Primarily Bike Paths Tour Reviews page 50
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- ★★★★★ NV_Chuck
Danube Bike Ride
Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)
Four of us rode down the Danube from Passau to Vienna. It is a great route with many Austrians of varying ages on the trail, as well. Our hotels were all quite nice and the service for moving luggage and making sure that our bikes were perfect for us was all top notch.
- ★★★★★ eb53
extraordinary trip across Austria
Salzburg to Vienna, Lakes Option
This trip was truly stunningly beautiful. We were amazed at how much beauty and variety could be packed into one trip. Even though the directions were sometimes confusing, it was easy to figure your way around--the signage is fantastic and people are exceedingly kind and friendly. We really loved the self-guided option--it increased the sense of adventure, freedom and self-reliance. All accommodations were splendid as were the breakfasts. We were amazed at how great the bike infrastructure is in Austria--way better than in the US. Everyone bikes and cyclists are respected. Motorists were very considerate of cyclists. Temperatures in Austria were WAY ABOVE NORMAL this year. The lakes part of the trip was some of the best riding we have ever done; we also loved the Wachau region. We wished that
this part had been longer. If we had it to do over, we would add a day to the lakes and maybe take a train over sections of the Danube. . . Do not miss the ecological gardens in Tullin! We wished we could have spent a day there.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- this is our first long tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
- ★★★★★ Stillpedaling
Our First European Cycle Tour
Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers
Cycling is a great way to experience central Switzerland, with the Alps in the background and the Aare River alongside us. We took one reviewer’s advice and spent extra days in Interlaken to explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The Aare Cycle Path is well marked, but we had some difficulty in the transition from cycle path to city to hotel. All the hotels were comfortable and ideally located for exploring the Old Towns of each city. The boat ride on Thun Lake was wonderfully relaxing and scenic. Don’t miss the storks at Altreu - they are unique. We thoroughly enjoyed our Swiss vacation.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 15 to May 25, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat 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?
- Switzerland
- ★★★★★ Granny on Wheels
Saarburg to Koblenz Great Trip
Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat
A great way to get out and explore Germany and suitable for all levels of fitness. The staff was very friendly, caring and well organised, speaking English and German. Our October trip was a little wet but still beautiful....the colours of the Autumn Fall were spectacular. Riding through the quiet streets of the villages along the Moselle was like taking a step back in time. A great way to get a feel of Europe past and present. The meals and afternoon teas were amazing. Although the boat is old, it is well kept and extremely clean. Our bedding was much more comfortable than I expected judging from the photos and we slept well...no noises at night. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and felt very safe. Would highly recommend this trip.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 21 - 28th October 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much 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?
- Germany
- ★★★★★ umcam256
Excellent first cycling trip - beautiful countryside and learned a lot
Lake Constance Bicycle Path
Background: My friend and I are from Winnipeg MB. It is extremely flat where we live. This was also our first cycling trip. We paid the extra to have our overnight bags delivered to the next hotel. We started the cycling trip on August 25 and finished August 30 2017.
We booked the 5 day, 6 night self-guided cycling tour through Radweg Reisen. You receive a .pdf of maps and hotel logistics about a week before you arrive. Ideally this would be provided at time of booking so that you can download your own offline maps and determine where you will stop for the day. Although, in hindsight, with a little bit of effort we probably could have done this ourselves with a bit of research.
We started our tour in Constance, Germany. The company was most professional and very attentive to detail when we picked up our bikes. We were given a coiled booklet with the maps, written instructions on how to fix a bike tire, reattaching a bike chain and how to adjust your bike.
Please note, the bikes do not come with water bottle holders. First hand experience has taught me not to put your water bottle in the front basket with your phone unless you put your phone in a waterproof container (drowning your phone on day 1 puts a damper on how proud you should be of yourself for cycling all those hills!).
We were advised to cycle in 3rd or 4th gear when it was "flat" and in 1st or 2nd gear when cycling on an incline. Because where I live is extremely flat, and I'm short (5 foot), I ended up cycling in 5th or 6th gear most of the time, dropping down to 4 at my lowest. My friend who is average height was able to cycle in 4th gear and able to drop down to 2nd gear at her lowest.
