Family Friendly Bike Tour Reviews (page 28)
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★★★★★ Dwight Chapman August 5, 2022
All on bike trails
· Dolomites to Lake Garda: Picturesque Cities and Stunning Scenery
Seriously. First two days were outstanding forest and river stretches. Last couple of days were a bit more urban and flat, but still nice riding. And the towns were all beautiful.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 15
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Margareta Hefti August 6, 2022
Great scenario! Biketrails where very good
· Dolomites to Lake Garda: Picturesque Cities and Stunning Scenery
Perfect way to experience Italy!
Tirol was our favorite !- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Joseph Lutkenhaus October 2, 2022Great scenery
· Dolomites to Lake Garda: Picturesque Cities and Stunning Scenery
This was a great trip mostly on bike paths and mostly downhill. The scenery was great and and we had gorgeous weather (end of Sept 2022). Two of the hotels were 4 star (in Brixen and Trento) and were fantastic. The other three were fine and all were bike friendly. The picture included above is typical of the scenery - apple orchards in a valley surrounded by mountains. We were surprised by the number of great looking apple orchards everywhere on the trip. The average distance was about 30 miles per day. On the first day we took the train only about half way which was maybe a mistake because they scenery on day 1 is the best in our opinion as it is higher up in the valley. We were surprised how little meals cost so that was great. Would like to do it again.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- 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
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★★★★★ Pekka60 January 5, 2016Hot hot hot
· Lake Garda (based in one hotel)
We knew that things can get very hot in Italy on august, so in 2012 me and my wife decided to book a Tour, where it is possible either cycle, or just spend time on the beach, if its too hot. We have heard that Lake Garda, and the hole area is very nice, so this Tour seemed perfect.
We flew from Helsinki to Milano, then we had a train, approximately 2 hours, from Milano to Lake Garda. Our hotel was nice little family hotel in Desenzado, with a nice little own beach. On the first day our tour-operator came to meet us and brought our bicycles, maps and other equipment.
As you know, it can be very hot, but its never too hot to cycle. Every morning we started from the hotel, and we had a nice cycling in the area. One day we took a train to Torino, and we cycled back, 80 km, temperature was 38 C, 100 F.
Best day we had, was when our tour operator took us with a van to Trento. From Trento we cycled to Riva, in the north part of Lake Garda, and in Riva we took bicycles to a ferry, witch took us back to Dezensano.
This is very easy Tour to recommend for anyone. If you don"t want to cycle, you can just relax and enjoy your holiday, good food and wine, and atmosphere.- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- 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?
- Italy
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★★★★★ love to bike europe July 17, 2018
Loved our bike tour in Lake Garda, Italy!
· Lake Garda (based in one hotel)
We had the best time on our bike trip! It is based out of one hotel (which is on the lake and we swam everyday after biking). We did 3 of the 5 tours due to a limited amount of time. The guy that brought our bikes was friendly, and on the first day one of the bikes broke so he brought another bike without any problem. The only problem was the first day and 1 1/2 we were lost all the time because we couldn't find the signs and the written instructions were bad (and the "app" is just a map, it doesn't give instructions). But once we started finding the signs, it was a blast. The scenery is gorgeous (vineyards, lake, towns, etc etc). Such a great trip!! We also were able to purchase helmets which we kept as a fun momento.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- two
- 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?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Sheba August 14, 2019
Great trip
· Lake Garda (based in one hotel)
We had an amazing time on our Lake Garda trip. We were two people who have never done something like this before, but once we got the hang of things it was a dream. The first day (Trento) was tough because we got caught up with the spectacular scenery and forgot to take breaks and refuel. But the following days we got better at stopping at certain intervals to drink and eat.
We also did not understand at first from our contact person what the signs look like. They are stickers on signposts, and looking out for those helped at more complex intersections. We did not use the written directions at all - we just brought with us two bike mounts, put our phones there, and followed along on the app. You just follow the pink line on the map, and most of the time the bike path is very clear and straightforward anyways.
