Lake Constance  Bike Tour Reviews (page 2)

  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) Pierre C. September 30, 2024

    nice trip but some advance planning is required

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    Hotels and views were excellent for the most part. A couple of things to note: 1. Bikes are heavy duty and therefore very heavy, we upgraded to e-bikes 3 days into the trip, that was a big help. 2. Trails are not well marked, we met a few different groups during our tour of the lake and everyone was complaining about the written directions and even the gps tracking. Be prepared to have to stop, take an assessment and even back track a few times a day.

    Crucial items if you want to use GPS tracking; buy a phone holder that can attach your phone to the bike before leaving on the trip, otherwise you will have major issues setting up your phone so you can see it properly (I tucked mine into the front basket which had a protective transparent cover, however with the glare, it was hard to read). Also, make sure that you bring a backup battery pack as 2 -3 hours of tracking and your phone will be dead.

    Be prepared to bike some busy roads and gravel roads. One hotel (Bergenz) was located in a residential neighbourhood, there was ooe other restaurants within 600 meters, the rest were in town, 1.5 km away. Although the hotel restaurant was very nice, we spent more on dinner than we anticipated. Note that in St. Gallen almost all businesses and restaurants are closed on Sunday and many are also closed on Monday. Choices for meals and things to do become scarce if you are there during that time.

    Finally, be prepared to spend lots of money in Switzerland $50CAD hamburgers in a sit down restaurant seems to be the norm, not for the faint of heart. If you want to save some money I suggest flying into Germany before and after, accommodations and meals will be a lot cheaper (we spent 3 days inSwitzerland before and three days after, we figure that those 6 days cost us at least an extra $1K compared to what Germany prices would have been).

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 2024
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 1/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Ann Abeles September 30, 2024

    A beautiful and mind expanding tour around Lake constance

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    This tour brought one through beautiful scenery and past interesting sites around Lake Constance. The distances for each day's travel were short enough to allow one to visits sites along the way as well as churches and museums in the destination towns.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 12-24, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    More than 20
    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
    • Even n September the gardens on the Island of Mainau are magnificent (photo by Ann Abeles)
    • The old city gate and beautful buildings n Stein-am-Rhein (photo by Ann Abeles)
    • All the hotel breakfasts were feasts for the eyes and stomachs (photo by Ann Abeles)
    • Entering the old Meersburg castle (photo by Ann Abeles)
    • The Swiss countryside is neat and green (photo by Ann Abeles)
    • Fred thought that the electric bicycle should be the next stage in the progress of man (photo by Ann Abeles)
    • 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
  • (5/5) Barbara Dickson September 27, 2024

    Girls on Bikes

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    The 6 of us really enjoyed our trip. We downloaded the KoMoot App for navigation and so glad we did. The paper instructions were much more difficult to follow and the digital instructions worked perfectly. The hotels were quite nice and the luggage went like clockwork. It was a great trip.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) charlotte lenssen September 26, 2024

    Adventures around the Bodensee

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    It was a super fun trip experiencing the different towns and landscapes. All hotels were acceptable and some were exceptional. My favorites were Lindau and Konstanz. We had 2 rainy days, so got lucky with weather. Austrias Fänder bahn was worth it too.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 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
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 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
  • (4/5) Francine Steger September 24, 2024

    Lake Konstanz Biking in September

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    Great time of year to do this trip. Not crowded. Weather was perfect, not too hot and mostly dry. E-bikes were great, even for first-time users.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    9
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (5/5) Martha Scott September 24, 2024

    Perfect trip!!!

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    My husband and I have been wanting to do this cycle tour for 10 years, and finally were able to do it. We chose e-bikes, and it was super enjoyable. There are so many things to see and do along the way. We were constantly exploring and learning new things. And the scenery, beauty, and fresh food if the area is unparalleled!