The first day we cycled from Constance to Reichenau Island (to sightsee) and then on to Stein am Rhein. I would recommend visiting Reichenau Island on your own if you have a day in Constance. Cycling from Constance to Reichenau Island required us to cycle out of our way and back almost all the way to Constance to get back on the trail to Stein am Rhein. While it was an excellent place to visit, it wasn't worth expending energy that could be used elsewhere. The first day was mostly uphill, and included a hill with a 13% incline. If I were to do this trip again (and hopefully I will!), I would recommend taking your bikes on the train from Constance to Stein am Rhein. Dropping your bike off, and catching the train to the Rhein Falls. We desperately wanted to visit the falls but after all of those hills we were too tired to get there. This leg of the trip is mostly through farmers' fields so if you took the train, conserving your energy for the remainder of the trip, you aren't missing too much. Your legs will thank you and it will give you more time to visit the town of Stein am Rhein and/or the falls.
The rest of our journey was as follows:
Day 2: Stein am Rhein to Überlingen Note: you will end up cycling through Constance again (with stop in Arenenberg at the Napoleonic Museum and in Constance for a swim in the Rhine). SHOW MOREThe hotel that was booked for us by Radweg Reisen is at the top of a very large hill. The view was spectacular from our room! However, it was hard to enjoy because our legs were ready to commit mutiny. In hindsight, if we hadn't doubled back the day before and/or took the train to Stein am Rhein, the uphill cycle to our hotel in Überlingen wouldn't have a been so arduous.
Day 3: Überlingen to Kressbronn (with stop in Meersburg for the Old Castle and then took a shortcut on the ferry from Friedrichshafen (I think?) the rest of the way to Kressbronn)
Day 4: Kressbronn to Rorschach (with stop in Bregenz to take the cable car up to Mount Pfänder). Contrary to everything we read, Bregenz was the easiest city to navigate to, around, and out of, compared to any of the other towns/cities we cycled through.
It was in Bregenz that we found out from two British couples who were also completing the self-guided Radweg Reisen Lake Constance tour that you can request that the booking company give you an extra day in the middle of your trip. This gives your legs one day to rest, one day to sightsee a little bit more than the days you are on your bike and one extra night at one of the hotels. When I do this trip again, I will likely book my day off for Bregenz. There were lots of day trips you could take in that area or alternatively stick around in the town.
Day 5: Rorshach to Constance (with a stop in Arbon for a beach day).
Besides taking the train the first leg, booking a day off in the middle to rest your legs/sightsee a little more in depth, the only other thing I would recommend is to download offline maps to your smartphone for each of the cities you will be staying in and how to get to the hotels. The path itself is very easy to follow but when you enter the cities it becomes quite challenging to navigate to your hotel. We frequently found ourselves using the map provided as well as finding a local map once we entered the city and still often had to ask for directions.
If two flatlanders can cycle this, you can too! The scenery is stunning and it's honestly not too hard of a cycle if you are smart about it. There are plenty of things to see and do, but you will need to plan a bit in advance of booking if you want to take in certain things. Each day you are cycling about 75 km per day (hotel to hotel) and while that doesn't seem like a lot, it does take a full day to do. We found one sightseeing thing was all we could fit in a day, hence why next trip we will be booking a day off in the middle so we can visit more of the places we had hoped to see! That being said, you could tell who the locals were because entire families were on the trail (although I think most of them were just out for the day!).
Don't be afraid to hop off your bike and walk it uphill if you need to. You should note however that the bikes are quite heavy. (I ride a fixie and even compared to my little hipster bike, these touring bikes were quite bulky and heavy.)
On a final note, the hotels that were booked for us were much nicer than anything we would have booked on our own! And the breakfasts provided at each of them was delicious. I recommend picking up some snacks at the grocery stores in the town so you have something to munch on throughout the day.
You can drink the water in Switzerland from any fountain unless it says you can't. Even still, I would recommend bringing 2-3 water bottles with you because of how hot the weather can get.
SHOW LESS- What was the date of your tour?
- August 25 - 30 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
- ★★★★★ Shlomo
Great trip in the Loire
Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic
It was my first multi-day bike trip and it was great. All the equipment and instructions were 100% .
2 comments: No one from the local company met us (so, for example, I couldn't ask how to reset the distance meter). And, there was no mobile number to which I could WhatsApp in case of problem (and I had no local calls package). Other than that it was great.- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct. 6th 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- 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?
- France
- ★★★★★ Lolacharlie
Lovely Vacation
Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
The perfect way to truly experience a country. I have traveled all over Europe before, the big cities of course, but this trip showed me the other side, Small towns and its people. Biketours is a great company with very helpful and professional people on the ground and online!
I was a bit concerned about the journey, because I get lost a lot, but I did very well! Had a great time!!- What was the date of your tour?
- July 12 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first one
- 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?
- Germany
- ★★★★★ Norm
Great ride.
Salzburg to Vienna, Lakes Option
Austria is beautiful with a lot of historic sites. We were late in season so a bit cooler, rained for 2 days but we were prepared. Very impressed with hotels and the mix of modern and historic settings, professionally organized. Only complaint was that on first part of trip, bike trail was not marked well and descriptions were hard to follow eg. go for a short ways and turn right at first farmyard turn left at the country road - keep at the block to the right? To a stranger to the area lot of this didn't make sense. We ended up getting most of our directions from local people who were very helpful. The portion on the Danube bike trail was very easy to follow.
Overall we were pleased with the tour.- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct 8 to 13, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- three
- 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
- ★★★★★ mean
relaxing and enjoyable biking
Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
This bike trip combines wonderful natural scenery --- kilometres of vineyards stretching up steep hills on both sides of the river, the meandering river with huge bends that continually open up to new vistas---with lovely, often quaint villages and towns. The biking is gentle and easy, mainly on an off road trail. And there's always an opportunity to stop for a coffee or glass of wine around the next bend.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct. 13
- 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?
- Germany
- ★★★★★ kayak
As much as you want it to be
Danube Delights: Cycling and Cruising in the Footsteps of Royalty
This was our first experience with any kind of boat "tour" and we took it with some trepidation of it being too cushy and not offering enough activity. It proved to be the best of both.
It combined the best aspects of a boat tour (small and intimate, exploring new places each day without having to move luggage) without the aspects we associate with a boat cruise/tour (schmaltzy events in the evening, formal dress and food events).
We found fellow passengers to be fit, open to adventure and informal in the evening while able to share their previous world travels. The staff was gracious, attentive, and invisible when not needed. Dinner courses were presented as if at a high-end restaurant and special food needs tracked by them throughout the week. Alcohol prices were reasonable. The Cruise Director was knowledgeable and well prepared.
Standard and ebikes were well maintained and staging meetings helpful for passengers to know the next day's' route and highlights.
And finally, each town we in which we moored, each village and bierhouse we visited, was hospitable and accommodating.
- ★★★★★ Jack Luther
Beer and Wine Along the Rhine with Martin Luther as a Travel Companion
Strasbourg to Mainz: Imperial Cities and Charming Landscapes Along the Rhine
My wife and I have previously done the BikeTours.com tour from Munich to Salzburg as well as the Loire Garden and Chateaux Tour and greatly enjoyed both of those. We invited good friends who are also cyclists to join us on this tour. All of us agreed that it was one of our best vacations ever and having
friends riding with us added to the pleasure. We do the tours "self guided" and enjoy the freedom of being able to explore off route if we want to. For example, on this trip we rode up into the vineyards near Nierstein, Germany which was not on the route but gave us some beautiful views and a wine tasting at the Huff Winery. There were a few days with some light rain but nothing that we were not prepared for. We stayed in the Category A hotels which were all of excellent quality and located close to the attractions we were interested in seeing. The written directions and the "E" stickers on posts along the way were often missing or confusing but the GPS offered by BikeTours worked very well. I would strongly recommend that anyone doing this tour "self-guided" absolutely plan to use the GPS mapping. The local tour company, Eurobike, does an excellent job. We have never had even the first problem with the bicycles or any of the services they provide.- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 17 - 22, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- 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, Germany
Video: Video 1
BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany
We're delighted to have helped you on your third BikeTours.com tour and to hear that it was a great success! Your experience is exactly what we hope to bring to clients on each tour. It's a pleasure to have the time to explore sites, scenery, and of course, vineyards. We think these are some of the best parts of a vacation. We'll be sure to work with our partner operators and improve at keeping you on the right path. Thank you very much for your feedback!
- ★★★★★ Beto
Beautiful country!
Danube Delights: Cycling and Cruising in the Footsteps of Royalty
Fantastic way to discover southern Austria. Great balance between cycling and sight seeing. Boat a haven of hospitality after a day's tour.
