Bike Tour Reviews  page 127

  • Sparta & the Mediterranean Coast
    (4/5) Tim Mulligan 3 months ago

    Amazingly beautiful ride through a remote and rugged part of Greece

    · Sparta and the Mediterranean Coast

    Another great ride from BikeTours.com...This was my 5th ride in Europe. The tour and stops along the way were well thought out and the navigation app was first rate...Almost impossible to get lost. The overnights were all great (best hotels were in Sparta and Monemvasia). The food recommendations are excellent with many of the locals also agreeing with the tour provider's advice. We went in late June, so we knew it would be extremely hot and likely windy, but the conditions were easily overcome with some acclimation prior to the trip and always making sure you had water. I'd recommend that you thoroughly research forecasted weather and the topography prior to the trip...This would have been extremely difficult without an e-bike. The highlight of the trip was Monemvasia, and I'd recommend an extra day there (at least), although all of the destinations had their own unique charm. My only negative takeaways: 1. The nav app uses a lot of battery power (if you're continuously viewing the map instead of the also available audio prompts), so make sure at least two of you have the app installed in case the battery dies....we preferred the map over just the audio, so that was partially our doing. 2. We had e-bikes...They were a bit tired and worn out...the gear shifters often did not work well. On day one, one bike wouldn't power up...I resolved the problem by using a nail file on the battery contacts, and then on day 4 of the trip, one bike completely failed (thankfully at the starting point for the day, resulting in a taxi ride for one of us (there were 4) and a bike replacement....That all being said, the tour provider was very responsive and accommodating. I'd also highly recommend having WhatsApp installed on your phone PRIOR to your trip...The Greeks prefer it to communicate. The ONLY reason I did not rate this a 5-star was the bike issues we had throughout the ride. I'd also like to emphasize that this is a remote part of Greece, so be well-supplied and familiar with the route when you set out each day.... the number of places to stop varies. There are no shortage of orange groves along the way and we were fortunate that the abundant fruit was ripe for the occasional snack. And finally, the Greek people are extremely friendly and kind.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Greece
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 1/5 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
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike Path
    (4/5) M And D October 23, 2016

    So enjoyable!

    · Danube Bike Path 7 Nights (Classic)

    We had such a good time going from Passau to Vienna. The bikes were great and the signage along the route made it so easy to stay on course. Sometimes making it through a larger town &/or making it into Vienna proved to be an adventure because of the "traffic"
    and quick choices to make at those times, but that's part of the charm! Accommodation was different in amenities from day to day but all lovely. Staff were wonderful at every spot. Would definitely recommend it and looking forward to trying another.
    Day

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 23,2016
    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 young kids, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Best of Holland South
    (4/5) Marion Van Kirk May 12, 2024

    Beautiful Holland

    · Best of Holland South: Canals, Windmills & Historic Towns

    We enjoyed the trip. The weather was perfect and the towns very nice. The hotels were good, and the people were helpful. All breakfasts were good. Our tour administrator (Pieter) was very nice and accommodating. We were self guided. The only disappointment was Keukenhof Gardens which had peaked earlier than expected due to warmer April weather. The tulips were fading and the crowds excessive. Traveling by train from Amsterdam to Utrecht and Leiden to Amsterdam was very easy.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    12
    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?
    Holland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Algarve Coastal Route
    (4/5) Mychelle Fitzgerald 5 months ago

    An Adventure

    · Algarve Coastal Route

    This is our 4th ride with this company and the Portugal ride had the most challenges but also was adventurous. The Garmin that they gave us to use was not very good. We also uploaded a Bike App but this was not always dependable as well. Each day was an adventure to find the next location. We did tap into our Google GPS (bike option) as well. We were never worried we would not make it. The hotels they put us in where first class. Each had a swimming pool, balcony views, centrally located and great breakfast buffets to start our day. Our last day we had trouble with one of our batteries on the electric bike. It did not charge properly (even though we had it plugged in all night). When we started we only had 4 our of 5 bars and within 15 minutes it went down to 3 bars. It was our shortest day ride (29 miles) so we didn't pack our charger cord (which we did not require on any of the longer days). We made it within 7 miles of the finish line when the battery went completely dead. It was a very windy and hilly day so we had to call the local tour team to pick us up. They were great to work with and very supportive of our success. The driver even drove us to the finish line so we could see the lighthouse. They took a 6 day ride down to 4 days for us to accommodate our travel schedule. The overall experience was good but the directional devices took my rating from a 5 star to 4 star.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    4
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • Lots of beautiful farm land (photo by Mychelle Fitzgerald)
    • We passed several bird sanctuaries (photo by Mychelle Fitzgerald)
    • View along the coast (photo by Mychelle Fitzgerald)
    • Stopping for a water break (photo by Mychelle Fitzgerald)
    • Expect some steep dirt roads (photo by Mychelle Fitzgerald)
    • Just crossed this amazing bike bridge along the coast (photo by Mychelle Fitzgerald)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Dolomites to Trieste
    (4/5) naamaza July 22, 2018

    well planned trip

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    we were a group of 6, the planning was great. a guide came to our hotel on the first night with maps,and attractions to see on the road (though except restaurants, there are not that many attractions to see).
    the roads were very convenient and well signed.
    the weather was perfect and the whole experience left us with a taste of more :-)
    I advise to review the hotels that are booked as default since they are very basic. you may want to upgrade.

