Family Friendly  Bike Tour Reviews

  • Admire all of Antwerp - castles, cathedrals, and curiosities
    (5/5) Susan K 2 days ago

    fun town to see by bike

    · Highlights of Antwerp Bike Tour

    Train station pic is better in person...cool town to see via bike. Great value. thank you. Bring cash if you want to really experience diamond district.

  • Cycle through a winter wonderland with views of ports, palaces and picture-perfect Old Town
    (5/5) Robert Verhoek 2 months ago

    Nice, informative bike tour

    · Tallinn Winter Bike Tour

    Our guide Roland was very nice. Had a lot to tell about Estonia, it was very interesting, we learned very much. Would certainly recommend.

    What was the date of your tour?
    december 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    12+
    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
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Bolzano – Verona – Venice
    (5/5) bridget Harron 2 months ago

    Self-guided Northern Italy

    · Bolzano – Verona – Venice

    Great ride, E Bikes, 3 adults in their 70's and 80's.
    We had a wonderful self-guided ride about 220 miles on mostly- paved wide bike paths using the GPS tracks which we had previously downloaded and riding on our Girolibero bikes (which were in perfect shape). The travel guide emailed to us by Bike Tours was excellent, giving cultural information as well as the daily mileage requirement and tips on how to shorten our day using the local trains which we never found to be desired or necessary. The guide also included all the necessary vouchers for our hotels, ferry ride and free ice cream as well as travel info on getting to Bolzano. The ride itself was spectacularly beautiful, especially starting near the Dolomites and following the River Adige with mountains on the other side all the way down to Lake Garda.
    There was a detour programmed into our GPS tracks and also a surprise one which was not. We navigated that short detour pretty well for not speaking Italian thanks to the very helpful/understandable signage. We had selected three star hotels which we might change to four star for our next ride. The first three days the hotels and the breakfasts were top notch but after that got progressively more like 2 star hotels ending in Venice/Mestre where we were escorted to a refurbished garage behind the main hotel, not what we had hoped for on our last and only night in Italy. In terms of the bike route itself we found the 4 hour ferry ride on Lake Garda unfortunate as there is a bike path around the lake which we would have preferred. The ferry ride was totally fogged in so we could not enjoy the beautiful sights and there was no food or drink available on board -a long 4 hours to think about a glass of wine. On the whole, we loved the trip and would do it again- the mountains, the exercise, the cuisine, the history, the people. Getting to Bolzano when our flights landed in Venice was our biggest problem - we had trouble trying to decipher the train system. But then the Bolzano funicula ride and the adventure on the ridge line overlooking the city and the Dolomites in the distance made up for getting bogged down catching trains. Looking forward to our next self-guided E-bike adventure.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 5-12, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    me two, my family10+
    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?
    Italy
    •  (photo by bridget Harron)
    •  (photo by bridget Harron)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 2/5 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)
  • Danube Bike Path
    (5/5) Donald Weidinger 4 months ago

    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
    • 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
  • Strasbourg to Mainz
    (4/5) Craig Brockway 4 months ago

    First time Europe cyclers

    · Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine

    Transfers were efficient and on time. Bikes were well maintained and easy to ride. Accommodation was comfortable, especially liked the guest house in Nierstien. Friendly host who told us about the great veiw from the hill.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    0
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    France, Germany
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 3/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Bolzano – Verona – Venice
    (4/5) William Loewe 4 months ago

    Italian jaunt

    · Bolzano – Verona – Venice

    Great way to see northern Italy. Accommodations were fine, except for the last, where the room was difficult to access and the bathroom downright dangerous. Disappointing end to an otherwise lovely ride.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    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
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac October 17, 2024

      Hi William, thank you for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the trip overall and apologize for the issues with the final accommodation. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities, and we'll be addressing the issue with the room and bathroom access to ensure future guests have a better experience.

