Bike & Hotel Tour Reviews page 52
- Argentina
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- Vietnam
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★★★★★ David H.
Awesome introduction to France
Grand Châteaux & Gardens of the Loire Valley
I have done many cycling tours over the years, many with BikeTours.com. We have never used Chain Gang Cycling as a tour operator before and I know our group, which is an older group and not all the strongest riders, is probably more "needy" than the typical Chain Gang tour but they did a fantastic job of providing for all our needs. Our guides were excellent, we never got anyone lost.
BikeTours.com set up an excellent tour through a very beautiful and picturesque part of France. The average daily mileages were good for our group and the sights we saw along the way were amazing. Beautiful small country towns, rolling hills of farmland and forests, and incredible chateaus with magnificent gardens, lots of photo opportunities. We set up a few lovely picnic lunches on several of the ride days with the wonderful French baguettes and ham and cheese.
Our intrepid group of 16 riders managed the routes with a few hills with no real issues besides a couple of falls and a few bumps and bruises. Just part of cycling. We had lovely weather with the exception of one day where we got some rain. Lots of nice memories and new friends were made on this trip and we're already eagerly looking forward to our next BikeTours.com cycling trip in Poland in 2026!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Late August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- 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?
- France
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★★★★★ Dennis
Austrian Springtime
Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
Everything went very well. The tour operator met all the schedules for baggage transfer and mountain shuttle with no difficulty. We particularly enjoyed the half-board meal arrangements which provided some contact with other travelers.
The trails are paved, in good condition, easy to follow, and provide an abundance of local scenery. However, if you do not speak German, be sure to bring your phrase book! Most of the people speak at least some English but the road and warning signs are not often translated.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 28 - Jun 03, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- 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
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★★★★★ BroncoFan
Super tour through the best wine area in Germany!! A must tour!
Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
The tour down the Mosel the end of September 2018 was superior and the stops along the way tasting the local wines was superb! I'd do it again, so much to see and so much wine to drink! the hotels chosen were very nice and worth the expense ... except for our hotel in Cochem, fair and clean but not as nice as the other hotels/rooms. I'd also shorten the first day a bit, we went 35 miles a bit too much for day one. September was a great month to bike, crisp morning and lovely afternoons. Rain only one day! Bikes were in great shape and the side bag provided for each bike were a necessity!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two
- 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?
- Germany
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★★★★★ David Moody
The fascinating Balkans on bike
Cycling the West Balkan Triangle
We thoroughly enjoyed our introduction to cycling the Balkans. Dubrovnik was a perfect gathering point. We stayed an extra day to explore and were glad we did. Cycling the hills was challenging for those on road bikes; the views were magnificent. The Adriatic was magical and occasionally confined traffic requiring extra caution. Our guides, Alex and Alex, were competent, hardworking, and especially helpful, answering questions and showing us aspects of these countries we would never would have found on our own. There were 14 of us on the tour from ALL OVER, and getting to know them all over the course of the tour was part of the fun. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- 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?
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro
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★★★★★ dmshimizu
Amazing trip!
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Great way to explore the boarder region amongst Italy, Austria and Slovenia. The scenery is amazing, and it is a great opportunity to enjoy some towns and places that are not widely seen by regular tourists.
Travel documentation supplied by the local tour company is very good with complete information about the route. I'd recommend the investing on the GPS too, as it helps a lot with navigation activity.
The accommodations and the included meals were really good, perfect for those who would like to spend some days away from crowd and large cities.
In summary, it was a great experience, I'm looking forward for another bike tour like this one.- What was the date of your tour?
- May 6th, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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?
- Italy, Slovenia, Austria
Video: Cycling in Austria, near Thal
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★★★★★ Dona2017
Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
- What was the date of your tour?
- 9/24/17 to 10/1/17
- How many tours have you completed?
- First one
- 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?
- France, Germany
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★★★★★ riverhiker
Best of both worlds, self-guided but with an accompanying driver
UNESCO Sites of Albania
The scenery was amazing. I highly recommend this company and this trip. The roads varied from recent resurfaced smooth pavement to a slalom course of potholes. However, since on the pothole roads the traffic amounted to maybe seven cars an hour, there was plenty of space to dodge the holes. In all but a couple of stretches, the busier roads had good shoulders. And there were some roads that had both a good surface and little traffic. How often does that happen?Do be prepared to climb. Those elevation profiles don't lie.
Hotels varied from high end to very basic depending on the locale. If you are in the middle of nowhere and have great scenery and no traffic, there are going to be compromises. When I rate the accommodations a four instead of five, it is because of the limited options out in the countryside. This is through no fault of the tour company but it would not be fair to readers of this review to have them think everything is up to US standards.
Since we were self-guided, breakfast was the only meal provided. In all cases it was totally adequate and a couple of times, outstanding
The bicycles were quality and in good shape.
We did a self-guided trip and had thought that would involve just having the luggage moved for us. They gave us a driver that was with us the whole time. Not only did he transport our luggage, if the route out of town had any turns, he led us out and also waited at any tricky turns along the way. Great job Elvis!!!!
I can highly recommend this trip. Do go in the off season like we did so the coast is not crowded and go now. They are improving a lot of the roads which I am sure will lead to more traffic. Also, as the country becomes more affluent there will be more cars on the road.- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct 3rd
- How many tours have you completed?
- seven
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Albania
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★★★★★ donfrank
Mosel River Bike Tour
Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2nd
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Donna Ehlers
Fantastic journey!
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
We did a self guided tour. We had so much fun in the villages with great food and accommodations, most were in the center of the towns. Great breakfasts and service in general. Felt fantastic to ride on the safe bike trails about 3/4 hours daily. We took time off to swim in the lake and get ice cream and relax in the many parks. Great history and a way to immerse more authentically in the vulture. I give this type of holiday my highest recommendation.
Staff was always available for our concerns and questions.- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- 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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★★★★★ Donna
Fantastic experience!
Danube Cycle Path Passau – Budapest
Our self-guided bike tour from Passau to Budapest was fantastic! Bike Tours transported our luggage (LOVED that) and provided excellent ebikes and mostly excellent hotels. The bike paths were mostly easy to follow but even with the Pedalo App and map books provided with the bikes, I would have gotten hopelessly lost if we didn't have internet and maps to use too. Especially after Vienna when some paths got so rough I thought they couldn't possibly be part of the EV6/R1... BUT THEY WERE!!! But, most of the paths were great. I absolutely, thoroughly recommend a Danube bike tour. The best part (and I think this is true to most people judging by how many cyclists and guided bike tours were going on there) was Wachau around Durnstein.
We went in Autumn and I think that was brilliant because it wasn't so busy and watching the trees turn golden as we progressed was a beautiful surprise.
Some cycling days were 60km which I believe was too long because we had no time to explore the towns at the end of the day. We just wanted to use the pool and sauna when available. I was SO glad when the hotel had those facilities. Best thing ever at the end of a long day of riding. Especially when it was wet and cold, which, unfortunately we had for the first few days. I definitely recommend paying extra to get more accommodation with saunas. All the hotel staff were used to cyclists and some had excellent storage. Others, didn't, but the staff were always helpful. Pack as lightly as you can, because even though the luggage is transferred for us, some hotels were walk-ups! Not good. Even worse there was a train journey in a town that only had stairs between platforms! With bikes! Awful. IF you can avoid the train, that's probably best.
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★★★★★ Donnan Party
Amazing Trip With Lots of Hills
Split to Dubrovnik: The Islands and Coastline of Croatia
Our Croatian adventure exceeded all expectations! The routes were very scenic, the locals were so friendly, and the food was delicious and totally fresh! We've done several bike trips in Europe, and this was definitely one of our favorites.
We paid a little more for the hotels and were very pleased with the accommodations. The breakfasts were very generous, and the rooms were spacious and clean. Hotel staff was great at all locations, too. There were two nights at each hotel, which was nice, since we weren't constantly packing and unpacking.
