Lost Luxury: The Most Haunting Abandoned Island Hotels

Luxury to Ruins: The Ghost Hotels of the World's Most Stunning Islands

There’s something captivating about deserted island hotels—grand resorts once filled with life, now silent and crumbling, frozen in time. Whether abandoned due to financial struggles, war, or natural disasters, these ghostly retreats offer a unique mix of history, mystery, and adventure.

If you’re fascinated by forgotten places and eerie atmospheres, these abandoned island hotels should be on your radar. Plus, we’ve included local tips to make your exploration even more exciting.

‍Monte Palace Hotel – São Miguel Island, Azores

A Five-Star Dream Turned Into a Fog-Shrouded Ghost Hotel

Perched on a hill overlooking the stunning Sete Cidades Lake, the Monte Palace Hotel was designed to be the most luxurious resort in the Azores. Opened in 1989, this five-star hotel promised world-class accommodations with breathtaking views of the volcanic crater lake below.

However, due to financial miscalculations and a lack of demand, the hotel shut down just two years later. Since then, the abandoned structure has been overtaken by nature, with misty forests creeping into its once-glamorous halls. Urban explorers are drawn to its eerie, graffiti-covered walls and haunting silence.

📍 Location: São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
💡 Local Tip: Visit Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, a stunning nearby viewpoint offering the best panoramic view of the hotel and lake.

Royal York Hotel – Isle of Wight, England

A Victorian Seaside Gem Frozen in Time

Once a luxurious escape for British elites, the Royal York Hotel in Ryde was built in 1938 as a premier seaside retreat. With its grand façade and elegant interiors, it welcomed wealthy travelers seeking relaxation on the Isle of Wight.

Over time, changing travel trends led to its decline, and the hotel was eventually abandoned. Today, the building stands eerily silent, with peeling paint and broken windows adding to its haunting charm. Locals claim to have seen shadowy figures in the windows at night, adding to its ghostly reputation.

📍 Location: Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
💡 Local Tip: Stroll along Ryde Pier, the oldest seaside pier in England, for a nostalgic glimpse into the island’s golden past.

Coco Palms Resort – Kauai, Hawaii

A Hollywood Paradise Now a Ghostly Relic

The Coco Palms Resort was once the pinnacle of Hawaiian luxury, hosting Hollywood stars and appearing in Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii. With its lush palm groves and Polynesian charm, it was a dreamlike getaway.

However, in 1992, Hurricane Iniki devastated the island, leaving the resort in ruins. Multiple attempts to restore it have failed, and today, its crumbling remains sit abandoned, with nature slowly reclaiming the land.

Adventurous visitors can explore the exterior and imagine the resort’s glamorous past, though the site remains off-limits for safety reasons.

📍 Location: Kauai, Hawaii, USA
💡 Local Tip: If you’re an Elvis fan, take a Blue Hawaii film tour, which stops near the resort to showcase where the King of Rock & Roll once stood.

Punta Bunga Beach Resort – Boracay, Philippines

A Secret Resort Swallowed by the Jungle

Boracay is known for its pristine beaches, but hidden among its luxurious resorts is the abandoned Punta Bunga Beach Resort. Meant to be an exclusive retreat, financial troubles led to its closure before it could reach its full potential.

Now, its skeletal structures stand as a quiet reminder of a dream that never came true. The jungle has started to reclaim the buildings, with vines creeping over balconies and pools filled with rainwater. While access is unofficial, the resort remains a fascinating destination for those who enjoy urban exploration.

📍 Location: Boracay, Philippines
💡 Local Tip: The nearby Punta Bunga Beach is still accessible and remains one of Boracay’s most secluded beaches, perfect for a quiet escape.

Hotel Kupari – Dalmatian Islands, Croatia

A War-Torn Luxury Escape

During Yugoslavia’s golden era, the Hotel Kupari was a luxurious retreat for the elite. However, the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s left the resort heavily damaged.

Today, its bullet-ridden walls and shattered windows stand as a haunting reminder of the past. Visitors can still wander through its ghostly halls, where faded luxury meets eerie silence.

📍 Location: Kupari, Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
💡 Local Tip: While exploring the ruins, take a detour to Kupari Beach, which is still a stunning, quiet spot for a swim.

Great Isaac Cay Lighthouse Keepers' Quarters – Bahamas

A Ghostly Tale in the Caribbean

Located on a small Bahamian island, the Great Isaac Cay Lighthouse is a lonely relic surrounded by shipwrecks. The keepers mysteriously vanished in the 1960s, leaving behind a ghostly legend.

The lighthouse and its quarters remain abandoned, with rusting metal and crumbling walls adding to the eerie atmosphere. Sailors and adventurers who visit report strange noises and an unsettling feeling of being watched.
📍 Location: Great Isaac Cay, Bahamas
💡 Local Tip: The island is only accessible by private boat, and the waters around it are known for shipwrecks—perfect for a diving adventure.

The Abandoned Resort on Hashima Island – Japan

A Concrete Jungle of Forgotten Dreams

Nicknamed "Battleship Island", Hashima Island was a bustling coal-mining community in the early 20th century. At its peak, it even had its own luxury resort.