A final tip: we skipped Solferino and went to Sirmione for a day (we were based in Desenzano). Sirmione is a must-see for sure, so we were glad we did that. It is a very short ride (around 8-9 km).- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- 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?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Addee October 29, 2019
Gorgeous Lake Garda!
· Lake Garda (based in one hotel)
Disclosure: I went on a small portion of this tour as a BikeTours.Com Staff Member.
I was lucky enough to arrive to the start of my tour in Sirmione by a relaxing 4-hour ferry ride from town of Riva. Since this tour is based out of one hotel, you have ultimate flexibility in spending your cycling vacation in Lake Garda the way YOU want to! The daily rides are fairly short and will give you plenty of time to experience the local cuisine and culture. Since I only had one day to cycle in Lake Garda, I was recommended by the tour company staff member at my welcome briefing to cycle to Brescia. The ride to Brescia took me through quiet cycle paths to beautiful and picturesque countrysides. Just from this day’s ride, I would say 90% of this day’s ride was on cycle paths, with 10% being on quiet roads. This tour was Level 2, but being a first timer, I had no issues cycling the few hills I encountered during my ride to and from Brescia. For those who want a more relaxed ride, I’d highly recommend the eBike as it gives you power when you really need it! The one provided on this tour was in top condition and well-constructed. I took this tour at the beginning of October and it was perfect weather to cycle in the cool morning yet still enjoy the warm water of Lake Garda during the day. I would recommend this tour to first-time travelers and those who’d like to spend a few days exploring beautiful Lake Garda!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 10/3/2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- 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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★★★★★ Meg Bates September 27, 2023
Riding Lake Garda
· Lake Garda (based in one hotel)
It was a great trip and the hotel and local setting were wonderful.
Our experience in getting assistance from the local partner, however, was not satisfactory. We had to contact them a couple times about bike needs and malfunctions. The "hotline" is merely place that tell you who else to call. Their communication to resolve issues was horrible.There should be more detail about some aspects for the ride. One thing is the availability of public toilet facilities. On at least one ride, there were none.
Also, the route info was often a problem. It was at time not accurate. You should sonderusing using Rides with GPS, which was a better option.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ JimJ November 18, 2019Cycling was fantastic but not even the best part!
· Medieval Transylvania Heritage
This tour will long linger in my memories. The cycling was scenic, varied and truly fun. Much of it was through truly remote areas, such as through a dense forest where we were told the largest concentration of brown bears in Europe still make their home. We waved to farm workers, many of them Roma, on the sides of dirt roads. We passed medieval castles and towering churches.
And on most days we saw far more horse carts than cars.
Other aspects were perhaps even more memorable. The lodging, for example, was unique and wonderful. In Talisoara we stayed in a restored castle and dined in its richly decorated banquet hall. In Cund, we overnighted and dined at Valea Verde Retreat, an endeavor that has brought a dying farm village back to life. Guests get to experience farm life as it had been for centuries—and even go foraging with the chef/owner, Jonas Schaefer.
The traditional cuisine was another highlight. Valea Verde has also become an award-winning destination for foodies across Europe, and our group savored some of the best farm-to-table cuisine I’ve experienced—and it’s especially fun when the table is at the farm.
We also visited Moşna and had lunch at the farm of Willy Schuster, a passionate supporter of the cause of sustainable and organic farming in Romania and abroad. After he introduced us to “the happiest cows in all of Europe,” he and his team brought out tray after tray of fresh farm delights.
Also along the way we also got to watch craftspeople and artisans at work such as brick makers, blacksmiths, and shoemakers.
All this is part of efforts to keep traditional crafts and customs alive.
So this is a tour that truly benefits the people and communities we pass through.
--Jim Johnson, founder and president, BikeTours.com
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 30+
- 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?