Our booking experience was great. There were 8 in our party, with all different itineraries, and everyone signed up at different times, which created hotel booking challenges. Brittany was so patient and answered all of our emails promptly. Most of us needed to add nights onto the basic package, and Brittany took care of that for us, too.
I can't say enough good things about the local tour company. We were self-guided, but when we ran into a little trouble on our first day (someone in our group fell off the bike), the local company was incredibly responsive and there when we needed them. There was constant communication throughout the trip, and they made sure everything went smoothly. Our luggage was transferred without incident and was always waiting for us in our room at the end of our travel days.
The directions on the route sheets were easy to follow, and with odometers on all the bikes, we never really got lost (which is a first for us). Having a choice of rides on most days, and the details on restaurants and points of interest in each of the towns we passed through made the rides even more enjoyable. The bikes were comfortable and everything we needed was supplied: tire repair kits, spare tubes, pumps, locks, etc. The collapsible panniers were awesome and transported wine very nicely!
The only negative thing I could say about the trip is that we were on main roads more than I would have liked. On previous trips to Italy and France, there were more back road options. But there wasn't a whole lot of traffic, and the cars generally gave us a comfortable amount of space when passing. The ride was definitely hillier and more difficult than we expected from a difficulty rating of 3, but the uphills weren't too steep and they were definitely worth it for the views!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/11/2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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★★★★★ Donna Reyes
A wonderful way to see Crete!
Aegean Discovery: Cycling through Eastern Crete
Crete is the star of the show, and the route allowed us to see so much of its beauty, charm, and culture! Our bikes were top quality and we were glad of battery power since Crete has many hills and a lot of wind. Early May was a perfect choice —weather mild and no summer crowds yet. All the hotels were placed well with great views and access to restaurants and sites. I don’t know if bikes are a common thing as some hotels were not sure where to store them but everyone was friendly and we figured it out. A couple of places we found gravel and an ascent combined that meant we pushed the bikes, but the next downhill with views of that big blue sea or lovely olive tree groves in the sun more than made up for it. Be ready to hunt for the hotel a little from the endpoint if the navigation, but as the day in Crete, “it’s fine, no problem!”
- Countries included in this tour?
- Greece
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★★★★★ Go Legs Go
Excellent Company to use for Cycling in France.
South of France: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
My husband and I did this self guided cycle tour. I can not recommend this tour highly enough. The bikes were in perfect condition. Extremely well maintained. The maps and GPS provided made for easy navigation - we did however get lost once. The cycling was sensational. Discover France had obviously put a lot of thought into the routes chosen to avoid main roads and show case the amazing scenery. Accommodation provided was perfect (even stayed in Chateaus). The food variety and quality available was exceptional. We generally ate where we were staying if they had a restaurant in house. At Carcassonne we ate at the Michelin star restaurant in the old town. This was fantastic food and outstanding value. On a personal note I had a day where I "hit the wall" and couldn't continue cycling for fear of fainting. We were in the middle of nowhere and it was 39 degrees.. I rang Discover France and they had us and our bikes picked up within 30 minutes and took us to our accommodation. Now that is service!
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Donna T
Fabulous trip!
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Excellent cycling paths, gorgeous scenery, outstanding accommodations and delicious breakfasts. Our trip was in mid September and the weather was lovely. Our group of four had a few mechanical issues with the bicycles, but the local tour company was responsive and resolved the problems. Some of the maps and written directions were confusing especially in the larger towns which lacked bike path signs. Getting lost occasionally added to the adventure! Overall, we had a wonderful experience!
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★★★★★ Sierralover76
Wonderful Adventure of Gorgeous Beaches, Unique History, and Amazing Food
Apulia and Basilicata: Alberobello to Lecce
Our adventure through Puglia was unforgettable! This region offers so much history, culture, and beautiful scenery. Every day of the bike tour is unique and different. It's especially nice to explore this amazing region that I imagine most Americans are not familiar with.
To begin, the staff at both Biketours.com and Girolibero (the local operator) are outstanding, super helpful, knowledgeable, and very responsive. Everything was smooth and easy.
Regarding the trip itself, Matera (day one) is just spectacular. Walking through the ancient stassi is a very special experience (we recommend hiring Nadia Garlatti for a guided tour to really get a feel for it (nadiagarlatti@tiscali.it). If you are planning on spending an extra night in either Matera or Lecce, we absolutely recommend you do so in Matera (not Lecce). The hotel is also wonderful, and it's just so special staying in the stassi of Matera.
One of the best parts about this trip is how you get to experience so much. Literally every day is very different. From the ancient stassi of Matera, to the trulli of Alberobello, the unique history of Otranto, the gorgeous beaches, lovely olive groves, vineyards and fig trees, this trip really covers a lot. Beyond the highlights, you will also visit very charming towns like Locorotondo and Gallipoli.
The biggest challenge for us was to see and do everything we wanted to do. It may not seem like much to bike 35-45 miles per day, but there is just so much to see and do. Each day was very packed so that we could enjoy the sites along the way, have a great meal in our destination, and have a stroll to explore our destination as much as we could. The nightlife in each bustling town was awesome as well.
The guidebook offered by Girolibero is very thorough and super informative. Their tips on where to stop and where to eat are spot on. All the restaurants, gelateria, beaches and other specific recommendations were great. In fact, the Pugliese cuisine was the best we had in Italy. Every meal was outstanding (and very reasonably priced). In America, "antipasto" is usually not really memorable. However, do yourself a favor and order the antipasto dishes when dining in Puglia -- for a very affordable price, you get a wonderful assortment of very tasty and unique dishes.
We could go on raving about this trip. We also need to mention the hotels were great as well (especially San Martino in Matera). And you have a complete and delicious breakfast included every morning.
Basically, from start to finish, this trip was just perfect. We have no complaints, and look forward to another bike tour in the near future. This was a wonderful way to experience an amazing region of Italy. Grazie!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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?
- Italy
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★★★★★ MAURICE
It was absolutely wonderful!
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
We biked around lake Konstanz and were so lucky to have perfect weather. The bikes were excellent and so were the hotels and luggage transfer. We felt the maps could use a little bit of improvement, that would be our only minor complaint.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 6, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- just this one
- 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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★★★★★ Matthew Waterbury
Perfect way to experience the Alps and the Tyrol Region!
Innsbruck to Lake Garda Across the Southern Slopes of the Alps
Fantastic experience. Great scenery with great back paths throughout the trip. Every day was unique enough that you felt it was a new experience. All our hotels were fine. A little noisy in IMST from road traffic. A great view from our Hotel room in St. Valentin. Great location in Riva del Garda. Each breakfast provided by the hotels were outstanding (sliced meat, cheese, eggs, etc.). Assistance from Stefano when required was readily available. We had not issues with bikes (better than mine).
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★★★★★ Kate
A great trip with lots of memories
Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)
My husband, two teenage grandsons and I did this trip. It was marvelous. The beautiful Austrian towns were so bike friendly. We are not fast bikers, so we did feel like some parts we did not have time to explore adequately. It would have been nice to stay some place more than one night. We took the deluxe tour version and the hotels were fabulous. Would absolutely recommend this trip for anyone, but especially families.
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★★★★★ Melinda Moore
10/10 recommend
Florence to Rome: Bike through the Heart of Italy
We biked with Rotalis and had two amazing guides. Our stays were beautiful and the ride through the Italian countryside was amazing. I had a scary fall off my bike and our guides helped me to the hospital and were there to make sure I was comfortable through the whole process. Even with needing stitches and bandaging, the trip was so so fun and I would absolutely recommend to anyone interested in a different kind of travel experience.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Michael Krivitsky
Danube ride to 3 capitols
Vienna to Budapest 5-nights (Active)
We had a great time on our ride down the Danube. The hotels were excellent. The towns we stayed in were interesting. We rode 50-60 miles a day which was a good distance. We rode from Vienna to. Budapest. I would go on a longer trip next time
