Austria Bike Tour Reviews page 37
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★★★★★ Rhonda Barton
Beautiful views!
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
The trip was beautiful! The views through the Dolomites and Julian Alps are constantly awe provoking. The hotels were also wonderful, our favorite being Alta Post in Feistritz an der Gail!
Bikes: We paid for the upgrade but it didnt feel as though we were upgraded. The bikes we received were not well maintained. We had a bike brake on the first day of our tour and the replacement bike had a loose peddle the rest of our tour. A few of our bikes were not tuned well and gears were either difficult to shift or couldn't be geared all the way up or down. In general, we would have appreciated better maintained bikes for a 230 mile tour, it would make the days much more enjoyable. We also had to swing by the rental place for a bike pump that had the correct valve for pumping up tires. The bikes were equipped with presta valves, but the pumps were schrader valves. We also recommend placing an allen key in the repair kit. We had several items that we had to adjust, angles of the header, tightness of the bells, etc. Having an allen key would have made these adjustments easier to make.
Bike Accessories: we think you should provide or tell the riders to bring a cell phone mount for the trip. The app was nice to have but we had to constantly get the phone out of our pockets to follow along. This can get quite dangerous on certain parts of the tour.
App: the phone app was a great perk to the trip although our main complaint is that every tour participant should have access to the app. It is challenging to have only one person with the app and it doesnt seem to make much sense to limit access. Give everyone who paid for the tour access please.
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★★★★★ Emily Magnavita
Great trip
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Trip was great, however, there was lack of communication with the company as far as planning logistics. Directions were unclear and sometimes incorrect, got lost on the route multiple times due to lack of information and description in the directions.
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★★★★★ Diane Witters
Great first trip with BikeTours.com
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Overall, we really enjoyed the experience and were impressed with the scenery, lodging, quality of the bikes (one of us had an e-bike and the other a “top bike “), and the multiple layers of navigation provided by Fun Active Tours, the local outfitter. We also appreciated the detailed instructions for the luggage and train transfers. We especially enjoyed the first 3 legs of the journey through the Dolomites of northern Italy, into Austria, and then the entry into Slovenia with views of the Julian Alps and into Lake Bled. Trieste may have its merits but the city was quite chaotic and difficult to navigate and find our hotel by bike.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- this was our first tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy, Slovenia, Austria
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★★★★★ Ray Friedman
Excellent routes. Beautiful. Some issues with service.
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
The trip, overall, was wonderful. Beautiful views and great trails. We had a few problems communicating with the staff, which I’ll come back to.
The first day was gorgeous. Going through the Dolomites, on dedicated bike trails that were full of everything from serious riders to families with kids on bikes. Nice graduate downhill. Our ebikes used only 2 out of 5 bars on the battery indicator. Ended at a very small town, Oberdrauburg, which had a grocery, a few restaurants, and one of the best cake shops I have ever been to! But now much else to do.The second day to Feistritz was a bit less exciting, we were on (mostly empty) roads about half the time, and again you end in a very small town. If it is warm, bring your swimsuit with you! You pass a lake with nice beaches and hundreds of people out sunning themselves. Closer to the Feinstritz, there was wonderful local outdoor swim club. After getting our swimsuits, we backtracked about 15 minutes to that swim club. A nice way to spend the late afternoon.
The third day was spectacular! The scenery was amazing, and the dedicated bike trails were also amazing. There is some uphill on this day, and a bit of easy road riding, but it ends a Bled which is stunning. We got to swim again.
The fourth day took a bit more concentration, with some time on bigger roads. Not too much traffic, but there were a few trucks. Ended at Cividale, which is a UNESCO World Heritage town that I had never heard of. Seeing Cividale was the big payoff for this day.
The fifth day was a lot on gravel roads through flat fields. Think Nebraska corn fields, but with grape vines. The biking was good exercise, but not so beautiful. However, Udine was another big surprise. A small town that was very much worth the time. Don’t take the shortcut that misses Udine! We ended at The Franz hotel, which has a pool that was very much appreciated after a hot day of biking.
The last ride was to Trieste. We decided to play it safe and do the inland route. It was actually quite beautiful, and we were happy to avoid the stress of cars on the coastal route. Once in Trieste, it was very hard to follow the route and to navigate the city. We loved the city, but just not on bikes. We stayed an extra day in Trieste and really enjoyed it. A beautiful city, that was not nearly as crowded as more well-known tourist spots in Italy.
Overall, the hotels were OK. The first three did not have A/C, and two of those had no elevator. We managed to carry our luggage to the third floor, but we were tired and hot. This is an issue only in the summer months. The heat while biking was not so bad, but some of the hotel rooms were around 80 degrees.
The app worked well for guidance except I had to learn that when it said “In 90 meters…” it really meant about 20 or 30 meters. And it occasionally got left and right backwards (I just followed the map on my phone). Still, it worked well. Do beware that it needs to be running constantly, so burns through power on your cell phone. I learned to be careful to stop it when we took breaks, and we switched to my wife’s phone mid-day. SHOW MORE
My only big annoyance was communication with the staff. There was no one to meet you and show you how to control the ebike when you arrive (there was a video introduction in German). We found our way to the bike shop, but they were clearly unhappy to be dealing with us. We had arranged to rent helmets, but these were not with the bikes, and there was no explanation of what to do. We called the contact number, they told us the bike shop would have them. But the bike shop initially said that they don’t do that (it got cleared up with a call to the office). I had problems with the seat, and the shop said they couldn’t swap seats. Fair enough, but then I had to push them to adjust the seat (slide it back on the rail a bit) to make it better, and they were clearly unhappy doing that simple adjustment. They warned us that we were responsible for the bikes, so I was surprised they only provide one lock for two bikes. The office told us to pick up a second one at the shop, but the shop refused. I found out that at the first hotel, the plugs are spread apart, so you couldn’t plug them in and lock them together. It was not clear if that would be the case at the other hotels, so I asked if we can leave one unlocked in the hotel, if needed. They said it “should” be OK. I was hoping for a clear answer, since they emphasized that we are responsible for the bikes.
Overall, a great trip. We loved the route. The bikes and app worked fine. The hotels were good except for the heat in a few of them. Communication with the company was the main issue. (By the way, the bike shop staff in Trieste were wonderful.)
I’m glad we did the trip. Wish they could have made it easier on the first day.
SHOW LESS
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★★★★★ Wade C.
Great tour of 3 different countries!
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
This was our second tour with biketours.com. While we did enjoy this itinerary, we preferred our first one, Switzerland Geneva to Lucerne. That being said, I was certainly happy with this trip, the Dolomites region was great, I particularly liked Dobbiaco, Travisio, and Cividale. We had an extra day in Dobbiaco at the start of our trip, which was a good decision. We opted for only one day in Bled, which we also think was a good decision - the lake and town, while beautiful, are a little too touristy for our taste. The optional climbs, leaving Oberdrauberg and entering Bled, were not as difficult as we had imagined and we were glad to have done them. We also chose the hinterland route into Trieste, which was good. Some of the hotels where we stayed in were in cities that were quite small with not much to do, or in the case of Gradisca, was on busy roads and we had to get back on our bikes to get to a walk-able area of the city, which was not great. Especially once in the flat, wine regions of Italy, it felt like we were on more roads and gravel than bike paths than we would have liked. Regarding navigation, the app was excellent, we had no issues whatsoever. Do pack an extra battery bank to charge your phone. We also brought shoe covers for when it rained which we were grateful to have brought. Despite some caveats, overall a great trip!
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★★★★★ ShopTherapy
Beautiful Scenery, 249 Miles Total
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Cividale del Friiuli, Bled, Udine, Trieste, beautiful cities. Special moments, the manager at the Aguntum Museum (near Lienz) gave an unforgettable welcome to our soggy group (it poured buckets the first day out) and Hannes Grimmer Holzdesign (near Reisach) - amazing wood carvings. Nice hotels overall. Only issues were an A/C outage at the Bled hotel, and "the outbuilding" at the Cividale del Friuli hotel - tiny rooms that were nicely appointed but it was a walk from the main hotel that posed a challenge for older bikers in our group with walking issues. Tour operator customer service was excellent - second tour with them, would definitely use them again. Ebikes were new with strong motors and the techs on site took care of changing the displays to English/miles for us. Recommend completing this tour by mid-June due to summer temps in Italy.
