Bike & Hotel Tour Reviews page 77
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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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BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany
We're glad you enjoyed your cycling vacation. Thank you for the review and the great pictures!
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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. -
★★★★★ 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
-
★★★★★ 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
-
★★★★★ 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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★★★★★ Donald Weidinger
Late October Excellent
Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)
Self guided tour, equipment no issues worked well, all hotels were excellent--excellent breakfast food and service, and the best comment is how quickly Bike Tours reacted to unplanned items (1 of 4 bikes was not right size, BT delivered replacement before 9am on first day even though BT contact was 7pm the night before, ie, quick response. And, we mistakenly left a necklace and bag in Tulln, BT delivered the necklace and bag next day.) Every breakfast meal was excellent in quality and variety, many with 4-5 meats, fruits, vegetables, baked items. The map and directions were clear and easy to read. The 15euro train from Munich to Passau was easy and within walking distance to Passau's Hotel Wolf. We cannot wait to do another tour with BT. The weather Oct 10-17 was wet (no problem) with few other riders (no crowds no where), we believe the perfect time to go. Ages 67-70, 2 couples.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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
-
★★★★★ Donald Zirkelbach
A great family trip - highly recommend
Vienna to Budapest (Classic)
Family of 6 adults. 4 were first timers on a bike vacation. 2 had never been to Europe. Trip was enjoyed by all and went very smoothly. Hotels were good. 2 E bikes and all 6 bikes were in good condition with no issues.
In researching the trip last year, the one thing that came up multiple times were that the trail wasn't always clearly marked and the paper map/ instructions weren't always easy to follow. They have an App now that goes along with the paper instructions. It marks your location to the route. This is the 1st year for the App. I rate it very good. It could be excellent if they made a few mods. Would be happy to share my thoughts on those if they ask.
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★★★★★ DANNY OPACIC
Trip to remember
Vienna to Budapest (Classic)
We traveled as a couple (82yrs oldest) and had an enjoyable time. It would have been more enjoyable if the bikes we hired were lighter. The navigation software was excellent. A couple of sections were difficult to negotiate due to strong headwinds, but the rest of the tour required only a moderate effort to complete. Accommodation and associated service were excellent throughout.
We were most impressed with the initial communication with biketours personnel.
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★★★★★ David Roberts
Great Bike Trip
Sweden’s West Coast: Helsingborg to Gothenburg
Great route - well marked, easy to follow, mostly paths and safe (little "on-road" riding with very light traffic). Easy terrane with very manageable riding distances for most cyclist. Accommodations were clean, comfortable, friendly and above average, although not luxurious. Bikes were good quality and well maintained. Beautiful country and friendly people. I've done more than 20 European cycling tours and I'd rate this as very good value given the modest price point
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 20
- 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?
- Sweden
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★★★★★ Easy cycler
Beautiful Bavarian countryside
Cycling the Altmühl Valley - Round trip from Regensburg
Each day was a unique experience. Starting with the Danube path, then the lush fields and rocky backdrop of the Altmuhl valley, and the ferry rides along the Danube gorge and the canal. The villages along the way were so picturesque.
The maps and descriptions provided us with a wonderful guide to the sights along the way. The hotels were comfortable, centrally located, and very helpful about what to see and good restaurants for dinner. Our overnights were in towns with rich history and traditions, and there were always interesting spots to stop along the way.
We finished the tour knowing that we would like to go back.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 27, 2016
- 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?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Dorothy Westerfield
Fabulous trip!
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
Possibly the most beautiful scenery we’ve seen yet. All the hotels were wonderful, and the self-guiding directions and maps were perfect. We would highly recommend this trip, but I do think it should be rated as a 3 in difficulty. Lots of hills, and I was very glad to have an ebike!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Doug Dvorak
BALKANS TRIANGLE TOUR - WOW! WOW! WOW!
Cycling the West Balkan Triangle
Jim and the entire Biketours.com Team did an incredible job on our recent Balkans Triangle Tour. The in-country representative as very friendly, knowledgeable and the equipment & accommodations were first class.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 17 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- 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?
- Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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★★★★★ diane Nothnagel
Best kind of Bike Trip
Founder's Tour: Turkey and Greece E-Bike & Boat tour
This is our 4th bike and boat tour-if you ve never traveled this way you need to give it a try . What could be better than starting your day in a small harbor, with a wonderful breakfast on deck, then going for an exciting ride , coming back for a swim in the Adriatic, and then cruising to the next port in time for dinner? The food n the boat was plentiful and delicious. Because it’s a smaller boat we were able to spend time in smaller uncrowded harbors. He biking was challenging but the excellent e-bikes made it fun for all ages . Everyone on the boat agreed that two weeks was ideal-a one week trip just doesn’t give you enough time to settle in. There was never a dull day and if you don’t want to ride you can stay on the boat or walk the town-lots of options and flexibility. This would also be a good trip for a non rider in the family. I also highly recommend the Croatia bike and boat trip-it was fabulous. October is the best time to be in any of these places. The weather was warm enough to swim all the time and things weren’t as crowded as during the summer
- Countries included in this tour?
- Greece
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★★★★★ diane Nothnagel
Best kind of Bike Trip
Founder's Tour: Turkey and Greece E-Bike & Boat tour
This is our 4th bike and boat tour-if you ve never traveled this way you need to give it a try . What could be better than starting your day in a small harbor, with a wonderful breakfast on deck, then going for an exciting ride , coming back for a swim in the Adriatic, and then cruising to the next port in time for dinner? The food n the boat was plentiful and delicious. Because it’s a smaller boat we were able to spend time in smaller uncrowded harbors. He biking was challenging but the excellent e-bikes made it fun for all ages . Everyone on the boat agreed that two weeks was ideal-a one week trip just doesn’t give you enough time to settle in. There was never a dull day and if you don’t want to ride you can stay on the boat or walk the town-lots of options and flexibility. This would also be a good trip for a non rider in the family. I also highly recommend the Croatia bike and boat trip-it was fabulous. October is the best time to be in any of these places. The weather was warm enough to swim all the time and things weren’t as crowded as during the summer
- Countries included in this tour?
- Greece
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★★★★★ Dave and Chris
Lake Constance/Bodensee
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
This was our third tour as a couple, and my fourth. My favorite was Croatia bike/boat in 2006, followed by Danube - Passau to Vienna, and Saar/Mosel (tossup). This tour was excellent too, but many of the paths/roads weren't along the lakes. The first day from Konstanz to Stein am Rhine and the second back towards Konstanz again was a little hilly, and we had to wait out a thunderstorm with small hail at the border crossing into Stein am Rhine. All the hotels were excellent. Remember to use the boat voucher crossing to Ueberlingen. I didn't, costing me extra. Some interesting birds and wildlife will be seen in the Rhine Delta on the third day, and we often heard cookoos. After we picked up bikes, we were suggested by the tourist office to see Mainau Island after 5pm when admission is half-price. Meersburg Castle is well-worth seeing. The Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen was someone interesting, but only for transport fans like me. We enjoyed the tour very much.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 25-30 2019
- 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, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ sandivet2003
Surpassed our expectations!
Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)
This tour surpassed our expectations in many ways. We were provided with reliable, sturdy hybrid bicycles that were well maintained, comfortable to ride, and decked out with a headlight, tail light, a (rather challenging to open at times) cable combination bike lock, large waterproof handlebar bag (that allowed easy viewing of directions and maps), bike computer, waterproof pannier, and bike tools/flat repair kit (which we never needed). Who cares if they weren't Trek bikes? (They were better than my own Trek.)
On the evening of our arrival in Passau (day 1), we were met at our hotel by a tour representative (fluent English-speaking) who provided us with the bikes (which fit us well), maps and cue sheets as well as an overview of our planned tour and ideas for places/activities to check out on the way. Each hotel we stayed at appeared to have been thoughtfully chosen to provide us with the best local experience--the least "upscale" one was in Schlogen, Austria (the room was quite basic and we needed ear plugs), but we had a spectacular view. The most upscale was Schloss Duernstein--it was like a castle! All breakfasts were terrific (lots of selection, hearty options, and the best breads I've had anywhere). Furthermore, the actual route was terrific--safe, low traffic and chockful of spectacular views! I was originally concerned that we started out on cobblestones and dirt paths for a bit in Passau, but the bikes were so sturdy and had such good suspension that didn't matter. I felt in control of the ride at all times. Most of the time, public restrooms were available on the route and were adequately spaced out so I only needed to do the "hide behind a tree or bush" thing a couple of times.
A couple of warnings to future travelers: 1) We went in April, and only the final hotel (in Vienna) had legitimate air conditioning (per North American standards). It was unexpectedly warm in the evenings, and we wished we had brought a fan (only the first hotel in Passau provided us with one), particularly since all hotel beds had thick duvets for covers. I can't imagine what it'd be like for people traveling during the summer. 2) Do some research before arriving in Melk. This was the only place we got lost and had to use our cellphones for GPS because the cue sheets weren't specific to our particular circumstances (they covered only instructions for people staying at certain hotels there, which we were not). But we did eventually find our way, and we're already thinking about planning our next trip!
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