Bike Tour Reviews page 165
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★★★★★ Heather July 5, 2016Alsace Cycling Vacation
· Alsace Wine Country
Bike Tours Direct is a very organized company that has good connections in the area. They provide a consultation on the first day of the trip to go over maps, routes, lodgings, and recommendations (for self-guided tours). They also spend some time making sure the bike is in good condition and is adjusted to fit you comfortably. We upgraded to road bikes, I would strongly recommend this as there are some steep hills on days 3-5.
We chose B hotels. The accommodations were comfortable.
The first 2 days of cycling are peaceful and flat, riding along a canal. Starting in Colmar, the ride is along the Alsatian wine route. It becomes hilly, and this is where the picture book starts. We cycled up and down hills, though vineyards, and medieval towns. Each town has beautifully preserved architecture, historic monuments, cobble stone streets, not to mention delicious local food and wine. The Alsace region is a perfect mix of French countryside, and small medieval towns with rich history and culture.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
-
★★★★★ Garmin July 5, 2016Outstanding
· French Alpes Tour: Alpes and Ventoux
Trip was personalized to everyone's needs. Guides were excellent!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/25/16
- 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?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
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★★★★★ margaretelliott51 July 3, 2016One of the Best Experiences Ever-Just "do it"
· Danube Cycle Path Passau – Budapest
This is the perfect way to experience some of the wonderful regions along the Danube. My husband I decided to do the cycle trips on offer that went from the beautiful German town of Passau to the amazing City of Budapest.This was a combination of two 7 day options. We were so pleased we put these together. The Biketours.com group were very organised and helpful and made the arrangements seamless from the booking on the website to the delivery of bikes and vouchers at our first meeting point. Our bikes were in great condition and the maps and advice was excellent.The trip itself was a very easy cycle way and I would advise anyone with a desire to do this to-"just go and do it"- you will not regret it. Use this company as they managed out hotel bookings, out luggage transfers and were available on the end of the phone if needed. We chose a self guided option and did not regret that at all.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May -June 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- 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, Hungary, Slovakia
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★★★★★ lisalisa July 3, 2016New favorite way to travel
· · Danube Delights: Biking through Four Countries
Loved the trip - The boat was very nice and provided constantly changing scenery without having to pack up and move every day. The bikes were perfect for the situation and well maintained. We enjoyed the bike days much more than the two city days - a great way to sightsee, especially when the temps got hot. Also really appreciated that nearly all of the bike riding was on dedicated trails.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/19/2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- this is the first
- 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?
- Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia
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★★★★★ RonC July 3, 2016Beautiful Country, Food and Wine Outstanding
· · Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat
Easy ride along bike paths. Time to view castles, churches, and vineyards along the way. Met interesting fellow travelers from Australia and New Zealand. Saarburg was a great place to explore before the tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 18-25
- 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?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Neal July 2, 2016Fabulous week on a bike
· Vienna to Budapest (Classic)
Jozef and his staff took care of the logistics and my wife and I just rode. The sights beyond belief. The only issue, beyond control of the tour, is there were a few segments of pretty rough road. Highly recommended
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★★★★★ Doktar July 2, 2016
· French Alpes Tour: Alpes and Ventoux
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/25
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1st 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?
- France
-
★★★★★ JJHNL July 1, 2016Great trip
· Three Lakes Tour: From Geneva to Annecy
Best tour ever. Great scenery and great tour company.
- What was the date of your tour?
- june
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- 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?
- France, Switzerland
-
★★★★★ Jonathan M July 1, 2016Amazing ride along the Loire!
· Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic
We loved the tour. It is relatively easy riding along very well marked trails, so the navigating is much simplified. The route follows dedicated bikepaths or very sleepy country roads with few cars. The French countryside is beautiful, and there are many interesting places to stop. Friendly people and delicious food, too.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- 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?
- France
-
★★★★★ Donnan Party June 30, 2016Amazing Trip With Lots of Hills
· Split to Dubrovnik: The Islands and Coastline of Croatia
Our Croatian adventure exceeded all expectations! The routes were very scenic, the locals were so friendly, and the food was delicious and totally fresh! We've done several bike trips in Europe, and this was definitely one of our favorites.
We paid a little more for the hotels and were very pleased with the accommodations. The breakfasts were very generous, and the rooms were spacious and clean. Hotel staff was great at all locations, too. There were two nights at each hotel, which was nice, since we weren't constantly packing and unpacking.
Our booking experience was great. There were 8 in our party, with all different itineraries, and everyone signed up at different times, which created hotel booking challenges. Brittany was so patient and answered all of our emails promptly. Most of us needed to add nights onto the basic package, and Brittany took care of that for us, too.
I can't say enough good things about the local tour company. We were self-guided, but when we ran into a little trouble on our first day (someone in our group fell off the bike), the local company was incredibly responsive and there when we needed them. There was constant communication throughout the trip, and they made sure everything went smoothly. Our luggage was transferred without incident and was always waiting for us in our room at the end of our travel days.
The directions on the route sheets were easy to follow, and with odometers on all the bikes, we never really got lost (which is a first for us). Having a choice of rides on most days, and the details on restaurants and points of interest in each of the towns we passed through made the rides even more enjoyable. The bikes were comfortable and everything we needed was supplied: tire repair kits, spare tubes, pumps, locks, etc. The collapsible panniers were awesome and transported wine very nicely!
The only negative thing I could say about the trip is that we were on main roads more than I would have liked. On previous trips to Italy and France, there were more back road options. But there wasn't a whole lot of traffic, and the cars generally gave us a comfortable amount of space when passing. The ride was definitely hillier and more difficult than we expected from a difficulty rating of 3, but the uphills weren't too steep and they were definitely worth it for the views!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/11/2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
-
★★★★★ Greg3904 June 30, 2016
Best Vacation Ever!
· French Alpes Tour: Alpes and Ventoux
My wife and I were blown away with the trip. We had never been to Europe and had no idea what to expect. Our expectations were exceeded beyond belief. It was a fantastic experience!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 6/18/2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- First time
- 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?
- France
-
★★★★★ DarTer56 June 26, 2016Exceeded many of our expectations
· · Provence by Bike and Boat
When we first booked this trip we could not find any actual traveller reviews on the Bike Tours website so we were unsure of what to expect. However, from the very start we were made to feel comfortable and the staff of the tour company were amazing. A special shout out to the Soleo crew. Our tour guide was very familiar with the area and always looked out for the comfort and safety of the cyclists. There was quite a difference in the ages and abilities of the cyclists, but he took care to meet the overall needs of the group.The bikes were in every good condition, well maintained and comfortable to ride. The accommodations were comfortable and we never had a problem going to sleep at the end of the day! This type of travel is a great way to experience the country and to meet new people. This is the type of vacation we would definitely do again.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 4-11/16
- 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
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France
-
★★★★★ Big Wave Dave June 24, 2016A Beautiful Ride With Great Accommodations
· Cycling Spain’s Land of the Conquistadors
This was our tenth self-directed tours with BikeTours.com and was one of the best. The seven of us - three quite fit mid-sixties and four thirty-somethings - had a fun time exploring the very pretty countryside and ancient towns. The Paradors were spectacular - the best accommodations we've had on a trip. The rides were challenging with a good bit of ups and downs. The bikes were relatively new and in good shape. As usually happens, we had a couple of mechanical challenges, but the support team was excellent and made the issues into an adventure rather than a detriment.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 11
- 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?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ The Bicigrinos June 24, 2016
Biking with friends along the Danube
· Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)
Our group of five throughly enjoyed our bike ride. The bikes were excellent, with no technical problems. Every hotel that we stayed in was different from the others and offered us an excellent accommodation. We were supplied with a set of maps and various coupons. We particularly loved the free wine tasting and 600 year old cellar tour. The terrain, small villages, and varied weather all played their part in our wonderful adventure.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 8-15
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was the first
- 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
-
★★★★★ The Bicigrinas June 24, 2016Fabulous Trip
· Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)
Our seven day trip along the Danube was delightful. Five of us (all over 65) from Northern California began in Passau. Try to get there early as this charming city has much to see.
