What Do Your Regularly Scheduled Tours Include?
For our regularly scheduled tours, what you see on the tour page is what you get. Each winery on the tour is chosen based on availability and run at regularly scheduled times daily.
PLEASE NOTE: Lunch or Dinner tours do not include the meal cost, which is at guest expense.
Are Your Wine Tours Public or Private?
All of our wine tours are PUBLIC, and will have multiple people on the vehicle.
To request a private or custom tour, please fill out the Large Group/Private Booking Form and include a specific request note at the bottom.
Do We Get To Pick the Wineries to Visit?
On our public tours, NO!
On our private or custom group tours, yes!
Kindly fill out the large group/private booking form, and we will be happy to assist you in tailoring the perfect wine tour.
What Time Will I be Picked Up?
Pick up times for your group are determined by the guide the evening before your tour and based on the itinerary planned out in advance.
The guide will contact you by text or call to confirm the time with your group once it is set.
To remain on schedule, please be ready for pick-up a few minutes before your pick up time.
Where Do You Pick Up?
We pick up at any hotel or city center vacation rental in the city you are staying in. Anything outside of these areas, you may need to meet us at the closest hotel to your location.
For residential pickups, please let us know in the contact page where you are staying, and we can let you know if we can pick up at that address, or if you may have to meet us at a hotel closest to the wine region you have booked on.
Do you pick up at Sparkling Hills?
We pick up at Sparkling Hills for the Scenic Sip Lake Country Wine Region, which is included in the cost of those tours.
For any other region, there will be an additional travel fee charge
Do You Pick Up from Cities NOT on the Tour Description?
Short answer is No!
If unsure which cities we pick up in for a specific tour, please look at the ‘Included in Tour’ section on our tour pages, which lists the pick up locations.
If you do not notice your town or city in the pick up locations of the tour you want, just send us an email, and we can let you know which is the closest tour available to you.
OR
If you would like a group custom or private tour to a different wine region to where you are staying, please fill out the Large Group/Private Booking Form, at the bottom of the tour page.
How Much of a Deposit Do I Need to Give in Order to Secure Our Booking?
20% is required to secure your tour at time of booking, with the remaining balance due 14 days prior the tour date.
For larger groups or bachelorette wine tours, only a 20% deposit is required to secure your booking, with the remaining balance due 14 days before the tour date, giving you ample time to collect the remaining balance from your group.
How Do We Pay for the Gratuity to the Guide?
To minimize cash handling, we have added a 15% auto gratuity for your amazing guide. Although a modest gratuity is included in your Tour cost, if you felt your Guide did an exemplary job and went over and above, a cash gratuity is always appreciated.
Does the Gratuity Go Directly to the Guide?
Yes, the guide receives the full amount of the auto-gratuity.
Help, I Booked the Wrong Date!
We will do our best to change it, however we can not guarantee. Please double check at the time of booking your date is correct.
Sip Happens cannot be held responsible for a missed tour, and there will be no refunds.
What is Your Cancellation Policy?
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
- Full Refund minus $10 administration fee if more than 7-days out from your tour date. If cancelled in less than 7-days, there is no refund.
When you book with us, your seat is reserved and blocked off so that no other guest can book in. Our tours are booked well in advance to secure tasting times, and after 7 days, your booking is locked and sealed. We can not fill the seat at the last minute with another guest. After 7 days have lapsed, you will not be refunded under any circumstances.
We kindly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself against any last-minute cancellations. At Sip Happens Wine Tours, we prioritize professionalism and appreciate your understanding regarding our cancellation policy.
Is Dinner or Lunch Included in Your Tours with a Meal Stop?
No! The cost of Lunch or Dinner on our tours with meal stops, are at guest expense, and paid directly to the restaurant at the time of your meal!
Will Our Tour be Changed or Cancelled?
Sip Happens does have a minimum requirement of 4 guests to be able to run a regular tour during peak season May – Sept.
If you are a group of 2 people that have booked in, and not enough people have booked on a specific tour, we do reserve the right to move you to another tour that is appropriate on the day or the following day, with notice. Your tour will not be cancelled unless emergency.
Our departure times may also change slightly based on availability or unforeseen circumstances.
Sip also reserves the right to change wineries, vehicles or guides at any time.
What Happens if We Misplace or Lose an Item While on Your Tour?
Our guides go to great lengths to provide concierge services throughout the day, making sure your wine purchases are handled and identifiable for each guest – however, sometimes “Sip Happens”.
Make sure when leaving the vehicle at the end of the tour, you have everything you climbed in the vehicle with, and please check your wine purchases to make sure they are all accounted for, before saying goodbye to your awesome guide.
Sip Happens is not responsible for lost items or any misplaced wine purchases on the tour and will not compensate for missing items.
What Should We Wear on Our Tour?
Comfy, smart casual is always a safe bet. If planning a theme, dresses are fine – just make sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will likely be standing for most of the day.
Is There an Etiquette We Should Follow While on Tour?
Your guide will be able to answer any questions you may have while on the tour.
You are also more than welcome to ask the tasting server at any of the wineries or venues you visit any questions you may have regarding the wine, beer, cider or spirit you are tasting – they love questions regarding their product and would be more than happy to walk you through.
Sip Happens does reserve the right to send anyone home by cab, at their own expense, if guest are inebriated or ill due to hangover.
Is Open Alcohol Allowed in the Vehicle?
NO!
Due to the laws in BC, no open alcohol is allowed on the vehicle, or any space that is not in the venue itself.
Our guides are also well versed on how to spot intoxication on tours, however, never be afraid to ask for water – which we have available on our tours, and at the wineries – or if you prefer to sit out at a venue, just let your guide know.
Your guide is there to make sure you are having a fun day and will help out wherever needed – however, if you are belligerent in any way, our guides do reserve the right to send you home in a taxi, at your expense.
Why Choose Us?
Sip Happens Wine Tours has been voted ‘Best Wine Tour Company’ in 2020 and 2021, along with receiving Trip Advisor’s ‘Travellers Choice Award’, representing the top 10% of attractions worldwide.
We offer premium service with smartly dressed guides and quality service.
Considering the above, and combined with rates that are below that of other wine tour companies; choosing Sip Happens is a guaranteed good decision!