Ireland Bike Tour Reviews (page 3)
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★★★★★ Chris 77 September 6, 2018Good tour of the Atlantic coast
· Wild Atlantic Way Cycling
- What was the date of your tour?
- Aug. 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 14
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Karen54 August 5, 2018Best Week in Ireland
· Connemara Lazy Days Cycling
We had a wonderful week long bike trip in Connemara. The scenery was amazing, the equipment was great and the lodging was fanastic. This is the best way to see Ireland! Our support team provided us with maps, and great places to stop along the way and amazing detours. They also called us on rainy days to see if we wanted to hitch a ride, but the weather never stopped us. It was a little rainy and windy sometimes, but our trip was in early May. We highly recommend this tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Jimmie July 13, 2018The Magic and Majesty of West Cork
Ireland’s West Cork on Tranquil Lanes Following the Coast
I had been around Ireland three times, by tour bus, by car, and by bicycle. There is only one way to see Ireland…and that is by bike…and that is under the direction of our tour director, Don, who created and coordinated our incredible tour around West Cork. Having been to many countries around the world, I would rate undeveloped, magical, wild West Cork as the most beautiful scenery that I have ever seen. It was made more so by the fact that we were cycling and could take it in slowly.
It is very hard to keep the superlatives about Don to a minimum. As a person, he is warm, supportive, motivating, and professionally efficient with a dash of mischievousness thrown in. The hotels that Don booked for us were all first class, which is what we needed after a day of cycling. At our first meeting in Kinsale, he went over the whole tour and gave us all the maps that we would need, and a very detailed description of the route and its highlights each day to be received via email the morning of the ride. It was a great advantage to have Don pick up our luggage from the hotel after we were launched for the day and have it in place when we arrived at our destination. He kept track of us along the route, and we often came upon his parked car on the side of the road, whereupon he would hop out and enthusiastically tell us how well we were doing, and fib a little about the hills to come !
Don was continuously excited telling us about the scenery that we would see and the highlights along the way. His enthusiasm was contagious and motivated our tired legs to move forward once more. My partner and I chose to do a self-guided tour, but at the hotels we would catch up with another group of four who had cycled in many other countries. To a person, they agreed that Don’s was the best.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Thank you Don.
Respectfully,
Jim and Janice- What was the date of your tour?
- Jun 14,2018
- 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, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Darcyb July 1, 2018
Not to be missed!
Ireland’s West Cork on Tranquil Lanes Following the Coast
The perfect way to experience Southern Ireland! The tour exceeded our expectations in every way.
Don, the tour operator, went above and beyond to ensure that we had the best possible tour and even adjusted our itinerary because of weather to optimize the experience The meals, especially the seafood along the coast, were delicious. If you take the tour, take the upgrade and stay in the castle one night.
The route is along the southern part of the Wild Atlantic Way and is incredibly beautiful. Because we were following the rugged coastline in some sections there were a few challenging hills, although Don tried to convince us that they were just “wee bumps”. We would highly recommend this trip.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 17
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Cyndi2838 May 2, 2018
Fabulous ride in Ireland
· Treasures of the Donegal Coast
What a great time we had riding the Irish coastline. Hilly and beautiful, the ride was so fun. Relaxing and really experiencing Ireland
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2018
- 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
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Faye October 2, 2017
A very good trip
· Highlights of the Highlands: Donegal by E-bike
The trip was generally great, as we were lucky with the weather. The B&B's were generally very good, particularly the one in Glenties. All of the B&B owners were helpful and friendly and the breakfasts were great. The B&B that we stayed at in Donegal was not as good- the bed was uncomfortable, the curtains didn't block out the light, and the toilet didn't flush very well.
Great to have an electric bike for those hills, and a GPS to navigate!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 15 to 22nd, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ frank September 21, 2017
Amazing way to experience a the Ireland West Coast!
· Wild Atlantic Way Cycling
We were absolutely blown away by the scenery, the service and the nice friendly people we met at each stop. The local pubs were huge fun, the cycling was challenging enough but with enough time to stop and breathe in the countryside. Bring bike lights if you stay in a local pub past dark. I recommend high vis clothes because you are on busy roads occasionally. The bikes were ok, serviceable hybrids, and able to meet the demands. The B&B's chosen by the company were excellent, friendly and helpful.
This was an amazing experience and far surpassed our expectations.- What was the date of your tour?
- 09/11/2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Steve M September 13, 2017
Beautiful scenery!
· Treasures of the Donegal Coast
Routes were very good, scenic and mostly back roadshows. We found the terrain challenging though the daily Milage was reasonable.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept. 6
- How many tours have you completed?
- Many 20+
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ PKinGeorgia August 17, 2017
Beautiful Connemara
· Connemara Lazy Days Cycling
This was a great trip that I took on the roads of western Ireland with my 14 year old son. We had good maps and bicycles and the B & Bs were excellent. I recommend it highly to people like us who are not the most physically fit, but enjoy the outdoors.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 17 - 21
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ katrien August 11, 2017
Admiring nature while cycling with kids in Connemara.
· Connemara Lazy Days Cycling
We did this trip with our 3 children (6-12 years) and we loved every minute of it. The bikes were great, the maps and organisation really good. It did not feel that "lazy", with trips of 50 km and lots of wind and activities along the way. Nice were: the beaches, islands, pubs, abbey, sheep farm and swimming pool in one hotel. We all fell in love with the nature of this piece of the world!
- What was the date of your tour?
- juli 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Tee Jay August 8, 2017
Interrupted trek
· Connemara Lazy Days Cycling
Fabulous day and a half. An unfortunate accident resulted in a trip to the hospital. Wet grounds and inexperienced riding led to crash and 9 stitches. Great help by tour staff to get us from hotel to hotel to finish the route. We recommend warning riders of the risks of skids and to always wear helmet. BTW modify your brochure to show riders to wear helmets. It doesn't.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 18, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Kiwi July 30, 2017
Personalized package
Ireland’s West Cork on Tranquil Lanes Following the Coast
Amazing 7 days Every day great views, luxury hotels, gourmet food, friendly caring people. Don our local host.was always very professional, on time, clear instructions and full of inspiration. Nothing was a problem for him. You set your own pace but Don, turned up to rescue you if required. He made sure you did not miss out on any of the highlights. Likewise if you needed a more challenging route he could deliver that as well. (But I didn't need that service!!!). Thank you Don, for so many good memories.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- Nil
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Martha July 20, 2017
So lovely! There were so many times during the week we said "THANK YOU SEAMUS" for finding the lovely tiny roads along spectacular scenery.
· Treasures of the Donegal Coast
This was the perfect bike trip: BEAUTIFUL rides (THANK YOU SEAMUS!), comfortable places to stay with welcoming hosts and great food spots each town.
Bikes were perfect. The roads were bike friendly. The people welcoming. The side trips added adventure, history and new views.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 15-23, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ TJS53 July 14, 2017
Wonderful ramble in Ireland.
· Wild Atlantic Way Cycling
We just returned from our 4th bike tour, the Wild Atlantic Way. We want to thank Connor and the entire Connemara team for the trip preparation. The bikes, although a bit on the heavy side, were in great shape and performed beautifully the entire week. The maps helped and never hindered the fun. Connor spent considerable time with us on the first day suggesting stops at historic or scenic sites, restaurants and shops. He also showed us how to extend each day with side routes. We took him up on this on a least four of the six days of riding. So, if you’re thinking of passing up this trip because there isn’t enough riding, you can more than double the mileage on all but one day if you wish. The tour presents a whole host of different landscapes to ride through: eerie bogs, the Bundarogha river, the Killary fjord and the dramatic bens that seem to rise right out of the water. We loved rolling under a green tunnel of trees, then entering a new vista of green fields edged in ancient stone walls. The excursion to the island of Inishbofin is well worth it and we were lucky enough to meet and mingle with the archeologists who are researching and recording the island’s fascinating history. The evenings are not just for taking notes about the day’s adventures: lots of pubs serve up live traditional music along with local lamb, beef and seafood. This is a great tour, well organized and supported. We highly recommend it.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 10 - 18, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Matt July 13, 2017
· Wild Atlantic Way Cycling
Every day was different. The landscape was always awesome. Every place we stayed was great. Also every town had great choices for food and drink. Ireland it turns out has great restaurants with great prices. The bikes provided were excellent.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 3rd-July 10th
- How many tours have you completed?
- This is 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Brendan July 12, 2017
Beautiful bike ride but not a good value at the price.
· Connemara Lazy Days Cycling
This is a remarkable part of Ireland with an amazing history and a haunting landscape that is quickly changing as this part of Ireland attracts more visitors.
First the good parts: we were a family of six and had a wonderful biking vacation. The people at Connemara Adventure Tours were very helpful and kind. Specific thanks to Conor and Chloe who were so thoughtful as we arrived and set out on our first day. There were no issues with baggage transfers etc.
But here are a few critical things to consider before booking this trip.
1. Clifden is the only true town on this trip and yet only the first and last nights are spent here. If you are looking for music, as an example, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to find at the other destinations. In Clifden there are several pubs with music every night of the week and a much wider selection of eating options.
2. The idea of a Connemara Loop is nice in concept when looking at the map but the B&Bs we experienced were not at all consistent and a couple just seemed cheap considering what we paid. One happy exception was Connemara Country Lodge on our last evening. "Singing Mary", the host, was the epitome of Irish hospitality.
3. At €900 ($1000) this is not an inexpensive trip for six people. But if I had friends wanting to repeat this trip, I would suggest they find a good bike rental in Clifden (€100/week per person). Get a nicer B&B or house rental in Clifden and stay put and bike north and south from there. And then work with a local guide to plan daily loops that align with the ability and interest of your group. It would also be easier to manage the weather issue since this part of Ireland is often cloudy and wet.
4. The maps and assistance by Conor on routes and restaurants along the way were very helpful. But the condition of the bikes were just average. And when they charged for panniers and "souvenir" water bottles as we prepared to leave, I felt nickel and dimed. Note to Connemara: when a family pays more than $6k for a week of cycling, kick in the panniers and water bottles or price accordingly so basics are not being charged. Grrrr.
Our family biked through Normandy earlier in the summer and the bikes and hotels were far better for a minor increase in cost. The lesson for me is that our next bike tour will be direct with a local operator so costs, routes, equipment and expectations about hotels and restaurants are better aligned.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 3 - 9
- 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
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson July 13, 2017
Thank you very much for your feedback. I'm sorry you weren't fond of the route and many of the overnight locations. When I did this tour two years ago with a friend, we actually loved the route and where we stayed. Likewise, all clients who have rated this tour until now have given it 5 stars, including for route and hotels. But you're absolutely right that it's not the best route if you want music and nightlife each evening. It's more for those who prefer rustic settings. Preferences definitely come into play.
We're going to be in touch with Chloe at Connemara Adventure Tours and inquire why you were charged for the panniers and water bottles. To my knowledge, that has never happened before. If you send an email to me at jim@biketours.com, I'll make sure we reimburse you for those costs.
You mentioned that next time you'd book directly with the local operator. As you noted, Connemara Adventure Tours was the local operator in your case. BikeTours.com serves as their representative, and we keep their pricing. We have similar relationships with about 70 local companies across Europe. So, while we were an intermediary, you traveled with the local tour company that designed and operated your tour. And we hope you'll continue to book your tours through us!
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★★★★★ hapberly November 6, 2016
Awesome tour of the West Coast!
· Connemara Lazy Days Cycling
This bike trip was a great way to see the beautiful country in western Ireland. The route was easy to follow and there was a lot to see. I would highly recommend it.
We had only one day of rain, and two windy days. Those were probably the hardest days, because of the weather, not the route. Be sure to pack rain gear. We chose to stay in the bed and breakfasts, which I highly recommend. Most of the bed and breakfast were great, the hosts very friendly. It gave us a chance to get to know locals and ask lots of questions about what we were seeing.
Most of the bed and breakfasts were located near the town and pubs. The pubs had great food and friendly locals. We were not disappointed with any of the food on our trip. We saw lots of sheep, donkeys, cows, mountains, and the ocean.
The bikes provided were great, the maps and other information was also very easy to use and follow.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ Susan October 24, 2016
Wild Atlantic Way - Late August 2016
· Wild Atlantic Way Cycling
Varied scenery with the ocean, so many lakes and mountain views, we did not expect. The people were all so friendly and helpful.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 26 - September 2
- How many tours have you completed?
- Three
- 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?
- Ireland
-
★★★★★ bluewindows October 19, 2016
Well wasn't that fun!
· Treasures of the Donegal Coast
My wife and I decided to try our first biking vacation in Ireland. As we're both over 60 we found the hills to be a bit challenging at times. But when we needed a rest we'd just stop and be amazed at the views in every direction. From our first ride around Lake Eske to the cliffs near Carrick to the descent towards Ardara, we enjoyed all the memorable stops on our adventure. As another writer encouraged, try to catch some local music. Just excellent!
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Ireland
