Family Friendly Bike Tour Reviews (page 30)
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★★★★★ Bonjuk September 27, 2016Italy on Two Wheels
· Bolzano to Verona: Orchards, Mountains & Timeless Culture
Our fall trip was a wonderful way to see both bountiful orchards and vineyards and sample sights and history in small and larger cities. We enjoyed the beautiful river paths and scenery. And breakfast for kings and queens!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 9-14
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1, 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?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Lizk May 23, 2017
An Amazing Trip in Beautiful Italy!
· Bolzano to Verona: Orchards, Mountains & Timeless Culture
We loved our bike trip from Bolzano to Verona! The scenery was stunning. We were very happy with the accommodations and the breakfasts!
We got lost a few times but the GPX helped to know where we missed a turn. Also when we asked the local bikers they said follow me and got us back on track.We stopped in many of the small towns to some vino Rossa and lunch including Mezzocorona, Olios, and Borghetta!
We were amazed how easy it was to take the boat trip and train with the bikes.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 10-16
- 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
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Chuck87 May 29, 2019
Spectacular!
· Bolzano to Verona: Orchards, Mountains & Timeless Culture
My girlfriend and I did the self-guided tour. This was our first bike tour, and we both had an amazing time. The first 3 days were primarily on cycle paths while the last 2 days were mostly on country rides. Do be mindful that the last 2 days are slightly hillier while also having to navigate some traffic. Biking in to and out of Verona was slightly difficult due to the car traffic.
The experience with the contracted tour company was very efficient and organized. Our luggage were always in the next hotel by the time we arrived. The bikes were sturdy. The directions were accurate (we downloaded the GPS tracks to our phone). The hotels were all very clean, private, and most importantly had very warm showers.
Our favorite part of the tour was the city of Bolzano. It is unlike other cities in Italy, partly due to its German/Austrian influence. Take time to explore the city and also take the cable car up to Ritten and do some hiking prior to the start of the bike tour. The scenery is ridiculously beautiful.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 16th-May 22nd 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1 including this one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Janet Bychek 7 months ago
Wonderful well organized trip
· Bolzano to Verona: Orchards, Mountains & Timeless Culture
Stefano, our organizer was so helpful. When I forgot something he saved the day.. The routes were stunning. The bikes worked well. The hotels were really nice with great breakfasts
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 16 2023
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- 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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★★★★★ Janet Bychek 7 months ago
Beautiful tour with great support
· Bolzano to Verona: Orchards, Mountains & Timeless Culture
We were given everything we needed. The hotels were lovely and had great breakfasts. Stefano, our support person was very helpful, and when we had a problem he solved it for us very quickly. I would use biketours again without hesitation
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 16
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1st
- 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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★★★★★ ChuckHughes August 8, 2017Most Beautiful Bike Tour so far.
· Dolomites to Lake Garda: Picturesque Cities and Stunning Scenery
This is by far the most beautiful bike tour we have had the opportunity to take so far. We have been on may great tours with BikeTours.com, but this was our favorite. Every day was spectacular, biking through the mountain passes of the Dolomites, and each stop featured a very beautiful and memorable historic town with shopping, sights and more adventure. The paths along the way were paved and very safe, dedicated to cyclists only, with many signs and markers to help with navigating to the next location. We were so pleased with this tour that we are planning to do it again on our next visit to Italy. For Italy, this is bike tour is our recommendation.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
Video: Dolomites Italy via BikeTours.com
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★★★★★ Addee October 29, 2019
Breaktaking Mountains and Scenic Lake Garda!
· Dolomites to Lake Garda: Picturesque Cities and Stunning Scenery
Disclosure: I went on this tour as a BikeTours.Com Staff Member.
I had no idea how beautiful both the Dolomites and Lake Garda would be until I arrived just as the leaves were changing and the weather was cool. Having the chance to cycle on quiet countrysides and towns while being surrounded by mountains constantly gave me an intimate connection between me and the gorgeous Italy. Lake Garda was crystal blue and was the perfect ending to this cycling vacation. The route was 95% on cycle paths, with 5% being on small roads as you enter the towns you'll be spending the night in. This tour was definitely a Level 2, however, being a first-timer, I had no issues cycling the few hills on this tour. I chose to do this tour with an eBike since I wanted a more relaxed cycling vacation, however, it is entirely possible to do this tour with hybrid bikes with no issues. Speaking of, the eBike I had on this tour was phenomenal and gave me power when I really needed it. The daily milage of this tour is low and can b cycled rather quickly, giving you more time to explore the local culture and cuisine. Taking this tour at the end of September was perfect for its cooler weather and autumn-colored leaves. I would recommend this tour to first-time travelers and cyclists who want to experience gorgeous Lake Garda and the Dolomites.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 09/29/2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much 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?
- Italy
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★★★★★ TimHam January 5, 2022
A spectacular trip - best yet with Bike Tours!
· Dolomites to Lake Garda: Picturesque Cities and Stunning Scenery
What a beautiful trip! The scenery of the Dolomites and Lake Garda was otherworldly, each day better than the day before. The town's and hotels were charming. The well marked dedicated paths and instructions were great, and traffic free most of the way. The Eurobike leader was fabulous, going out of her way to retrieve my backpack with passport that I'd left on the train in Austria. This was my 6th Bike Tours tour...they have all been great, but this one was tops. Oh by the way, we used e-bikes here which I'd highly recommend!
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2021
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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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, 2022
Great 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 7 months ago
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
