Will you see a ghost during your stay on the Queen Mary?

The elegant Queen Mary evokes a romantic era and style of travel. Built from 1930 to 1936, the grand ocean liner is permanently docked in Long Beach, Calif., as a hotel and museum—but did you know the ship is also home to ghost stories?

Before we get into the spooky stuff, check into your stateroom. There are 314 original first-class staterooms on board, including nine full suites. Each room has original built-ins and wood paneling, as well as iPod clock radios. Most (not all) rooms include 32-inch flat-panel TVs. The size and layout of the rooms vary, and all feature portholes. The suites include a living room with a pull-out sofa bed.

On-board entertainment includes the Queen Mary Spa, guided tours, exhibits, boutiques and shops, and a variety of dining options.

But let’s get to the ghosts. Year-round paranormal tours are given at night for the bravest guests. Will you meet the little girl who wanders near the first-class swimming pool? Who knows unless you seek her out. This month, however, the Queen Mary adds the Dark Harbor event—full of mazes, food and cocktails, and live music.

The best place to stay after you’ve scared yourself silly? Your stateroom on the Queen Mary.

The Queen Mary, 877-342-0742
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Photo courtesy of dlofink, Flickr

More haunted information:
Five Haunted Hotels in New Orleans

Christmas Boat for the Christmas Stroll Weekend

The town and island of Nantucket is such a quintessential New England location – with its traditional homes, gorgeous water views, and quaint shops and restaurants.  While it’s typically considered a summer destination, like the rest of New England, it’s beautiful year round.  Nantucket’s Chamber of Commerce is once again hosting Nantucket Noel and the signature event – the Christmas Stroll, and many Nantucket hotels are open for the occasion.

The annual Christmas stroll includes traditional New England Christmas foods, Victorian dressed carolers, Santa Claus, holiday decor, and much more.  It takes place from December 2-4, 2011, and the shops and restaurants are open for holiday shoppers.  During the weekend, Santa Claus will make his grand arrival via a Coast Guard Vessel – something you just won’t see anywhere else.

Several of the Nantucket Island Resort hotels are open for the Christmas Stroll Weekend.  Options include the Jared Coffin House, which is centrally located just a few blocks away from all of the action, the famous White Elephant Hotel, the Cottages and Lofts at the Boat Basin (great for families), and the luxurious and deluxe White Elephant Hotel Residences (for a special treat during the Christmas Stroll weekend!).

Visit the Nantucket Island Resorts website for more information on rates and availability.

Photo credit: The Nantucket Island Resorts

Who says slaving away over your own stove and filling your kitchen sink with dishes is the only way to celebrate Thanksgiving? Take advantage of the long weekend and start a new family tradition of traveling together this year. Spending the holidays in a hotel can be more relaxing than the hustle and bustle associated with a conventional celebration at home and many hotels offer special deals to help you celebrate the holiday away from home; you can even get the traditional turkey and trimmings!

Cotton Tree – Grand Cayman Islands - Spend the holidays in a private beach cottage and spend your time doing yoga instead of cooking. Rates for the “Thanksgiving Special,” which is valid for a November 23-26 reservation, start at $890.00 US per night. (www.caymancottontree.com code CT375)

Hawks Cay Resort – Florida Keys – The family-friendly resort on Duck Key is celebrating the holiday weekend with tons of activities, including a 5k Turkey Trot Walk/Run and a pie-eating competition. They’ll also be serving a family-style dinner or you can just spend your long weekend lounging in one of their five pools. (www.hawkscay.com)

Marquis Los Cabos – Los Cabos, Mexico – Grab a suite on the beach this year and enjoy lots of extra amenities, incluing a $300 spa credit, VIP rountrip airport transportation, and breakfast delivered each morning via a “silent butler” service. Take advantage of the Thanksgiving special to get a fourth night free. Nightly rates start at $590 for a Junior Suite. (1-877-238-9399 or www.marquisloscabos.com)

Photo courtesy of Marquis Los Cabos

I love all-suites hotels. You don’t need a special upgrade or media credentials to get a great room with plenty of space. You know when you check in that every room is going to be a suite. I was excited when my girlfriend gave my husband and I a gift certificate for a free night at the new all-suites hotel in Pittsburgh.

Cambria Suites is attached via parking garage to the new CONSOL Energy Center (home to the Pittsburgh Penguins), which I’m sure makes it convenient for anyone coming into town for a hockey game. It is not conveniently located near any other major Pittsburgh attraction and is just outside the downtown district and away from major bus routes. Here for a game or have a rental car? You’ll be fine.

Location issues aside, Cambria Suites is a beautiful hotel that lived up to my expectations as an all-suites property. Our king standard room included a large living area, plenty of space to work (which I happily ignored), and the most important feature of any hotel room: ample outlets for charging electronics.

The bed was comfortable, too.

The bathroom gave me pause. The modern design featured a shower with no shower curtain or sliding door. Half the shower was enclosed with a glass wall and the other half, the part farthest from the shower head, was open. Another design oddity included having the faucet for the shower on the wall opposite the shower head, eliminating the early morning cold water screams. While that design decision was brilliant, I’d love to hear the logic behind an open shower stall in a hotel bathroom.

Photo: Cambria Suites