- Romania
Video: #WhyIBikeTour--Medieval Transylvania edition
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★★★★★ Julie November 4, 2015Europe's hidden gem
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
A great trip! Explored big cities and small town! A little bit of everything! Busy city life, quiet cafes, horses, cobbled streets, castles, caves...
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ WLG63 August 19, 2017
Love Slovenia!
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
The trip is a wonderful overview of Slovenian geography and culture. The biking is varied and not too difficult, and the routes incorporate stops and side trips to interesting cultural sites. We had 1/2 board and the breakfasts were average to better than average and certainly enough to feel satiated. We had to do some route finding...day 2 was particularly confusing, however, on day 3 we learned of the app Bikemap which is fantastic and we highly recommend....far easier to follow than the included materials (the Slovenian tour does not offer a GPS option). Though the printed material was a nice addition, we relied on Bikemap for the remainder of the trip. The lodging was average to nice, depending on the area, and all places, with the exception of one, had good air-conditioning in the rooms (we were there in August during a heat wave) and we were able to comfortably relax and sleep. Our only complaint was with the hotel in Piran...it was noisy, run down, and did not have air-conditioning though they claimed to. We were hot and tired after a day of biking and unable to relax in the stuffy, dumpy rooms (we had 2 rooms and both were bad). The staff was very nice but the overall experience was a disappointment after and otherwise great trip (our experience at this hotel was not unique, I discovered many negative reviews on the internet). We were particularly frustrated because in Piran and Potoroyz there are many lodging options. I suggest the company charge
more and put clients in a nicer hotel. It's best to have clients end on a positive note. If the tour company continues to book this hotel I suggest guests find alternative lodging for the last night. Otherwise, Slovenia was wonderful and the tour a fantastic family vacation. We travelled with our 19 year old daughter.- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ JHSMTB July 15, 2018
A beautiful ride!!
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Excellent tour. Beautiful roads with wonderful views. Mostly low traffic roads. Not too hilly. A little bit of gravel roads and a little bit of bike path. Views/landscape changed every day as we moved from (nearly) alpine to Karst to coastline.
Hotels were good to excellent (Vrnika hotel was so-so).
Guidebook was excellent - no problems following it, and there were even stickers on road sign posts that directed you for straight/left turn/right turn. Tour operator briefing was good.
Bikes were fine - shifting worked and brakes worked.
Make sure you visit the caves at Postojna and Skocjanske Jame. They are awesome.- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/21/2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ TJS53 November 22, 2018
Loved Slovenia
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
We toured June 21st – 27th in wonderful Slovenia. The tour combined urban and rural riding on a mix of bike paths, bike lanes, country roads, natural surface forest tracks and a little busy urban riding. We enjoyed challenging climbs and at least one white knuckle descent, under mostly deep blue skies in very comfortable temperatures. Two mornings we delayed our departures until rain ceased, but we always had plenty of time to make the next hotel before nightfall. On the first three days we dealt with hills and pedaled through rolling hills with views of the Julian Alps on the horizon. We stopped to tour castles, churches, and caves. We rode with old friends and met some new ones along the way as well. The accommodations were always adequate and often very nice. In all this was a really fine tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 21, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ arfarb March 28, 2019
Exceeded expectations
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Some of the best cycling I have ever done. The food and people are just as amazing. Great options for nature and culture lovers.
- What was the date of your tour?
- March 20, 2019
- 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 teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ GobaGirl June 11, 2019
An absolutely fabulous cycling experience.
