Bike Tour Reviews page 108
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★★★★★ Jfletc3233 May 16, 2019The tulips were beautiful
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
Overall the tour was very good. The ship’s crew was excellent and the food was wonderful. We were able to see a lot of tulips even though the tulips bloomed early this year. The tulips at Keukenhof were fabulous and not to be missed. I wish we could have had more time there. We saw lots of windmills and also happened upon a miller setting up his mill for operation it was fascinating. We learned about the creation of polders from sea and spend a fair amount of time on the polders. The scenery was really beautiful. On the negative side, we had to do a lot of riding in congested areas that weren’t especially interesting or historic. I wasn’t expecting this. Some of that may have been because a canal was closed and the boat couldn’t meet us where it was supposed to. Additionally, we had two guides during our tour one who started off with us for 2 days and another for the rest of the tour. Neither of them taught the inexperienced riders in our group how to ride as a group, communicate with each other about hazards coming up or when the group was slowing or stopping. As a result several people fell during the ride. Some of the riders on the tour explained those things to the newer riders and after that people rode better as a group.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 27, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- Many on our own.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
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★★★★★ vacationsmakemehappy May 16, 2019Nice LONG ride
· Danube Bike Path 5-nights (Active)
Disclaimer - I loved the vacation pedaling along in pretty much isolation, just my husband and I, and peaceful time in beautiful scenery. We loved the hotels we stayed at along the trail. For the average Joe though, the sport version isn't for you. That's why I wouldn't recommend this sporty trip to most people.
See below for more detailsThe sporty ride was just that. Long days in the saddle, which we expected since my husband wanted to do the short (meaning less days not miles) due to work obligations. The 45-50 mile days seemed fine, but the 57 mile day was long.
The sporty version left little time for sight seeing along the way. We had to strategically plan out where we were going to spend our 2-2.5 hours of sightseeing time each day, because there was no possible way to see everything. We were on the bikes riding each day by 7:45-8:15, typically had a picnic lunch somewhere along the way with food we either carried with us or picked up along the way at a grocery store. (One of our picnics was standing by a rock waiting for the taxi to pick us up at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp to take us back to the taxi station downtown - would highly recommend the taxi unless you are VERY sporty or have an e-bike-info said there was a longer more gentle route, but we were having difficulty following some of the directions included.)
If going early in the season or on days with poor weather, I highly recommend taking some food and WATER with you. Only on the first ride day and the last ride day were any of the 'trail magic' stops open for an unexpected cup of coffee, beer, or food. Most things were shut down tight. It was in the low 40s when we started out 3 mornings and also raining 2 of those. Make sure you have GOOD rain gear -not water resistant - and waterproof gloves. Wringing out your cycling gloves and then having to put them back on isn't really very comfortable. Luckily our rain gear (except gloves was superb) Make sure your rain coat has a hood to put up under your helmet or take a waterproof helmet cover.
There were many places where we had detours (even on the bike path) due to various construction projects which made parts of the trip seem a bit harder navigating than they would otherwise have been. This seemed to happen both long ride days which made those days even longer.
Take toilet paper with you and be prepared to take a squat ladies - and men. There were long stretches with nothing in sight at times, and when you have to go...! I kind of expected this, so we were prepared.
The bikes we had didn't have cages to hold water bottles, so we had to carry the water in the pouches included on the bike. But to get a drink you had to stop unhook snaps, drink, rehook or roll down waterproof bags, and start again. I can't imagine we would have been able to or wanted to carry that much water (heavy) for warmer weather. Without easy access to water, the trip was extended about 5 minutes for every drink stop. Not that long but over 50+ miles, it adds up and takes away from time you could be doing more interesting touring. SHOW MORE
The bikes in general were heavy. We didn't get the road bikes though, because we knew we would have to be carrying supplies and the road bikes didn't offer that.
