Below, you’ll find answers to most of the questions that we receive here at California Wine Hikes. Before contacting us, please see whether your question is already answered here. If you're certain your question is not answered here, please contact our Customer Service Department.
general information
tours
wine
hiking
dining
accommodations
weather
transportation
How long has californiawinehikes.com been in business?
Russ Beebe has organized over one hundred tours in recent years. He began development of californiawinehikes.com in the Summer of 2005 so that he could further share his passion for hiking, wine tasting, and travel via a user-friendly e-commerce website. He schedules dozens of tours each year in the California wine country and is always on the lookout for new trails and wineries.
To find out more, please see our about us page.
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Which do we do first – hiking or wine tasting?
It’s amazing how much this question is asked, but plain good sense dictates that hiking occur before wine tasting. Generally speaking, drinking alcoholic beverages on the trail or before hiking is discouraged. Why? There are many reasons, but the main reason is: while you’re out walking in the wilderness, many things can happen, all of which require everyone to have their wits about them. Your heart is also pumping at a higher rate while hiking (especially up hills), so you don’t want alcohol slowing you down, impairing your good judgment, or causing undue stress on your body during this kind of exercise. The good part is: finishing a hike together as a group is a good reason to celebrate with wine. And food, too!
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How many people will be on our tour?
We limit our tours to 11 people each. We limit a group size for the following reasons: we can all stay at more interesting inns and B&Bs in a local area; we can delight in better service at the best restaurants available; and you will enjoy personalized attention from your tour guides.
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Who will the other tour participants be?
Your fellow travelers come to us with diverse backgrounds. All of them are spirited individuals, young at heart, who share a love of adventure and a genuine curiosity about the region. Ages tend to vary on each tour.
Our hiking tours tend to attract participants in their early 30s to late 60s. There is generally a mix of couples, singles, and friends. If traveling solo, you are sure to meet great new friends who share your interest in outdoor activities.
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What will the group be like?
Like you, your fellow travelers will have a spirit for adventure and a willingness to meet others. Groups bond very fast, and you will leave your tour having made several new friends. Often, people who meet on a tour return together for another great adventure.
Typically, our groups are comprised of 60 percent couples and 40 percent solo travelers, with a nearly 50% ratio of males to females. However, due to the nature of wine tastings, children cannot participate.
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Am I too young or too old?
Age has no relevance! As long as you are in good physical condition and enjoy meeting people of all ages, you'll enjoy your tour.
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Will I feel comfortable traveling solo?
Do you have different vacation times or interests than your spouse or friends? No problem! We regularly have guests who travel by themselves. You are sure to feel welcome and to meet lots of interesting folks. Be advised, however, that our tour prices are based on double occupancy.
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We are a group of friends. Can you arrange a tour just for us?
Certainly. If you have a minimum of 7 people in your party and a maximum of 11 people, we can arrange a customized tour to any of our destinations for the length of time and date that suits you. If you’d like us to arrange a special tour for you and your friends, please contact us.
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Do you arrange tours for people attending corporate events?
We can arrange tours for your group of 7 to 11 people over the course of your one-day or multi-day event. Please contact us to arrange your tour at least 90 days ahead of your planned event date.
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How do I book a winehiking tour?
On californiawinehikes.com, booking your tour reservation is easy. Each tour offers a book now button that will allow you to reserve your tour online. All tours must be booked through the californiawinehikes.com website. We apologize, but no reservations can be made by phone. We require a valid credit card or PayPal for all reservations.
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How soon should I book my winehiking tour?
Although you can book our single-day winehiking tours up to three weeks prior to the start date, it is best to book our multi-day tours up to six months in advance. That way, you can be assured that the fine hotels and restaurants we know you'll like will be available for you to experience.
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What is included in the price?
The price you pay when booking a tour reservation with California Wine Hikes is the total price of a tour, per person. This price includes all of your lodging and meals, wine tasting fees, park entrance fees, equipment rental (if any), and taxes. Once you arrive at your tour venue (lodging site, winery, or trailhead), there are no additional costs for our tours, with the exception of beverages at dinner (not including coffee and tea) and guide gratuities.
Prices for our multi-day tours are based on double occupancy. (For additional information, see What does double occupancy mean?) A deposit is required to secure your space on a multi-day tour; you will be charged only for the amount of the deposit at the time of your online reservation. (See Final Payment below.)
For our single-day tours, the price of the deposit is the price of the tour.
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What credit cards do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards, as well as offer a PayPal option through our shopping cart on the californiawinehikes.com website.
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Do you accept travelers checks or personal checks?
We apologize, but we do not accept traveler’s checks or provide a personal check payment option.
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Will I receive an online confirmation of my tour reservation?
Yes! Upon booking a tour, our shopping cart will instantly respond to you via email to confirm that you have booked your tour. Within 15 days of receiving your deposit, we will follow up to you with a tour confirmation via email. This tour confirmation will include final payment information and a more complete description of your tour – including lodging and dining information, if applicable – plus our "Recommended Clothing and Gear" list and a "Waiver and Release of Liability Agreement" that must be signed by each tour guest and in our possession prior to the start date of your tour.
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I purchased a single-day tour. Do I need to pay a balance?
Single-day tours are a one-time-only transaction and do not require further payment.
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How do I arrange final payment for my multi-day tour?
Naturally, we're glad you asked! For multi-day tours, final payment is due 60 days prior to the start date of the tour via PayPal.com*. Reservations booked inside 120 days of the start date of a multi-day tour require immediate payment in full via credit card or PayPal.
Final payment for multi-day tours is the difference between the price per person and your original online tour deposit. Often, after deposits are received and lodging arrangements have been made, we find we are able to reduce the total tour price per person and will pass on any cost savings to you.
You may also make your final payment by money order or cashier's check payable to "California Wine Hikes", sent via postal mail and postmarked no later than 60 days prior to the start date of your tour. Please send this type of payment to the following address:
California Wine Hikes Tours
1220 Tasman Drive
Suite 194
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
IMPORTANT: When sending funds by mail, please also include the name and date of your tour on your check, as well as the quantity of tours that you purchased, to ensure proper matching of your payment balance with your deposit and tour reservation.
Additionally, a "5-day, 4-night tour," means 5 days of hiking and 4 nights of lodging, as well as transportation, all wine tastings, and meals. Air transportation is not included in the price.
*We recommend PayPal because you can make a secure online payment quickly and easily without revealing your credit card or bank information, plus you'll get instant confirmation of your payment. Your tour confirmation will provide a handy link for paying the balance of your tour fee via PayPal.
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Can I cancel my tour reservation?
Cancellations by us
After you receive a confirmation of your tour reservation from California Wine Hikes, we make every effort to conduct the scheduled tour. Occasionally, however, we will be compelled to cancel a tour, and we reserve the right to do so. In the event that we must cancel a tour, we will try our best to alert you 30 days in advance of the scheduled tour date, with the exception of day tours, for which we will try our best to alert you 7 days in advance of the scheduled tour date. You will receive a full refund, which will appear as a credit or charge reversal on your credit card statement and/or a return of your uncashed check. However, California Wine Hikes cannot assume responsibility for incidental or consequential expenses you may incur, such as auto or equipment rental or air/bus/train travel costs.
Cancellations by you
If you must cancel a tour for any reason, the following refund schedule applies, except for bad weather on a day tour; please see below.
| Multi-Day Tours |
| Days prior to start |
Cancellation fee per person |
| 61+ days |
$50 |
| 31-60 days |
Full deposit amount |
| 0-30 days |
Full cost of tour |
| |
|
| Day Tours |
| Days prior to start |
Cancellation fee per person |
| 14+ days |
$15 |
| 0-14 days |
Full cost of tour |
There are no refunds for leaving a tour early or for not using any of the services that are part of the tour. If you wish to transfer to another tour, you may do so free of charge per the following stipulations: for multi-day tours, you must transfer more than 60 days prior to the starting date of the tour; for day tours, you must transfer more than 30 days prior to the starting date of the tour. Within these time limits, the above cancellation amounts apply.
Cancellation policy due to bad weather
If the weather is unusually bad on the morning of a day tour, you have three choices, as follows:
- Continue with the planned activities, with alternate activities worked in as possible.
- Transfer your reservation, with no additional fees paid, to the same tour in the future.
- Cancel entirely with a $15 per person cancellation fee.
Because weather forecasts are not always accurate, we always wait until the morning of the tour to make weather decisions. In the rare event that the weather is so bad that safety is a concern, your tour guide will cancel the tour and you will be credited a full refund.
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How should I get ready for a tour?
Guests often ask us how to train for their hiking tour. However, we feel that training is often unnecessary. After all, whether it is hiking or wine tasting, this is a vacation, not a competition. Nevertheless, how you train will depend on your tour: are you sauntering over mountain trails in the High Sierra or ambling through vineyards in the Valley of the Moon?Also, what fitness level are you starting from?Are you already hiking 20 miles a week, or are you only exercising your thumb with the TV remote?
For the latter group, and anyone else concerned about being in shape for their tour, we offer some suggestions. However, let's be clear: the following tips are meant to maximize your enjoyment of the tour; they are not a prerequisite. We encourage guests to choose a tour that best fits their level of hiking ability, which means you get to hike the trail that you choose, at your pace. We will attempt to adjust the day's route to fit your needs. But if you want to hike farther with fewer complaints from your body, we suggest the following:
- Put on your boots and hike at least one month before your tour begins. This may seem obvious, but many guests don't do it. Start out hiking for an hour twice a week at a comfortable pace (you decide what that is). Work up to hiking for at least two hours three times a week. We realize that may be tough on some people's schedules, but it's what we suggest for maximum tour enjoyment.
- Find a hill. If you can conquer a hill at home, you won't be intimidated by any hills you might find on your tour. Practice hiking up it several times before your tour, even if it means stopping a dozen times to rest.
- Find comfortable clothing. By getting out there on the trail, you will find which type of clothing best suits you while hiking. Questions to ask yourself are: Is this sweatshirt too bulky? Would I prefer to invest in some lightweight synthetic garments that release moisture better? Do my boots fit properly? Which sunglasses are best for UV and wind protection? Do I have enough layers of clothing?
- Take food and water with you. It’s amazing how much food and water a body requires while hiking. As with many sports, follow the rule: "Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty." You'll feel much better during and after your hike. In fact, staying hydrated on the trail will make it easier to enjoy wine tasting later in the day.
Again, we emphasize that these are just suggestions. No matter what, you will have fun on a californiawinehikes.com tour.
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How much should I tip my guides?
Although not mandatory, gratuities for your tour guides are customary and welcome. A typical tipping range for a day hike is $5 to $10 per guest. A typical tipping range for a multi-day tour is $8 to $10 per guide per day - in other words, a tip of $40 to $50 per guest. In fact, it is not unheard of for your grateful guide to convert a good tip into a great bottle of wine to share with the group.
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What wineries do we visit?
At californiawinehikes.com, we make every attempt to visit wineries that showcase the varietals of the regions we hike in. Determining which wineries we visit is generally based upon on how busy they may be on a given day or time of year. Some wineries offer private group tours which we schedule in advance if possible. californiawinehikes.com regularly visits a number of family-owned wineries as well as many of the renowned California wineries that you’ve heard of.
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What is the format of the wine tastings?
Depending on the tour, the wine tastings can be loosely informal or they can be comparative blind tastings; some will be food/wine pairings at dinner. Some tastings will occur at the lodging site, while others will occur at a selected winery or wine venue. Tours can include a post-hike picnic in a park or an evening tasting on the veranda of a bed-and-breakfast inn, in which case, the tastings will often be informal; as such, californiawinehikes.com will arrange for wine availability. Comparative blind tastings are more educational, and include 20-point rating scenarios/tasting notes wherein participants judge a number of wines—usually six of the same varietal. This more formal type of wine tasting can appeal to those who have experience comparing wines, who just want to learn more about wine, or are intrigued by the notion of pairing wine with food.
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Are there wine-tasting fees, and if so, how much do they cost?
californiawinehikes.com covers all tasting fees as part of your tour price.
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What should I wear?
When hiking, wearing layered clothing will prepare you for all types of weather conditions. Synthetic fabrics and wool are best; cotton and denim are not recommended, especially in colder, wetter conditions, or when hiking longer trails.
Each of our confirmed tour guests will receive a detailed gear checklist prior to their visit. This checklist will cover basic, recommended, and optional travel and hiking gear.
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What type of footwear do I need?
Generally we recommend comfortable, above-ankle, lightweight hiking boots. Trail-running shoes are often acceptable for their tread grip and comfort, but do not offer the ankle support necessary for some of our more strenuous hikes over rough terrain. Tennis or walking shoes, made for short walks and flat surfaces, are not recommended for trail hiking.
Each of our confirmed tour guests will receive a detailed gear checklist prior to their visit. This checklist will cover basic, recommended, and optional travel and hiking gear.
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What do I need to bring?
When you sign up for a tour you will be sent a complete list of items you will need to bring. Apart from your own basic hiking items, such as a daypack, water bottle, clothing, poncho, hiking footwear, and a headlamp or flashlight, you will not need to purchase any special gear to participate in our tours.
Each of our confirmed tour guests will receive a detailed gear checklist prior to their visit. This checklist will cover basic, recommended, and optional travel and hiking gear.
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What will I have to carry on the trail?
The only thing you’ll need to carry on the trail will be your own daypack or fanny pack. On most tours, and prior to the hike, we’ll supply the lunch/snacks and water that you’ll carry. Your guide will carry a number of additional items, including first aid.
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Do we walk from inn to inn?
On some tours, our trail can start at the inn's door. More often, however, we provide transportation to the best hiking trails nearby and then onto the next inn or back to the same inn.
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Do your multi-day hikes mean we camp overnight in the wilderness?
No. In fact, on most multi-day tours, we’ll stay at a local inn, hotel, or resort. On others, we’ll stay at rustic cabins, cottages, or motels. But we typically won’t be camping.
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How hilly is the terrain?
Hills are a factor that we take into consideration when classifying our hikes, and therefore we make it a point to present the approximate distance and elevation gain of each of our hikes. Generally, easy hikes will not have a lot of hills. In fact, most easy hikes will be more flat than hilly. However, the most rewarding views of the surrounding countryside usually demand that we climb a hill. But we’ll all support each other and climb it together!
To prepare for hilly hiking in advance of your tour, simply find a local steep hill and make up your mind to conquer it. For the first couple of days, you may find that you are climbing that hill very slowly, but if you persevere, you will shorten the time that it takes you to climb it. Keep doing it! This regimen will build your stamina and, most importantly, your self -confidence.
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This is my first hike. Will I be able to handle it?
Yes, provided you are in reasonably good physical condition. Our guides allow for different paces and routes. Nevertheless, good judgment is essential – don’t sign up for a moderate or strenuous hike if you are not physically ready for it.
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What are the hiking levels? Are they hard?
”Hiking level” refers to your level of hiking ability. The lengths of our hikes can range from as little as 4 to as many as 12 or more miles each day, with elevation gains of 300 feet to 2500 feet or more. Because we cater to the novice hiker as well as the experienced hiker, you can select a hike that’s right for you. Although we do offer choices, some of our tours are at a high altitude and trails may be neither flat nor smooth. Even some of our easy tours offer uphill sections which some people consider steep at times.
During the day you'll be in the wilderness. Please note that bathrooms, cleaning facilities, and other amenities are not always convenient or available. Your guides will instruct you on proper wilderness etiquette.
To get the most out of our tours, you’ll want to be in reasonably good physical shape.
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You list a tour classified as “moderate,” but there is an “easy” hike on the tour. What’s up with that?
If there is more than one hike scheduled for a tour and the hiking levels differ (for example, one easy hike and one moderate hike on a 2-day, 2-night tour), the description for the entire tour will always default to the higher level of difficulty. In this example, the default hiking level would be “moderate.”
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What is for lunch?
Depending on the tour, we provide you with sandwiches and snacks for the trail or a post-hike gourmet wine country picnic. On some of our longer hikes, we do both! Pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and artichoke hearts; tossed green salads with in season vegetables, and local artisan cheeses, meats, and breads are a few of the items we serve. Our menu often varies based on foods that are locally in season.
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I am on a special diet. Can I be accommodated?
As long as we have prior notice, we have no problem accommodating special dietary requests such as: vegetarian, vegan, low fat, etc. After you have signed up for a tour and have received your welcome email, please feel free to let us know how we accommodate your dietary needs.
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What does double occupancy mean?
Double occupancy is defined as two people per room. Our tours encourage group dynamics, and therefore we typically book two people per room. Depending upon the number of beds per room at our tours’ lodging sites, solo travelers will be paired with a roommate, or can request their own room directly from our website. If there are two beds per room available and you wish to have your own (single supplement) room, you can expect to pay substantially more for your tour.
For more information, click the  icon appearing next to i want my own room on any of our multi-day tours. Or, for an even broader explanation of this topic, see what we've said on our blog, Winehiker Witiculture.
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Will my room have one bed or two?
As a general rule, all of the rooms we book for our tours will have two queen or double beds, depending on availability, with the exception of bed and breakfast inns, nearly all of which have one bed per room.
For more information, click the icon appearing next to i want my own room on any of our multi-day tours. Or, for an even broader explanation of this topic, see what we've said on our blog, Winehiker Witiculture.
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Will I get a nonsmoking room?
As a general rule, all of the rooms we book for our tours will be nonsmoking rooms, depending on availability.
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What is the weather going to be like?
Weather is a factor that we take into consideration when scheduling tours and classifying hikes. The prospect of inclement weather can often compel us to classify an otherwise moderate hike to instead be a strenuous hike. When we create our yearly schedule, considerable attention is paid to regional weather factors. We plan our tours for a time of year that will optimize around outdoor temperatures that are comfortable for most people.
For example, the wine regions of Northern California often receive more rainfall in Winter than many areas of the Central Coast; therefore we schedule many of our Mendocino, Sonoma, and Napa tours in the late Spring, Summer, and Fall. Conversely, some of the inland areas of the Central Coast can become uncomfortably warm in Summer, so visits to this region will often occur in late Fall, Winter, and early Spring. Winter snowshoeing trails in the Gold Country and the High Sierra can be quite Spring-like, and therefore better suited to hiking, in midsummer.
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What if it rains?
Some of our most memorable hikes have been on wet days when the clouds have suddenly parted and a rainbow appeared. Nobody is required to hike in the rain, but those that do usually find the experience invigorating and worthwhile. If you’ve booked an overnight or multi-day tour, you’ll most likely have a hot shower waiting for you when you return to your lodging site after the hike.
Many seasoned hikers are used to less-than-optimal weather, and generally own the proper gear and clothing for when it’s cold or wet outside. If, on the day of a tour, we suspect that heavy weather is adversely affecting trail conditions, we reserve the right to make an on-the-spot judgment call in favor of a different hike, a shorter hike, or no hike due to safety concerns; however, such an instance will be rare.
Because we will occasionally hike in the rain, we recommend that you be prepared for weather extremes with proper attire.
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Where do I start my tour?
Registered tour guests will receive a tour confirmation via email that includes an itinerary of the purchased tour. This itinerary will list the nearest airport to the location of the tour venue, as well as an appointed time and place to meet their California Wine Hikes tour guide. Guests are responsible for getting to the venue (lodging site, winery, or trailhead) on the day and hour their tour begins as listed on the tour confirmation email.
Your California Wine Hikes tour guide will greet you at the appointed venue. From the moment you arrive to the moment you depart, you can relax and leave the driving to us. (Please see the next FAQ.)
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I'm flying in for my tour. How do I get to the start of the tour and back to the airport?
If you are flying in from elsewhere, we recommend making advance arrangements with any of the following transportation services to get to your wine country venue:*
- Rent a car through Enterprise. This option is perfect for those who want to make stops on the way to the start of the tour or visit other parts of California after the tour.**
- In the San Francisco Bay Area, take a Bay Shuttle or Super Shuttle vanpool to the start of the tour, or have them pick you up and take you to the San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), or San Jose International (SJC) airports after the tour is finished.
- In the southern Central Coast (Santa Barbara/Santa Maria) area, take the SuperRide shuttle to the start of the tour, or have them pick you up and take you to the Santa Barbara Municipal airport upon the conclusion of your tour.
- In the San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles area, take the Ride-On shuttle to the start of the tour, or have them pick you up and take you to the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) after the tour is finished.
- In the northern Central Coast (Monterey/Carmel) area, take the Monterey/Salinas Airbus shuttle to the start of the tour, or have them pick you up and take you to the San Francisco International (SFO) or San Jose International (SJC) airport upon the conclusion of your tour.
- In the greater Sacramento area, take Super Shuttle to the start of the tour, or have them pick you up and take you to the airport after the tour is finished.
*Upon the conclusion of your tour, you may find that some of your fellow guests may be returning to the same airport or transportation hub that you are; therefore, sharing your vanpool expenses with fellow guests is worth considering.
**It is important to consider the cost of ground transportation to and from your tour as it relates to the number of days your tour lasts. In other words, it may be cheaper to use one of these shuttle services than to rent a car that will remain mostly unused if you are planning to sign up for a multi-day tour.
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If I cannot make the appointed time and date at the venue, how will I join the tour?
If for some reason you cannot be present at the time and place designated in the confirmation email, we recommend calling us as soon as you realize you'll be late. We'll provide contact info for your tour guide in your tour confirmation.
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