Bike And Boat Tour Reviews page 21
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★★★★★ Nancy 7 months agoOur perfect idea of travel
· · Venice to Mantua by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
From the moment we arrived onboard the Vita Pugna, we felt welcomed by the competent and friendly staff, the outstanding tour guide Hugo, and the rest of our new found friends.
This is our #1 way to travel...scenic, outdoors, experiencing small charming towns and villages, having expert tours on all types of topics from cheese making to carnival ride museum, art and history museums, clock towers, easy relaxing cycling along pathways and feeling like every day counts! Knowing that the entire week is well organized and flawless, adds to the enjoyment of travel in a new country.- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Jan Mowat 6 months agoGreat people on board!
· · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat
Our itinerary was derailed by a storm the first day, so we missed a couple anticipated parks and the sights they would have offered. Couldn’t be helped. 🤷♀️ We rode on busy roads more often than we should have for a sight-seeing tour. Being on high alert for traffic and travelling on roads with non-existent shoulders was unexpected and tense. However… we had so much fun!!! The group was great fun, the stops along the way were interesting and the weather cooperated. The food was simply amazing and the staff friendly and helpful. Dora and Pero were knowledgeable and eager to help in any way possible. Our room was below deck and it was great. The beds were comfortable with lots of room to store our stuff. And quiet too! It was a great way to see parts of a very beautiful country.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- One
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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★★★★★ Margaret Farran 6 months agoNot Really What We Expected
· · Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
We are seasoned bicyclists and have taken many bike tours. This tour was disappointing on a few fronts. The course of the tour had to change due to construction on the canal. This would have been fine except the guide, Harm, frequently did not seem to know where he was going. There were a couple of visits to places of interest (mining museum and a short stop at a WWI cemetery) but most times it felt like we were putting in time so as to not arrive hours before the boat arrived at its destination for the night. Our guide never led strolls around a town or provided much history. One evening when I asked if he could show us a pub to have a drink before dinner he said it was not his responsibility. We asked if we could bike on our own (as we have done on many other boat/bike tours in Europe) and were turned down. I pressed on quoting the description for the tour which read: "provide us with maps and all the information you'll need" to do a different distance. At that point Harm back tracked and said he'd provide this info. He never did. I've been biking for over 20 years on tours around the world and I have never had a guide so unhelpful and disengaged.
The food was adequate. Nice dinners but breakfast and lunch were lacking. We needed more sustenance for biking in October. Most tours provide a snack after a day of biking but we could not rely on one each day on this tour. The group bought our own snacks when we could but it was all rather odd. As if this tour had never hosted bikers before.
There was no wi-fi although the description said there would be. We at least had a data package, other people did not. What really gave us all pause was the captain's comments (1) it was too difficult to install wi-fi (I've never found that to be true on a boat) and (2) we really did not need it as we should not be on our phones during a tour. Rather presumptuous I thought. Don't advertise you have wi-fi when you don't.
We had some rain which was to be expected in October. One day it was just too wet to bike. We all stayed on the boat - no wi-fi, cabins too small to lounge in them, and while there was a large library of DVDs the captain announced the monitor did not work, therefore no video watching.
It felt like the boat was tired and the tour and crew either winding down for the season or going out of business.- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 20+
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Belgium, France
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BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac October 24, 2023
Hello Margaret! We're so sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. We deeply regret that it did not meet your expectations, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you encountered. We truly value your feedback and are committed to improving our services. Your input is crucial in helping us refine our services. Your comments about the tour route, lack of historical information, and guide foremost, are duly noted. We will address these concerns diligently and work on providing a better experience in the future. Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention. We value your 20 years of biking experience and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more engaging and rewarding tour in the future.
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★★★★★ M 6 months agoGreat guides!
· · South Dalmatia Bike/E-bike and Boat, Magellan
Charming small towns, amazing antiquities, gorgeous coastlines! The e-bikes made the climbs easy and there was was only one very rainy day and one very windy day. Otherwise we got lucky with the weather in late October. Mario and Kristopher were knowledgeable, engaging, funny and personable. Throughout Croatia we were treated well. Split and Trogir had good restaurants and nice places to stay before and after our time on the boat. The food on the boat was plentiful, fine. Beds were comfy and private bathrooms worked well for us. The ship’s captain could have taken more direct action when several guests got caught in a current while swimming but our guides prevailed in assisting them. One regret, we were not able to visit Vis due to stormy weather.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac October 31, 2023
Thank you for the review - it sounds like you had an incredible trip! We greatly appreciate your valuable feedback and look forward to the opportunity to assist you again in the near future.
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★★★★★ Dee Knight 6 months agoExtremely Fun, Knowledgeable Host/Lead
· · Paris Evening Bike & Boat Tour
This was an excellent start to my trip, and I suggest it as a beginning to any trip here. Our tour guide was knowledgeable, fun, and kind! Just a joy to be around and learn from. We got to see the major landmarks and hear of such rich history. The Louvre, Eiffel, Notre Dame, Seine, just packed with so much awe! 10/10 recommend! Also, I'm a bigger girl, don't really exercise much aside from swimming, and I was able to keep up with the group, just slowed a bit on the last leg because I thought we were done at the boat trip, but it is very doable for I think almost ANY level of fitness. Walked the bike up two hilled areas and was still able to keep up with the whole group at the time.
- What was the date of your tour?
- November 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0 before this one.
- 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
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BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac November 17, 2023
Hi Dee, thank you for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear you had an excellent start to your trip and enjoyed the tour with our knowledgeable and kind guide. It's wonderful to know you found the experience awe-inspiring and doable for all fitness levels. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to hosting you again!
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★★★★★ Rick R. 2 months agovery cool ride
· · Alexandria Mount Vernon Bike & Boat Tour
I have biked all over the US / world. This ride is a bucket list. if you can bounce out from DC / DCA and ride the path along the Potomac and back all the way. There are some great spots to eat in Alexandria as well.
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★★★★★ Marvin Babcock 3 weeks agoFantastic way to see Holland and the Tulips
· · Tulip Tour on the MS Magnifique II, III, & IV
An excellent way to experience Amsterdam and the countryside of Holland. The barge was luxurious with a chef that created amazing meals. The crew was completely committed to ensuring we had everything we wanted. The bicycles were ready to go every morning, and the crew took them from us at the end of the day. Completely hassle free. The routes were well planned out with a long and short option each day.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This is our third Biketours.com
- 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?
- Holland
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★★★★★ Marie Jane Goudie 3 weeks agoMost memorable way to sight see
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
The barge was exceptional with a welcoming crew and fabulous 5 star meals. Our guide tailored our bike tours to our requests and needs. Adri went over and above what was expected of a bike leader. We had much stronger winds than I had expected so for 2 days riding our bicycles was challenging (we did not have e-bikes), but it was well worth the effort as the sights we saw were so beautiful and I felt that we travelled to places that most tourists never get a chance to see or experience. Our coffee and lunch stops were often at interesting places. We stopped at churches, markets, cheese & clog store, windmills and sometimes just to take in the scenic views. There was always something new to see and discover in each place we stopped. I think one of the most interested things we saw were 2 volunteers in a small town running a channel lock. We watched them hoist the bridge and then shut the gates of the lock and the water level lowered to meet the upcoming canal. The couple in the boat chatted with them as they waited for the water to come to equilibrium and then the doors were opened and off they went. The volunteers collect 3 euros for every vessel that comes through the lock and then at the end of the year that money is used for a big party for the volunteers of the town. Of course the greatest day was the Keukenhof Gardens which was the most breathtaking gardens I have ever seen. Even more beautiful than the acres of tulips we had ridden past on the days prior.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- 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?
- Holland
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★★★★★ James Ruzevick 3 weeks ago
Very well organized bike and boat trip
· · Venice to Mantua by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
I was impressed with all facets of the trip. The boat, guides, food and bikes were all first rate.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Garry Goudie 2 weeks ago
On the go discovery tour of Holland
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
The cycling was great, the barge accomodations were great, food was fantastic, crew was exceptional. Couldn't have had a better experience in the Netherlands. Our first trip to Europe was excellent. Many interesting stops along the cycle tour, worth the effort of cycling to places we wouldn't have seen otherwise
- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
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★★★★★ Tom Goodman 2 weeks ago
Best Crew ever
· · Venice to Mantua by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
What a wonderful surprise this tour was! The crew were fantastic and made everyone feel welcome and they took care of any of passengers’ needs right away. The rooms, while a little small, met our needs and the shower was large enough and maintained excellent water pressure and temperature without any fluctuations. The meals exceeded everyone’s expectations with fresh ingredients delivered every day. Our chefs Alberto and Sylvia simply hit a home run with each and every meal. Our guides Sylvia (yes two Sylvias) and Marco were so much fun and you could tell that they really enjoyed leading our group. I really can’t say enough about this 7 person crew, they all worked together performing what ever tasks were required with dedication and smiles. The president and vice president of the tour company joined us for dinner one evening which affirmed their commitment to providing a great product for the passengers.
This is not a challenging bike tour so just don’t expect it to be, however we had one of the 30 mile days with some pretty strong headwinds. It should also be noted that Venice to Mantua is against the river flow so you will be climbing slightly the whole way. Some of the dirt roads need to be graded as we had to dodge numerous pot holes and there many shared roads with rude drivers but our guides did a great job keeping us safe. The ride in Mantua was by far the nicest on a dedicated bike path!- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8+
- 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
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★★★★★ TIMOTHY BOUWKAMP 1 week agoAwesome
· · Holland by Bike and Boat, Northern Tour
Weather was cold, rainy, and windy. Service on the boat was great.
The wifi on the boat was terrible.- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
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★★★★★ Gregg Duckett 6 days ago
Gourmet dining and bicycles
· · Venice to Mantua by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
The staff was kind and helpful, the bike rides were scenic at a relaxing pace and the food on-board was the best I have ever had.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Kelly Kimbler 6 days ago
Fun with friends
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
The weather was not great so we had to roll with it. For it being a super tulip tour I thought we see more tulip farms and maybe visit one to see the inner workings of how tulips are produced and sold.
Our guide was trying hard but with a group the size of ours I’m sure that was difficult. I think it was her first time doing the super tulip tour. We missed both the flower market and the cheese market from them being closed on the days we were there. I think the cost of admission into keukenhof should have been included instead of us each having to buy ours individually online the night before. The flower parade was a nice bonus since we didn’t get to see the flower parade.
The food was good. The accommodations were basic but clean.- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Holland
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★★★★★ Kassandra DiMaggio 6 days ago
It was fun
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
What made it really fun was renting the whole boat and biking with a bunch of friends and being able to share the experience. The employees were very friendly and accommodating. Our guide was very sweet and tried really hard but had difficulty navigating the route, which became frustrating at times
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 18
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
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★★★★★ Neil Tardiff 6 days ago
Awesome Bike Tour
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
This was a wonderful way to see the country with your friends. The bike tour staff were wonderful. The food was fantastic and the scenery was gorgeous.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much 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?
- Holland
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★★★★★ Kelly Kimbler 6 days ago
Fun with friends
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
The weather was not great so we had to roll with it. For it being a super tulip tour I thought we see more tulip farms and maybe visit one to see the inner workings of how tulips are produced and sold.
Our guide was trying hard but with a group the size of ours I’m sure that was difficult. I think it was her first time doing the super tulip tour. We missed both the flower market and the cheese market from them being closed on the days we were there. I think the cost of admission into keukenhof should have been included instead of us each having to buy ours individually online the night before. The flower parade was a nice bonus since we didn’t get to see the flower parade.
The food was good. The accommodations were basic but clean.- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Holland