We LOVED our hotel room in Feldkirchen an der Donau -- Faustschlössl Hotel-Restaurant. The food was FABULOUS! Salmon with pesto and asparagus
We also LOVED our hotel room in Gasthof „Zur Donaubrücke“ and eating in the dining room - NOT lounge. The only thing we didn't like about this hotel was that reception/lobby was in the bar which is smoking permitted. On the day we checked in, it was so smoking I waited in the hallway. I wasn't willing to duck under the smoke cloud to get checked in. I'm not a smoker and have asthma. It was NOT happening.
We'd been to Melk Abbey before so didn't do that. But we did go into town. There is a great little bakery coffee shop on the left side of the left fork (probably main shopping street) kind of across from the butcher store which would be in the center of that fork mentioned when you go into town from the bike path. Great espresso and desserts. And they had GLUTEN FREE CAKES which made this GF necessary girl extremely happy!!!
Make sure you take an extra day in the Wachau/Krems/Durnstein area. It is FABULOUS!!!!!
The luggage transfers went off without a hitch - thank goodness!!!
SHOW LESS
Be prepared to carry your luggage up to the top floor of every hotel. -
★★★★★ Senior Adventurer May 16, 20192019 Mosel Bike Path After Action Report
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
The best way to explore the beautiful Mosel River Valley from Trier to Koblenz, and then the Rhine from Koblenz to St. Goar. The bikes were in excellent shape and the in-country issue and briefing was perfect. The hotels were very good. For our late April early May trip the weather cooperated perfectly. The morning temperatures were cool but by mid-day we could enjoy lunch at a sidewalk at one of the many scenic small towns along the route. We booked 2 extra days in Trier with the tour company to allow us to explore the city before departure. We were very happy with the hotel they chose and the competitive price we paid for the extra nights.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 28 April-4 May 2019
- 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, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Dancing Bear May 14, 2019
What a way to go
· Romantic Road from Würzburg to Donauwörth
- What was the date of your tour?
- 1May-8May
- 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?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Kokapelli May 12, 2019
Great bycycling trip by boat
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Fluvius (and reverse)
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★★★★★ Barbara G May 8, 2019Best of Slovania
· Best of Slovenia: Highlights Across the Country From Bled to Piran
- How many tours have you completed?
- Many- now using electric bikes
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ Jan53 May 6, 2019Biking through North Holland
· Best of Holland North: Dutch Villages, Landscapes & the Keukenhof
This trip exceeded my expectations! Since most people own and ride bikes, the bike paths in cities and rural areas are extremely well marked and maintained. That, along with the flat topography, made this self-guided trip a really enjoyable experience! The training we received when the bikes were delivered to our hotel was thorough and all of our questions were answered. Since we had both a Garmin and printed maps, we managed to find our way most of the time. It was slightly difficult finding the correct route when we started out in the mornings, but people on the street were more than happy to point us in the right direction. The distance covered each day was reasonable and the only difficulty came from the wind. One day we seemed to be riding into the wind no matter which direction we turned!
The cities chosen for this tour were interesting and beautiful. The hotels were excellent, each with helpful staff present. There was always a convenient location for locking our bikes up at night either inside or near the hotel in a safe area. The breakfasts were amazing!!
Loved everything about this trip!!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 4/18/19
- 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?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
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★★★★★ dlbf May 6, 2019Beautiful place to cycle!
· Majorca: A Loop Tour of the Beautiful Balearic Island
Majorca is truly a lovely island. Breathtaking coastal views and lovely pastoral scenery inland. Had some great lunches in the local towns. The arrangements were excellent. Good bikes, routes easy to follow, all hotels top-notch.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 4/19-26
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ San30 May 5, 2019A trip like never before
· · Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat
The bike tour was an amazing first time experience. The crew of Patria are charming and kind and helpful. Thank you for a once in a lifetime kind of trip
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 20th 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- My First 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?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Pat m May 4, 2019
· · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 20-27
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
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★★★★★ tim57 May 3, 2019Nice trip biking through Holland and staying and eating on the Magnifique III
· · Tulip Tour on the Magnifique II, III, & IV
This was an excellent journey biking through Holland. The boat and the crew were first rate, grade of an A. The food was delicious. Bikes were ok. Too much time at the throwback village in Zaaham, probably could trim some time off the visit. The tulip gardens were too much, a sight to see. I had a single room. Much smaller than the brochure photo. Plus the bed mattress was sloped downward on the open end. Need to fix that.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 4/15 to 4/19 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Holland
-
★★★★★ PaulB May 3, 2019Great way to experience the Netherlands
· · Holland’s Southern Relax Tulip Tour
Great way to experience Netherlands, especially when flowers are in bloom. The Sailing Home boat was comfortable. Loved lounge, dining rm, large windows to see world go by, and great space to socialize with fellow tour mates. Cook was very good (Eline) and quality of cooking pleasantly unexpected. 4 in our group; all rented electric bikes. Came in handy on dunes, and wind last two days. E-bikes were heavy though and difficult to start/stop, balance, for one lady in our party who rides very little and is small. She was glad to have though. Physical demands of tour were pretty low, intensity of riding in cities quite high. One in our party abandoned riding after first day. She did have an absolutely great time sailing with barge, exploring each city where the barge stopped, and socializing with fellow travelers in the evenings. Keukenhof Gardens were phenomenal, but very very crowded upon entry. Much less crowded at back of park. All in our party were very glad we went! Map book provided at beginning of tour, daily briefings each evening, but no daily maps. As the daily routes could change due to where the barge could dock, no daily maps was a complaint from some. Another common complaint was that there was only one guide for 26 riders. Not a problem at all when riding through countryside, but quite a challenge in the cities with the short traffic lights and heavy congestion. Overall, good tour for all in our group.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
-
★★★★★ sandivet2003 May 3, 2019Surpassed our expectations!
· Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)
This tour surpassed our expectations in many ways. We were provided with reliable, sturdy hybrid bicycles that were well maintained, comfortable to ride, and decked out with a headlight, tail light, a (rather challenging to open at times) cable combination bike lock, large waterproof handlebar bag (that allowed easy viewing of directions and maps), bike computer, waterproof pannier, and bike tools/flat repair kit (which we never needed). Who cares if they weren't Trek bikes? (They were better than my own Trek.)
On the evening of our arrival in Passau (day 1), we were met at our hotel by a tour representative (fluent English-speaking) who provided us with the bikes (which fit us well), maps and cue sheets as well as an overview of our planned tour and ideas for places/activities to check out on the way. Each hotel we stayed at appeared to have been thoughtfully chosen to provide us with the best local experience--the least "upscale" one was in Schlogen, Austria (the room was quite basic and we needed ear plugs), but we had a spectacular view. The most upscale was Schloss Duernstein--it was like a castle! All breakfasts were terrific (lots of selection, hearty options, and the best breads I've had anywhere). Furthermore, the actual route was terrific--safe, low traffic and chockful of spectacular views! I was originally concerned that we started out on cobblestones and dirt paths for a bit in Passau, but the bikes were so sturdy and had such good suspension that didn't matter. I felt in control of the ride at all times. Most of the time, public restrooms were available on the route and were adequately spaced out so I only needed to do the "hide behind a tree or bush" thing a couple of times.
A couple of warnings to future travelers: 1) We went in April, and only the final hotel (in Vienna) had legitimate air conditioning (per North American standards). It was unexpectedly warm in the evenings, and we wished we had brought a fan (only the first hotel in Passau provided us with one), particularly since all hotel beds had thick duvets for covers. I can't imagine what it'd be like for people traveling during the summer. 2) Do some research before arriving in Melk. This was the only place we got lost and had to use our cellphones for GPS because the cue sheets weren't specific to our particular circumstances (they covered only instructions for people staying at certain hotels there, which we were not). But we did eventually find our way, and we're already thinking about planning our next trip!