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    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
    • Beautiful Lake Constance with Alps in background (photo by Martha Scott)
    •  (photo by Martha Scott)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 1/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (5/5) EDWARD STEGER September 23, 2024

    Well organized and executed

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    BikeTours did a great job communicating our self guided tour and when one of our party had to drop out due to a sprained hand, BikeTours were flexible in picking up the bike from our 2nd tour hotel stop. The e-bikes were top notch and the countryside was beautiful. The hotels were all clean and ranged from adaquate to very comfortable. I have two suggestions. 1) It took a bit over a week to confirm our trip. This put the six of us in limbo for booking our airfare during this time. 2) The route was beautiful but the markings were unclear. There were a lot of choices (almost 1 per kilometer - lots of roundabouts and choices) and we had to stop, pull out our phones, and check Google Maps. This could have been avoided if the BikeTours had let us know to bring a bike phone mount or better yet, supplied one as part of the tour package.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from Jan September 23, 2024

      Apologies for the delay in your booking. Because of the nature of hotel based bike tours (lots of moving parts, bookings to confirm, etc) there is often not much we can do to speed this up. Also, noted on the phone mount. We have been seeing that in reviews more this year and will make sure we update our packing list!

  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) Susan Ferrante-Collier September 23, 2024

    Girls on Bikes

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    It was an amazing trip, we are very appreciative for the assistance of bike tours in making the trip as lovely as it was. My only complaint is that one of the hotels was in the middle of a huge construction situation and there were unpleasant septic issues. Choosing another hotel would have been preferable

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 4-16
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) Renata Ostwald September 21, 2024

    Self guided tours

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    Great experience, hotels were great and luggage transit even better. The only thing disappointment I had was regarding the routes…. It’s so easy in Europe ( once you know what path to take since it’s all signed ). Guidance regarding which sign should be followed would have been helpful. But it was an great trip

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 1/5 Tour documents
    • 1/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) Jo Ribordy-Christofferson September 19, 2024

    Not for the inexperienced traveler

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    The trip itinerary was very good, the bikes were good, the motels were good, the luggage transport was good. The biking instructions were terrible. We only received a very small undetailed map for each day. We needed to use Google maps to navigate for most days of the trip and we were definitely lost on many occasions. International phone service is a must for this trip! Cycling along the lake was easy but getting in and out of towns was very challenging.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 2024
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 2/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) Alan Burnet September 17, 2024

    Great circular cycling route

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    Really enjoyed our cycle tour of lake Konstanz. The luggage pickup and drop offs were very efficient and the hotels provided secure locations to lockup our bikes. All the hotels had great breakfast buffets and mostly great rooms. The standout hotel was probably in Lindau as it was the only one with a pool and spa. We appreciated having daily recommendations for stops and sightseeing which we could plan the day before and it was fun to find random lake swim spots.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Julia W. September 16, 2024

    A beautiful ride!

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    This was my 4th bike tour with BikeTours. This was the best in terms of beautiful scenery and ease of riding. We were a group of 8 seniors, most on e-bikes. There were a few stretches of hills, but they were short and manageable with e-bikes. From past experience, we expected to get lost a few times, or miss the bike signs, but that was just part of the experience. The hotels and breakfasts were excellent. Working with Biketours was seamless, as usual. Luggage transport was flawless. We broke up the long ride from Uberlingen to Lindau, and stayed a night in Friedrichshafen. There, we got to see the Zeppelin Museum. We also stayed an extra night in Lindau, a beautiful town, which gave us time to visit Bergenz and take the tram for a mountaintop view of Lake Konstanz.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    4
    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
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) Kimberly Silva September 13, 2024

    Not as Expected

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    This was the first trip I took with Bike Tours and I did not think the bike path matched what was described on the website. There were many more parts of the paths that were unpaved and a bit treacherous than described. There was also a lot more street riding in traffic than anticipated. I would not recommend this trip for any riders under the age of 16. The hotels and services were outstanding however.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Betty Ngan September 12, 2024

    Great support from local team, but room for improvement

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    The tour was unfortunately shortened for me by an illness, which lasted 5 days, so I only rode 2 days. I can say that the trails were very well marked and the scenery stunning. I was able to see how well the local coordinators worked to help me move my bicycle around to accommodate my recovery. The emergency contact Benjamin was very understanding and patient as he rearranged hotel accommodations and bicycle locations. I relied on public transportation to move from hotel to hotel, since Bike Tours said it was was not insured to transport me.