    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Mosel Bike Path
    (5/5) Helen Seton 4 months ago

    What a great bike ride

    · Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz

    We really had a splendid tour. The hotels were comfortable and the trail well marked. The scenery and historic villages were beautiful.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Germany
  • Danube Bike Path
    (2/5) Shirley Santucci 4 months ago

    Disappointed

    · Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)

    Total lack of communication in not informing us that our biking would end 2 days early, which meant missing out biking through the Wachau valley . When I contacted Bike Tours that my husband was ill and could not make the trip. I should have been informed then that there were changes to the scheduled tour. The welcome meeting & bike fitting was a joke. There was absolutely no value in that 15 minute meeting. I had to adjust the handle bars myself and struggle through removing the battery for charging at the 1st two hotels that did not offer charging in the bike storage area. The electric bike itself was very good quality and comfortable to ride. The printed trip itinerary was easy to follow but did not offer much in the way of "do not miss" highlights along the way. In my opinion, only three of the hotels were worth the upscale category. I would not recommend this bike tour for anyone that has experienced quality bike tours previously.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 26 to October 3
    How many tours have you completed?
    three
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    • 2/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 2/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 1/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
  • Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
    (5/5) Chris Mauriello 4 months ago

    Amazing trip!

    · Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems

    I've been a number of European bike tours and this one was excellent. The mapped route is a nice change and variety of scenery.
    Flat and through the vegetable filed when you leave Ljubljana then mild hills with vineyards and farms with a great ride down to the coast to Muggia with lots of olive tress and ending up in Piran, a very cool place on the Adriatic.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    7
    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?
    Slovenia
    • Leaving Ljubljana (photo by Chris Mauriello)
    • Arriving at the coast near Piran (photo by Chris Mauriello)
    • Piran (photo by Chris Mauriello)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 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
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) James Ruzevick 4 months ago

    A nice tour but a few hiccups along the way

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    On the first day of the tour, our bags were not delivered by the 6:00 pm promised time. I called the emergency number and found out that they never were picked up from our departure hotel. The fault was with the Hotel Halm who said that we had never checked in the evening before. Our bags arrived at about 8:00pm but it kind of ruined a nice evening that I spent waiting in the lobby instead of enjoying a pleasant dinner. On the 3rd day just as we started our ride my wife had a flat rear tire on her e-bike. Our instructions stated to not attempt to change an e-bike rear tire. It was a Sunday and the bike shop in town was closed. I asked to have another bike delivered but was told that it was not possible. We were told to take a train to the next town where a replacement bike was to be delivered by 0900 the following day. The replacement bike arrived at about 10:45. The rest of the trip went according to plan. The weather on the 3rd day was really beautiful, so I regret that we were not able to ride on that day.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (5/5) Christine Ritson 4 months ago

    Fabulous trip!

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    It was a great way to travel to see the beautiful country side and small towns with friends. The accommodations and breakfasts were always good. The only issue we had being a self guided tour was the information given in the guide book was sometimes not clear and found ourselves lost a few times. We did not receive the gps track. Luckily we had some data on our phones and good navigators. Overall a fabulous trip!

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike Path
    (1/5) Richard Severson 4 months ago

    Very dissatisfied

    · Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)

    Our trip was shortened due to previous rains which had damaged the trail and sections were closed. We were not informed of this issue until we had been biking for two days. We were unable to ride the final two days as the trail was closed.
    We should have been notified of this situation prior to our leaving home. We would have cancelled the trip (we had trip insurance) and rebooked for next year. VERY disappointed in the way this information was withheld from us. It is a clear case of the bike touring company looking out for themselves and totally disregarding us, the customer.
    Also, one member of our party had to cancel due to medical reasons. This information must not have reached the provider as 4 bikes were delivered and all hotels were expecting 4 people.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from jan October 9, 2024

      The unprecedented storm that hit the region of your trip completely overwhelmed everyone in the region so many balls were unfortunately dropped. Though this is no excuse, there simply were not enough resources to update and help all of our travelers. This was a problem for everyone in the industry. Our apologies the weather - and the massive fallout is caused - did not cooperate. We hope you'll give us a chance on another trip.

  • Bike Paths of the Dolomites
    (5/5) Marcie B. 4 months ago

    Dazzling Dolomites and so much more!

    · Bicycle Paths of the Dolomites (based in one hotel)

    An excellent introduction to the Sud Tirol region via out-and-back bicycle day tours. Returning to our beautiful nest at the Hotel Laurin every evening was exceptional and we enjoyed a feast for the senses every single dinner. We had a reserved table for our entire stay (breakfast buffet and gourmet multiple course dinners) and the reception and wait staff were friendly, efficient and very customer service oriented. We selected e-bikes and are glad we did (we are 80 and 79 years of age and love E-bikes)! The itinerary had slightly changed from the original program, but it was easy to adjust our expectations based on shuttle availability. The routes were well marked and the app's instructions were clear. We knew there wouldn't be a handlebar phone mount, so brought one. Also we upgraded our T-Mobile coverage for 5G coverage for the month we were abroad.
    We also appreciated the brand new pair of panniers and the handlebar bag (one per room).
    The only day we encountered an unpaved route was the Cortina d'Ampezzo former rail to trail route. The drop off shuttle pointed in the general direction of the bicycle path, but it took the SIX of us to figure out it wasn't immediately visible. We had to pedal past the bobsled shed/track and push the bikes up a relatively steep embankment to access the then well-marked and mostly packed gravel trail into Cortina.
    Fall weather can be fickle, but we biked every day in a different direction without issue. Raingear was indispensable on two of the five cycling days.
    The ride to Lago di Braies can involve some traffic the closer one gets, but cyclists don't have to pay for parking and it's well worth the long climb.
    All in all, we would rate this tour company, the hotel facilities and the quality of the instructions to all the bike destinations highly.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    10+
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • Loading the bikes for the Cortina D'Ampezzo shuttle. (photo by Marcie B.)
    • Lovely stream side bicycle path out of San Candido to Sesto passed rural chalets with a winter stockpile of wood. (photo by Marcie B.)
    • This fabulous dessert from the Hotel Laurin was simply called "Disassembled Apple Strudel." (photo by Marcie B.)
    • Back home and still smiling from all the wonderful memories. (photo by Marcie B.)
    • 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
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) Al Coop 4 months ago

    Wonderful Experience

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    My wife and I went on a self guided tour and had a wonderful experience. We feel so fortunate to have found biketours.com. Overall I would rate the tour company good to excellent. The only suggestions I have are that my wife’s e-bike frame was not fit properly for her smaller body size. Secondly, we initially used Google Maps which guided us on more main roads than we expected. Not until a couple of days in to our tour did other cyclist suggest downloading a cycling app which their tour company suggested. Their app guided us on more scenic off-road trails. I now understand why when the booklet says 30 km to 40 km the shorter distance is on more main roads and not off roads. As a first timer I think biketours.com could be clearer in their correspondences or booklet and possibly suggest such apps. Overall everything was first class and we had a fantastic and memorable experience. Thank you and hopefully we will use biketour.com for future trips.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    This was our first
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 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
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike Path
    (5/5) Don Ference 4 months ago

    Fantastic experience! Loved it!

    · Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)

    Great way to see Austria, the scenery was spectacular. The local partner was very well organized and accommodating, they went above and beyond expectations. We were really impressed with the hotels selected and the food was delicious!

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
  • Tauern Bike Path
    (3/5) Bob Sterndale 4 months ago

    Beautiful trip but problems

    · Tauern Bike Path (Krimml-Passau)

    The scenery was breathtaking, the bike paths mostly fine but with seriously difficult and dangerous exceptions, the hotels very pleasant and the e-bikes fine with one exception.
    The trip started on the wrong foot at the first hotel: Hotel Krimml Fälle. We were assigned a room with no heat (as were others) on a cold day. After two hours of lame diversions and excuses, while we sat in the lobby to keep warm, we were given a heated room. In all other respects the hotel and restaurant were fine.
    Getting to Krimml is a bit confusing. OBB will sell you a train ticket (from Salzburg for us) all the way to Krimml. The trip involves a narrow-gauge train from Sell am See to Mittersill hbf (end of line) and a bus trip from Mittersill to Krimml. There is a bus stop in the middle of Krimml village, steps from our hotel.
    The first day of biking were delightful. The hotel in Sell am See was beyond our expectations.
    The second day of biking started well but we encountered a long section of closed trail. We were in a narrow valley with little development. The only parallel path was a shoulder-less two-lane highway with plenty of high-speed traffic, not an acceptable bike route. Trees and brush had been trimmed along the nice paved bike path recently. All the slash had been left on the path, for 2 or 3 days from its appearance. We picked our way through the mess for maybe a couple kilometers. Then we came to a section with blown down trees obstructing the path, another ½ to 1 Km. Getting through this required some bushwhacking with the heavy e-bikes. Not fun.
    Day three of biking was fine until we came to a flooded underpass on the outskirts of Salzburg. We needed to cross the A1 highway to get to Salzburg. A bad storm a few days before had caused numerous problems across Austria. We did find an alternate route but advance knowledge would have saved us a few Km of pedaling.
    Day 4, however, brought us to highway biking. As we approached the village of St. Radegund we were directed onto a busy, shoulder-less two-lane road for a steep ascent of a kilometer or more. It was a strenuous ride even with the e-bikes. Your web sites offers this description of the tour:
    “The tour route is mainly on dedicated bicycle paths (about 80% of the time). The remainder of the tour is on quiet roads and dirt or gravel roads. This tour is suitable for families with children.”
    This stretch alone disqualifies the tour as a family-safe route. The experience continues:
    A short distance beyond the scary hill climb is a 5.2 Km stretch of riding on the same road. The tour map shows this section as a bike path on the side of the road pavement. The “bike path” in this area is about 18” wide, separated from the high-speed traffic by a 4” wide white stripe. Narrative direction for this day’s route were not helpful, signage was poor, the “pink” house referred to is now yellow.
    The unpleasant day was capped by a steep climb to the hotel in Burghausen. Pushing a heavy e-bike up a hill doesn’t work! You need to pedal it up so that it assists with its own heavy weight.
    Day 5 brought us to Bad Fussing. This day was mostly uneventful. Directions to the hotel in Bad Fussing were vague, calling for riding 4 Km on a busy road with no shoulder. Instead, we found a bike path at the German side of the bridge that led right in to downtown Bad Fussing. The directions should include this route. Plan your day to allow an hour or two at one of the baths, you will be glad you did!
    Day 6 was uneventful, mainly along the Inn River to Passau.
    One e-bike problem: the rear disc brake on one of the 4 bikes was useless, apparently the brake pads were worn away (bikes had coaster brakes too). In all other respects bikes were fine. Battery capacity was generous. I think the lowest reserve at the end of any day for any of us was 50%.
    An otherwise delightful trip was marred by surprise bike path closures and stretches of unsafe highway biking. This is not for children. The scenery was awe inspiring. Hotels were good to excellent. E-bikes were good except for one problem that didn’t spoil the trip.
    We would have wished for more current information on bike path conditions from the local partner. We provided reports to them of closed paths as we encountered them.
    Your tour description misrepresents the conditions of the route. We would not have booked the trip if had been accurately described.  SHOW MORE 

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 16, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    about ten
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from jan October 3, 2024

      Thank you for your business and detailed feedback. Unfortunately the storm that hit your area during your vacation impacted 1000s of folks which resulted in the on the ground teams being totally overwhelmed. Unfortunately we cannot control mother nature. That said, thank you for traveling with us and we hope to see you again!

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