So,
Tell Me... (Frequently Asked Questions)So,
Tell Me... (Frequently Asked Questions)What does a "Step-On" guide do?
I join you in your vehicle. You could be an Elderhostel tour in a motor coach or a couple in your car. Either way I tell you about where we are going to help you enjoy your visit. For those who request it I also provide a consulting service to find our harder-to-find treasures: unique shops, artisans, eateries.
I can take you places you wouldn't know existed. For example, the sculpture of the stag and doe pictured at the top of this page is just outside Charlottesville, but I bet at least 99% of Charlottesville has never seen it and doesn't know it's there. (A note to the locals: It's not an Art-In-Place piece.) I can also get you around efficiently since I know the short cuts and the roads to avoid at certain times of day. I can tell you what isn't in any tour book. You will ride with the knowledge of someone who's loved living in Charlottesville for over 30 years.
What if our car has no room for the guide to ride with us?
I can drive my car and you can follow. Of course, we won't be able to talk on the way.
Does the guide have to stay with us the entire time?
Not necessarily. There are a couple alternatives. One is for us to discuss your interests and priorities, peruse your possibilities, decide on a plan and mark directions on a map. Then I bid you bon voyage and you take off on your adventure, map in hand. Another possibility is we tour together for an agreed amount of time and then you drop me off and continue exploring.
Why can't we ride in the guide's car?
Insurance issues and state regulatory requirements regarding for-hire vehicles. Maybe the future will be different.
How does the guide help us decide where to go?
First we talk about your interests and priorities. What do you want to do? What's your budget (if appropriate.) How much time do you have? What's the most important? Next we peruse the photos, brochures, and other information in my files relevant to your interests. Finally, we map out a plan for the day, including directions, maps and a time table.
Does the guide give Civil War tours?
Not really. There were no real battles to speak of in Charlottesville during the Civil War. The only exceptions were a skirmish just north of town with General Custer and a three-day occupation a year later. Charlottesville spent most of the war giving medical care to wounded soldiers. If you're a real Civil War buff and would like a step-on guide in your car who specializes in the Civil War then call Frank Walker of Tourguide, Ltd, (540) 672-9414. He is in Orange County just to our northeast.
Is there a limit to the size of our group?
Yes and no. Tell Me About It Tours can hire as many buses or motor coaches as necessary (depending on availability). The real limits, if any, come from those imposed by your destinations. Wineries, for example, each have a maximum number they can accommodate in their tasting rooms. If you want each vehicle to have its own guide, I can arrange that.
How far ahead do I need to book a tour?
It depends on my availability. You might get same day service. Someone may have cancelled. Or a given date might be booked months in advance. Best thing to do is call as soon as you start thinking about it. We'll take it from there.
Yes. To reserve a date you need to secure it with a deposit of $100.00. You can pay by check or by credit card over the phone. In addition any vendors I book for you, such as hotels, restaurants, car rental companies, etc. may also require deposits.
How much of my deposit do you refund if I cancel my tour?
First, it is important to understand that there may be deposits for vendors like hotels, restaurants, rental car agencies and others besides what you have deposited with Tell Me About It Tours, LLC. What part of the vendors' deposits you can get back depends on their refund policies.
Your deposit with Tell Me About It Tours, LLC for our services is refundable under either of two conditions:
- You cancel at least one (1) month before the start of your tour or
- Cancellation is due to forces beyond your control (for example, natural disaster). Your health, at least for the sake of this discussion, is within your control. So calling in sick does not refund your deposit. Sorry.
In the event that you have deposited more then the amount required for deposit I will refund the full amount of any extra deposit you may have made beyond the required amount.
What are your hours of operation?
Phone Calls: Feel free to call me between 8 AM and 10 PM. I may be with a tour and not able to answer the phone. If so, leave a message and I should be able to get back to you within a day.
Tours: Generally, tours occur between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM, seven days a week, federal holidays excepted. Sometimes I can be flexible. Other times there will be events which limit my hours further.
© 2007 Tell Me About It Tours LLC. All Rights Reserved.