France Bike Tour Reviews (page 4)
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★★★★★ Gnat June 21, 2018Fabulous trip
· · Bordeaux by Bike and Boat: Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne (and reverse)
Our boat-bike trip was wonderful. The bike guide paced the day perfectly; he had stops planned for food and the sights. I still am amazed how many kms I traveled each day.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 12-19 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Thomas Murphy 15 hours agoA lovely experience
· Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
The cycle was a great experience we cycled on gravel routes and centuries old cobbles one more thing off our to do list. The towns we passed through were lovely. Some exquisite old buildings sights i will never forget. We did have a little panic one day. When we got to the ferry it wasn't crossing on the day. We did have an alternative route but about 5 or 6 k into that route there was roadworks so we were diverted off our diversion route. For awhile we got completely lost. Luckily we met a local couple out cycling who cycled with us to the bridge we were looking for..I have to mention that all the locals all along the way were friendly and helpful when needed. Yes I would recommend this cycling trip to anyone who would like to experience something slightly different from your normal cycling trip
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★★★★★ Shlomo November 12, 2017Great trip in the Loire
· Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic
It was my first multi-day bike trip and it was great. All the equipment and instructions were 100% .
2 comments: No one from the local company met us (so, for example, I couldn't ask how to reset the distance meter). And, there was no mobile number to which I could WhatsApp in case of problem (and I had no local calls package). Other than that it was great.- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct. 6th 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- 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?
- France
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★★★★★ Debby October 4, 2019Great trip
· · Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
This was the perfect way to see the countryside, small villages and historical sites of northeastern France and northwestern Belgium. The barge was very adequate and the staff on the barge was great. The daily biking was very manageable and fun. I would definitely like to find another bike and barge tour. Two weeks seemed the perfect length.
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★★★★★ Whydoyouneedthis June 13, 2019
· · Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)
France between Bruges and Paris is pretty flat and not to scenic. Very historic. Small towns are pretty well deserted and therefore not very interesting. The agriculture is industrialized. Canals, locks and industry of the canals was interesting. Two weeks is a long time seeing castles, churches and industrial farms.
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★★★★★ Colorado Bill July 2, 2018
First step to the Atlantic
· Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic
We arrived a day early. Orleans was great city. Big church.
The trip was seamless. Bikes hotels maps road food just what you would expect fro. FRANCE. .... We wish we had taken the time into week 2 or 3 to complete the Loire.
We will return.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 24
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- France
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★★★★★ Rich and Connie June 3, 2017
Very enjoyable
· · Bordeaux by Bike and Boat: Castets-en-Dorthe to Libourne (and reverse)
This is the third boat and bike trip we've been on and we've liked all three. This one was the first in France. We really enjoyed the countryside and the cities and villages we went to, and of course the vineyards. We took the guided tour which was well worthwhile. Only two couples took the guided and we had a great time together with the guide Scott. Scott is very knowledgeable and got us in to see some things that others couldn't. Also, most others got lost on many days because the daily routes are loops that don't just follow the waterway. You really need to pay attention at the nightly meetings. We thought the food on the boat was quite good although it did not meet the expectations of everyone. I might add the crew on the boat were all very friendly and helpful. I feel the one negative is that you can't bring/drink your own wine/liquor on board without paying an outlandish uncorking fee.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6 May 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ MelE August 18, 2016
Tours to Angers
· Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 7-12
- How many tours have you completed?
- none
- 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?
- France
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★★★★★ Keith Veenstra July 16, 2024Good bike ride
· Atlantic Coast of France
Enjoyed the bike experience not new to France so the it wasn’t wow. The accommodation was good and varied enjoyed the châteaux very much . App was very good, bikes excellent. Have done numerous similar bike tours and this rates well.
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ BH 1 month agoHalf and Half
· Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
Maybe it was the extreme heat but we found the first 3 days to be less than exciting. We were just thankful we didn’t have a strong head wind as we rode along the very exposed Rhine River embankment. Strasbourg was gorgeous but it was 98 at 4 pm. The ride west out of Strasbourg was beautiful, shady as it followed an old canal. Alsace was fantastic even though a few hills were probably at least 12%. Most surfaces were very nice. Obernai and Colmar were highlights. We rode our own touring bikes.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Germany
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★★★★★ Stephen Graham October 19, 2023
Great area, careful with cars in France
· Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
Fascinating area, half German half French. French side has the cutest towns, German side the safest biking. Beware biking on the French side on weekends, as locals drive to the vineyard towns for lunch or overnights, and they drive fast. Often no shoulder or bike path, drivers not always courteous, a lot of energy on avoiding catastrophe for less-experienced riders instead of enjoying the scenery. Support was good, replacing a bike with brake problems mid-trip. Navigation had one major error, sending us to a small bridge across islands in the Rhine near Strasbourg that had in fact been closed for months. A bit stressful at the end of a long day riding, but we found another way across. Minimal guidance as to where to stop for cafes, lunch, etc.; could use a more detailed list of suggestions. Some of the budget hotels are not in charming locations or walking distance from restaurants. The Grand Hotel in Strasbourg has seen better days.
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★★★★★ Leonard72 June 23, 2019
Beautiful French Wine Countryside
· Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
The bikes, the hotels, the French Wine Country Scenery were beautiful, the German side was very uninspiring. We cycled through Agriculture farm country on the German side. Freiburg a wonderful, beautiful shopping town is geared to hiking in the Black Forest.
- What was the date of your tour?
- MAY 13, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- Completed four, this was #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?
- France, Germany
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★★★★★ fudledudle September 26, 2016
Allsace wine route
· Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
This tour is fairly easy to do, great scenery particularly on the French side of the Rhine, some minor detours due to missing signage, all in all a great tour
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 10/16
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Germany
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★★★★★ Biabattistella September 18, 2017
A great trip
· Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
The trip was great, the landscapes are fantastic, the little villages are very charming, well preserved! What could be better is having gps files for the path. The orientation, sometimes, are not clear and cost some kilometres more!
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★★★★★ Alfred B 2 months ago
Biking along the Rhine
· Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
If you are our age, 75-80, we recommend using an e-bike. We enjoyed the trip but definitely too hard with a touring bike at our age! The signage was 90% OK but there was about 10% questionable signage which needed google's help.
In our modern times, where everybody uses a handy, all hotels should have USB outlets, which was not the case -
★★★★★ Craig Brockway 10 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.
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★★★★★ Heather July 5, 2016Alsace Cycling Vacation
· Alsace Wine Country
Bike Tours Direct is a very organized company that has good connections in the area. They provide a consultation on the first day of the trip to go over maps, routes, lodgings, and recommendations (for self-guided tours). They also spend some time making sure the bike is in good condition and is adjusted to fit you comfortably. We upgraded to road bikes, I would strongly recommend this as there are some steep hills on days 3-5.
We chose B hotels. The accommodations were comfortable.
The first 2 days of cycling are peaceful and flat, riding along a canal. Starting in Colmar, the ride is along the Alsatian wine route. It becomes hilly, and this is where the picture book starts. We cycled up and down hills, though vineyards, and medieval towns. Each town has beautifully preserved architecture, historic monuments, cobble stone streets, not to mention delicious local food and wine. The Alsace region is a perfect mix of French countryside, and small medieval towns with rich history and culture.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ Croissant Lovers October 9, 2017
Early Fall Wine Country Tour
· Alsace Wine Country
Beautiful countryside, quaint towns, idyllic bike paths along canals, vineyards forever. Lodging was excellent even on the lower priced end. Included breakfasts were excellent. Found that opportunities for lunch were nonexistent or limited so we learned to buy lunch food & wine first thing in the morning. Route finding was challenging at times as we were self guided. Local tour operator provided good orientation. 21 speed bikes were very heavy and awkward with handlebar pack.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 26-October 1
- How many tours have you completed?
- First one
- 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
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★★★★★ MaryB May 4, 2017
Biking Adventure of a Lifetime!
· Freiburg and the Alsatian Wine Road
This was the perfect bike tour for us to combine with a visit with our son and his family who were living in Freiburg for the year. The bike company was very accommodating and let us rent the bikes a few days early so that we could ride around Freiburg with our kids. Getting the bikes early was a good chance to get
familiar with the bikes so that we could exchange one of them when we found out
that it was too big. Although we gave our height so that the tour company could estimate the right size bikes for us, it might have been more helpful to give our inseam length to determine if our legs could swing over the bar or touch the ground from the seat. Estimate your height a little lower than you actually are to get the right fit bike. The bikes were a great weight, had nice sized tires for the type of terrain we rode over, and they shifted very well. The saddlebag was roomy and held all my day gear, but the weight of it tended to tip the bike over on slanted hills. You might want to get a saddlebag on each size to balance out the weight more evenly. There is no mirror or water bottle holder on the bikes. I carried my water bottle in my back pack and trusted the cars and bikes behind me to pass carefully! I loved the countryside and trails through the woods. Riding on the Rhine was awesome. The quaint villages we rode through and stayed in were beautiful. Our hotels were all lovely and had delicious breakfasts. Our luggage arrived every day on time or early and we had secure locations to park and lock up our bikes every night. We did have trouble following the maps and directions given. It was almost like going on a scavenger hunt when you aren't sure that you are interpreting the clues correctly. The map was way too small to read and the written directions were on a separate page from the map so you had to keep flipping back and forth to get the full picture of where you were going. It seems that the directions and/or maps were old and had not been updated recently. We ran into construction along the Rhine River path and had to take a long detour----following the German signs was hard and it added many miles to that day's ride. We also had construction in two other cities and had to find our way on our own as the detour was not obvious. Sometimes there are bike signs at an intersection that say you can go in directly opposite ways to the same place. Quite confusing. One time we were told to turn right in our written directions but according to the map we should have gone left....what to do? We were directed to ride on one way streets going the wrong way. There were no directions to get to the hotel in Strasbourg if you took the new bike path over the river. That was very difficult. We were quite frustrated with having to figure out if we were on the right path or not. My suggestion is to have the tour company check the current directions before each trip and indicate detours and update street names. Definitely provide new directions for getting into Strasbourg over the bike bridge. The German tour company should try following their directions with someone who is not familiar with the route and who does not speak German - then correct each turn where it is confusing. That would saved a lot of frustration and make the trip more enjoyable. Or, provide GPS devices for everyone. If we had had one, it would have been easier. It costs $10 per day to use our smartphone as a GPS device so we opted not to. It might have been worth it. I think adding an option of staying an extra day in Strasbourg and Colmar would be nice...a break from biking every day and a chance to see more of the cities. Other than the directions, we loved the trip and felt a real sense of accomplishment when we were done. Our kids and grandkids were very proud of us for going on such an adventurous bike tour! SHOW MORE- What was the date of your tour?
- April 24 - 30, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was the 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?
- France, Germany
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★★★★★ Martin June 5, 2019
Lovely trip along the Rhine
· Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
This trip starts in France and crosses into Germany on the first day of riding. The bicycling was very pleasant; the towns were interesting; the locals helpful and friendly. The written cycling directions were only marginally helpful, but the signage in both France and Germany is excellent. It helps to have google maps. Download the google map in your hotel the night before with hotel WiFi, or have a data plan. The hotels were fine. Ibis has very small but adequate rooms. It is somewhat generic. The non-ibis hotels were definitely more interesting and rooms were larger.
