Bike & Hotel Tour Reviews page 52
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★★★★★ gillianrides
We LOVED this!
Danube Family Tour 7 Nights
Overall this was OUTSTANDING--Biketours was a great company that made fantastic hotel choices and provided top quality support. The breakfasts were wonderful. The bikes were great. The hotels were well situated (or there was a shuttle e.g. Marie Teflar) and some had real character. All were very clean. The scenery was amazing. The riding was amazing. I realize that Biketours can't control the weather but that was amazing, too. We only had a few comments--1. The only place the trail wasn't well marked (only time we wondered if we were "lost") and the trail was partly gravel/rough rock was between Durnstein and Tulln. We wish we had known this. This was also a much longer day of riding than we were prepared for (nearly 54 km). 2. We didn't realize that virtually nothing would be open for breaks on a Monday--our kids needed those breaks!
But really, small peanuts for what was the BEST vacation I have ever been on. I will take another trip with bike tours absolutely!- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- 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
-
★★★★★ Grasshopper
Amazing Trip on an e bike through Switzerland
Swiss Lakes by E-bike: Lake Geneva to Lake Lucerne
We really loved this trip. We were very concerned at first as the maps we received were not well marked and the information from the help line contradictory. Then out of the Blue our savior Rudie came along and we managed to hitch onto the group he was guiding. From there all was well. Thank you again Rudie for your help. The guide book was not provided in English. Apparently there are limited editions. The hotels we were booked into went from fantastic to three start ordinary. The bikes were good enough and did the job. I loved this trip and would recommend it but it needs refining ...
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2018
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Switzerland
-
★★★★★ Island Chick
Amazing way to celebrate my 50th Birthday! Exceeded my expectations!
Treasures of the Donegal Coast
Perfect way to see the Donegal Coast and rural countryside of West Ireland. Local operator Shemass was awesome! Accommodations were all very nice and innkeepers very helpful!
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Susana
Great option for families with small childrwn!
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
The scenary is great, the path is easy and the signals are very clear, the villages are beautiful and with a lot of options for fun (playgrounds, pools, baths on the lake...) . People are very helpful. We decided to spend two days in Uberlingen and it is a very beautiful village with fantastic therms and gardens. It is very easy to shorten the initial route taking a train or a boat (we did it one day that it rained a lot!). I recommend this route for families with small children (7-14 years)
- What was the date of your tour?
- August
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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
-
★★★★★ victoria
Great way to see region around Stockholm
Stockholm Round-Trip Across Swedish History
This tour was a great way to see the region around Stockholm. Very scenic routes to view the landscape and good opportunities to see palace and historical buildings along the way. We were very happy with the hotels. It was difficult to shift gears on the bike that I rode because the bike was not properly tuned and the seat was uncomfortable because it wobbled. We were a group of four who requested four GPS units and received only one that functioned--an older model that does not offer the amenities of newer models. The written instructions they provided were sometimes hard to follow, which sometimes made it difficult to be sure we were on the right path. However, this could be easily fixed if they included more detail about the different kinds of roads and paths we would be take. All in all, I had a fantastic time and have no regrets.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Aug 18, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Sweden
-
BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe
Victoria - thanks for the review. We'll be sure to pass your details onto the tour operator regarding the bikes, GPS, and written instructions. It sounds like a few simple adjustments could take this tour up a notch. We're delighted to hear you had a fantastic time and liked the hotels, sights, and route!
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★★★★★ Dusty
Fun Way to See Switzerland
Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers
We enjoyed seeing Switzerland up close. Bike routes very well marked. The little towns were charming. We experienced beautiful scenery and very friendly people.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- 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?
- Switzerland
-
★★★★★ MMDJ
The BEST of Holland
Cycling the Dutch Countryside from Zaandam to Kampen
From the moment we met Peter, we knew that our tour would be wonderful. Everything from the bikes to the GPS to the planning was top-notch. Both two 50-somethings and two teenagers had a tremendous time being outside during the day (taking scenic routes) and in wonderful towns and hotels at night. Truly a great trip! Note that the cycling is a little bit strenuous...not bad, but not nothing, either!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 8/18/19
- How many tours have you completed?
