Bike Tour Reviews page 4
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★★★★★ William Edsell 1 month ago
bike tour with friends
· · Danube Discovery: Bike and Boat through Enchanting Capitals
the bike and boat tour is a good way to sample some of the countries on the Danube. Unfortunately the boat was very old and had many problems. The main issues for me were the rooms were very musty and caused problems with my sinus and no way to let fresh air into the cabin. Also there seemed to be limited or no internet on the boat and because we traveled through remote areas it was not possible to use mobile phone connection. You would think a starlink antenna would solve that problem. The staff were great, very friendly and helpful with everything. The bar had limited options. Food options were Ok but seemed inconsistent. Overall I enjoyed the experience with my friends but disappointed in the boat. On our last day the boat broke down and we have to wait several hours to get on the boat and then take a bus to Passeau to catch our train.
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★★★★★ David Loukras 1 month agoGreat trip highly recommended
· UNESCO Sites of Albania
What a great way to see Albania. Each day brought new sights, history and great roads. Perfect weather in mid-October. Accommodations were clean and well equipped. Food was nutritious, traditional, plentiful and delicious. Bikes were good for most with a couple of small breakdowns for some. Most were on e-bikes and there was always enough batteries for everyone everyday. Great guiding to ensure everyone knew where to go, but not so much to burden the flow of the ride. Most of the roads were exceptional twisty winding roads with minimal amount of “highway” with truck traffic. Views of the mountains and Ionian Sea were breathtaking. We downloaded the map files provided and uploaded them to Komoot so we always knew where we were and where we were going.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct 7 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first guided bike tour. I will do more.
- 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?
- Albania
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★★★★★ Kathy Dudley 1 month ago
Eye opening tour
· UNESCO Sites of Albania
Biking through Albania was certainly an eye opening experience. Observing the development of the country following so many years of communism was eye opening for us. Riding through villages with donkeys and wheelbarrows onto major highways with tourist buses was quite a juxtaposition. The country is beautiful yet full of trash. The people were warm amd welcoming and made the trip a wonderful experience. Our guide amd driver were fun and efficient. We would recommend better bike repair equipment or back up bikes and a first aid kit. It would be nice to have tours with e-bikes separate from those with manual bikes to decrease the waiting and the pressure of those riding manual bikes to keep up.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Albania
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★★★★★ Gregory Lebo 1 month agoGreat way to experience the Danube
· Danube Cycle Path Passau – Budapest
The tour operator is very responsive to issues that arise on the route. There was flooding on the Danube and certain portions weren’t navigable and they arranged transportation to avoid the area. Bag delivery is usually very efficient and arrives before you to the hotel. In my case there was one day where my bag didn’t arrive but a quick call and they dispatched a special driver to deliver it. The maps are very good and the app makes navigation super easy. I went in the Fall and there were almost no other riders on the pathway. It’s a bit cooler and many of the bike specific restaurants aren’t open but there’s no shortage of services along the way.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sep 29
- 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
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia
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★★★★★ Katie Goslee 1 month agoVery enjoyable trip
· Portugal's Atlantic Coast
The trip was great. The apps used were very helpful, both for the route and to provide information about the places we passed or stayed. The route was pleasant (with one very very muddy hiccup, where we got stuck).
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- A few but this was the first with a company
- 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?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Carol Morningstar 1 month agoWonderful Bike Cruise and exceptional sites to see while biking
· · Holland by Bike and Boat, Northern Tour
Loved this cruise. We hope to book Croatia next year. The staff was wonderful and our director (Ken I think?) worked tirelessly to make everyone's trip wonderful. The food was good but we were disappointed that we had to pay to get water at dinner. This should always be free! Also we would have liked coffee available all day.
One complaint was our room. Others who also ordered the basic stateroom had twice the size of ours for the same price. We were in a back room that had minimal space and NO CLOSET space or anywhere to hang anything! We had two shelves each for our clothes. We think it was actually a staff room for one person, yet we had to share it. I needed to climb over my husband to get out of bed at night.
Not comfortable! That was disappointing but we got used to it and loved the cruise anyway. I do believe it should have been a much reduced price though.- What was the date of your tour?
- Aug 24 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Holland
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★★★★★ Tom Gihring 1 month ago
Wonderful views riding through this mountainous landscape
· UNESCO Sites of Albania
One of the best value cycle tours to be found. First class meals provided, including fresh prepared local dishes. Guides take good care of the bikes and give daily briefings before each ride. Wish there were more cycle paths to relieve riders from dealing with motor traffic.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- 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?
- Albania
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★★★★★ Rhonda Peckham 1 month ago
Sampler of Albania's beauty
· UNESCO Sites of Albania
The tour itself was well organized and lodging overall was pleasant and comfortable. While instructions and direction for the ride were made clear by the guide, the UNESCO sites were not explained as to their significance and designation. Understandably, the guide appeared fatigued and distracted with this the last tour of the year for him. Technical support for and repair for some of the equipment seemed to be an issue. One safety concern noted from the trip: Medical supplies and first aid skills that would adequately address injuries related to cycling seemed to be lacking and was a cause for concern in the event of an emergency.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- 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?
- Albania
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★★★★★ Nanette Bean 1 month agoAdventure in Croatia
· · The Istrian Peninsula by Electric Bike
Our guides Christopher and Mirta were excellent, very thorough and reliable and fun. The boat, the Andela Lora Was well-maintained and a pleasure to be on. The food on the boat was excellent, kudos to the chefs. Croatia is a beautiful country and I’m glad we got to Bike on back roads, we had many fun adventures
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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★★★★★ Barbara Keefe 2 months agoExceeded expectations
· · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique II (and reverse)
The Bruges to Amsterdam went far beyond our expectations in every way!! Our boat was attractive and comfortable, rooms and bathrooms were clean, comfortable and updated with all we needed, our meals were fabulous, the ship crew was warm and responsive and the guides were terrific. I was especially surprised by all the “extras”, the unexpected city tours or optional activities at the end of the day. We were perhaps “lucky” to get such wonderful guides and fellow passengers with this tour or perhaps all of the tours are like this. I can not say enough about how great this trip was
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★★★★★ Linden Bentley 2 months ago
Istrian adventure
· · The Istrian Peninsula by Electric Bike
Boat and boat accommodations were fine. Meals on board exceeded expectations. We like plenty of vegetables and that was provided. Crew and guides excellent! Bikes top class. Trails, trying in places. Destinations good, routes well guided. While we prefer all car-less rails to trails with consistent surfaces this was more varied between attention-required rocky/gravel/rutty surfaces, with 'turnstiles', paved surfaces with cars and no shoulders, and good smooths gravel--- it was a more demanding biking experience than those we prefer. Guides were excellent in explaining the upcoming terrain, traffic and inclines/declines. Pacing did not allow for much 'side tracking' for photos, or rests or independent exploring.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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★★★★★ Sallie Williams 2 months agoSeveral issues with this bike tour
· Best of San Diego E-Bike Tour
This bike tour had a challenge from the beginning with a group that was too large - 14 people, three of whom were kids, teens or younger, led by one tour guide on a route that was constantly either in traffic or in areas heavily trafficked by pedestrians. There was one section of Little Italy that was particularly difficult because there were several blocks given over to an outdoor Art Fair and the streets were closed off. Wouldn't this be something that the organizers should have known about so that the tour could have been rerouted?
Our guide, Cassie, did her best but it was a real challenge to keep everyone together and safe and thus, felt a bit stressful. E-bikes were ok, but the blue ones with the fat tires were clearly a challenge for several of the riders.
That said, San Diego is a beautiful city and seeing it on a bike is a good way to do it, and Cassie did a nice job with her talking points on the stops. Here are my suggestions if you take this tour:
- Bring water, as it's not provided. There is a stop to buy water, but it's two hours into the tour. Also note that many of the bikes do not have a holder for a water bottle.
- The notes say that a basket or bike bag is included. What was included was a very small bag only large enough to accommodate a phone and a small snack, definitely not a water bottle.
- Consider taking a small backpack for water, phone, sunglasses, and snacks and also to stow a clothing layer you might want to peel off.
Lastly, I will say that my husband and I have done a dozen or more bike tours in various parts of the U.S. and abroad over the past several years and I would generously put this one in the bottom 50%.
