About Andrew

I come from a law enforcement background in Sydney, Australia where I achieved the designation of Detective. I achieved numerous college qualifications throughout my time as a Detective including a bachelor’s degree specifically in investigation. I have spent the last five years in a joint counter-terrorism team involved in all aspects of its investigation. This of course has involved training in numerous disciplines and skills outside the realm of general law enforcement. 

In mid 2015, my wife and I decided to pack up and move to her beautiful home-town of Napa, California with our 18 month old son. My wife encouraged me to think creatively and turn my mind to something that I really wanted to do while I was here. I’d started my own successful business many years ago in Sydney’s tourism industry and began to wonder if I could do it again. I immediately found Napa’s wonderful environment inspiring and enticing. Napa’s rolling valley is always a joy to drive through and showing off this beautiful landscape has always been an exciting thing to look forward to with visiting family and friends. I became an unofficial driver of sorts, not just for family and friends but their friends as well.

Due to my background, it became apparent that the people I escorted felt a sense of safety and security whilst being driven by me. It became evident that this was high on the list of priorities when people select a driver.   

(415) 351-8702
 

NAPA, CALIFORNIA, 94558
 

andrew@andrewstours.com

Testimonials: 

“...One of reasons our trip was so perfect was because of the excellent service provided to us by our tour expert and driver Andrew Schluter. Andrew went above and beyond to make sure that everything was perfect! Prior to our arrival we communicated with Andrew via email to share some of our requests… wineries, tours, restaurants, etc that we wanted to visit. He assisted with our planning, scheduling of tours and arrival and departure recommendations. From the first pick up to the last drop off, Andrew made sure we got to see and do even more than we thought possible… arriving on time to each destination. By the time we left him on our 4th and final day of our trip, we felt like we made a new friend. Andrew’s Tours and Transportation will make your time in Napa the very best!

- Margaret Kopp, Coral Springs FL

My wife and I recently had the good fortune to use Andrew's services for an evening out with friends. His Lincoln Navigator L was immaculate. I became aware of Andrew's professional background prior to the trip and it was a major reason for acquiring his services. 

Andrew knows the Napa Valley well, is informative, personable, highly professional and has more than a few stories to tell. We all felt very safe knowing that we were in his hands. 

Andrew will undoubtedly be my first choice for driving services in the future. 

                                                              - Michael Holcomb, Napa, CA

We used Andrews Tours for airport transportation after hearing excellent reviews from people around the Napa Valley who have used his services.  

We found Andrew to be very responsive & accommodating when booking our trip and found him to be extremely punctual when picking us up for our ride to the airport which was no small task being that he had to be at our home at 4:00 AM!  Our trip to the Airport was seamless and Andrews personable demeanor made this a pleasurable experience.  Our return trip was even better!  Andrew kept tabs on our return flight which had been delayed by several hours, adjusted his schedule to be at the airport prior to our plane landing, and met us with 2 minutes of walking out of the terminal! Fabulous service!

On our return ride home, we found Andrew to be exceedingly knowledgeable regarding Wineries, restaurants, and lodging within the Napa Valley.   

As a local resident of the Napa Valley, I am asked often about services where people want a fabulous "Wine Country" experience at a reasonable rate.  

I will most definitely be recommending Andrew's Tours to all by friends, neighbors and visitors here in the Valley as well as using him myself for my transportation needs.

                                                                       - Dennis K, Yountville, CA

Andrew is first class all the way, from the minute he greets you to the moment you end your private luxury tour of the Napa Valley. Every detail is beautifully planned and professionally carried out, with a personal, quiet touch. His connections as a Napa insider give you experiences so unique and special - customized tastings, off-the-beaten track wineries, lovely, relaxing routes. Leave all the thinking and driving and planning to Andrew - he will ensure a flawless and most wonderful day!

                                                               - Alison Gibson, Lafayette, CA

My wife and I had an absolutely amazing day with Andrew. We left the itinerary in his hands, trusted his ideas, and he hit it out of the park. Very professional, helpful, and just fun to be with. He let us really enjoy our time in the wineries and was there for whatever else we needed. We will be using him again on our next trip to wine country and I highly recommend his services to others. You will not be disappointed.

-Mike and Julie, Detroit, MI

Andrew was perfect for us, and we would highly recommend him. He's a nice, professional guy with an easy-going personality, cool Australian accent, and is very knowledgeable about the area. He listened to our desires and preferences in wine and designed a custom tour of Napa that fit our criteria. His choices were fantastic, and we had a great time (We had a tasting inside a cave - so cool!). You can tell he's developed a relationship with people in the Valley, and Andrew's clients benefit from that. Also, my wife often gets motion sick in cars and she had no issues riding in the back seat, which is a testament to Andrew's driving. You won't be disappointed.

-Jason, Denver, CO.

