Bike Tour Reviews  page 121

  • Danube Delights
    (4/5) NewbieBiker August 4, 2019

    Great vacation!

    · · Danube Delights: Cycling and Cruising in the Footsteps of Royalty

    Excellent way to see the Austrian countryside. Really enjoyed cycling thru each little town. The cycling was very easy with only a couple of hills during the entire week. There were a couple of times when we were on a very busy road for a short period of time, maybe a Kilometer or less but the drivers there are very accustom to cyclists. Most of the time was either on a designated bike path or country road with very few cars. The food on the boat was very good. The staff was very kind to tell us places to go or their favorite restaurant. Make sure to stop at some of the cafes while cycling and have a Knodel or other local delicacies. Don’t be intimidated by the distances to ride each day. We have never ridden more that 5 miles but found it very easy to bike the distance each day. I do recommend either biking shorts or a memory foam seat cover if you are not used to riding all day. Also recommend not getting a cabin on the bottom deck as the windows don’t open. Our only complaint was that the person giving the daily briefings on the routes was not very friendly and a couple of times the route wasn’t clearly marked. The rest of the staff was excellent.

    What was the date of your tour?
    20 July 2019
    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 teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike Path
    (5/5) Estrella55 August 1, 2019

    Wonderful Family Experience!

    · Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)

    A great way to experience Austria's Danube!
    This was a fun family adventure! we were close to nature, met new people, tasted the local food, found camaraderie with fellow travelers! I loved the scenery, I felt safe and free to customize our day as needed. The company was very helpful.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 7 - 14, 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 teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    • Photo 1 (photo by Estrella55)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Estrella55)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Estrella55)
    • Photo 4 (photo by Estrella55)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Provence’s History, Landscapes, and Luberon National Park
    (5/5) Tracey August 1, 2019

    More than a Bike Tour Company

    · Provence’s History, Landscapes, and Luberon National Park

    Unfornuately our self guided bike tour of Provence was cut short when I broke my ankle sightseeing in Orange! Bernard was amazing - he rearranged our hotels and arranged for a transfer back to Avignon where our hotel host organised mini van tours so we could still see the Pont du Gard and other Provence highlights. We felt like we were being looked after by family the whole way.

    What was the date of your tour?
    9 July 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    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?
    France
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe August 2, 2019

      So sorry to hear that you broke your ankle! Hope you are healing quickly and glad to hear you were taken care of!

    • 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
  • Tuscany Getaway
    (5/5) Gary O August 1, 2019

    An excellent bike tour to include

    · Tuscany Getaway: 4 Nights in Siena, Montalcino & Pienza

    This was our first time in Italy and the self guided trip was and excellent way to experience all the charms and challenges of this amazing place. Everything from our briefing to the charming and very comfortable hotels was excellent and exceeded our expectations. The bike ride was suitably challenging with regular touring bikes, and proved to be an excellent workout. Towns and villages along the way were all an added bonus. Our tour hosts were excellent and even provided a ride back to Sienna to gather my car on the last day. Thank YOU!

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 10 - 14
    How many tours have you completed?
    over 12
    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?
    Italy
    • 3/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
  • Southern Fyn
    (5/5) Bikepete August 1, 2019

    The Tour of Denmark's island of Fyn

    · Southern Fyn: A Tour Around Denmark’s Fairytale Island

    The routes were well marked, easy to follow and mostly on bike trails or low traffic roads. The bike was a full suspension mountain bike. A little over kill, but it did come in handy a couple of times. The accommodations were centrally located in the towns. The towns are charming and historical. The best day was the tour of the Island of Earo. The Danes are the happiest people on Earth and are very glorious. I will definitely visit Denmark again. I did not get to meet any representative of the tour company.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    20
    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?
    Denmark
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 2/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 1/5 Tour documents
    • 2/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike Path
    (5/5) Gnome August 1, 2019

    Nice but not the Moselle

    · Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)

    I cannot sparkly highly enough of the Biketours. The organisation of the trip was flawless, including an exchange of a standard bike for an e bike part way through the trip. We went with the up market accommodation and this certainly meet or exceeded our expectations. One comment I’d like to make was we didn’t realise the upmarket hotels are usually away from the town centres. There were three couple in our group and we all enjoyed the Danube but the general consensus was it was not as pretty or as interesting as the ride we did along the Moselle also with Biketours a few years ago.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    This is our second one
    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?
    Austria, Germany
    • Photo 1 (photo by Gnome)
    • Last day (photo by Gnome)
    • One of the ferry crossings on the Danube (photo by Gnome)
    • The view from dinner.  Thankfully you don’t need to peddle up this hill as the hotel picks you up down on the river with a van and bike trailer. (photo by Gnome)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Tauern Bike Path
    (5/5) Sydneysider August 1, 2019

    Everthing we were hoping for!

    · Tauern Bike Path (Krimml-Passau)

    The tour was well organised; well maintained bikes and detailed route information were provided when we arrived at the hotel, supplied with a handlebar and rear-wheel pannier. Tip: we did not know about the handlebar pannier beforehand which has a clear, waterproof cover that fits your provided map and directions. The bikes also have a trip computer so you can match the km's to the directions. The hotels were quality selections, many with character and we enjoyed our time in them. The movement of the bags was efficient and they pretty much always made their way to the new hotel before us, or as we arrived. We loved the route, mainly village roads, tracks through woods, farm roads, bike paths etc. with only occasional sections on bigger roads when needed. The first half of the trip is more spectacular than the second the second half points of interest are more subtle. One regret; we did not bring a European bird book as there was plenty of birds and wildlife on the trip to watch out for.

    What was the date of your tour?
    11 June 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    This is the 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?
    Austria, Germany
    • 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
  • Tauern Bike Path
    (5/5) Harry August 1, 2019

    Satisfied repeat customer

    · Tauern Bike Path (Salzburg-Salzburg)

    This is the third trip that I've done with Greenways and I remain very pleased with the impeccable organization, the thoughtfully planned routes, the helpfully redundant cycling instructions and the very engaging and pleasant territory. I combined the Salzburg to Prague trip with a Salzburg to Salzburg loop around Berctesgaden, and so my overall experience combined spectacular Alpine scenery with miles of classic Bohemian rolling wheat fields punctuated with forest and woodlot. There was a lot in this trip that exceeded my expectations, and virtually nothing that merits any harsh criticism. Getting over the hills north of Linz was a pretty good workout for an old guy!

    As a solo traveler, I didn't have any meals included in the package, and that worked out just fine. The Salzburg loop was all on well-marked bike path, so direction-finding was all but bulletproof. The 'Heart of Europe' trip has some very detailed instructions and a GPS, and almost never presented any confusion. Having Google Maps on a phone helped to disambiguate a few times. There were some good suggestions for things to see, though I didn't always have time to stop and see them. Perhaps the tour deserves a repeat!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 15-25
    How many tours have you completed?
    many, both package and self-created
    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?
    Austria
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Vienna to Budapest
    (5/5) Kathleen August 1, 2019

    Vienna To Budapest

    · Vienna to Budapest (Classic)

    Bike Tours did a nice job connecting us with a good tour operator.
    Bikes were in good condition. The route was excellent.
    They also accommodated our hotel request change for Budapest and were very responsive to a small financial glitch. Highly recommend them

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    more than 10
    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?
    Austria, Hungary
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike Path
    (4/5) Lynn M July 31, 2019

    Daube Bike Path 7 nights

    · Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)

    The staff were great and the hotels were up to expectations. On commencing the instructions for the first 2 days were good but the bike tracks should be labelled eg R1 or No 6 - this would be helpful. Also with the instructions we were given - you would need a GPS. We rode 10km out of our way because we missed a sign and directions were not helpful. Locals did point us in the right direction ..but we had to resort to "google maps" Some people had assisted with spray painting the track with directions...so our confusion wasn't a one off.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 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?
    Austria, Germany
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 2/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Bolzano – Verona – Venice
    (3/5) US cyclist July 31, 2019

    Difficult to navigate

    · Bolzano – Verona – Venice

    I chose this tour because I was finishing up a week of hiking in the Dolomites in Balzano, and though that riding a bike back to Venice to catch my plane would be more interesting than taking the train. I saw that there were several reviewers who noted that they had difficulty navigating but thought, "I can just check Google Maps if I have a problem. How bad could it be?"
    Well, it was bad. I found the step by step directions to be indecipherable. The maps made it look easy, but there was not enough detail to actually use them to follow the route. Google maps did not pick up the bike paths, so could not provide a cycling route. I spent a significant part of each day lost and frustrated, in addition to inadvertently ending up on roads with heavy traffic and adding extra miles to the trip. Towards the end of the week I discovered that there were several people from Belgium who were riding the same route I was, but had booked directly with the tour company rather than going through a third party. They were emailed the routes in digital format, and were able to download them to their Garmin. This was not offered to me.
    The area is beautiful, bike paths nice, and local folks very friendly and helpful.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Ended July 28, 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    20+
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe August 1, 2019

      Many thanks for taking the time to write this review. We'll pass the feedback onto the tour operator regarding their directions and will consider this in our yearly review of our tour portfolio. I'm sorry that you were not made aware GPS tracks are available for this tour. As a note for future clients, many tours do offer GPS tracks upon request. We're glad to hear that, regardless of your troubles, you enjoyed the area, bike paths, and locals.

    • 3/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Innsbruck to Salzburg
    (5/5) NancyinCO July 30, 2019

    Amazing Scenery!

    · Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails

    This was our third bike tour through biketours.com and it was definitely the most scenic. This must be one of the most beautiful areas on earth. Each day seemed better than the day before. Zell am See was absolutely gorgeous, in Lofer we had a beautiful view of the mountains from our room next to a stream, and Bad Reichenhall is a very quaint town you'll want to stop at for refreshments. The inns we stayed at were all we could ask for; very well-chosen, professional and comfortable. The breakfasts were a highlight for me; all-you-can-eat spreads with a wonderful variety of fresh food to give you energy for the day of cycling ahead. I would highly recommend this tour!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 14 - June 21, 2019
    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
    • Town on the mountainside above Innsbruck (photo by NancyinCO)
    • We requested a tandem. (photo by NancyinCO)
    • Four adults and two teenagers - we all loved this trip! (photo by NancyinCO)
    • Through forests and beside gentle cows with tinkling bells (photo by NancyinCO)
    • Georgeous Zell am See (photo by NancyinCO)
    • Easy cycling most of the way (photo by NancyinCO)
    • 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
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Provence by Bike and Boat
    (4/5) Alanran July 29, 2019

    Beautiful Provence by Bike and Barge

    · · Provence by Bike and Boat

    The boat was really nice and the crew was great -- from captain to chef to on-board host. They did an exceptional job making our time on the boat pleasant.

    The biking was also nice in spite of the 98 degree temperatures, full on sun and mistral winds in our face -- even had to peddle going down hill sometimes. That said, we saw beautiful villages, olive orchards, vineyards, sun flower fields and lavender fields -- beautiful terrain -- even some of the areas covered in the Tour de France -- Pont du Gard. The visit to Le Beaux de Provence was special going into the cave with Van Gogh paintings put to motion and sound.

    All in all it was a fun tour with a great group of riders.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 13-20
    How many tours have you completed?
    4
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    France
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
    • 2/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Cycling Spain's Ebro River
    (5/5) TJS53 July 29, 2019

    Amazing Scenery along the Ebro River

    · Cycling Spain's Ebro River

    The route takes riders through some of the most sparsely populated and beautiful parts of Spain. Much of the ride along the river winds through a deep canyon. Although the route follows the river downstream, there is significant climbing (and some of it steep) everyday, but the pay off, terrific views and then long downhill stretches, is well worth it. The tour is ranked 2?, but it is a 3.

    The route takes riders through interesting villages steeped in history. You'll see churches, castles, bridges, plenty of wheat and sunflower fields. There are quite a few opportunities to get off the bicycle, see the sites and interact with the locals. Be sure to see the castle and the cathedral in Frias. In Laguardia we arrived in time to witness the "running of the cows", an annual festival featuring a parade of town dignitaries and marching band that culminates with the release of cows that romp through the cobblestone streets. A good time was had by all, except maybe for the cows.

    We took the tour during a record-setting heatwave, three days of temperatures over 100 degrees, so we started early each day to get to the next hotel before the heat became unbearable. I'd plan to do this trip during a time of year more likely to offer moderate temperatures.

    The hotels were always good. However the Posada de Ormas, Hotel Romanca and the Hospederia de los Parajes in Laguardia were outstanding.

    All in all this is a good tour and a great value.

    What was the date of your tour?
    6-23-2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    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?
    Spain
    • The Castle in Frias. (photo by TJS53)
    • Orbaneja del Casillo (photo by TJS53)
    • Photo 3 (photo by TJS53)
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe July 30, 2019

      Thanks for the review and comment about the difficulty. We'll be sure to note that in our year-end review of this tour. We're elated to hear you enjoyed your time in Spain, and thanks again for sharing what you saw and experienced.

    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) nunn July 28, 2019

    Wunderbar

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    The tour was as described. The ferry came in handy one of the days. Directions were a problem. Once we got our of Konstanz and figured out what we were to follow it went better. Thanks to all the people who helped us along the way. Very helpful and friendly. The lake was delightful to swim in and cycle along. The scenery was delightful. We had ebikes and that's the way to go.

    What was the date of your tour?
    6/30/19
    How many tours have you completed?
    10+
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 2/5 Value
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 2/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Dolomites to Venice
    (5/5) j59fj2046r July 28, 2019
    · Dolomites to Venice Along the Old Dolomites Railway Track

    Great cycling and and absolute best way to see the Dolomites. The routes are great, with a little bit of climbing and some fun downhill sections each day. I commute to work and found the riding matched my ability, leaving enough time to stop here and there, and explore the city at the end of each stage.

    TIP: The routes are mostly intuitive and easy to follow, but there are some challenges and confusing areas. If you ride this tour, skip wrestling with the paper map and use a GPS. I set aside some time before each ride to plot my route using the Komoot cycling app on my phone - I found I made fewer wrong turns and had more confidence to have fun with the ride and take in the scenery.

    What was the date of your tour?
    2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • 4/5 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
    • 5/5 Route selection