Friendly staff, old world charm and in our case, pleasant fellow gueste.
Highly recomendable - ★★★★★ apitzer
Cycling in Switzerland is Way more Accessible than you think!
Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers
I went on a portion of this tour from Thun to Bern to Biel/Bienne as a BikeTours.com staff member. The route was super easy to follow, very flat, and almost always on bicycle paths. We covered the daily distance quickly and were rewarded with more time to explore the perfectly-preserved and lively medieval town centers each night. The northern part of Switzerland is on a plateau, so it is not at all like the Alps. I missed the mountain views, but I definitely appreciated the more flat terrain.
Don't miss the Old City, the Clock Tower, the Rose Garden, or the bizarre, centrally located Kindlifresserbrunnen (German for "Child Eater Fountain") in Bern. Allow time to explore Biel/Bienne's old town. It is smaller than Bern, just as charming, and with a more local vibe. The nightlife in Biel/Bienne was more lively than expected, and there seemed to be a large student population. This is a fully bilingual German-French city. Very unique!
I visited Konstanz for one day at the end of this tour, and it was beautiful! Very charming, red-tiled buildings dominated the historic district. Be sure to climb up to the top of the Cathedral in Konstanz, and definitely visit the Island of Mainau, which is a beautiful botanical garden.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 3, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first!
- 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?
- Switzerland
- ★★★★★ apitzer
Enjoy Mountain Views, Lake Geneva, Swiss Villages, and Geneva
Rhône River Route: Oberwald to Geneva
I went on a portion of this tour as a BikeTours.com staff member from Geneva to Lausanne and Vevey. The Lavaux Vineyards, on the Swiss side of Lake Geneva, are a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. The wine has been produced in this region since the 11th century. Alpine views and the stunning, clear Lake Geneva are other highlights. This level 2 tour is relatively flat with a few hilly sections up by the vineyards. You can experience Switzerland without having to pedal up mountains, and an e-bike makes the journey even more accessible for all. The Schweiz Mobil national network of cycling paths is well-maintained and clearly marked. In my 8 days of cycling, we were confused about signage only a handful of times. Be sure to plan for lunch or attractions before you begin cycling, as restaurants are generally only open from about 11:30 - 2:00 for lunch, and they may not be able to serve lunch at 2:00. We had to do a lot of research ourselves about site-seeing, lunch stops, and directions to each point of interest along the way. Don't miss the Old City in Geneva, the Promenade du Lac with the famous Jet d'Eau (Jet of Water), the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, or Charlie Chaplin's estate in Vevey. The combination of the lake, vineyards, mountains, French-inspired cuisine and culture, and well-marked bike route make this tour a wonderful first tour in Switzerland.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 3, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first!
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Switzerland
- ★★★★★ BandB
Classy trip
Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)
We loved this tour. 60-70 km of flat riding during the day, lovely hotels and restaurants to experience at night. The transfer of our luggage was faultless. Some of the hotels were absolutely fabulous. One was disappointing. So much to see and experience during the day.
- ★★★★★ mattybee
Enjoyed the whole adventure
Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps
Great way to see 3 countries on one bike ride. Weather could have been better in the beginning. We started in mid September and encountered one day too wet to ride. But nevertheless made the most of it. Great accommodations all the way throughout the trip. Scenery was superb. Bike paths were wonderfully uncrowded. Rarely had to travel with any kind of vehicle traffic on any of the roadways. All luggage transfers and shuttles were seamless. Tour staff very friendly and helpful. The cycling itself wasn't particularly difficult, but a little endurance is needed because of the length of the daily rides. Didn't have GPS so we relied on the maps which were adequate in the outskirts and country, but could have used a bit better map in the city of Gorizia for sure. Don't miss the pizza a Al Lampione in Gorizia, and the strudel at Gasthof Post, in Oberdrauburg. We opted for the layover day in Lake Bled which was one of the highlights of the trip. Stunning. The walk around the lake with first snow on the mountains was spectacular. Nice way to spend a day. Also, would recommend a day after spent in Trieste. Plenty to do and see along the waterfront. We rented bikes from the Hotel and made another wonderful day of it. Would highly recommend this trip albeit maybe not as late in the season as when
we went.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2017
- 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, Slovenia, Austria
