chauffeur guide FOR WALES
My name is Dave, owner of Wales Chauffeur Tours. As much as possible I carry out all Chauffeur Tours of Wales personally. So who am I?
Two questions I get asked all the time on tours are “How long have you been doing this?” and “How did you get into tours?”
HOW IT BEGAN
Most tour guides have a background in either teaching or history. Or both. Uniquely, my background is in Transport & Customer Service, having worked in transport for over 15 years, in a number of roles including Van & Lorry Driver, Tansport Planner and Sales before entering the tourism industry.
In 2016, I was working as a lorry driver, and for personal reasons, I needed a career change. In 2017, I was granted a Private Hire Drivers licence and began driving for Uber in Cardiff. A city I grew up in and have called home since the mid 1980’s.
Whilst driving for Uber, I would often pick up visitors from the train station who would ask about the landmarks we were driving past. They would ask what there was to see and do in Cardiff, and for recommendations of places to go, things to see and where to eat etc
It was during this time, that I realised there was a need in Cardiff for a service that showed people the highlights of the city. Where visitors could be driven around and shown what there was to see and do in Cardiff. Something that at the time did not exist.
Cardiff city tour
I launched the first version of the Cardiff City Tour and began as a driver guide in early 2019. Doing this alongside Uber. Requests started to come for longer tours. Tours going outside Cardiff, so tours such as Wye Valley, Brecon Beacons etc were added.
With a background in transport, both driving and planning, and not being a historian, the focus of my tours was sightseeing. Being driven the most scenic routes, and most time efficient routes. Avoiding traffic hotspots as much as possible, and minimising “doubling back”. The focus was very much on tours being a visual treat, rather than an educational experience.
improvement and development
As a Chauffeur Guide, the visual experience is still the most important thing for me, but it is also important to me that I am able to tell my guest about the places I am taking them and the things they see. So I took myself back to school, so to speak, and began learning more about the history of Cardiff, Wales and the places I was take guests. In 2023, investment took place with the purchase a Mercedes V Class. This allows me to take up to 6 people on a tour in ultimate luxury, increasing further still my guests experience.
Today, I’m still not a historical expert, but by combining my work experience and skill set from 15+ years in Transport and my ever growing historical knowledge I believe my Chauffeur Tours are among the best tours in Wales.
Skills such as safe and efficient driving, provide my guests with a comfortable, stress free experience. Years of driving all over Wales, has led me to discover the best locations, and most scenic roads across Wales. Some of them hidden away, off the beaten track, and not found by Google Maps. My customer service skills developed through working in sales and other customer facing roles whilst working in transport, has given me the skills to ensure my guests receive exceptional service, and their experience of Wales is the best it can possibly be.
Growth & Expansion
By the start of 2026, I had recruited another three Driver Guides to help me with Full Day and Multi Day Tours around Wales. As well as the four of us who carry out Full Day & Multi Day Tours, I can also call on the services of two other driver guides who carry out local Cardiff Tours for me, and have developed a network of Executive Drivers who assist me with Airport Transfers.
This growth and expansion now allows me to arrange more tours, and show more guests around Wales, and help them get too and from the UK’s various airports
