Bike and boat Tour Reviews (page 25)

★★★★★ (4/5) Baba K September 23, 2017

Wonderful way to experience the "Romantic Rhine" and Neckar Valleys

· · Neckar & Rhine Rivers by Bike and Boat

We enjoyed being based on this relatively small boat. The staff was friendly and the meals very good. Nice presentations were given in English about each day's route. The cycling was not too difficult, mostly flat and about 45 km max per day. The scenery was beautiful. Villages and towns along the way were charming and interesting. There were so many places to explore some days that it was hard to get back to the boat on time (for dinner). This was only a problem for those of us who like to toodle along and take in all the sights, walk around the towns, etc. As the guide said, "it's not a race" and we took that to heart. It was nice to do the trip slightly off-season, ie early September--the temperature was comfortable and we probably encountered smaller crowds in places like Heidelberg than would be the case in the summer.

What was the date of your tour?: 8/31-9/7/17
How many tours have you completed?: 7
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?: Germany

BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president September 24, 2017

Thank you very much for your feedback, which really captured the flavor of what a bike and boat tour is like. I'm a huge Neckar fan, and I'm always pleased when clients come back with good reports.

4/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
3/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
4/5 Ease of navigation
4/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
4/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (2/5) Sparky September 21, 2017

Boring trip

· · Venice to Mantova by Bike and Boat (and reverse)

Although the barge itself was nice and the food delicious, the trip itself is very boring once you leave Venice. Hours and hours of passing soybean fields. Lots of riding in hot weather on unshaded roads....some quite busy. Very few days were on actual bike paths. When we did get to a town, most things were closed as it was between 1 - 4....siesta time in Italy. The cheese tour was nice. That's about it!

What was the date of your tour?: August 26, 2017
How many tours have you completed?: 0
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: As expected
Who is this tour suitable for?: Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
Do you recommend this tour?: No
Countries included in this tour?: Italy

3/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
4/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
1/5 Scenery
2/5 Ease of navigation
2/5 Tour documents
2/5 Local tour company services
1/5 Route selection
3/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) Miles September 19, 2017

Wonderful time

· · Neckar & Rhine Rivers by Bike and Boat

Best way to see the little towns and castles of the Rhine valley. Took the time to ride through the old small towns and little cobblestone streets along the way which don't have a ton of tourists. We made a special effort to eat at small, local restaurants in these towns it that was some of the most memorable moments of the trip. We'll be planning another trip for next year we enjoyed this one so much.

What was the date of your tour?: Week after Labor Day
How many tours have you completed?: 0
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?: Germany

5/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
4/5 Ease of navigation
4/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection

★★★★★ (5/5) Menahemisrael September 17, 2017

Birthday trip

· · Bordeaux by Bike and Boat: Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne (and reverse)

The best way to learn about bordeux. Our guide Scott was great

What was the date of your tour?: Good
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: As expected
Do you recommend this tour?: Yes
Countries included in this tour?: France

4/5 Value
4/5 Included meals
2/5 Bikes + equipment
4/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) Chippy September 12, 2017

Awesome Austria

· · Danube Delights: Cycling and Cruising in the Footsteps of Royalty

After planning this trip for over three years, I finally found my way to the Danube and it turned out fantastic. The route was well-planned with sights featured along the way. The boat was very comfortable and the crew did an amazing job cleaning the rooms and taking all the bikes on and off every day. The cruise director did a great job as well providing tips and directions for the bikers. And, the non-bikers who stayed on board were treated well with a hot meal at lunch. On most days, the schedule allowed for the bikers to catch up with the boat by early or mid-afternoon to facilitate sightseeing with the non-bikers. All in all, it was an excellent week.

What was the date of your tour?: 26 AUG 2017
How many tours have you completed?: two
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: As expected
Who is this tour suitable for?: First-time bike tourists
Do you recommend this tour?: Yes
Countries included in this tour?: Austria, Germany

BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, founder and president September 13, 2017

Thanks very much for your feedback. I'm glad you had a great time and that the tour lived up to three years of planning and expectations! After three decades of bike touring, I still consider the Danube one of my favorite cycling regions.

