Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, children can go to wineries but they cannot sample any wines. They can be in the building and go on winery tours, but generally speaking it’s a fairly boring time for them.

Absolutely! All wineries have stores in them where you can purchase their products as well as other gifts and souvenirs. But remember, if you are coming from the US you can only bring back 1 litre of wine duty free. After the first litre, you will have to pay duties on the boarder on what you bring back to the States. My experience is that the border people usually allow reentry without stopping as the paper work is too much. You still must declare it. This may have changed with receipt government policies regarding tariffs. 

There can be a fair amout of difference in the cost of a tasting depending on the location but generally you will be able to sample a flight of 3-5 offerings from between a low end of $10-$20 and a high of $40. A wine tasting comes with the winery's sommelier who will be the expert, explaining the wines as you taste them. 

No, not all wineries have restaurants. It’s best to check ahead to see if the places you’ll be visiting have a restaurant. Your tour operator can provide this information. 

Theoretically yes, but practically no. Niagara region, outside of Niagara Falls and St Catherines is very rural. There is little demand for car sharing in the region so very few drivers working in the area. You can expect long waits for a ride if you try to use car sharing apps to get around. This is part of the reason we designed our custom tours as we provide drivers/guides for your intinerary. Greg and I are actuallly both Uber drivers in town but during the high tourist season, we are rarely available as we are busy with the tours. 

Quite a bit. This is tourist country, so you can expect to pay $36 to park your car near the falls for the day. And there are no “in and out” privileges at the lots so you have to park it and leave it or pay again each time you leave and come back. You can find cheaper options further from the falls for about $20 in high season. Behind Clifton Hill and near the Skylon tour you can find these cheaper options. 

OK, admittedly, we’re a bit biased here as we live on the Canadian side and we think the Horseshoe or Canadian falls gives a better vantage point to see all 3 falls. The American side is a beautiful state park so it is much less commercial on the US side. It's a matter of personal preferences. 

Pretty much anything goes and you should dress for comfort. However, if you are planning on going on some of the water rides such as Hornblower boat ride to the base of the falls or the Jet Boat ride, a change of clothes might be a plan. Despite being given ponchos you will still get wet!

This is a tough question to answer as so much depends on what you choose for your tour itinerary. For example, winery tours do not include food, but you can purchase a snack or meal at many of the wineries. We will advise you of any extra charges that may apply to your itinerary. Niagara Falls adds a tourist tax. In some places, you can ask for that to be removed. It doesn't hurt to ask. 

For the most part, attractions are accessible. The best bet is to check with the tour manager if someone in your party has accessibility needs and we can advise you of any limitations that might exist. Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake has some colonial buildings that do not have wheelchair accessibility due to the age of the building. 

Again this will be depend on what you plan on doing. Events are often rain or shine so will happen whatever the weather. For larger groups bus charters will be totally non refundable within 30 days and restaurant reservation will charge a partial fee if you cancel less than a week before the date. For smaller groups, generally 24 hours notice will avoid any cancellation fees. Specific attractions do have their own policies. Any You Choose Tour will include all cancellation policies in the contract. 

This is largely a function of the size of your group but as you would expect, the earlier you book, especially if you are sure about where you want to go, the more likely those dates will be available. If you have a larger group and are looking at a weekend visit in the summer time, we recommend you book 4-6 months in advance. Smaller groups and off season visits can sometimes be arranged on fairly short notice, but again some advance planning is recommended if you are planning to visit in the summer on a weekend.

Pets are not generally permitted inside on the properties of tours and might well be more comfortable in your air conditioned hotel room. For more accurate information as to whether you pet is welcome at a facility, please check with your tour manager and we will find out the answer for you. Some wineries encourage pets on their patios. 

For summertime visits we strongly recommend you wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking and standing a fair amount of the time. We also recommend that you bring water, sunscreen and your smartphone or camera to preserve the memories. For anyone hoping to visit an establishment where alcohol is served it would be wise to bring your ID if you’re of an age when your age might be challenged. The drinking age in Ontario is 19.

We also recommend a raincoat or umbrella if there is a chance of rain in the forecast.

No, for most events and services tipping is at your discretion if you were given good service and want to show your appreciation. Larger groups (over 8) booking restaurants will likely have an automatic gratuity of 15-18% built into your meal price. If you are unsure whether this has been done, please check with your tour guide and they can confirm that for you.

For our tour staff, we strive to give you great service and if you feel you want to show your appreciation for that service at the end of the day, they would be most grateful for the acknowledgement.