Bike Tour Reviews page 134
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★★★★★ Reigh Walling November 8, 2022A rich historical past and a vibrant and diverse present. That's Portugal.
· Castles and Wines of Portugal
If you told most people that you were going to cycle Portugal, they would only think of Lisbon. Well, that is a beautiful city, but an hour's train ride took us from coastal topography to a totally different landscape of rolling hills topped with cork trees and vineyards. The tour was a nice mix of ancient walled cities and rural rolling roads. Cows graze amid the monoliths. Sheep browse for grass under the olive trees, each wearing a tiny tinkle bell around its neck -- their movement producing a melodious windchime symphony. Accommodations ranged from a rustic farmhouse to an actual palace, and the route and attributes of the tour also bridged history and modern culture. But it's Portugal's people who are the real stars of the tour. And of course, the food.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- 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?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Amir Zomer November 8, 2022
Excellent ride with stunning views
· Munich & the Bavarian Lakes
The trip was wonderful –
Stunning views along the way with lakes, mountains, forests and colorful villages.
We upgraded the bike and were very pleased with their quality and comfort.
The hotels were adequate for that kind of trip.Downside (The reason I gave it only 4 stars):
- The hotels were not always close to the end of the daily route.
Some days it was 2-3 Km away and in the worst case it was 20Km away!!
Just imagine thinking you’re done with your daily route after planning the riding times and then you have to ride additional 20 Km.
- The maps that we were given were not aligned to our trip – we used the App.
- The App can be improved – a sound should be added to alert when you’re off the route.
We sometimes found ourselves out of the route without noticing it because we can’t have our eyes on the screen all the time.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2022
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Sandy Anderson November 8, 2022Lake Constance Upscale
· Lake Constance Bicycle Path (Upscale Lodging)
This trip was good overall, yet we made a mistake by choosing Upscale Lodging because most of the hotels were not in the old towns, and we had to go through the city at rush hour with unclear directions. We would have preferred staying along the river in the old towns. Upscale lodging was not necessary.
Secondly, the KaMOOT app that we bought and tried to use was a disaster. It lead you along any trail that came up...whether it was for hikers, or a dog path, so we were constantly rerouting on the first day, until we gave up on it and used the written guide.
The bikepaths were wonderful and scenic and we loved that part of the ride.- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 2022
- 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, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria, Germany, Switzerland
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★★★★★ Peter Keithly November 8, 2022Well Organized Bicycle Tour of Dalmatia Coast
· · Bike and Boat Croatia’s Dalmatia Coast
Very well organized and comprehensive adventure. Probably best for those who want to use E-Bikes. Guides were energetic and fun to be around. Waiter was wonderful and very entertaining. Food was well prepared and plentiful. Our room was comfortable and kept cool for sleeping with A/C. Top deck could have been a bit more user friendly as there was no shade provided.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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★★★★★ Al Carruthers November 9, 2022Directions too vague
· Vienna to Budapest (Classic)
The bikes, biking, hotels, food and weather were all good. The route descriptions were too vague. We were given German maps which were no help. We were told they were out of English maps and were not getting them reprinted. Directions were particularly vague when trying to find hotels and how to leave hotels correctly in the mornings.
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★★★★★ Timothy Libassi November 9, 2022Beautiful road biking through the Algarve countryside
· Best of the Algarve by Road Bike
Beautiful tour through the countryside of the Algarve. The routes provided kept you on quite almost car free roads for the most part and where it couldn’t you are still on well maintained secondary roads with a good shoulder to ride on. The weather was great, not too hot during the day and no rain while we were riding. The carbon fiber road bikes were high quality, well-tuned and setup for us on the first day. The hotels were good to great, we stayed an extra night in Sagres, which was not only a great way to break up the trip but also the nicest hotel on the tour. The Garmin provided worked fine, we had one glitch where it sent us to the wrong hotel, but since we had also downloaded the tours to our phone, we worked it out quickly. Communication was great with biketours.com and even better with the local tour company who kept track of my bag which the airline had lost and had it to me just in time for the first day of riding. Overall a fun trip, I would go back to Portugal in a heartbeat.
- What was the date of your tour?
- october 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ James Cieslak November 12, 2022
A Greay Way to Experience Greece
· Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
Enjoyed a quieter side of Greece and met wonderful people along the way. The mountains were beautiful, sea side riding scenic, the agricultural valleys relaxing, and the ancient sites were amazing. We were a group of experienced riders ( ages early 60's through late 70's). E-bikes made the physical part of the trip very enjoyable and not too difficult. The cycling routes kept us off of the main highways the vast majority of the time. Greek hospitality was everywhere. On our daily routes we were offered water, invited into a home for a meal, and received gifts of fruit and nuts all along the way. One of our best trips!
Points to consider for future cyclists on this trip:
1-The e-bikes were either Fuji (step over seat) or Breezer (step through) models. Request your preference when booking. Had a few problems charging batteries overnight. Double check that your bike is indeed charging before leaving it for the night.
2-Use the app 'Ride with GPS' for your routes. Much easier than the materials provided by the company.
3- Hotels in Vytina, Tripoli, and Napflio were very satisfactory. The hotel in Paralia Astros (Ariandne Hotel) was unsatisfactory. The pool was not maintained (green, filthy water present) which led to a mosquito problem throughout the hotel. A new hotel is needed.
4-None of the bikes had water bottle holders. Had to carry water in the pannier or strapped to the rear rack (bring a few short bungee cords for that purpose).
5-Request a full sized tire pump. Flats happen and you'll make changing tires much easier.- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- 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?
- Greece
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★★★★★ KAY SINGLETON December 9, 2022
Most challenging of all bike trips we've done
· Tuscany and Umbria: Cycling in the Heart of Italy
There was a great sense of accomplishment each time we reached the hilltop towns, often after an over 1000m climb; all of the towns were beautiful with awesome views; the accomodations were excellent; we found the descents scary at times and were glad to have good brakes; sooo glad we got the road bikes! would not do this trip without them!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
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★★★★★ Emily Hyde January 24, 2023Fun trip but bikes too heavy
· Swiss Lakes by E-bike: Lake Geneva to Lake Lucerne
All aspects of the trip were very well organized. The packet we were given was great. We had a problem with one of our bikes, and had a new one the next day! The tour company did a good job with helping when needed. Each hotel we stayed at knew we were coming. Check in was always smooth. Even though we arrived early each day, the hotels were very accommodating and our room was always ready. They all were prepared for our bike storage as well.
We wished we would have covered more mileage each day. Other than scenery, there wasn't much to do in some of the towns, so we would have liked to have covered more mileage. The last day was only a twelve mile ride, which was disappointing. That distance is covered in no time at all on an e-bike. We checked in to our hotel by 1 pm each day. Unfortunately for us it rained everyday except the last, so we didn't meander around as we hoped, we made it as fast as we could to each location. It took us about 3 1/2 hours each day to cover the distance we were supposed to ride. We probably would have stopped along the way had the weather been better.
Hotels:
Again, ALL were accommodating. Staff at every location welcomed us warmly!
The Hotel Ermitage in Schonreid was truly exceptional in each and every aspect. Will be going back one day! Wish we could have had our rest day there! The Gruyere Hotel staff went above and beyond. They welcomed us with hot cocoa when they saw how wet and cold we were. One of our group twisted their ankle, they helped with what we needed. They contacted the bike company for us with picking up one of the bikes that wasn't working. We also sent our bikes instead of riding because of the rain and they helped us arrange that.
We were very disappointed in the Seegarten Marina Hotel in Spiez. It was definitely not up to the quality of our other hotels. The room was incredibly small, as was the bathroom. We should have been given the option of two rooms in that hotel. We had three people with us on this trip, and it was the only time it was really uncomfortable. The third person slept on an actual cot. Unfortunately, it was also our "rest day," so we had two nights at that hotel. We were given the hotel list about two weeks prior to our trip. Perhaps a list of hotels ahead of time would be nice. It would have give us the option of making plans for things to do at each location, especially on the rest day.Bikes: Although we wondered before our trip about the mileage we would be covering, that, we found, was of no concern on an e-bike.
Didn't need to train, or get ready to sit for a long time on the seat each day. Those ended up not being an issue at all. The BIG issue was the weight of the bike. All three of us felt we would probably never do one of these tours again-completely because of the bike. We had rented e-bikes in the states before we came. Totally different. Your bikes were very, very heavy. We felt off-balance on the bike--ie--couldn't look back on the bike for fear of falling. Two of us did fall(just lots of bruising.). We all thought that should be mentioned somewhere in your literature. SHOW MOREA couple other items:
The funicular station in Vevey said "no bikes". So, we started riding them. Big mistake. We rode--well, walked, our bikes up one of the steepest sections of the trip. Send your bikes whenever it says to do so. Makes a big difference in your day!The timing of the chocolate factory wasn't great. Although it probably was the last timed ticket for the day, we missed the bus, which only came hourly, and had to take a $50 cab ride to make it there on time. This was the only day we got into town late (didn't use the funicular! and got lost)
The directions were good on the open road. Not as great in the city. Was usually hard to navigate from the hotel out of the city.
Rest day would be good in a different city. Not much to do in Spiez.
Would probably have been a wonderful trip if we saw the Alps, and the bikes were lighter!
SHOW LESS- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Switzerland
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★★★★★ Bernice Thill March 15, 2023
Authentic Beautiful Portugal
· Algarve Coastal Route
This trip is an amazing challenge by bicycle, from flat country roads to busy tourist towns to the climbing and winding hills and valleys that lead to sweeping views of the sea in Sagres and Cape St. Vincent. My husband and I are long-time cyclists and did a self-guided tour of the Algarve Coast. We found this ride to be challenging and rewarding. Our local representative was super helpful in lending tips and advice. The hotels were A-plus. The luggage transfer was flawless. The GPS device provided by the tour company was a great addition and helped us navigate throughout the trip. Written directions were harder to follow as not all roads are marked with bike route information. You must trust mainly the GPS and fill in with Google maps. The only reason I’m not giving this a 5-star rating is that our bikes were in need of some love. They were good hybrid bikes that could handle rough roads and smooth pavement. We biked on some cloudy, rainy days and it would have been nice to have the Dynamo lights working for safety. We also had some trouble with our chains slipping off the gears, and the suspension being really tight. You want suspension for some of the rougher roads. Otherwise, this was such an amazing trip by bicycle. If you love adventure, check this out.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Early March 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Bernice Thill March 16, 2023
Authentic Beautiful Portugal
· Algarve Coastal Route
This trip is an amazing challenge by bicycle, from flat country roads to busy tourist towns to the climbing and winding hills and valleys that lead to sweeping views of the sea in Sagres and Cape St. Vincent. My husband and I are long-time cyclists and did a self-guided tour of the Algarve Coast. We found this ride to be challenging and rewarding. Our local representative was super helpful in lending tips and advice. The hotels were A-plus. The luggage transfer was flawless. The GPS device provided by the tour company was a great addition and helped us navigate throughout the trip. Written directions were harder to follow as not all roads are marked with bike route information. You must trust mainly the GPS and fill in with Google maps. The only reason I’m not giving this a 5-star rating is that our bikes were in need of some love. They were good hybrid bikes that could handle rough roads and smooth pavement. We biked on some cloudy, rainy days and it would have been nice to have the Dynamo lights working for safety. We also had some trouble with our chains slipping off the gears, and the suspension being really tight. You want suspension for some of the rougher roads. Otherwise, this was such an amazing trip by bicycle. If you love adventure, check this out.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Early March 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Rudo Clemens April 27, 2023Very Nice Biketour
· Welcome to Tallinn Bike Tour
Today (27/4/23), we had a very Nice Biketour with our guide Toomas. We were with 6 people and saw a lot. Toomas knew a lot to tell and showed us beautifull places. It’s a real recommandation, thnx so much
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★★★★★ Ryan C. May 1, 2023
The best monuments/memorials in one tour
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
I can't think of a better way to see all the monuments/memorials in one trip. Of course you can't drive your car to each of the monuments and park. I suppose you could walk it, but it would be a very long walk. So seeing them by bike is about perfect.
Despite growing up in DC, I learned a lot on this tour. For instance, I didn't realize that the Washington Monument was at one time the tallest building in the world (later surpassed by the Eiffel Tower). And that it remains the tallest unreinforced stone structure in the world (no steel, just stone). (The wording used by the guide was something about "tallest free standing" structure, but I think he meant "tallest unreinforced structure".)
Every monument and memorial is a highlight. For me the MLK one was especially cool as I had not seen before. I just thought it was really well done and the guide really described it well. Another highlight was at the end, standing on the steps of the Jefferson memorial, you could see many of the monuments/memorials visited earlier, the White House, the Potomac, National Cathedral and all over DC actually. It's a great view. I had also not seen the FDR memorial before, and while I found it interesting, its message was not quite as easy to grasp as the others, for me at least.
There were two tour guides in our group of nearly 20 people, and they were knowledgeable about each monument. During each stop, one guide would keep an eye on all the bikes so that we could walk around and explore the monument for 10, 15 or 20 minutes, depending on the monument/memorial. It was really well organized and planned. The guides were friendly and available for questions and also had tools to help adjust the bikes if needed. One guide was wearing a badge on his shirt about how he wanted tips. I didn't know that ahead of time and didn't bring cash, and wouldn't know what they'd expect even if I had. So I kind of wish there was more communication and clarity on this aspect, as it made me wonder if the guides are already paid or if they are volunteers. In any case, the guides were great.
The bikes were good quality, well maintained, comfortable and easy to ride. I think the bike I rode was a Cannondale, which I understand is a very good quality bike. The starting location was very convenient and Unlimited Biking has a great location in DC. Along the ride there were opportunities for food and bathroom breaks, and it was overall a very easy and educational day tour.
I recommend this tour if you are interested in an easy and fun way to see all the monuments. This really is the easiest way to do that. I don't recommend this tour if you are looking for lots of exercise on a bike, as there really isn't all that much actual bike riding on this tour. But luckily, we were able to keep riding the bikes afterwards (without the guides) so we rode on to Old Town Alexandria and back, which was a nice ride for both exercise and scenery. Highly recommended. SHOW MORE
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ JB May 1, 2023
Great way to see the monuments
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
Great bike tour of DC’s most popular monuments. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us ample time to explore the sites at each stop. Not too much biking so perfect for unexperienced riders, looking to learn but not break a sweat. Would recommend!
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★★★★★ Claudia Hodkinson May 1, 2023A relaxed and fun way to explore the iconic monuments of DC!
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
This was a well-organized tour with informative guides. Biking from one monument to the next by bike was a really fun way to get around and see the sites easily and quickly. At each spot, we were given enough time to explore the monuments on foot . Biking was easy and bikes were in good condition. A great experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 29, 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Henry May 2, 2023
A fun and interesting ride around the monuments
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
Our guides showed us around the monuments of DC at a relaxed pace and were full of fun and interesting facts about each monument. Even while visiting the ones I had already seen before I learned a lot!
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2023
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ G Ayala May 2, 2023
Monuments & Memorials Tour it is!
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
This is a great tour! You will definitely see many monuments and memorials, some of which I didn’t even know existed, and I’ve travel to DC quite a bit. There’s not a lot of biking on this tour, so if you’re looking for a real work out, this isn’t it, but it is great to do with families – smaller children, grandmas and grandpas etc. Highly recommend! Our guides, Eric B and Josh were amazing!!
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★★★★★ Kirsten H May 2, 2023
The Perfect Way to Explore DC!
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
After visiting DC a few times on foot, this time I went by bike. This is truly the best way to get from monument to monument! The time you save by not walking is spent getting a small history lesson and an in depth view of each location. Our guides were wonderful and very knowledgeable! I only wish that there were more focus on the history of each stop.
The biking itself was minimal, almost entirely on bike paths, and can be done easily by beginner cyclists. There are some spots where you must cross the road and be aware of traffic, however.
Even though a lot of the monuments are currently under spring cleaning and construction, I had a great time on this adventure! We had good weather, fun guides and comfortable bikes! If you take a trip to DC, you'll have to make time for this excursion!
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 29, 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Roz P May 2, 2023
The ideal sightseeing experience
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
Coming from the UK, I'd seen the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, National Mall etc on the TV and I knew I had to see these places in person one day. I was so glad and appreciative to find a tour that took me to the best of Washington DC in just a few hours - I could tick all these sights off my travel list, and there really was no comparison between seeing pictures and standing right there on the steps with Lincoln looming above me.
Our guides Josh and Eric B were very knowledgeable and had a relaxed manner that was easy to engage with. I learned a lot of interesting facts at each site and was grateful for a compact introduction before being given time to independently explore the monuments. The tour was paced so you didn't feel rushed like you sometimes can do - the guides looked after our bikes and I was able to read every quote at the FDR memorial, which was my favourite. The guides were also great for stopping so I could grab a bottle of water mid-ride.
Overall, this was a really atmospheric ride that was equal parts educational and engaging. Also to add is that the bike was really good quality (Cannondale) with a pouch for storing your phone so there was no fear of it slipping out of my pocket. I kept the bike until the evening, so I was able to extend my trip with a cycle to Alexandria which took me past the Pentagon with planes from the Reagan Airport soaring overhead.
I'd recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see the best of DC without tiring themselves with long walks between the monuments.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- 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
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★★★★★ Brittney S. May 3, 2023
Great way to easily see many memorials and monuments!
· Washington DC Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
This tour was a great way to see the monuments and memorials in DC. It was quick and easy to bike between the different tour stops and saved so much time compared to walking. At each stop, our guides took time to discuss the history behind the memorial and then allowed time to explore independently.
The biking was very easy, even with a few road intersections and some pedestrian traffic around the more popular monuments.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone exploring the area. I imagine it is even more lovely at night with all the lighting on the monuments!- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2023
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