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★★★★★ Craig Brockway 2 months agoFirst time Europe cyclers
· Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
Transfers were efficient and on time. Bikes were well maintained and easy to ride. Accommodation was comfortable, especially liked the guest house in Nierstien. Friendly host who told us about the great veiw from the hill.
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★★★★★ Pamela Lydon 2 months ago
Life Changing!
· Cycling the West Balkan Triangle
This trip will change how we vacation in the future!
There were 6 of us in our group, 5 on e-bikes, and 1 on a rode bike. We joined another group of 6 upon our arrival. Our guide Alex (Juro) provided us with a daily overview of the places we would be visiting and the terrain we would be covering. Our other guide was also Alex who followed behind the group in a van with our luggage and snacks. Together they helped to make the trip. They took our safety very seriously and shares some stories along the way of the places we were visiting. They were both engaging and worked hard to enhance our experience.
The ride covered all different types of terrain. We went on main roads, back quiet streets, flat roads, and covered grades as a steep as 12%. On an e-bike you took the hills at your own pace going both up and down. Juro would help guide the group, so we stayed together, and regrouped as needed. The important thing we all learned was to take time to enjoy the journey.
We stayed in lots of amazing places ranging from larger hotels to quaint 7 room hotels. The food and wine were wonderful everywhere we went, and the locals were so friendly. Lots of people spoke English and those who didn’t, Juro or Alex help as our interpreter.
The views were stunning. The pictures can’t begin to capture the breathtaking views of the mountains or along the sea. We were able to stop along the ride to take picture and Juro helped to make recommendations on where to stop for the best pictures.
The trip left us all wanting more. We agreed this trip changed how we want to vacation and explore other countries. We are already planning our next trip. Thank you to Juro, Alex, and BikeTours.com for a life changing experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first bike tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much 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?
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro
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★★★★★ Linda Cooper 2 months ago
Made the most of being stuck at the dock.
· · Danube Delights: Biking through Four Countries
An act of nature meant that the boat never left the dock. The company made a point to provide activities and bike routes for 7 days in Vienna. Bike Tours was non existent when it came to communicating the changing conditions before the tour started.
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★★★★★ Scott Jacobson 2 months agoSwiss crown bike tour
· · Danube Experience Bike and Boat Passau-Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade-Iron Gates-Passau
Due to captain error, and running the boat onto a sandbar, we weren’t able to see the Iron Gates. Very upsetting since that was the main purpose of paying for this trip. Due to captain error, didn’t dock in Passau, long bus ride to train station. Amwater ways went to Iron Gates same day we were supposed to. Next time, I will go with that boat tour.
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★★★★★ Roxanne Green 2 months ago
Countries visited were amazing!
· · Danube Experience Bike and Boat Passau-Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade-Iron Gates-Passau
The itinerary was perfect for exploring so many wonderful villages and towns in six countries along the Danube. The food was delicious and served beautifully by the waitstaff. Two major complaints - Bike service - my bike was handed to me on day 1 with totally flat tires, a fender rubbing on the front tire and gears that were stuck and screeching. The Captain (his crew) ran the boat onto a sandbar and we spent many hours sitting there watching other ships cross into the Iron Gates while we waited for a tugboat from Romania to pull us free. By the time we pushed off the sand, the weather had gotten bad and we didn’t get to travel to the Iron Gates. The explanation was “we can’t go to Iron Gates. Not our fault - blame the weather”. Though we had a wonderful experience on prior adventures in Denmark and Italy in 2017, I don’t know if I’d do another Biketours.com trip when bikes and boat captain were so poor with this one. But I gave it 4 stars because the Chefs, Wait Staff, Concierges, Bar Staff, Cleaning crew and overall ambience of the Swiss Crown was wonderful!
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★★★★★ Andrew Cooke 2 months agoGeneve to Lyon
· Along the Rhône River from Geneva to Lyon
Lovely October ride with my 70 yo brother on conventional bikes. We are fit, but not athletes per se. Our high school French was sufficient thanks to all the accommodating people en route. Very nice to get away from touristy areas for a genuine experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two prior
- 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?
- France, Switzerland
