Bike Tour Reviews: Loire A Velo Orleans To The Atlantic (page 2)
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★★★★★ Cynthia Cook 11 months ago
Biking Loire Valley
Nice ride, there is a fair amount of riding with traffic, it would be difficult with younger kids. The trail signage needs updated. Some were faded and others covered by trees or brush. There were a few spots on the ride that GPS was needed for sure. Some of the trails were very rough and bumpy. It would be nice to stay in smaller towns, in city centers it was not very nice nor necessary. The scenery was varied, from vineyards to vegetable fields, orchards and quaint towns. The chateau package was nice. We had the dinner package which is nice after a days ride to have your restaurant already set.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- 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
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★★★★★ Jacquelyn 4 months ago
scenic ride with bird song soundtrack
The bikes were ready when we arrived, and in great condition. The RoadBook App made finding our way easier than paper maps, although we did miss a few turns. The app did need cell service and ate through the battery fast enough that we needed a power bank. The navigation feature thought we were a car, which led to some odd instructions until we realized what was happening and then ignored it.
The Chateaus are lovely and easy to visit. We did the trip in late April and enjoyed the sound of birds and frogs as we cycled. The daily distances allow for sufficient time to take in the sights as well as some leisure at the end of the day. Most of it is done on either bike trails or very low traffic roads, although there a few narrow and moderate traffic roads that are less pleasant.
We used electric bikes and were happy to have chosen them. Although there are very few hills, we were glad of the boost.
Hotels were excellent and generally easy to find in the towns. without too much city traffic. We chose the meal plan, and received no information on how that worked. The second restaurant explained how in worked in their case and that each restaurant would be different. It would have been helpful to know in advance.- What was the date of your tour?
- April 25 - May 4, 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ James Hutcherson September 21, 2022
Could have been better
This tour was our 12th bicycle tour, but the first in France. Distances were good, weather cooperated, Hotels were excellent. Route was very well sign posted. We found the route much more difficult than we expected. Many hills. The previous reviews and description did not even mention that aspect. These would have not caused much of a problem if we had opted for ebikes, and the vast majority of riders that we encountered did have ebikes. I would disagree that this tour would be labeled as family friendly, unless the family has no kids. One difficulty we had was that there were no intermediate stops for coffee, snacks, lunch, water, etc. I would recommend packing those items from the departure town each day. While the route does generally follow the river, most of the route is not next to the river and it is not visable most of the time. I hope this review does not deter anyone from this tour, since the castles, hotels, food should be enjoyed. Just a little heads-up advice.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 12
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes