The occasion is an unexpected opportunity to showcase creativity, exclusivity and elegance, says If Only’s Gordon McCreadie
As a parent I must confess that Halloween confuses me. I spend the entire year telling my kids not to talk to strangers or eat too many sweets, but that all goes out the window and it becomes a free-for-all simply because they have a bedsheet over their head pretending to be a ghost!
The luxury travel sector is putting a much more sophisticated spin on Halloween, offering opulent experiences that blend eerie excitement with extravagant indulgence. What was once a night of trick-or-treating is now a full-blown travel trend, with high-end hotels, resorts and tour operators all getting in on the action by curating Halloween experiences for thrill-seekers and luxury lovers alike.
When I discovered this column for Travel Weekly was going to hit the shelves on Halloween, I thought I’d use the opportunity to run through some of the ways in which the luxury travel sector is using spooky season as a way of further capitalising on sales.
One of the most popular Halloween events in the world, Universal Halloween Horror Nights, is one example. It offers a unique blend of horror, thrills and entertainment. Held at Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood and Singapore, these events feature haunted houses, scare zones, live shows and more. For those seeking a truly immersive and terrifying experience, Universal Halloween Horror Nights is a must.
Premium hauntings
Luxury travel has always been about exclusive experiences, and Halloween is now no exception. Private jet charters offer custom-designed itineraries that whisk travellers to some of the world’s most haunted places for a memorable experience.
These include overnight stays in New Orleans’ French Quarter, where the ghosts of voodoo queens are said to roam the hallways, or a private, candlelit dinner in the grounds of Romania’s Bran Castle, commonly known as Dracula’s Castle.
These trips often come with personal guides, ensuring guests have a truly immersive – and terrifying – experience, all while they are staying in ultimate comfort.
For those looking to relax after a night of ghostly thrills, luxury spas are making a Halloween pitch too. Properties like the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego are offering seasonal spa treatments, with pumpkin-infused facials, cinnamon and nutmeg massages and a Witches’ Brew detoxifying body wrap among the treatments on offer.
Extravagant thrills
Themed costume parties have long been a staple of Halloween celebrations, but the luxury travel industry is taking this to a whole new level. Exclusive parties hosted at destinations like the Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice or Amangiri in Utah offer an extravagant twist.
Imagine donning a custom-designed costume and attending a masquerade ball in a candlelit ballroom, or a moonlit desert gathering complete with fire dancers and gourmet Halloween-inspired cocktails. With personal stylists and makeup artists on hand, no detail is overlooked in these one-of-a-kind celebrations.
For travellers who prefer something more intimate, private island resorts are offering Halloween escapes that combine privacy with themed indulgence. Necker Island, Richard Branson’s private Caribbean getaway, hosts exclusive parties with just the right mix of luxury and spookiness.
Private villas are adorned with dark, atmospheric decor, and the events are catered by personal chefs who create spooky yet sophisticated menus. After the festivities, guests can relax under the stars with champagne in hand.
As the luxury travel industry continues to respond to a younger generation that values the experiential, Halloween has become an unexpected yet fitting occasion to showcase creativity, exclusivity and elegance.
Whether it’s haunted historical stays, gourmet experiences or lavish costume balls, these offerings allow travellers to indulge a love of the macabre without sacrificing luxury. For those with a taste for finer things, Halloween is no longer just for kids.