    Most of the hotel staff were helpful, especially the front desk manager at Hotel Rheingold, who went out of her way to give me directions to get to the next hotel. Even the front desk at Hotel Wilder Mann in Deemsburg called a taxi for me even though I was not a guest. Unfortunately, a staff member of the Hotel Alta Poste refused to call a taxi for me because I had checked out a day earlier, even though my tour group was due back at the hotel in 5 days. The young German staffer said she recognized me, but I had checked out, so she could only give me numbers which didn’t work on my phone. The staff at Alta Poste need more training in showing hospitality to bike tour group members.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Aug. 31, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat 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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Sterling Speirn September 8, 2024

    Outstanding Bike Path & Landscape

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    In most location there were separate bike paths and no possible danger from automobiles. Only challenge were the directions. Just not clear for a first timer on this trip. Scenery was magnificent: bucolic countryside dotted with charming old villages. Hotels varied. Delivery of forwarded luggage excellent and timely. Most hotel breakfasts were fresh and first class.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    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
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 2/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Ingrid Mahoney August 25, 2024

    Solo and Sublime

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    My first longer bike trip and I was a solo 59 year old woman in Europe. I loved it. The scenery, physical activity and options for exploring all the wonderful cultural aspects Europe has to offer was a perfect balance for me. The hotels were all nice and more than 1/2 were really excellent. The bike was well equipped and in top shape. I had only one day of rain but the public transportation is so amazing and bringing your bike is not a problem I had no worries. I would recommend this trip to all my friends. If they are not very active I would recommend the electric bike it is a perfect option.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    Excellent
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat 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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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) Donna Ehlers August 8, 2024

    Fantastic journey!

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    We did a self guided tour. We had so much fun in the villages with great food and accommodations, most were in the center of the towns. Great breakfasts and service in general. Felt fantastic to ride on the safe bike trails about 3/4 hours daily. We took time off to swim in the lake and get ice cream and relax in the many parks. Great history and a way to immerse more authentically in the vulture. I give this type of holiday my highest recommendation.
    Staff was always available for our concerns and questions.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    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, Switzerland
    •  (photo by Donna Ehlers)
    • 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 to Lake Maggiore
    (5/5) Jim and Linda LoBue July 22, 2024

    A rewarding challenge

    · Lake Constance to Lake Maggiore

    We knew that the ride would be a challenge for us, especially the climbs, but with the efficiently working e-bike assistance, we were able to make it work and that was a reward in itself. We have done multiple Europe tours through BikeTours and this was the first time that we followed an online map app. It worked very well. We were disappointed when we first arrived and realized that there would not be an orientation meeting with a live person. But, with the printed instructions and the app, it worked smoothly. A number of times during the tour we saw on our phone screen that we had made a wrong turn and were able to quickly correct the mistake and stay on track. The hotels were all first rate, with the exception of Buchs, where the hotel was undergoing extensive rehab work and we had to walk through construction zones to get to our room. Our only real complaint about the hotels was, with the exception of the Lugano hotel, they had no air conditioning. At least a fan would have helped us sleep better. But overall they were very nice and we were treated with fine hospitality. The scenery and the sites were amazing. It was a wonderful break from the sweltering California summer heat.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Switzerland
    •  (photo by Jim and Linda LoBue)
    •  (photo by Jim and Linda LoBue)
    •  (photo by Jim and Linda LoBue)
    •  (photo by Jim and Linda LoBue)
    •  (photo by Jim and Linda LoBue)
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (3/5) joe eberly July 1, 2024

    Nice Ride

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    This is a very easy ride with mostly flat land around a beautiful lake. We had e-bikes which made it very easy. Hotels all very nice, but no AC for hot weather. June can be risky with the weather. We had two days of five with steady rain. This is our 3rd trip with Bikes.com and was my lest favorite. We never met our local tour operator, even when we picked up our bikes. There was substantial flooding due to heavy rains and some road construction that we didn't know about until we came to it. It was at that time we had to figure an alternate route. A little heads up would have save a lot confusion, especially during our rainy days. On previous trips, the tour operator spent time going over the route with areas we needed to pay attention to. The fact that none of us spoke German didn't help in trying to understand road signs. The route is well marked but makings change from country to country, so pay attention.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Mid-June 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 1/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection