Ghost Tours/ Walks

Stoner

The idea is that if you've been on a ghost tour that you post up what you thought of it. Not that I get to say the direction that thread should follow but....

It would be good to have a reply per tour, give an opinion, rate the guides as local history guides, paranormal guides, mixture of both (the best IMO) and guides doing it like a job etc also state the positives and negitaves and say if they bring you into any "haunted" locations. Give contact details too please.

If someone has offered a review of a tour that you disagree with, it would be good to reply to it. However IMO it would be best if people did not turn into a discussion about a tour, example the recent ghost tour, this has its own thread along with the spooky underpants thread for general chat

Note also that it's been a while since i did some of these and things may have changed since then, but in general they seem to be the same, the ones where the tour guide owns the company and does the tours are the best IMO

Stoner

Seattle USA
PRIVATE EYE ON SEATTLE TOURS: HAUNTED HAPPENINGS
e-mail jake13@foxinternet.comD

Details

Ghost-guru Jake lures you into her blood-red van to track the haunts of Seattle's friendly spooks. This supernatural adventure falls somewhere between Casper and the Addams family. Supposedly, local spirits don't harm anyone; Jake claims they're just a pack of poltergeists looking for a good time. Legend has it that Seattle's oldest neighborhoods are the haunt of choice for hometown apparitions. Down at Pike Place Market, an official paranormal group insists Chief Seattle's daughter, Princess Angeline, regularly walks through walls garbed in a long, faded gown with a flower basket on her arm. Could be true, because the shack she once called home stood on land the Market now occupies.

As Jake drives you between spook-taculars, she rattles off homicide and bordello trivia. Seems a shabby brothel-turned-mansion in Seattle's Georgetown area comes with Sarah, a matriarchal mirage. Her murdered, out-of-wedlock baby is said to be buried under the stairs. Temporary lodgings also attract their fair share of specters, including a hotel-turned-apartment-building on Queen Anne. After one tourist strangled her hubby with a rope, hotel folk say, he decided to hang around. Since any decent ghost-hunt includes a graveyard, Jake always steers her flock to a cemetery where 11 homes were built over children's graves. Apparently, one little fellow still makes regular house calls. And when asked if her tour guests ever spy any ghosts, Jake says she once did, but was too frightened to enjoy it.

Review.

Positives

Jake picks you up from your hotel, drops you back too
She is very nice and the numbers are low
Brings you to decent places and points out places to take pics where paranormal photos have been taken before
She knows her local history and deals with questions well
Large area is covered
If you’re into gangster type ghosts you’ll like this.

Negatives
You go to “haunted places” but somehow it kind of lacked an over all paranormal input, this sounds worse then it is

Over all,
A very good tour

Stoner

Toronto Canada

email genova@sympatico.ca
Contact Bill

Details

Genova Tours specializes in personal walking tours of Toronto for individuals and small groups. Your guide will be a storyteller and historian with intimate knowledge of Toronto. Takes about three hours


Review

Positives

Bill really knows Toronto.
Huge amount of local history and well educated man
Made an effort to talk about Irish stuff / Canada, a genuine effort during his intro
Brings you into a few public places
Gives you tips on where else to visit in Toronto so it would be good to do this tour early in your visit
Will do a tour for just two people if that’s all there is.

Negatives

This is really a historical tour with the odd mention of a ghost, you don’t really get a chance to interact with Bill as he pounds you with information, waves his hand in your face etc, I think he is a teacher in his day job and I think he thought I was a student
It’s a bit expensive; as you just go on a walk and talk with Bill
He knows a lot about history but I got the impression that he thought he knew all about Irish History too, he will attempt to correct you etc about stuff he is wrong/ only half informed on.
And LOL he told me that Toronto was “lucky because they got the cream of the Irish people, the Belfast protestant” I guess this put Bill and I on a bad start.

Overall
A good tour, but don’t expect too much paranormal info but a great history Tour

Stoner

San Francisco

http://www.sfghosthunt.com/homepage.html
Contact Jim Fassbinder

Details
On the San Francisco Ghost Hunt we walk to some of San Francisco's most notorious haunted places and meet the enchanting ghosts that call them home. You hear ghost stories based on serious documented research, see and touch eerie haunted artifacts and learn how you can catch a ghost. You will discover the wild and romantic history of San Francisco's beautiful Pacific Heights district where these ghosts haunt today. The tour is outside for about two hours. You are inside one haunted building for about an hour! It's a safe place, no one has ever been harmed there! And you can individually check out places in there where manifestations happen too. We walk a mile on tree lined streets in a safe quiet neighborhood with beautiful historic Victorian architecture. We meet the more scary ghosts outside, so you can run if you need to. There is one moderate hill, the pace is easy and the views are spectacular.

