously w/me UNTIL I realized that we were in the Monteleone, it was 6:30 a.m. and I was hearing what sounded like two young children running & giggling & bouncing a hard rubber ball. As soon as I fully realized what i was hearing it stopped. Things like this have happened to me before, so I knew what it was. Rest assured: “The kids are all right!” Just for fun, later in the day, I called the front desk to see if any of the rooms near us had families w/children. I was told that there weren’t, but if I was disturbed, they’d send someone right up to take care of it. I laughed and told them I didn’t think they’d be able to quiet these children! It was a fun little “lagniappe” to our stay! We’re going back this Dec. & stay on the 14th floor – woo hoo!
We will be there next week. I will ask for a room on 14, and definitely share my experience should anything occur,
Oh boy, Kory! I’ll look forward to hearing if you got a room on 14 and if you have any experiences. Safe travels!
Hello everyone,
My name is Cody, I just found this site and I’m really intrigued! My wife and I along with another couple will be staying at the Hotel Monteleone Labor Day weekend. We are all interested in the paranormal so we requested a room on the 14th floor, I hope we get one!! I was just wondering if there are certain rooms that have action..or is it the whole 14th? Was just looking for more story’s and info. While we are there we are wanting to go on a ghost tour or a cemetery tour and was just looking for some recommendations on what tour is good and the ones to stay away from.
Thanks for the help,
Cody
Hi Cody! When we checked into the hotel they were more than happy to give us a room on the 14th floor. Supposedly it is the one with the most activity, but not the only floor. I believe some activity has also been reported on the 7th floor. They didn’t say they had any specific rooms where things happen more than others, so…just keep your eyes open. As for tours, we didn’t take any while we were there so I don’t have any recommendations about which are better than others. They all looked pretty cool really. Just the ambiance of the city alone is wonderful. Sure hope you all have a great time!
Thank you Courtney! When we booked our room we were told that they would put us on the 14th, so we will see what happens and we will post our experiences!!
Take care,
Cody
Hello all… So I don’t believe in this stuff at all and never had any ghostly experiences all my life. But I will tell you this is what I noticed in my stay this week 2/5/14 for a sales meeting. I and many others had issues sleeping. I was on the 5th floor. I still think this was all a dream. I was on the cell phone talking to someone and said to them… “Hmmm the tv door is opening” and actually asked them several times when I got home if I did say that.
1. Door to tv opened on its own. Magnetic closure and not easy to open.
2. Bluetooth headset was on my desk. Was in backpack.
3. Lights in main hallways would flicker often when walked under.
4. Elevators opened and no one around.
5. Static electrical shocks often in my room.
6. Power went off in my bathroom when I was in shower.
7. 2″ Blood spot on my sheet.
Someone else claims to have locked his room safe to only find it unlocked again.
Very odd and still think maybe something natural caused these things..
Holy cow, Paul, what a great comment! I love that you had that experience, because I would like to have had it but…I did have one once, in another hotel and that’s part of how HJ came to be born. So I know what you’re feeling and how almost frustrating it is not to know if you really experienced it, were you dreaming or what. The only thing I can maybe offer a natural explanation for is the lights. Perhaps something is up with the wiring if you noticed them flicker particularly when people were walking. (In my house we have a loose bulb that flickers in the light above our stove. It started doing it right after our dog died, which gave me hope he was trying to say he was still with us. My husband disproved that by tightening the bulb. He spoils all my fun! lol) Anyway, I sure am glad you stopped by to leave such a detailed account of your experience, including the date you stayed, floor and what you noticed. Marvelous!
I just stayed on the 14th floor in room 1431. I had no idea about the floor being haunted. All through the night I heard loud noises seemed to come from under the bed. Just before dawn I was in a half sleep when I witnessed a women dressed in a White Victorian style outfit with Vail approach the bed to the left and with white gloves reach out to me. I woke from my sleep shaken and the women disappeared. Honest truth and told my wife when she googled haunting found out the 14th floor was the most haunted.
Holy cow, Steve! What a phenomenal experience. I got goosebumps (and envy) from reading. THANK YOU so much for taking the time to come share your experience here!