However, when the coal industry collapsed in the 1970s, the island was abandoned overnight. Today, the resort and surrounding high-rises stand in eerie silence, frozen in time. The island has since become a popular tourist destination, offering a glimpse into a past swallowed by the sea.
📍 Location: Hashima Island, Japan (Also known as “Battleship Island”)
💡 Local Tip: You can take an official guided tour to explore the abandoned structures legally and learn about the island’s eerie history.

The Royal Decameron Indigo Resort – Haiti

A Caribbean Retreat That Stands Silent

Once a lively all-inclusive resort, the Royal Decameron Indigo Resort in Haiti was abandoned due to economic troubles and natural disasters. Its once-luxurious pools and palm-lined beaches now sit eerily still.

Rumors of hauntings swirl around the property, with locals believing spirits of past guests still linger in the empty rooms. While security prevents access, the ghostly remains of this resort can still be seen from afar.

📍 Location: Montrouis, Haiti
💡 Local Tip: While the resort itself is abandoned, nearby Moulin Sur Mer Beach Resort offers a similar setting with a working hotel.

Varosha – Famagusta, Cyprus

A Glamorous Beach Resort Turned Forbidden City

Once a playground for celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot, Varosha was Cyprus' premier beach resort in the 1970s. With its pristine coastline and luxury hotels, it attracted the world's elite—until 1974, when the Turkish invasion forced the city’s evacuation.

For decades, Varosha was sealed off, its once-bustling hotels left to decay. While parts of the district have recently reopened, many resorts remain eerily untouched, their sun-bleached balconies and sand-filled lobbies frozen in time.

📍 Location: Famagusta, Cyprus
💡 Local Tip: Take a guided tour, as certain areas remain restricted. Sunset views over the abandoned skyline are hauntingly beautiful.

Hachijo Royal Hotel – Hachijojima Island, Japan

Japan’s Forgotten “Hawaii” Resort

Built in the 1960s, the Hachijo Royal Hotel was once Japan’s largest resort, designed to attract Tokyo’s wealthy travelers to Hachijojima Island, often called “Japan’s Hawaii.” With its grand European-inspired architecture and lush island setting, it was meant to be a dream getaway.

However, as international travel became more affordable, domestic tourism to the island declined, and the hotel shut down. Today, it stands abandoned, its ivy-covered walls and decaying ballrooms giving it an otherworldly, almost mystical feel.

📍 Location: Hachijojima Island, Japan
💡 Local Tip: Visit Miharashi Hot Spring for breathtaking ocean views and a relaxing soak near the island’s volcanic cliffs.

King View Resort – Sa Khu, Thailand

An Unfinished Paradise Swallowed by the Jungle

The King View Resort in Phuket was meant to be a luxurious escape with breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. However, construction mysteriously stopped before completion, leaving behind a skeletal structure of half-built villas, empty infinity pools, and abandoned pathways now overtaken by the jungle.

With vines creeping through doorways and trees growing where guests were once meant to relax, the resort has transformed into an eerie, forgotten ruin. While officially off-limits, its ghostly atmosphere and stunning hilltop views continue to intrigue curious explorers.

📍 Location: Sa Khu, Phuket, Thailand
💡 Local Tip: Hike to Sirinat National Park for pristine, secluded beaches and one of the best sunset views in Phuket.

Dino Island Resort – Praia A Mare, Italy

A Forgotten Resort on a Mediterranean Island

Perched on the small and scenic Dino Island, off the coast of Praia A Mare, this abandoned resort was once planned as an exclusive Mediterranean retreat. However, financial troubles halted its development, leaving behind crumbling hotel buildings and deserted terraces with spectacular ocean views.

Now, nature has started reclaiming the site, with ivy-covered walls and broken windows overlooking the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Though forgotten by developers, the island itself remains a popular destination for adventurers drawn to its eerie beauty.

📍 Location: Dino Island, Praia A Mare, Italy
💡 Local Tip: Rent a kayak and explore the famous Blue Grotto, a stunning sea cave just off the island’s coast.

El Ponce Hotel – Ponce, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s Forgotten Jewel

Once a grand symbol of Ponce’s tourism boom, the El Ponce Hotel was a hotspot for the rich and famous, offering lavish accommodations and stunning oceanfront views. However, over time, economic decline and hurricane damage led to its abandonment, leaving behind an empty shell of its former glamour.

Now, its faded murals, cracked fountains, and overgrown courtyards stand as haunting reminders of its golden age. Though the doors are closed, the hotel remains a striking landmark in the historic city of Ponce.

📍 Location: Ponce, Puerto Rico
💡 Local Tip: Visit the Ponce History Museum to learn more about the city's architectural gems and its rich cultural heritage.

Would You Dare to Visit These Haunting Island Hotels?

Each of these abandoned hotels tells a story—of lost luxury, natural disasters, or even mysterious disappearances. Whether you’re drawn to ghostly ruins, post-apocalyptic scenery, or just love the eerie beauty of forgotten places, these destinations offer a thrilling adventure. Would you explore them?