    highly recommended route and company.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 29
    How many tours have you completed?
    none
    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?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 2/5 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
  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (4/5) Nadine Janssens 1 month ago

    Beautiful nature

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    Very nice scenery
    Hotels at the coast were nice
    We recomment the trip for nature not for gastronomy
    Breakfast was difficult to eat

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    40
    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?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Cycling the Altmuehl Valley
    (4/5) Bike Queen July 12, 2017

    E-Bikes Are the Way to Go!

    · Cycling the Altmühl Valley - Round trip from Regensburg

    For the most part this was a GREAT trip. A few things (in no particular order) might be improved: More detailed descriptions of the routes, especially getting into and out of the larger towns. That's usually when we got lost even with the routes provided. Loved all the hotels, newer and older. Meals everywhere were great. The e-bikes were a lot of fun. They could have used a bit of an overhaul before we took them out, however. gears (especially 5 and 8) slipped. I had virtually no 5th gear. None of it was so difficult that we bothered to stop and get anything fixed. The scenery was fabulous. We had a couple of rainy days, but they didn't' interfere with our fun.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 4-9, 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    8-ish
    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?
    Germany
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Innsbruck to Salzburg
    (4/5) Nancy Voorhees September 26, 2024

    Idyllic landscape

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

    I have never seen such beauty as along this trail in the Austrian Alps. Our accommodations were comfortable, breakfasts were delicious and our luggage was alway there before we arrived. My suggestion for making the trip more enjoyable is to make sure the Garmin has each day's route. Our's had many routes on it and that made it confusing. It would make more sense if only our routes were on it. Also, everyone should have a Garmin or use their google maps. Using the printed route map was impossible. Our ebikes were very comfortable and our trip was awesome! Thanks.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria
  • Portugal's Atlantic Coast
    (4/5) Nancy Lewis October 25, 2023

    Very scenic

    · Portugal's Atlantic Coast

    Great route and hotels. It would be better if the GPS had verbal cues as well since you can't see your phone in the rain. Also detailed paper maps would help especially if raining. Tour operator was excellent.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
  • Split to Dubrovnik
    (4/5) nlparker June 16, 2017

    Gorgeous Country; Warm, Welcoming People; Challenging Climbs

    · Split to Dubrovnik: The Islands and Coastline of Croatia

    Right choice for our family of 6. Cycling on islands was scenic and safe. Routes through small villages, wineries, along crystal blue Adriatic coasts. Thorough orientation by MeridienTen staff including additional & alternate route choices. Good bikes and good decision to bring our shoes & pedals for the climbs. Dependable transportation among islands. Excellent lodging & breakfasts especially in Dubrovnik, Korcula, Split. Furnished materials included informative Croatian history & culture. Perfect weather. Thanks to MeridienTen staff.

    What was the date of your tour?
    5.29-6.4.2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    4
    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?
    Croatia
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Berlin – Copenhagen
    (4/5) Janie7 August 1, 2016

    Excellent family tour

    · Berlin – Copenhagen

    Our family of 4 just returned from an excellent 11 night, 10 day self-guided ride from Berlin to Copenhagen. We found the Mecklenburg Radtour company to be extremely well organized, have good equipment and would recommend anyone interested in a great, active holiday to give this a try! This was our first experience with Biketours.com, but we met 4-5 groups of bikers who had done multiple trips with other outfitters who felt this was particularly well organized. The hotels ranged from fine to excellent, and all had terrific breakfasts! The majority of the 400 miles was on well maintained paths and roads with only a few difficult areas.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 18-28
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    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?
    Denmark, Germany
    • Southern Denmark (photo by Janie7)
    • Wheat fields of Mecklenberg (photo by Janie7)
    • Map reading is a necessary skill in the self guided tours! (photo by Janie7)
    • Enjoying a dip in a lake along the way - the rope swing was great! (photo by Janie7)
    • Ferry from Rostock Germany to Denmark (photo by Janie7)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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
  • Bolzano – Verona – Venice
    (4/5) MacS July 24, 2019

    Wonderful vistas

    · Bolzano – Verona – Venice

    What was the date of your tour?
    7/6- 7/13
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Danube Bike Path
    (4/5) Pedro Carlisle 4 months ago

    Romantic road

    · Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)

    A great way to visit Austria following the Danube, lovely landscapes and some lovely sights along the way

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    This was the third
    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
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 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
  • Vienna to Budapest
    (4/5) Wayne October 27, 2016

    New Mexico Touring Society (NMTS) Vienna to Budapest

    · Vienna to Budapest (Classic)

    Overall a great ride, but some issues with the tour company in Austria.

    Bikes were excellent and the route for most of the trip was well marked. We were on highways a very short period of time. Traffic on the highways was not an issue. We had about 10 kilometers of non-paved bike path. Unfortunately, we rode that in the rain, but we made it without any incidents.

    Our complaint about the tour company is that they cheated us on the trip materials that we were promised. Not every rider received a map of the route. Because people doubled up in the hotel rooms, they only provide one map per hotel room. The pre-ride briefing was very poor and the tour person appeared to be in a hurry to complete the briefing. The route out of Vienna can be confusing, but we had rented city bikes the day before and scouted the route ourselves. The tour company only gave us very general instructions on how to leave the city.

    He did do a good job of fitting everyone to their bikes. I asked him for a floor bike pump, but he never responded to my text message requests and the tour company never returned my phone calls. The small bike air pumps that are in the bike saddle bike are not adequate to fully pump up a tire.

    The bikes were excellent and perfect for the route with the variation in road surfaces and occasional gravel stretches. We had no flat tires during the trip. We were a group of 17 riders, so that is a remarkable feat.

    The hotels were all excellent except for the hotel outside of Esztergom, the Hotel Bellevue. In addition to being in a remote location, it was well past its prime. The only dinner option was a buffet which ran out of food before some of our group had the opportunity to dine. The breakfast was once again a poor selection of items, most of which ran out early. The rooms were dark and poorly equipped with the usual features.

    Everyone’s favorite city was Gyor. The hotel was excellent and the large city plaza with the historical buildings surrounding it was fascinating. Dining options were excellent.

    The boat ride into Budapest was excellent and a nice way to finish the trip.

    Overall, a terrify ride with the exceptions noted above. Not every rider having a map was an ongoing frustration that caused some confusion on the occasions when the group got separated into smaller groups.

    Wayne Friesen
    Albuquerque, NM

    What was the date of your tour?
    2 - 8 Sep 2016
    How many tours have you completed?
    8
    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, Hungary
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 2/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Bike Paths of the Dolomites
    (4/5) Nancy Nestler October 3, 2024

    Loved the area!

    · Bicycle Paths of the Dolomites (based in one hotel)

    We loved exploring the area. There was a lot of variety going in different directions each day. We found the paths and day trips to be different enough that we felt like we were exploring a new place every day. Well done!

    One comment - don't do the Toblach to Lienz ride on a beautiful weekend day, especially at the same time the train arrives. The route was too crowded to enjoy for about 1/3 of the ride.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    4
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    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?
    Italy
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 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
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) Nancy Nestler 2 days ago

    Beautiful Scenery and Quaint Marina Towns

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    We loved the scenery and riding by so many little marina towns. I wanted to have coffee in all of them!!

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2025
    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, Switzerland
    • 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
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Tauern Bike Path
    (4/5) Moody Group October 11, 2018

    Fun Experience

    · Tauern Bike Path (Krimml-Passau)

    The biking was a great experience based on something we have not done before. The bike route took us through the beautiful country side and charming communities of Austria and Germany. However, when the bicycles were delivered to our hotel in Salzburg no one from the bike company remained to provide assistance as we were lead to believe. Directions were not always clear so making decisions for the correct direction was sometimes difficult.
    Accommodations in Salzburg and Obernburg am Inn were quaint, cozy and delightful and the staff were very pleasant and accommodating. However the accommodations at a couple of the other hotels were not very favorable. The Elevators/Lifts to the rooms at Hotel Gloecklhofer Burghausen were not available in our section of the hotel and the staff did not offer assistance. The staff at Hotel Spitzburg in Passau were not not very helpful or friendly. They seemed disinterested,. Example: On our last day in Passau we asked for an early wake up call to catch an early morning train. This did not happen. Fortunately we had set our own alarm and woke up on time. Then when we went down to the lobby that morning it was dark and no one was around. The door back to the rooms locked behind us and the lobby door to the street was locked. Fortunately we somehow managed to get the door open and were able to leave to catch our 7:25 AM train.

