Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything guests ask before booking a private Toronto Story Tours experience — timing, group sizes and what is included.
Certificate available on request
- How is a tour arranged?
- Every tour is privately arranged around your date, group size, vehicle (luxury coach, Sprinter or sedan), tour length and any admissions you would like included. Request a quote and our office will confirm availability and the details with you personally — nothing is booked, and no payment is discussed, until you are happy with the plan.
- How long does a tour last?
- The signature 29-Stop Toronto tour runs about 3.5 to 4 hours including photo stops. Half-day tours are 3 to 4 hours, full-day city tours are 6 to 8 hours, and the Niagara Falls and winery experience is a full day of roughly 9 to 10 hours door to door. Cruise-ship guests are always timed to be back on board well before all-aboard.
- How many people can join one tour?
- From two guests to a full coach. Sedans and SUVs suit 1-6 guests, Mercedes Sprinters carry 7-14, and our motor coaches handle 15-56. Larger cruise or conference groups are split across multiple vehicles with a guide on each. Because tours are private, you are never grouped with strangers.
- What is included?
- Your private vehicle and professional driver, a licensed Toronto Story Tours guide — retired journalists and retired police officers who worked these streets — bottled water, all planned photo stops, route planning around your schedule, hotel or cruise-terminal pickup and drop-off, and your Honorary Torontonian Certificate keepsake. Attraction admissions, meals, wine tastings and gratuities are arranged separately so you only include what you choose.
- Do you pick up from cruise ships, hotels and the airport?
- Yes. We meet guests at the Port of Toronto cruise terminal, any downtown or airport hotel, Pearson and Billy Bishop airports, and private residences. Tell us your pickup point when you request a quote and we build the route around it.
- When do I pay, and how?
- Only after we have confirmed your date and you have approved the plan. We then offer you payment choices — including secure card payment (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and international cards including Italian and UK-issued cards) — and the balance is arranged directly with you before or on the tour date.
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Cancel more than 14 days before your date and any payment made is fully refundable. Inside 14 days we will always try to move you to another available date at no charge. If a cruise ship is delayed or diverted, or weather makes touring unsafe, we reschedule or refund — you are never penalised for something outside your control.
- Do you run tours in French and Italian?
- Yes. Tours, printed handouts and your certificate are available in English, Quebec French and Italian. Tell us your preferred language when booking and we assign a guide accordingly.
- Do tours run in winter or in the rain?
- Yes — nearly everything happens from a heated, air-conditioned vehicle with short walks at stops, so tours run year-round. If weather closes a specific site, your guide substitutes an equally good stop on the spot.
- Are you insured and licensed?
- Yes. Toronto Story Tours is fully insured and certified, and our founder holds TICO Travel Counsellor certification. Proof of insurance and certification is shown in the footer of every page and can be emailed to your travel department on request.
Still have a question? We answer every enquiry personally.