Andrew was terrific during a recent full day tour of Napa. Through his connections with local wineries, he was able to design an itinerary for my daughter and me which exceeded expectations. Andrew was also able unobtrusively to take photos as we engaged in our various tours and tastings. Andrew's vehicle was clean and comfortable and his knowledge of Napa and the various sights and personalities was truly impressive. I would strongly recommend Andrew for his both his skills as a tour guide and driver.

-Robert Blue, Baltimore, MD

"

What I offer:
I create tailor-made excursions to suit you. The fact that I’m an owner/operator with no fixed allegiance to any one organization gives me the ability to tailor your trip the way you want it. I do not receive commissions or incentives from any winery whatsoever (and never will) so you can be assured that any suggestion I make is based on the properties suitability for you and your guests.

You can either create your own experience or have me do this for you. The 20% ‘service fee’ that I add to my hourly fee is well-earned I assure you. Creating an itinerary can be a very time consuming experience and one that involves thoughtfulness, knowledge, experience and the right contacts! I know because I do it every day. Creating a great itinerary is the key to a great Napa experience.

If you’d simply like some information about Napa winery experiences without the intention to book my services, please feel free to give me a call. Anything I can do to enhance your Napa experience is good for ‘the valley’, and therefore, good for me and my family.

Reservation only wineries:
I am proud to say that I have access to a number of very unique 'reservation only' wineries, many of which you won’t have heard of. If you'd like to experience something a little 'off the beaten track' then this is for you. Such wineries pride themselves in their personal attention to the point that you may be the only ones on the entire estate during your visit. I spend much of my ‘down-time’ researching and visiting many of Napa’s hidden wineries that are well off the average tourist’s radar. Due to this, my resume of unique properties and the relationships that I am continually developing in the valley is growing steadily. You will presently surprised just how relatively inexpensive a private, seated tasting can be if I make the introductions on your behalf.

If your palate (and your budget) is such that you gravitate towards ultra premium Cabernet then introductions can be made at many of Napa’s wineries that enjoy ‘cult’ status. No, I’m not going to mention names but we all know they exist and how hard they can be to access. Naturally, such wineries come at a premium so if this is within your reach (congratulations by the way) then please contact me and we can discuss.  

The vehicle:
My vehicle criteria were; safety, reliability, comfort and size. I chose a Lincoln Navigator L because it satisfied these criteria. Due to its size and build, it’s as safe as they come and enjoys a great reputation for reliability. It seats seven passengers and the third row seating is more comfortable than any other large SUV that I’ve seen. If part of your wine-tasting vacation includes a trip to or from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) my Navigator L will fit your party and their luggage (that’s the ‘L’ in Navigator L). Navigators are known for their luxury as I’m sure you know. Please see the photo gallery for photos. 

Your driver:
In case this isn’t clear, your driver will be me. No one else, just me. It’s my background and my resume that you’ve just read so why would I put someone else behind the wheel? I’ve included a non-exhaustive list of professional commendations from my ‘previous life. Apologies, but due to the confidential nature of the documentation I can’t email copies (more than happy to present them in person though).

Licensing and insurance:

It goes without saying that I’m fully insured and licensed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the DMV. If you look closely at properly licensed vehicles doing this kind of work you’ll see a “TCP” number on the rear of the vehicle and a little sticker on the right hand side that allows the operator to attend airports in a commercial capacity. My TCP number is 45226. 

If you'd like to verify this and my other details as listed with the CPUC please click this link. You'll need to enter my TCP number in the "Carrier ID" section and click "submit".

Professional Commendations:

• Commendation received from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (HRH Prince William and Princess Kate) for personal security detail duties performed (June 2014)

• Commendation received from the US Consul General to Australia regarding investigative duties performed (February 2013)

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) heads of government meetings held in Sydney, Australia. Assisted with security detail for President George W. Bush and other heads of state (September 2007)

The above letters of commendation are viewable upon request.

Cost:

$120 per hour from point of pick-up until drop-off, within Napa County. This includes the creation of your itinerary.

SFO pick-ups and drop-offs available if in conjunction with a tour and subject to availability of course. Please call or email for a quote. 

• I don't charge a 'license fee'.

• I don't have a 'fuel surcharge'.

• I don’t add tolls.

• All of the above are a cost of doing business!

I do have a 14 day cancellation policy in place. If you cancel within this time frame then 50% of the approximate total bill will be charged. I try to be very fair in this regard and will do my utmost to fill any cancellations and not charge any cancellation fee at all. 2024 is shaping up to be a very busy year so please keep this in mind when booking. It is also very difficult to create bespoke itineraries for other guests in short time frames.

If notification of a cancellation is received within 48 hours of the pick up time then 100% of my fees will be charged. I do everything I can to fill the cancellation but naturally it’s very difficult in such a situation.

Prudence and experience dictates that I include a $1000 clean-up fee for those unfortunate circumstances when the vehicle is soiled by bodily fluids or damaged in any way. The cleaning and desanitizing after such an ‘event’ renders the vehicle unusable for several days afterwards. This fee is secured by way of your credit card and added to the bill if required.

Please feel free to contact me by clicking the link below or call

415-351-8702