The hotels were beautiful and most had delicious restaurants and fabulous breakfasts each morning.
If I were to do it again I'd do the trip in 10 days to have more time to explore Linz, Melk, Enns, Tulln and Krems and have a shorter biking day.
Anya and the staff are so wonderful and responsive.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 7-15
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my First one
- 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
-
★★★★★ Tush June 22, 2016
Excellent!
· Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)
Overall an excellent tour. One thing which would have improved it would have been a little more precise directions - possibly in the form of a printed addendum - giving the INITIAL directions from each hotel to the start point e.g. bike path for each day's ride. Sometimes this was tricky and the scale of the map wasn't helpful. A classic example was the hike day at Rorschach. Most of us missed the hike trail because it was unclear where it started in relation to the Heiden train station.
Having said all that, I would highly recommend this tour to anyone!- What was the date of your tour?
- 677/2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- 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
-
-
★★★★★ Cecilia7 June 22, 2016The only way to see Mallorca
· Majorca: A Loop Tour of the Beautiful Balearic Island
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip around Mallorca. I cannot recommend this tour enough!you really get to experience the island as a whole, and see al the different landscapes.it is value for money, i was pleasantly surprised every day and everything exceeded my expectation ( and my expectation was high).All the hotels are located right at the beach, the food was great at all the hotels, the rooms basic and clean we needed nothing more.service where great and location superb!the tour itself is worked out in every detail and the routes are beautiful!the people of mallorca are really friendly and very tolerate of cyclists.we were a group of 8 friends and yes i want to see every country on my bucket list on a bike now!the lunch at fornalutx (spelling?) was absolutely fabulous with the most beautiful little town and view from deck!go ahead and book this epic tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 3-10june2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- First bike tour
- 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
-
★★★★★ Jaco June 22, 2016
Great trip with good friends
· Majorca: A Loop Tour of the Beautiful Balearic Island
- What was the date of your tour?
- 4 June 2016 - 10 June 2016
- 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?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Rotsen June 21, 2016A great way to embark on the endless search for a bad Tuscan wine.
· Tuscan Wine Classic: Pienza to Castellina via Siena
The only thing that wasn't absolutely perfect on this trip was the weather. The bikes provided were new and light, 25c tires, Shimano 105 11sp compact group w/32T cog for easy climbing.
The route selection was wonderful, with a loop the first day to get acclimated and a loop the last day to provide options. The route cue sheets and maps included profiles and were spot-on so we hardly even bothered using the GPS routes they gave us to upload. We didn't have as much freedom to actually "tour" and stop at all of the sites as we usually do on tours due to the nearly constant threat of rain. Still we mostly avoided the rain until it arrived within last 5 or 6 kilometers on three of the days.
The upside was that we had more time in the towns we spent the nights, for wine and cheese tastings, and of course Gelato (If you ever come across Pear-Pecorino-Honey gelato don't be shy.) The hotel accommodations were terrific! Our luggage always made it there before we did. The breakfasts, the only meals included, were above par Continental with great coffee and, at the least, hard boiled eggs.. A number of times we ate dinner at the Hotel Restaurant. Following our arduous afternoon and evening searches for bad wine we kind of liked being close to our beds.
I am happy to admit that we failed utterly in our quest for a less-than-great Tuscan wine. We didn't bring any of the terrific Brunello's or Rosso's or Chianti's that we drank back, but did return home with 22kg of Pecorino Cheese most notably the Formaggio di Fosse. (My apologies to those who shuttled our baggage.) Someday soon we will return to continue our search, perhaps during a more dependably dry part of the year.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 1
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- 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?
- Italy
