Alien Experiencer

When I was seven, my family decided to take a vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel, if you’ve read my story about the orbs, you know about the second experience. Seriously, what is it with me and Marriott Hotels? It’s like they have a secret membership for the paranormal elite. I’ve had two unexplained sightings at two different Marriott locations, Puerto Rico and Baltimore, MD! I’m starting to think I should just book another stay at a Marriott in another location, you know, for science. But I digress; let’s get back to the actual ghost story!

When I was seven, we were staying at the Marriott Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Everyone in my family was sleeping, but I was still wide awake because I’m a massive fan of the sea. Seriously, I love the beach, swimming, and basically anything ocean related. I wanted to stay up a bit and soak in the sound of those crashing waves. As a kid, I didn’t really like sleeping, so I wasn’t in that sleepy zone. I was just wide awake when all this went down.

So, I’m in bed, listening to the waves, and I realize the balcony door was on the top floor. I was seven, so I can’t remember the exact floor. I do recall that when I looked outside, people and beach chairs appeared tiny. As I lay there, I noticed a shimmer at the balcony door. It wasn’t from inside or outside; the door itself shimmered, and something pushed through that and walked through the door.

As it moved through the balcony doors, it began to take on a humanoid shape. Even at seven years old, I sensed this wasn’t normal. I didn’t know if I should wake my family or run. I didn’t feel danger but I was confused. Watching this figure approach, I saw it develop a human form. It became more solid while still appearing somewhat transparent.

He appeared grayish yet clear, looked to be in his late 30s or early 40s. Dressed in a pinstriped suit, he held a cigar in his fingers, occasionally puffing on it. I could smell the cigar smoke. His hair was neatly combed to one side, he was clean-shaven, and wore shiny, polished black shoes. He had a strong jawline with sharp features and blue eyes, and his hair was a medium to light brown.

I saw depth and colors but he also seemed transparent. He came to the bed and sat on the edge. As a child, I didn’t know how to react; I didn’t know what to say or think. I just stared, processing the fact that I was looking at someone who walked through a door. He came in from the balcony, and I was wide awake, not dreaming.

Then he sat on the edge of the bed, and the mattress sank as if someone heavy had just sat down.

I didn’t speak. I don’t remember him speaking either. If he did, I may have been too stunned to process it. At one point, he leaned in very close to my face, close enough that I could see every detail, then leaned back, stood up, and walked away.

He exited the same way he came in, passing back through the balcony door and disappearing as the shimmer collapsed behind him.

I never forgot it.

People often explain experiences like this by pointing to childhood imagination, dreams, or half sleep states. But years later, as an adult, I had another unexplained encounter, also at a Marriott hotel, this time involving UFO activity. That experience is linked below.

I still don’t know exactly what that first figure was. A ghost? Something else entirely? All I know is that I was awake, unmedicated, and very aware. And whatever it was, it crossed a threshold, literally and figuratively, that has stayed with me ever since.

Previous Marriott Hotel Experience