You can now compete to spend one terrifying night in Dracula’s castle

Published 1:30 am Thursday, October 20, 2016

As Airbnb horror stories go, this one may take the coffin: Enjoy two days and one terrifying, possibly abbreviated night in Dracula’s castle.

Leave the silver jewelry at home, and the garlic. Don’t even think of bringing anything in the shape of a cross to Transylvania. Towels are included, though.

The great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, who penned the famous “Dracula” novel, will play host, but guests are welcome to get their blood pumping by touring the castle’s 57 rooms before dinner Halloween night.

Horrors might await. Organizers have hinted at an appearance by Count Dracula himself. At some point, there probably will be an awkward conversation about an untimely death by exsanguination.

Also, the 14th-century castle doesn’t have WiFi.

The night is part of a Halloween-themed contest for Airbnb. You can enter until Oct. 26 by going to the contest website and writing an “artistic and creative story” about what you would say to Count Dracula if you saw him in his castle.

You know, just in case.

“Following the hearty, blood-enriching meal, guests will be left to sleep in luxurious velvet-trimmed coffins in the seclusion of the Count’s crypt,” the site says.

The two winners will be the first people in nearly 70 years to sleep in the castle, which is more Romanian museum than cozy bed-and-breakfast. The site will fly winners to Romania and deliver them to Bran Castle in a horse-drawn carriage.

“I want to make it both realistic and show the legend in the wonderful country that birthed the whole thing,” Dacre Stoker, the host, told the Associated Press in a telephone interview.

He plans to greet them using the same words Dracula used in Bram Stoker’s story: “Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring!”