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Cycling from Ljubljana to Piran, from the Julian Alps, through the Karst region, past vineyards and little villages, by caves and castles and eventually down a stunning descent and along the Adriatic Sea was a stunning experience. We cycled along back roads, cycle paths, through kilometer long tunnels, along gravel trails and even made a short jaunt through a flooded marsh! We have cycled in France and Germany and the Czech Republic and this beats them all. The tour company did a fine job - wayfinding materials were a bit intimidating at first but the Route was marked with stickers placed on sign posts and the written directions were (usually) accurate. Accommodations were good (Mantova not so much but Hisa Posebne Sorte blew us away). Stop and see the sights - the castles the caves the museums and the Lipizzaner farm. We had a breakdown one day but the company has mechanics at the ready with a voucher system - we were back in the road in no time. MY ADVICE: rent the Ebike. There were 14 people doing the same ride as us and 9 used ebikes. Three of the days have LOTS of feet of climb. I have done many, many weeklong bike rides and thought these climbs were challenging (I used the regular bike). Unless you are a pretty experienced cyclist, rent the ebike and enjoy the ride. This is a MUST vacation for everyone.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 1, 2019 - June 8, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ NancyLouWho October 13, 2019
Nice way to experience Slovenia
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Two couples decided to do this trip together and I considered myself the weakest link - but thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it!
Being a non-biker with a dodgy knee and several decades on me, I feared I was in over my head. I relied on BikeTours assertion that reasonable fitness and good attitude would carry me through, and they were right! (I started riding my bike for an hour or two a few times a week about two months before the trip, which was an excellent idea.)
This was a level two trip, about 30 miles per day with some long hills included. I was able to ride it all, and readily agreed to every side trip included in the itinerary. Those added anywhere from 3-7 miles to the day’s riding - and also added some special experience to the trip. (Postojna Cave and the nearby castle were my favorites.)
Bikes were in excellent condition, comfortable and well-maintained, and the overnight accommodations everywhere were very nice. I especially liked the guest house in Kodreti, Hiša Posebne Sorte, where the meal was entirely locally sourced. The combination of maps, turn-by-turn instructions, odometer, and strategically placed stickers along the route made way-finding pretty straight forward. We only went off once, but realized it after about a mIle, and quickly got back on track.
Seeing this country by bicycle allowed us to get a real feel for the variations of city vs village, and hilly regions with an Austrian flair vs Mediterranean coast with an Italian vibe.
The couple we traveled with had done a few other trips with Bike Tours and say the quality has been consistent in each. I look forward to traveling with Bike Tours again!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept. 28- Oct. 5, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first
- 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?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ Anne52 October 15, 2019
A Gem of a Tour!
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
We have been on five tours with Biketours.com now and although we have loved every one, the Emerald Tour of Slovenia was one of the best. The route was extremely well chosen with a huge variety of terrain, several interesting and worthwhile side trips and lovely hotels with friendly service.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 28 - October 5, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- 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?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ Gail October 27, 2022
Beautiful Slovenia
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
This was an excellent tour to see the diversity of Slovenia's landscape! I highly recommend the e-bikes as it was hillier than expected (and e-bikes are just fun!) Everything went smoothly, especially the weather this late in the season (we went in mid October). Highly recommend!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ Amy Reller November 16, 2022
Epic trip!
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
We did a self-guided tour (two couples) and it could not have been better! From the first night trip orientation in our Ljubljana hotel to our final stopping point in Piran, we couldn't stop talking about how smoothly everything went. The hotels were well familiar with the electric bike routine, our luggage was always waiting for us upon arrival in the lobby, the routes took us through beautiful Slovenian countryside and stopped at points of interest and historical sites that were worth the side trip. Our detailed route map (provided by local bike tour group Helia) was experienced enough to mention ideal locations to stop for lunch along the way which proved helpful when traveling through small villages with limited spots to stop to eat. We lucked out on the early October weather and had no rain which was a bonus. Having breakfast in our hotel before departing each morning made it easy to pack up and get back on the road. Would highly recommend this trip!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ Pieter Van Niekerk July 12, 2023
Quiet, beautiful and well organized.
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Excellent cycling roads with beautiful scenery. Well-spaced stops. Excellent GPS app. Good hotels. Good bikes and helpful upfront orientation.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