- A couple
- 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?
- Holland
-
★★★★★ Goherd
Flawless......
Danube Bike Path 5-nights (Active)
Everything was excellent. Hotels exceeded our expectations. Bikes were great. Liz was very patient with our changes and special requests. We did the 4 day Danube. Very easy ride.
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★★★★★ Cindy23
We can't wait to schedule our next trip!!!
Swiss Lakes by E-bike: Lake Geneva to Lake Lucerne
This was a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I have never done a bike tour before, and we were so impressed with Switzerland. It has to be one of the best countries to bike in--they have fresh spring water all over the countryside (see pic), bike route signs that are more visible than the street signs, and views that are absolutely breathtaking. I'm still trying to soak it all in and we went a month ago in July/August. My husband is a professional photographer so we stopped constantly to take pictures. Now on to more details...
We arrived a day early so we could rest and get used to the time change. We decided to fly into Zurich and take a train to Montreaux. We got a hotel right on the water--and it was SO worth it. Montreaux has a walking path all along Lake Geneva and it's just gorgeous. A great way to start your trip.
We brought our own helmets, pedals, and shoes. We figured it would be better on the hills to be able to push and pull. The tour company was willing to let us bring a suitcase and a backpack for luggage transport (we had the extra helmets and pedals). We opted for the hybrid bikes vs the e-bikes. My husband mountain bikes every day. I did about 80% of my training on a peloton stationary bike.
The first day of biking it takes awhile to get used to the bike and the signs. We got a little lost because of detours. We also weren't familiar with the maps provided. We thought we were supposed to stay on Route 9, but day 1 and 2 they had us going on route 59. We didn't realize this until we finally found our hotel the first day. Our luggage wasn't there yet at 5:00 so I highly recommend bringing something light to change in to so that you can shower if you beat your luggage.
Day 2 we basically just did route 59 until it met back up with route 9. The only booklet we had was for route 9 so I wasn't aware that it would be a 3500 foot ascent. We climbed...and climbed and climbed. The bike has plenty of gears though--so I just put it on the lowest gear and balanced going 2 mph. Gstaad was just gorgeous--as was Schoenreid. We LOVED the hotel there. They were amazing. Our luggage wasn't there yet but they greeted us with a warm towel and champagne.
We had a rain delay on day 3, but we ended up getting out by 11 that morning and we are glad we did. We saw some amazing views and only had to go a little over 20 miles--flat miles.
Day 4 we decided to skip the boat to Interlaken and just follow route 9--which added about 10 miles. The 4 lakes you bike along are just stunning. The water color is Caribbean blue! That day is relatively flat other than a pretty long climb up to a gorgeous waterfall. So worth it. We stayed in Wilen, but I would recommend going 2 extra miles and staying in Sarnen. There weren't any restaurants or anything in Wilen. We ate at our hotel--which was AMAZING though. We had a 2 course steak dinner. I've never had that before.
Day 5 we biked to Lucerne. It was a pretty easy day. Lower mileage and pretty flat. We took the advice from a previous review and stayed in Lucerne. I regretted it. It's a nice city--but it was so crowded and over priced compared to the serenity we enjoyed the other parts of the trip!!
Day 6 we started in Lucerne vs Zug which is 100km from Rapperswill. My husband convinced me to bike the entire thing since it was our last day. We did it! It wasn't easy but what a way to go out. The last climb into Lake Zermatt is a giver--but the view at the top of the hill is breathtaking.
We got alot better at reading the signs. Someone gave us a tip at the beginning--if you don't see a sign for awhile, you probably missed one--because there are so many. You definitely need to download maps.me and make sure you download all of the Switzerland maps (6) so you don't end up in an area you haven't downloaded yet when you need it. (day 1 for us!)