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★★★★★ Denise April 30, 2019Absolutely incredible
· Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)
Passau to Vienna was beautiful, the Danube breathtaking. Snow capped peaks in the distance, ❤️. The bike trails were better than most US roads. But I did feel some things could have been better. The maps resembled the old AAA trip tiks, mostly accurate unless you are looking for Cafe Braun. The “miles” of 34 daily was an average, that could have been explained better. We had day 1 & 3 @ 49.7 miles. (80k) we had odometers on both bikes, and they agreed. That was tough on day 1. I recommend bringing a GPS.
But mostly it was fun, hard but fun. Excellent accommodations. Great breakfasts. Nice helpful staff, everywhere. -
★★★★★ Donna T April 30, 2019Fabulous trip!
· Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Excellent cycling paths, gorgeous scenery, outstanding accommodations and delicious breakfasts. Our trip was in mid September and the weather was lovely. Our group of four had a few mechanical issues with the bicycles, but the local tour company was responsive and resolved the problems. Some of the maps and written directions were confusing especially in the larger towns which lacked bike path signs. Getting lost occasionally added to the adventure! Overall, we had a wonderful experience!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 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
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy, Slovenia, Austria
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★★★★★ JimS April 30, 2019Great bike ride...mostly on paved bike paths
· Prague to Dresden Along the Vltava & Elbe Rivers
AVE provide a very good experience. Would definitely use them again. The trip listed a couple of short hills. There were two hills on the first day and they were steeper than I expected and also longer. That is just a minor thing and in no way diminished the trip. The bicycles were very good and their initial service was great...however, I would have preferred that they bring the bicycles the day before we started the trip instead of the morning of the trip. It meant that we started about 2 hours later than we would have. That also is a minor thing and didn’t, take away from the trip. All of the hotels were excellent.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 17, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Czech Republic, Germany
-
★★★★★ KSBowman April 29, 2019
50Th B-Day Celebration
· Tuscany and Umbria: Cycling in the Heart of Italy
It was an amazing trip with excellent weather. The rides were mostly off the beaten path, through rolling terrain with steep uphill climbs to various towns/forts. The hotels were great, we upgraded. We ate locally and did not purchase the dinner with the room package. I will say, we are in very good shape and bike 3-4 days per week at home. It was a difficult ride at times, especially getting into Orvietto, Todi, Cortona, Assisi and Chuisi. Very, Very steep climbs, but well worth the effort. The B and B, Antica Gabella, in Castiglione del Lago was our favorite. Givanna was the ultimate host. The hotel in Todi was also amazing with great views and use of a pool if its warm. I highly recommend taking your time through the small towns and site seeing, wine taste and eat off the beaten path. The written maps and Mapsme got us to our destinations with a few u-turns. Next time we will see if we can have an extra day of not riding scattered in, so we can explore more. We also had a few days on the coast prior to riding and then finished in Rome for a few days. It was perfect!
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 14-21
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ JJ1970 April 28, 2019
Great Tour
· Cycling Spain's Ebro River
Excellent tour. Great bikes and great support. Amazing views and historical towns.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2019
- 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?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Stokaace April 7, 2019Great way to see Andalusia
· Andalusia: Southern Spain
We did a self-guided version of the Seville to Cadiz route. Overall the trip was great. Hotels far exceeded my expectations and the route stops in many small towns for some excellent local culture. The route was a mix of paved roads and gravel trail which means the bikes are sturdy. We had no flats of other issues at all. In the self guided tour they give you a very detailed set of instructions but you are on your own after that. I recommend downloading offline Google maps to supplement the instructions because some of the route gets complicated. Overall this trip is a great value. The stops are beautiful and the hotels were surprisingly nice.
- What was the date of your tour?
- March 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ CyclesInRoswell April 5, 2019Wonderful Anniversary Trip!
· Dolomites to Venice Along the Old Dolomites Railway Track
We did this tour in June 2016 and I neglected to write a review. Wonderful scenery, great little side trips if you want to add miles, and wonderful service and accommodations. We had a great time on our rented tandem (affectionately nicknamed "The Whale") and would do this tour again. BikeTours Direct service was excellent, and the tour company did a great job. A romantic way to spend our 25th anniversary.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/2016
- 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, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