Departing year-round, rain or starshine, from an authentic restored Victorian, the magnificent

Review.

Positives
The guide is a decent guy, sound and easy to talk to.
He knows his local history
He knows his paranormal stuff too
Its lasts about 2 to 3 hours and is a walking tour
You meet in a hotel reception and he brings to into a “haunted hotel room” ifs is free
You get a tiny gift at the end of the tour, a glow in the dark key ring or fridge magnet or something.

Negatives
It’s a hilly walk
The guide has a couple of “tricks” to show that add some magic to the tour, IMO I think it would be better to keep the magic for a different time.

Overall

Very good tour, I really enjoyed it.

Stoner

MercatHouse
Niddry Street South
EDINBURGH
EH1 1NS
Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 131 557 6464
Email: info@MercatTours.com
or visit website at www.mercattours.com.

Details

Mary King's Close
Edinburgh's genuine historic underground city. Centuries old, Mary King's Close ia a place where history and the supernatural meet. Descend into a grim and groustly place deserted by all. Struck by plague, pestilence and fire, mysterious and other-worldly, the close survives for all to see. Royal Mile Walk Take a step back in time with a trained historian and explore the closes, wynds and hidden courtyards that make up the medieval city of Mary Queen of Scots. History brought to life. The best way to discover the city. Hidden Underground Vaults Beneath these picturesque Old Town streets there lies another side of Edinburgh - a darker side.... Descend with one of our guides into these dark vaulted chambers and hear of their sinister secrets.... Some things should remain buried forever! Ghosts & Ghouls A journey through the closes and wynds of the city's haunted underworld and hear tales of Old Edinburgh. Including a visit to recently uncovered underground vaults and a drink in an ancient city tavern, this is one not to be missed....

Review

Positives

The location is great, the best location I’ve ever been in
It’s handy to get to
Cost is decent
You get a decent amount of local history

Negatives
The tour guides are kind of reading off a script

Overall

A good tour, a little bit too commercial but well worth a spin.

Stoner

Chicago

http://www.chicagohauntings.com

Details

Folklore and history come alive as real-life ghosthunters lead you on an intriguing excursion through supernatural Chicago.

Our TOUR is based on the work of lifelong Chicagoan, historian and 20-year veteran paranormal researcher Ursula Bielski -- author of the books Chicago Haunts, More Chicago Haunts, Graveyards of Chicago and Creepy Chicago -- and takes visitors to the most haunted and supernaturally active sites in the city aboard Chicago's only "Ghost Bus!"

Our tours are known for their authenticity; we've been told they're provocative, dark, historical and sometimes more than a little scary. But they're also very sophisticated, intelligent -- and a lot of fun. All you have to bring is your imagination, an open mind, and -- if you wish -- a camera.

So come along with our team of paranormal investigators as they take you on a three-hour tour that travels back in time through Chicago's mysterious past -- and up to its haunted present!

For reservations, click left or call TOLL-FREE anytime!

Review
Positives

The tour guide is the best in my experience
The tour is great, the history and the paranormal,
The guide is married to paranormal researcher Ursula Bielski,
He brings to you to loads of places, even into the last of the Projects where he shows you bullet marks in the walls,
Great history and great knowledge of the paranormal
He has a cool ghost bus and the numbers are small, if you’re stuck he drops people back to their hotels
He sells his wife’s book, I have all three

Negatives
Honestly, none

Overall
The best tour I’ve been on.

Stoner

San Diego USA

Ghostly Tours in History

http://arestravel.com/1187_attraction-info_a256.html?ticketID=1215

Details
For a "hauntingly" good time join our 3 hour Ghostly Limo Tour starting at 6:30 to some of San Diego's ghostly locations. Hear the lurid tales of murder, bloodlust and prostitution, that left a spectral past. On this ghost tour we travel to 5 or 6 locations each tour night in San Diego, boarding in Old Town (across the street from "The Theatre in Old Town" 4041 Twiggs), we go aboard a tall ship, slip inside one of the oldest buildings in Gaslamp, see a Victorian Mansion or perhaps a romantic and haunted hotel and of course a graveyard or two.


Review,

Positives
Decent tour guides, knew his stuff , but you might get another guide as there are a number of them
The info was good and you are brought into houses, one of these is the Whaley house, I saw someone here in boards mention this place before and how they we on a tour there and didn’t know it was haunted etc. They mention the haunted element all over the house and have loads of strange pics etc on view ??? anyway
The locations are good and its an interesting trip

Negative
Once again a little bit commercial, you may or may not get a good tour guide, it’s a bit scripted.