There was more of a language barrier than I expected. They spoke french the first day or two and then German. Many people in the country don't speak English; however they always seemed to know what "beer" was. :)
Things would have gone smoother if the travel documents had just a simple bullet point or two rather than an arrow buried in the map. We were so set on Route 9 that a simple note that told us to look for Route 59 here and here would have been really helpful. Every single time I emailed before the trip asking questions, the staff responded quickly. It was great. They are also pretty flexible so if you want to stay in one place vs another or want to spend a couple days in one city--let them know, chances are, they can probably accommodate your request. We upgraded to the Class A hotels and definitely recommend that. We also took everyone's advice and got sandwiches for lunch, so we could stop anytime we needed to. There were quite a few places along the way to grab a quick sandwich though. It seemed like kitchens closed 2-6. Coops will become your friend fast!
We definitely recommend this tour and we plan on possibly doing it again soon!!! SHOW MORE- What was the date of your tour?
- July 28-August 3
- How many tours have you completed?
- this was our first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- 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?
- Switzerland
-
★★★★★ Eric
Lackluster field tour!!
Vienna to Budapest (Classic)
Hate to be the negative Nelly,but this tour was nowhere near where i'd hoped it to be...It really shouldn't be listed as a Danube River tour,as the only day i saw the river all day,was the last.Several days of riding through corn and sunflower fields on unmarked trails with poor direction. Let me be clear,I chose to follow the map and directions given,as I had no cell phone service in Europe. The last tour I did was Prague to Dresden.Clearly marked trails,with a GPS that wasn't great,but sufficient. Apparently I got my hopes up too high after that one.Spent most of my time checking and double checking Km markers in the guide Vs. Km markers on the bike. Not the relaxing ride I had hoped for.I,along with several other riders,spent some extra time looking for the actual trail. I was watching many people do the same as me...looking for the trail!! Too many unmarked junctions,this trail is really undeveloped in this part of Europe,which was unfortunate-this is what i went for,the ride.A lot of off road time,which would be fine,if I wasn't so busy checking and double checking maps.Really stressful when it should've been relaxing. The positive is the towns were great,the hotels were all very nice,the bike was better than I expected and handled everything-including the off road,and my luggage was always where it was supposed to be.I just so badly wish the ride would've been more relaxing....As i said when i began-the last day of the tour was what I had hoped for the whole length of the tour,relaxing and enjoyable.Unfortunately,it was the only one...
- What was the date of your tour?
- 8-13-19
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Hungary
-
BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe
Eric, thanks kindly for your review. We're sorry to hear that this tour was not what you'd expected. We hope that your feedback may serve to educate future clients. As you have noted this tour is quite different from the Danube Bike Path from Passau to Vienna, as it doesn't follow the river. And, it's a more rustic trail that requires navigating, as opposed to the Prague to Dresden tour. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the towns, hotels, bike, and that the luggage transfer was well executed. Thanks again for your feedback - we appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.
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★★★★★ Cycle tourist
great trip
Berlin – Copenhagen
The Berlin to Copenhagen route is beautiful, well marked, and was a delight the whole way. The hotels were superb. The company provided excellent service throughout. Bikes were stout German made hybrids, nothing fancy, but well maintained and up to the task. We did one long day of about 70 miles instead of taking a train, but this ride was scenic and with planned rest stops went just fine. The other groups on the tour were from Switzerland, Italy and France, and all were friendly and fun to connect with along the way. We all loved the tour. Of note, one of our group rode an ebike which was perfect to compensate for no training prior to trip.
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★★★★★ BRAG
Beautiful scenery, quiet roads, a well-organized tour.
Stockholm and Sörmland
Our custom group tour of 20 was guided with most meals included and luggage transfer. Our bicycle tour guide, who biked with us each day, and his assistant were experienced, competent leaders, and paid close attention to every detail. Our bicycle guide had a good knowledge of Sweden's history and culture and provided us with information along the route. The luggage van driver prepared 3 gourmet picnic lunches, some of the best ever on a bicycle tour. Our 2 guides went above and beyond keeping our group well-informed of each day's activities and on schedule. We enjoyed having both guides join us for dinner. We were met by a local tour leader for 2 castle tours and an excellent harbor tour of Stockholm was organized at the end of the bicycle tour. The guest houses in the countryside were lovely 4* accommodations. The food was excellent and well presented. The routes were safe on secondary roads and paved bicycle paths for the most part, with some roads gravel and packed dirt. If I could have changed anything, it would be less gravel roads. Most of our group did not object. Seven riders in our group rode hybrid bicycles, others requested an electric assistant bicycle. The terrain was gently rolling with a few surprise short hills. Either way, it's a very pleasant ride with picturesque scenery. There were no complaints from our group on this tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 3, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 15
- 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?
- Sweden
-
★★★★★ Wild women
Wonderful trip
Stockholm Round-Trip Across Swedish History
Sweden was wonderful and I'm so glad I went on this tour.
My problem was with the navigation and the appropriateness of costing an electric bicycle.
Like my tour to Holland 4 years ago, no one actually sat down with any of us and went over the navigation materials beforehand. I think that it was expected that we'd simply be able to follow the path. Of 3 GPS devices, only 1 worked. Additionally, the odometer reading didn't correspond to the written materials or the GPS. It is, I find, essential to have someone from the tour group go over all those small details, and not assume that it is clear to the group.
Secondly, the GPS wasn't replaced till day 3, and I had to struggle with it to find a way to make it work. The Garmin devices were useless. Again if someone had taken the time to show us how to make them work, that may have been much better.
Thirdly, one of the women in our group ordered an e-bike. This proceeded to be a disaster - a suggestion for arranging this next time would be to help someone distinguish an e-road bike from an e-touring bike. Myself, I don't think an e-touring bike is appropriate for this trip - it's too heavy, more like a moped and not good news the gravel roads.
Once we got the hang of it, had two functioning GPS systems that functioned the entire day, and figured out how to coordinate the odometer with the GPS/written materials, it was all good. And in spite if these
difficulties, I had a fab trip!!!
The hotels/inns/route was great as well!!- What was the date of your tour?
- Aug19-23
- How many tours have you completed?
- One other
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Sweden
-
BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe
So glad to hear you enjoyed Sweden and your tour! Thanks for the notes on the GPS functionality and suggestions for instruction - we'll pass this onto the tour operator so that they may improve this. We're sorry to hear your friend did not enjoy the e-bike; they do tend to be heavier as they have a battery, etc. Thanks again for your feedback; we're so glad you enjoyed the hotels and route and had a fab trip!
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★★★★★ mdoyler
Once in a lifetime
French Alpes Tour: Alpes and Ventoux
What an amazing trip. My wife and I will be talking about these rides for the rest of our lives. The accommodations were great, and the meals were an absolute delight. Don't be afraid to do an unguided trip such as this, it was incredibly safe and easy to navigate
- What was the date of your tour?
- 8/22 - 8/29
- 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?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
-
★★★★★ Simona
Amazing bike holiday
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
Our bike holiday this summer was a perfect way to discover and enjoy the wonderful landscapes and sights of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, riding along Lake Constance in five days, between August 21 and August 25. The weather was excellent: no rain and not very hot, just perfect.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 21-August 25
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
-
★★★★★ Joannie
This is our third bike trip, and by far the most scenic.
Salzburg Lakes Tour: Around the Lakes within the Foothills of the Alps
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 25 to Sept 2 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
-
★★★★★ Hutch
Not what was expected.
Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers
This was our 9th bike trip in Europe, previous ratings and reviews of trips had been pretty acurate. But this trip was not what we expected. We might have a different view if we were in our 20s or 30s so any review submitted should be evaluated with that in mind. The trip was very intensive even with ebikes (our first use of ebikes) and only serious cyclists should forego those. There were many large hills and rough surfaces (30-40% gravel). Sporadic beautiful scenery, but not even close to what we have experienced before. Hotels were all clean and about half were really nice, but several were positioned away from main points of interest and the bike route and since the stopover sites were larger cities they were hard to find (maps to hotels were not detailed, thankfully we had google maps). On the positive side, the bike route is signed very well and we had no trouble finding our way between cities. Finding good stops along the route for lunch/coffee/etc was not as easy as we had experienced on previous trips. In short, we would not classify this route as recreational or recommend it as a family trip.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Aug 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 11
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Switzerland