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★★★★★ William Gibson
Dolomites to the sea in Trieste
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
This was a fun trip overall. The route begins with beautiful scenery thru mountain valleys with it's conclusion into the wine country north of Trieste. Numerous historical sites along the way with castles, churches and town centers to see. The lake in Bled is stunning.
Accommodations were mostly fantastic with excellent food for dinner and breakfast.
We had a few problems at the start with missing bike accessories for the e-bikes. Luckily this was easy to sort out at the bike shop in Dobbacio the evening before our ride.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- Some self guided gravel biking in Colorado
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy, Slovenia, Austria
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★★★★★ Shayne palfreyman
Beautiful scenery - well organised
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Cycling is an awesome way to see some beautiful scenery and experience the area. The tour itinerary is great - very achievable daily rides and the app showing the routes worked well though a couple of recent changes to the path need updating.
The luggage transfers and accommodations all were very well organised -
★★★★★ Brenda Teal
Enjoyable trip in most ways...
Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
First, the positives...
The scenery, hotels provided, local emergency/tour representatives and bikes were exceptional. There were interesting and beautiful sights in every town and along the way. The bike shop where we received rental bikes, helmets, etc. was knowledgeable, friendly and Chris in Innsbruck was great to work with and talk to, and he provided great insights toward upcoming routes.
There was useful information about available alternate routes/modes of travel, as well as the scenery we could experience, and the details of our stays at each local inn were seamless, for the most part. I cannot say enough about the friendliness and helpfulness of hotel staff, without exception. The local representative and the transfer drivers were also easy to communicate with, and helpful in every area we needed.
I felt the info given regarding sightseeing was not as detailed or inclusive of all sights, as the last time we worked with BikeTours.
Regarding directions and mapping, the GPS we rented from BT was useless, and we stopped using or even charging it after a couple of days....the routes didn't seem to match those on the map given, and even when we were clearly on the cycle path designated, it constantly said to make a u-turn or offroute; 60 euros we should have kept for other things. The map directions were often unclear, especially entering and leaving cities, and since the GPS wasn't working, we had to constantly stop to take the map out as there was no place to clip it to the bike handlebar. The alternate routes on the Lofer travel day were confusing as well.
Despite these issues, we would have probably used BT again, except for the unexpected hotel expenses after we arrived in Austria. We asked for a final invoice, before booking, to make sure of costs in planning this trip, and was sent one which listed a "total" of all charges and a list of all services covered under our quoted tour cost, including specific hotel stays, with no mention of added costs to be paid when we arrived at each hotel. When we arrived in Innsbruck, the hotel informed us we still owed city taxes (this was the case in almost every town/hotel booked). Though the amounts were not big, the attitude we got from the tour when we called to check was off-putting ("that fact was included in the general description of the tour on the internet," and "a company does not have to put every little detail in an invoice.").
We suggest that BT put an * next to each hotel stay on their invoice/quotes, and then include in small print at the bottom " *some hotels may charge a city tax at checkout, usually from 2-8 euros per night, which is not covered by BikeTours." This is a detail that can be corrected easily, and sure would help travelers budget appropriately as well.
One thing is for sure, however you plan for it, go to Austria and experience the marvelous places on this river tour (we added extra time in Salzburg and Vienna)....you won't regret it. SHOW MORE- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ Nancy Voorhees
Idyllic landscape
Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
I have never seen such beauty as along this trail in the Austrian Alps. Our accommodations were comfortable, breakfasts were delicious and our luggage was alway there before we arrived. My suggestion for making the trip more enjoyable is to make sure the Garmin has each day's route. Our's had many routes on it and that made it confusing. It would make more sense if only our routes were on it. Also, everyone should have a Garmin or use their google maps. Using the printed route map was impossible. Our ebikes were very comfortable and our trip was awesome! Thanks.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ Trish Bainbridge
Part of a European transit cycle
Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
The paper guides were difficult to read - we used a Garmin which made it much easier otherwise you were constantly stopping to check turnings- suggest you don’t use survey maps but custom bike maps. Hotel selection was ok but some rooms were noisy and windows facing busy roads. Worst hotels were Innsbruck and Salzburg which spoiled the trip experience.Trish
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- Many European but usually self designed solo travellers with own bikes
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ Sandy Anderson
Lake Constance Upscale
Lake Constance Bicycle Path (Upscale Lodging)
This trip was good overall, yet we made a mistake by choosing Upscale Lodging because most of the hotels were not in the old towns, and we had to go through the city at rush hour with unclear directions. We would have preferred staying along the river in the old towns. Upscale lodging was not necessary.
Secondly, the KaMOOT app that we bought and tried to use was a disaster. It lead you along any trail that came up...whether it was for hikers, or a dog path, so we were constantly rerouting on the first day, until we gave up on it and used the written guide.
The bikepaths were wonderful and scenic and we loved that part of the ride.- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Erik Coats
Great place to cycle
Lake Constance Bicycle Path (Upscale Lodging)
Lake Constance is beautiful and the cycling is great. 80% of the trip is on paved hike/bike paths, with about 10% on unpaved paths and 10% on regular roads (shared with cars). You should pay for the GPS aps on your phone to navigate as the maps and written directions are often insufficient. Most of the hotels were in lovely cities, but the spacing out was inconsistent, leading to some very short days of cycling and some very long days. Most days were short enough to give you time to explore the cities you're passing through and staying in. We had a couple issue and were able to reach the tour company for support, which is appreciated.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2023
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Richard 69
Gute fahren
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
Let me begin by saying that we had an amazing time. The lake is very scenic with many interesting stops along the way. The Hotel Halm in Konstanz was lovely and across the street from the train station. It also has one of the most amazing breakfasts we've ever had. We had to take a bus to the tour company where we picked up our bikes. The people there made sure that our bikes were adjusted perfectly and off we went. Passed through many interesting towns and villages along the way. For us Mainau Island was a real highlight of our journey. Although it was mentioned in our tour book, it should have been listed as a total must see. The hotels we stayed at were all very comfortable. We especially enjoyed the Park Hotel St. Leonard. However we had to ride up an absolutely soul crushing hill to get there. The hotel at the marina seemed a little out of place near a working boatyard in the middle of nowhere. However we took a short walk and found an absolutely lovely restaurant and had a spectacular meal. In Bregenz we rode the cable car up the mountain for amazing view and a fantastic lunch. One thing that would have been helpful, that we've had on other tours, would be recommendations for restaurants that feature local foods. Overall this was a great trip and we were very glad we did it, but it didn't rate quite as high as the other tours we've taken along the Danube and the Mosul.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 26 - May 31
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Female solo traveler
Incredibly scenic
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
- What was the date of your tour?
- July, 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Marta72
Perfect family trip
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
Very recommended trip for families with kids that can bike. Km per day were not demanding (around 30km). You can stop to visit, to have a bath in the lake, to take a boat...very nice environment, very safe and relax way to travel. All roates are well indicated.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6-12 August
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Beanz
First Bike Adventure
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
The bikes were very good and the bike company most helpful. Accomodation and breakfasts were also good. Only issue is the maps provided especially around towns and attractions were not very good - definitely could be improved. In summary great trip, with the locals very helpful when we were lost.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 5th September 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- First one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Mick
Three Countries, One Lake
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
A relaxing tour with some good cardio the second day getting to the hotel. Plenty of scenery for us photographers and lots of cafes for morning coffee breaks and afternoon beers.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept. 4-10
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ JannieB
Great family trip
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
A wonderful adventure for us with our adult children. Beautiful scenery, awesome food, nice people!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 13-19,2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ MarcieB
So good the first time, we repeated the Bodensee circuit a second time!
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
Two years ago, we opted for the 11-day self-guided Bodensee Bike Tour . . . complete with museum vouchers, boat rides and suggestions for side trips. We enjoyed it so much, we decided to look at the 6-day self-guided tour because it followed a slightly different itinerary. We were not disappointed! We discovered new towns, restaurants and bike paths. Truly a cultural patchwork between Germany, Austria and Switzerland!
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 21-27, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was bike tour #7!
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president
Thanks for the great report and photos, Marcie! We love repeat clients, but it's especially gratifying when clients like a tour so much they do it again!
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