A recent trip has inspired me to take a break from writing about airplanes to share with you a great charter destination. It is rare that I come across a destination that completely exceeds my expectations, but my recent weekend in Paso Robles was absolutely fantastic and blew me away.
Great charter destinations are often in remote locations, have a decent airport, and compelling attractions to visit. El Paso de Robles, “The Pass of the Oaks”, has all of these traits. If you want to fly to Paso Robles on a commercial flight, you would have to go to the nearest commercial airport at San Luis Obispo, then would have at least an hour drive ahead of you.
Considering the time required to transfer airplanes in LAX and the time to go through security, you would almost be better off to drive the 6 hours from San Diego than flying commercial. Flying from San Diego by air is quite convenient when you fly charter. The total duration is about an hour plus or minus fifteen minutes, depending on the type of airplane.
A trip to Paso Robles is an example of when the convenience of a charter flight justifies the cost. The Paso Robles airport is large enough to handle most aircraft, but small enough that the line crew will drive your rental car to greet you at the door of the plane.
Where to stay
Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of the countryside, there are a wide variety of hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts to fit any budget. The crew generally stays in modest accommodations; we stayed in the La Quinta just up the road from the airport and found it to be exceptional.
Other options include:
What to do
Downtown Paso Robles has the old school western town feel with excellent choices for dining and entertainment. Though the wineries are the major attraction here, Paso Robles also offers golf courses, art studios, and many other sights to its visitors. This is California wine country at its finest with many varieties to explore and experience.
Brief Winemaking History of Paso Robles
Winemaking was first introduced to the area by the Franciscan Friars in the early California Mission days. Today Paso Robles is home to over 180 wineries and 26,000 vineyard acres. The friendly attitude of the local staff will entice you to want to see it all.
The Cost of Charter to Paso Robles?
Just as with any destination, the cost of chartering a flight to Paso Robles will depend on the aircraft you choose and the duration of your trip and current fuel prices.
As a rough estimate for a 2-day trip to Paso Robles, you can expect to pay approximately the following:
- King Air – $4,900 – $5,900
- CJ1 – $9,000 -$10,000
- Hawker 800XP – $14,000
For exact quotes, please click here to request a quote from our charter department.
Final Words
Paso Robles has all the makings of a great charter flight destination. It is not very convenient to get to by any other way than airplane and it has plenty to offer when you arrive. As an alternative to another popular wine country destination, Napa, Paso Robles is half the distance so half the flight cost as a trip to the Napa airport. Paso Robles is close enough by air that it can be a great place for a day trip as well as a weekend getaway. Consider a flight to PRB for your next special occasion – I guarantee it will exceed your expectations too.