Over all
A Good tour

Stoner

CIE Dublin Ghost Bus

Departures:
Monday to Friday at 8.00 pm
Saturdays & Sundays at 7.00 pm and 9.30 pm
Outdoor visits take place in all weather - please dress appropriately.
Not suitable for persons 14 years or under.
http://www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/ghost_bus_tour.asp

Details
Tour Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.)

Your professional guide will weave his spell and spirit you away to meet the felons, fiends and phantoms who reach out across a thousand years of Dublin’s troubled history.
Your professional guide will weave his spell and spirit you away to meet the felons, fiends and phantoms who reach out across a thousand years of Dublin’s troubled history.
You’ll pass haunted houses, learn of Dracula’s Dublin origins and we’ll even throw in a crash course in body-snatching.
Near journey’s end the lights go out and darkness invites the macabre traditions of the Irish wake. Your host - one blessed with the "gift of the gab" - will conclude the tour by explaining the meaning of life - and death! - Irish-style.
Tour Highlights:
• Body-snatching in St. Kevin's Graveyard
• Visit the Haunted Steps
• Discover Dracula's Dublin origins
• Review,
Positive

Friendly tour guide with some interaction.
It’s in Dublin the capital of Ireland
It’s ok value for money
The local history is good
The paranormal side is average enough its tends towards the darker side of Dublin in the past,
You get to go into St. Kevins graveyard at night
It has fun built into it

Negative
The paranormal side is weak

Overall
This in an entertaining tour, its fun and you’ll learn about Dublin history, you wont get into the nitty gritty of “haunted Dublin”

Stoner

Kinsale Ghost Tour

http://www.corkkerry.ie/individual_results.asp?sID=16147

Directions: Ask for St Multose Church. The Tap Tavern is just beside it.
Cost: Adult: EUR9
Child: EUR7
Student / Senior: 7
Opening Months: May - September
Opening Times: Monday - Friday: 9pm
Method of Visitor Payment: Kinsale Ghost Tours accept cash or cheque


Details

This is a walking tour, you meet up at the Tap Tavern Pub, just show up there no booking or phoning ahead, just maybe call to see if its cancelled or not ( I think there is some relation between the tour guides and the owner of the pub. This is a good value tour, but loads of people go on it. The guys dress up and its more or less pure entertainment, you have little or no interaction with the guides. They give you some good local history facts etc as they concentrate on entertaining you. You will pick up ghost stories and you can even buy a DVD of the tour. This is a light hearted tour and the guys really get stuck into providing you with an entertaining time


Review,

Positives

Very entertaining,
Decent Local history
The guides try very hard and are funny
There are ghost stories mixed in there

Negatives
None really , but its not what I would call a ghost tour, a lot of acting and panto going on, but for what it is, it is done very well.
Lots of people go, it’s the biggest tour crowd I’ve even seen (and the guide called it a small crowd)

Over all

An entertaining hour, good fun, I can’t knock

Stoner

Derby Gaol

http://www.derbygaol.com/ghostwalks.htm

The popular and infamous Derby Ghostwalks run throughout the year, and continue to be a success since they started over 8 years ago. There are a variety of Ghostwalks to choose between, which are led by experienced, informative, and friendly guides. Be aware though… Due to the popular nature of the Ghostwalks, pre booking is essential. You can either drop into the Heritage Centre or contact us using the information provided.
All Ghostwalks start at 7pm sharp, and the price includes a candlelit supper. The city Centre walks start from the Old Bell in Saddlergate and the Friargate ghostwalk starts from Derby Gaol in Agard Street. Please aim to be there for 6.50pm. Tours last approx. 3 hrs
The prices for these walks are as follows:
• City Centre Walk £21.00 per person (children under 12 and OAPs - £18.00)
• Friar Gate Walk £21.00 per person (children under 12 and OAPs - £18.00)
Private Ghostwalks can be arranged for £21.00 per person with a minimum of 15 people. An £11 deposit per person must be paid within 5 working days of booking, or it will be cancelled. We welcome company outings or private parties, paranormal buffs or just the morbid and curious! All are welcome

Review,

Positive
A decent tours that lasts along time,
There is a huge amount of “haunted sites” here and I’d like to do more of their walks .
It’s very cheap to get to Derby from Dublin, might be worth a ghost trip in the future, that I get involved in as I know people there etc.
They have a few different tours in the one place

Negative
A bit scripted and expensive
There is a problem doing some tours at the weekend due to hassle from dirt bags etc meaning that you’d have to talk time off work to go. its a bit scripted also

Over all
These guys have been at this for a while, it’s a good but tour times can awkward.