5/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
4/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
5/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) Hutch September 8, 2017

What a Great Experience!!!

· · Amsterdam – Gouda – Bruges by Bike and Boat

This trip exceeded all my expectations. The "Barge" was quaint (but professional), the rooms were VERY clean and comfortable with good shower. Dining area was nice and best feature was sitting deck where we all gathered after a day of biking and enjoyed a "beverage". The Crew was fantastic. Always with a genuine smile and seemed to enjoy their work almost as much as we did. The chef did an amazing job with great food and really neat presentation added to the charm. With a small "boat" we got to know all the other passengers and by the end of the week we were friends. Such a great time. Oh and by the way, the actual bike riding was good also. We saw and experienced a Netherlands and Belgium that only a trip like this could offer. Daily rides were easy enough for any cyclist and our guide could not have been more concerned that we were enjoying ourselves. He became part of our "Group" and a friend.

What was the date of your tour?: August 2017
How many tours have you completed?: 8
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: Somewhat easier
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?: Belgium, Holland

5/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
4/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) SusanG September 4, 2017

The trip exceeded our expectations

· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal

The Magnifique II is a very comfortable boat with an excellent crew. Our bike tour guide was very attentive to everyone's needs. We were awed by the historic centers in Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges and the beauty of the countryside. The dedicated bike highways all over the Netherlands and Belgium made cycling there safe and easy.
The trip could have been improved by dividing into 2 groups as we were stronger cyclists and would have liked to go faster with fewer stops. We understand that is the plan for 2018

What was the date of your tour?: August 19th -August 26th 2017
How many tours have you completed?: only self directed no tours
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: As expected
Who is this tour suitable for?: First-time bike tourists
Do you recommend this tour?: Yes
Countries included in this tour?: Belgium, Holland

5/5 Value
4/5 Included meals
4/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
3/5 Ease of navigation
2/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) Badger79 August 29, 2017

Trip of my dreams

· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal

The perfect way to get away and see the beautiful countryside of The Netherlands and Belgium. The riding was about 30 miles per day, on completely flat terrain and at a leisurely pace. The tour guide and barge staff were friendly and accommodating. The barge was really nice. The food was excellent.

What was the date of your tour?: 8.19.17-8.26.17
How many tours have you completed?: First time
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: As expected
Who is this tour suitable for?: First-time bike tourists
Do you recommend this tour?: Yes
Countries included in this tour?: Belgium, Holland

5/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
5/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (4/5) Stew August 29, 2017

Perfect way to see Holland

· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Fluvius (and reverse)

What was the date of your tour?: August 12 to 19
How many tours have you completed?: 4
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: Somewhat harder
Who is this tour suitable for?: Solo travelers
Do you recommend this tour?: Yes
Countries included in this tour?: Belgium, Holland

4/5 Value
4/5 Included meals
4/5 Bikes + equipment
4/5 Hotels or boat
4/5 Scenery
5/5 Ease of navigation
4/5 Tour documents
2/5 Local tour company services
4/5 Route selection
4/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) Tim and Kelly August 28, 2017

Bike & Boat is the Way to Go!

· · Venice to Mantova by Bike and Boat (and reverse)

We had a great time on the Mantua to Venice tour. Having to only unpack once was so convenient- no wasted time packing/repacking and checking into/out of hotels. The staff was top notch, from our guides Sylvia & Fabio, to boat crew. Friendly, accessible and fun to talk with. The food was delicious and plentiful- we even bought the cookbook that was written by one of our guides and the chef on the cruise. Biking was easy and very scenic, with just the right amount of time on the bike and time to explore. We're already planning our next tour with this company!

What was the date of your tour?: 8/19-8/26/17
How many tours have you completed?: 1
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: Much 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?: Italy

4/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
3/5 Hotels or boat
4/5 Scenery
5/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) Kelly1989 August 27, 2017

The best way to explore!

· · Ionian Islands Multi-sport Family Cruise

The tour was better than we could ever have imagined. The crew and guides were professional, hospitable and made the tour even more fun.

What was the date of your tour?: 12 August
How many tours have you completed?: 1
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: Much 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?: Greece

5/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
5/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) Jennifer August 27, 2017

Perfect in every way!

· · Venice to Mantova by Bike and Boat (and reverse)

We enjoyed this tour immensely and would recommend it to anyone wanting a small, personable, tailored tour of some of the most amazingly old and historical parts of Nothern Italy. The bike riding was the best way to see some "out of the crowd" hidden gems, covering much more than able to on foot. The bikes were fantastic, well maintained and easy to ride and adjust if needed. The cabins were comfortable, well setout with ensuite and air conditioning. Ample supplies of food and breakfasts, and deliciously cooked dinners at night made the evenings very relaxing. Drinks aboard were very reasonably priced and tea and coffee never ending. Tour Leaders and all boat crew were totaly amazing! A thoroughly enjoyable holiday!

What was the date of your tour?: 19/08/2017
How many tours have you completed?: 1
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?: Italy

5/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
5/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
4/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) cwr01 August 23, 2017

Great Bike and Barge

· · Bruges – Amsterdam by Bike and Boat

The guide and barge crew were wonderful and very helpful and understanding. It was a great way to see the Low Countries. I would suggest they upgrade the quality of the bicycles.

What was the date of your tour?: July 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?: Belgium, Holland

4/5 Value
4/5 Included meals
3/5 Bikes + equipment
4/5 Hotels or boat
4/5 Scenery
4/5 Ease of navigation
4/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
4/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (3/5) EDWH August 23, 2017

Fun, but a few qualifications

· · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat

We had a great time but the parks were not quite as interesting or attractive as we had hoped. And some of the bike rides (the 3rd day in particular) difficult hills with nothing at all to see. Description said a ride around Vraner Lake and we never even saw it. That was coupled with the hottest week in the summer as temps were near or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Guides showed little flexibility in schedules or changes to accommodate the heat.

What was the date of your tour?: July 29, 2017
How many tours have you completed?: 25 or 30
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: Somewhat harder
Who is this tour suitable for?: Solo travelers, Families with teens
Do you recommend this tour?: No
Countries included in this tour?: Croatia

4/5 Value
3/5 Included meals
4/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
2/5 Scenery
2/5 Ease of navigation
1/5 Tour documents
3/5 Local tour company services
1/5 Route selection
3/5 Guides (if applicable)

★★★★★ (5/5) KanDo August 23, 2017

Wonderful bike and barge

· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal

A wonderful way to see Belgium and Holland. The ship is beautiful and the staff was amaing. Highly recommend this tour. I would suggest adding time before and after in Brugge and Amsterdam.

What was the date of your tour?: August 12, 2017
How many tours have you completed?: This was my first
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?: Belgium, Holland

5/5 Value
4/5 Included meals
4/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
4/5 Scenery
3/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
5/5 Route selection

★★★★★ (5/5) Louis August 18, 2017

Awesome,Awesome Trip

· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal

Can't say anything negative about this trip.
Probably one of the best vacation experiences we have ever had.
From the cycling,the crew on the boat the places and scenery we experienced and saw. We will be doing another bike & barge trip again real real soon.
thanks again to the great crew on the Magnifique.
We did the Bruges to Amsterdam.
Awesome, Awesome!!!

What was the date of your tour?: 7/22
How many tours have you completed?: 1
Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?: As expected
Who is this tour suitable for?: First-time bike tourists
Do you recommend this tour?: Yes
Countries included in this tour?: Belgium, Holland

4/5 Value
5/5 Included meals
5/5 Bikes + equipment
5/5 Hotels or boat
5/5 Scenery
5/5 Ease of navigation
5/5 Tour documents
5/5 Local tour company services
5/5 Route selection
5/5 Guides (if applicable)