r/kelowna • u/peachykeen0404 • 29d ago

A car and driver to take us around to wineries?

Is this a thing? I’m guessing you can book private tours through companies but thinking that is $$$. Not really interested in riding a bus with lots of people. Can we hire a driver to just take us around for a couple hours?

1 Upvotes

51% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

82

u/stonetime10 29d ago

Hey yeah I know of a guy who does private car tours for super cheap. He’s unlicensed and just got out of prison but super affordable and no need to go through those pesky companies. If you want to set something up, he just needs your SIN number and a list of your fears to complete the booking.

16

u/ChaiTeaLeah 29d ago

Last time he asked for my blood type, but he said it's "definitely not for organ harvesting purposes".

5

u/Thefirstargonaut 29d ago

Oh sweet! My SIN number is 9 and I’m afraid of wasps, and the crushing weight of our modern world! Am I signed up now? 

5

u/stonetime10 29d ago

Not my decision. I just make the introduction to the cannibal … er I mean driver.

27

u/eroticfoxxxy 29d ago

Tour operators are licensed for this. You could look into limo companies or I know at least one of the taxi companies offers wine tours

0

u/peachykeen0404 29d ago

I will check your taxi suggestion, thank you!

0

u/th3goonmobile 29d ago

Alternatively it can be really nice to rent e bikes and go do!

6

u/SeaBus8462 29d ago

Caution on getting wine drunk riding ebikes around the tight roads in many winery locations..

1

u/br_can 29d ago

I think you can get a DUI in an e-bike actually. Heard stories but not sure if true.

38

u/positivenihlist 29d ago

Hold on, you’re saying you want a private winery tour but you don’t want to pay for a private winery tour?

Like yeah tours are a thing, but no hiring a driver to drive your intoxicated self around the okanagan probably isn’t going to be cheap lol

-10

u/peachykeen0404 29d ago

😂 guess so lol. Just curious what options are available. I have never been to winery before.

4

u/positivenihlist 29d ago

Aha yeah that’s fair! Just thought the wording of your post was pretty funny.

The bus tours can actually be kinda fun from what I’ve heard.

6

u/Okanaganwinefan 29d ago edited 29d ago

I would suggest Uber, you can go to virtually all wineries in Ktown and W Ktown, I would suggest making reservations about 1-1-1/2 hours apart. This gives you time for the tasting and then time to take pics and look around. W Ktown works the best for this program. Enjoy 🍷🍷

3

u/peachykeen0404 29d ago

Excellent. Thank you for your advice 😁

1

u/No-Cut-2067 29d ago

Go to penticton and rent bikes and go up the kvr trail. That's the best cheapest way.

3

u/peachykeen0404 29d ago

Would it be unreasonable to go to three wineries in 3 hours then?

3

u/Okanaganwinefan 29d ago

Doable yes, but please don’t rush, the majority of the wineries are well worth a slower pace. Look at the different wine maps on line. I’ve been driving for tour companies for 5 years,and the one thing you don’t want to do is rush. Especially in W Ktown the views and properties are amazing.

5

u/The_Diamond_Minx 29d ago

I see Vivid tours at a number of the wineries I go to. Can't speak to what they're like, but they are obviously busy.

2

u/GhostOfMufasa 29d ago

I'm not sure about pricing these days but I know back in 2023 I did a tour with my parents and we were able to basically hire the driver out for a day and he took us around the wineries in east Kelowna and West Kelowna and it was just a lil Van (so the driver, me, and my two parents) and it was a bit cheaper than some of the bigger wine tour companies coz I know we also did that in 2018 but in 2018 we managed to get a whole package thing that included a sunset boat outing as well so sometimes the packages can be worth it but yeah I'm sure if you search around especially around stuff like TripAdvisor and stuff you'll be able to find a nice deal coz as some comments mentioned some of the drivers and Airbnb hosts end up hosting their own individual tours that you can basically just rent them out to drive you around so you won't get the whole tour guide experience but you get at the very least someone who is knowledgeable around the area and can basically take you from spot to spot as you drink

3

u/Brittfun 29d ago

RENT A LIMO! For real, it’s so fun, you pay by the hour and they’ll take you to any winery you want

2

u/cleareyes_cantlose 29d ago

Check out “James the Driver” for a luxury option, they are amazing and you feel like royalty.

1

u/[deleted] 28d ago

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1

u/Ok_Willingness_7307 28d ago

Local company

1

u/epicarson 25d ago

Little late to this but this is Driven Wine Tours model. Driving your car.

https://www.drivenwinetours.com/

1

u/Hockey_dj 25d ago

Sorry…my last link isn’t very good. We met this guy in Kelowna offering private tours. He seemed nice and knowledgeable.

1

u/Guilty_Worker_4032 25d ago

I know someone private with a limo who is very affordable

1

u/JGirlJenn 29d ago

Usually, the bus is a van. If it is a bus, it is short bus so not that people-y.

Recomended:

Vivid Wine Tours.

The JPC hop on hop off (west kelowna including a cidery and the hatching piat bbq).

Rent ebikes?

2

u/peachykeen0404 29d ago

Will check vivid, thanks for the rec!

0

u/JGirlJenn 29d ago

You will be with like-minded people. 👍

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u/Damoki 29d ago

You're totally right, the wine tour companies are wildly overpriced, especially for what you actually get.  If you just looking for a car and driver, you don’t have to go through a big company. Some people hire a local driver or use a ride service or even a taxi company that does hourly rates. I'd check FB and call around. Just make sure the people are licensed and insured yeah.  Only thing is, if you're doing it yourself, you'll need to plan your own schedule. Most wineries require reservations, and tastings are usually booked in 15–20 minute blocks. So you’ll have to call ahead, and get your timing right to make sure your tastings all line up. Obviously you'll need to factor in travel time and give yourself a bit of a buffer so you’re not rushed. It’s a bit more work, but way cheaper and way more flexible than paying $200+ per person to sit on a bus.

2

u/peachykeen0404 29d ago

Great advice, thank you! 🙏🏼

-1

u/Particular-Emu4789 29d ago

Tell me you don’t understand what it costs to do legitimate business.

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u/[deleted] 29d ago

[deleted]

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u/peachykeen0404 29d ago

Seems like a reasonable option! Thank you

0

u/Joheidi 29d ago

I believe you can reach out to Okanagan Limo (they have sedans and SUVs) as a hired chauffeur but it’s costly.