    Our overall experience was good and we did have a great time with our friends.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Started in Salzburg on Sept 18th.
    How many tours have you completed?
    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?
    Austria, Germany
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike and Boat
    (4/5) Normbc June 4, 2019

    Enjoyed the biking and scenery, but time of year with high water slowed boat down

    · · Danube Bike and Boat: Passau-Budapest-Passau – MS SE-Manon

    This was my first experience on a bike and barge cruise. It was great to have to unpack only the once and have the same place to sleep each day. The rooms were very good, the staff excellent and the meals exceptional. The first couple of days we had rain (time of year) but we were still able to get out and bike (if you don't mind doing so with rain gear on). The timing between stops by the boat were really off because of high water. At one place we were not even able to dock to get off the boat to leave on bikes so that day we had to start where we should have ended and biked an extra 10 km to complete the circuit. Only 2 of us actually the did the entire cirucit due to the rain and wind conditions and distance. The rest of the trip the weather improved and we had some sunny beautiful days biking. We lost our free time to explore Vienna though because of the slow progress of the boat coming up-river where we arrived at 5:30 pm rather than 10 am as scheduled.

    How many tours have you completed?
    May 19 - 26
    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, Hungary, Slovakia
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
    • 3/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Best of Northern Zealand
    (4/5) Bryan Whited August 6, 2022

    Beautiful scenery along popular tourist areas (except the last day)

    Best of Northern Zealand

    This tour was a lot of fun and we got to see a lot of interesting places. The hotels were amazing and you get to stay in some very interesting towns/cities. The scenery along the trail was nice, although for many portions the view was blocked by either privacy walls or thick foliage on one or both sides of the trail. Most of the areas are popular with tourists, so don't expect to see many "hidden" gems or explore backwater areas off the beaten path.

    I highly recommend the tour, but there were a few things that could be better.
    First off, the GPS worked 90% of the time with the remaining 10% very wrong (with directions to go round in circles, pull into random driveways or repeatedly make u-turns). Unfortunately the 10% where it was wrong was often in the areas where you needed it the most (like dodging traffic in the industrial part of Copenhagen or where the trails were confusing)
    Second, the last day just wasn't much fun at all. It was one of the longest days, the scenery wasn't all that great and and much of the trail was along highways and roads with heavy traffic. The paths were still nice and safe but the constant noise and exhaust got old and I got frustrated with how confused the GPS was. (Also the weather was bad that day and the path was covered in slugs and snails.)

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2022
    How many tours have you completed?
    This is our fourth unguided bike tour
    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?
    Denmark
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 3/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Würzburg to Donauwörth
    (4/5) Richard Robblee August 4, 2023

    Lovely rural trail and ancient towns; variable quality accommodations.

    · Romantic Road from Würzburg to Donauwörth

    The tour itself was fun and varied. We enjoyed every day, and every day was different from the one before. Some days were virtually all in rural settings; others followed lightly-traveled roads in flat farming country which allowed us a close-up view of life in the area. The route-finding at times was tricky, having to work with a German language map book, an English translation booklet, and Komoot. We usually just followed the small bike trail signs but on a couple of occasions got thrown off as the same sign is used for various other trails. We should have paid strict attention to the English translated booklet when approaching towns instead of relying on the signs. So there was some back-tracking but nothing too serious. As to the bikes, our two bikes did not come with a repair kit or pump, and none were delivered until the end of the third day of our six day trip (when we reached the tour company they offered to send help at their expense to us on the trail if needed but for whatever reason could not get us the repair kit/pump promptly). Our trip was delayed on the fifth day by a loose screw that secured the rear fender to the frame, which meant that the retaining clip rubbed against the rear tire. The bikes themselves were on the heavy/sturdy side but worked well. Baggage transfers were reliable. Accommodations were spotty: the GHotel in Würzberg was a characterless commercial hotel; surely there are local hotels in the old town that could have been selected. The Hotel Bronnbacher in Wertheim was among our favorites - the remarkably helpful proprietor, Kai, deserves special praise. The Ringhotel Bundschu in Bad Mergentheim, despite its luxurious room and common areas, was a disappointment; the proprietor was terse and came across to us as unwelcoming, and the room was impossible to ventilate. No fan was made available in this fanciest of all six hotels. The Hotel Gerberhaus in Rothenburg was wonderful in all ways. The Hotel Piazza in Dinkelsbühl was satisfactory but otherwise unremarkable. The only utterly unsatisfactory hotel was the Hotel Wengers Brettl in Nördlingen. The staff that greeted us spoke virtually no English; no fan was available; the smoke alarm was missing from its placement in the ceiling, and the breakfast service was comparatively scant with the only employee spending most of his time reading the newspaper at the counter. Finally, the Hotel Donau was one of our favorites; set up well for bicyclists and with helpful staff. All meals with the exception of the Hotel Wengers Brettl were excellent.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    7
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Germany
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection