Bike Tour Reviews  page 79

  • Amsterdam to Bruges on Magnifique II
    (5/5) Judith Moore Vey June 19, 2023

    amazing

    · · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique II (and reverse)

    all very good. great group of people. Biking and weather amazing. The boat was much nicer, cleaner etc than we were anticipating. Food made by the chef was delicious.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 8, 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Belgium, Holland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Discover the stunning region of Provence by bike!
    (5/5) Edouard Cornudet June 21, 2023

    Amazing

    · Cycling Paradise of Provence - to and from Avignon

    France is perfect for cycling. And we follow all the instruction in the paper and arrive well everywhere. There were like 3 or 4 instructions in the whole book that weren't good but in general it was very well indicated. Organization was great and philip was also perfect as loos 3 tired in two days, every morning before the start he came with new tires to replace the old ones. Thanks!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    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
    •  (photo by Edouard Cornudet)
    •  (photo by Edouard Cornudet)
    •  (photo by Edouard Cornudet)
    •  (photo by Edouard Cornudet)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 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
  • Cycling the West Balkan Triangle
    (5/5) Lucretia Germick June 21, 2023

    Balkans Coast & Mountains

    · Cycling the West Balkan Triangle

    BEAUTIFUL scenery along coasts & mountains. Some challenging climbs mixed with coastal flats. Comfortable accommodations with character. Lunches were delicious & introduced us to some local foods. Alex & Igor provided excellent leadership & support while keeping us laughing with their antics! Always felt safe so could relax & enjoy the views. Would suggest stocking small, medium & large helmets and adding bells on bikes to alert pedestrians.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 10-17, 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    4 European tours & 20 US tours
    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?
    Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Mosel Bike Path
    (5/5) Jeffrey Smith June 22, 2023

    Outstanding trip enjoyed it a lot

    · Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz

    The hotels were wonderful and the directions were easy to follow. The luggage transfers were always on time

    Countries included in this tour?
    Germany
  • Bike Paths of the Dolomites
    (5/5) Daniel Villegas June 22, 2023

    Great rides, not so great organization

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

    The rides to beautiful valleys was amazing and very enjoyable. The company FunActive was not well organized in terms of transfers to start or end points. Bicycles required better maintenance and bicycles were misplaced by the company on the first day. In hindsight if I was to do this again, I would book my own hotel, rent the bikes for a week and do the routes independently.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 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
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • 3/5 Value
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 2/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Amsterdam to Bruges on Magnifique II
    (5/5) Linda Kelly June 22, 2023

    Good way to travel

    · · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique II (and reverse)

    Gives you a taste of Belgium and Holland. The staff was excellent. Helpful and pleasant.
    Cities we visited were lovely.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Belgium, Holland
  • Amsterdam to Bruges: South Holland and Zeeland
    (5/5) Marcia Orbelian June 23, 2023

    Lovely countryside tour

    · Amsterdam to Bruges: Cycling through South Holland and Zeeland

    Was so enjoyable biking through the green landscapes and farmlands! The GPS bike routing worked great. We felt safe and comfortable on the paved bike trails. All hotels were just fine; we particularly enjoyed our houseboat accommodations. Three cheers for Tulip Tours excellently planned trip!

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 26 to June 3, 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    four (4)
    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
    Countries included in this tour?
    Belgium, Holland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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
  • Cruise through Creole NOLA
    (5/5) Roz June 24, 2023

    Incredibly interesting tour

    · Creole Neighborhoods Bike Tour New Orleans

    I learned so much about New Orleans by taking this tour, and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting the city - it will help you get the most out of your stay. We cycled from the center to the Mississippi River, where our guide told us all about the founding of the city. We took a varied route through the very exciting neighborhoods that make up NOLA, keeping to cycle paths so we felt safe all the way. Each neighborhood had its own story to tell and our guide was amazing at describing the different histories and cultures; voodoo, Senegalese, Creole etc.

    Halfway through, we stopped at a really nice local cafe for the chance to get a cold drink, and then we carried on to the cemetery. It was fascinating to hear about the different burial methods and to walk around the grand tombs.

    Eric was a really engaging, genuine guide who got to know us and made sure we were hydrated and entertained the whole way.

    I'd fully recommend taking this tour. If you do it early on in your trip to New Orleans, you'll really be set up with an appreciation of its history and culture, and you'll have time to act on your guide's local recommendations for places to eat and see live jazz music.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    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
    • Saint Roche's Cemetery (photo by Roz)
    • Saint Roche's Cemetery entrance (photo by Roz)
    • Creole Neighborhoods (photo by Roz)
    • Jackson Square (photo by Roz)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Amsterdam to Bruges on Magnifique IV
    (5/5) Patricia Barbour June 24, 2023

    Amazing trip!

    · · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Magnifique IV (and reverse)

    We had a wonderful trip with an amazing crew who worked in unison to make all the guests feel welcome. The tour leaders, Tammy and Peter, were fantastic and had intimate knowledge of the communities and sights along the bike routes. Their personal connections provided unique experiences that would otherwise have been missed. They were patient and personable even after their very long days!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    Just this one
    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?
    Belgium, Holland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Make the most of the midnight sun
    (5/5) Jill Bue June 24, 2023

    Family Fun through Tromsø

    · Midnight Sun Tromso E-Bike Tour

    If you want to experience Tromsø as a local, this tour is a can’t miss experience. Our family of 5 riders ranged in age from 13 to 66. We have biked together before on city tours throughout the U.S. Everyone rated this one a favorite! First, the e-bikes were top of the line and our guide, Espen, took the time to show how to use them properly . He had us practice before beginning the rise. We appreciated his patience and focus on safety. We traveled along the shoreline and through local parks. We were lucky to see groups of families together celebrating Midsommar with bonfires on the beach. It was so special to see this annual event. Our journey continued through the more wooded areas of Tromsø and we all appreciated the e-bikes on some of the tougher hills. We saw many local areas and sites that showcased Tromsø as a great location as a place to live or for travel. Espen was a wonderful guide for this tour! As a native son of Tromsø his love for his community was evident at every stop. The Tromsø tourism board should have him run all of their tours! If you are looking for a fun ride exploring the city of Tromsø with a friendly and knowledgeable guide, this is it!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    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
    •  (photo by Jill Bue)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Amsterdam to Bruges: South Holland and Zeeland
    (5/5) Andrew Avramides June 25, 2023

    Discovery of Netherlands

    · Amsterdam to Bruges: Cycling through South Holland and Zeeland

    Great way to experience Holland-beautiful countryside and easy cycling-.Beautiful location for our stays and lovely towns

    How many tours have you completed?
    10
    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
    Countries included in this tour?
    Belgium, Holland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
  • National Parks of Dalmatia
    (5/5) Michael Parrett June 25, 2023

    The Best trip ever

    · · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat

    Every aspect of our tour was first rate and we would recommend this trip to everyone. From the moment we arrived at the gang plank to a couple of hours after we departed the Magellan, we were treated to first rate service by the land support staff and onboard crew. The tour, the sights and the cities visited were tremendous. The size of the tour (30), allowed us to get to know the entire group of travellers and we were fortunate to be joined by many interesting and enthusiastic adventurers . The single best aspect of our trip were our two guides, Dora and Serge. Their professionalism, enthusiasm and pride in their country made every part of the journey fun, interesting and an experience never to forget.
    Regards
    Beverley and Mike

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    10
    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?
    Croatia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (5/5) Josh Shupack June 27, 2023

    Great bike paths and views

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    My wife and our boys ages 7 and 11 went on this tour. Most of it is on fabulous bike paths. Occasionally you have to bike through a town on roads or places with a lot of pedestrians. We had to skip a day and a half via trains and boats because it was a little much for our boys, but we still managed 150 km. I would recommend a day off in the middle.

    The views are great, lots of places to stop for a swim, museum, or just a walk through a neat town. We found that it took a lot of the day just to bike and we didn't have as much time as we had liked for playing and exploring.

    The distances for each day depend on what cities you're staying in.

    Overall a really good experience for the whole family.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    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
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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
  • Royal Zealand & Copenhagen
    (5/5) e June 27, 2023

    Danish delight

    · Royal Zealand and Copenhagen

    Copenhagen and Zealand is a delight. We did the independent tour. Biketours did what it is supposed to do: it booked good hotels, it moved the suitcases every day. and it delivered good sturdy bikes. that is why I came back to this company for a third tour.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Denmark
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (5/5) Liana Amy June 27, 2023

    Loved it

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    We lucked out with spectacular weather for this trip. It really is beautiful. At certain points we lost track of the "actual" path we were supposed to be following but eventually we would always find our way back on. The hotels were good. One improvement would be to have all hotels with A/C, as during the summer, the temps can be pretty high and a couple of the hotels were downright hot during the night. Some hotels offered a fan, but only two had A/C. The food at all of the hotels was great for breakfast and the staff at each one were helpful and friendly.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
  • Learning Italian from the Saddle
    (5/5) Charlene Cestroni June 29, 2023

    Do it! You won’t regret it!

    · Learning Italian from the Saddle: Language Classes & the Coast of Apulia

    Loved, loved, loved it!! Giovanna, our guide and instructor was THE BEST!! She had varied teaching styles and lessons, addressed the different levels of proficiency well, and was a really fun person to share time with. She was very knowledgeable about the various cultural sites we visited and incorporated them into our lessons. Throughout the whole experience I felt like family. We literally spent time w different members of families of the tour operators and staff - you don’t see that everyday! The level of biking was easy. The excursions were excellent! I was even able to take a private yoga class at one location. The accommodations were very good. We were a small group so we were able to stay at a couple masserias - very charming. One had a couple small service issues due to lack of staffing but nothing significant. Masserias were Uber charming but the standout hotels for me were in SM de Leuca and Arco Vecchio in Lecce. I was always in a single room and they were all very nice, comfortable, and had showers bigger than a phone booth (important to me!) If you want to have fun, enjoy diverse experiences, do a little biking, and be immersed in the Italian culture and language (with support,) then this is the trip for you!! Thank you Giovanna and Salento Bici Tours for this incredibly fun experience. I can’t wait to hear about your next tour offering!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    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
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Sweden’s West Coast
    (5/5) Rob Luken June 29, 2023

    Our first cycling vacation

    · Sweden’s West Coast: Helsingborg to Gothenburg

    This was our first cycling vacation and the beautiful Sweden's West Coast from Helsingborg to Gothenburg trip over six days was fantastic. This is a very well organized trip, with lovely hotels along the way and good instructions with options on how to best enjoy this. The bicycles worked well, as well as the transfer of our luggage to the next hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and even added an additional day at both ends of the trip to fully explore the cities and what it has to offer, which we can recommend.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 13 to June 20
    How many tours have you completed?
    1, including this one
    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?
    Sweden
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
  • Champagne Getaway
    (5/5) Robyn Larkin June 30, 2023

    A great week of biking & enjoying champagne!

    · Champagne Getaway: Charming Villages & Regional Wine Cellars

    We have done several bike tours in Europe, with varying experiences. This was among our favourite trips, and we recommend this for anyone interested in cycling, chmpagne or visiting France!

    First, the not so great part of the review: it is a challenging route! We did not use electric bikes, and that made it feel like every hill was a hard won accomplishment.

    Also, having a specific map earlier in the planning process would have helped to make tasting reservations at wineries since many of them require advance bookings.

    The things we loved about this:
    - bags were always on time when we arrived
    - accommodations where great with extremely helpful staff (although it helps at the Epernay chambre d’hotes if you speak French as the hosts do not speak English - but are super friendly)
    - we did the dinner package & while we would have preferred choosing off the regular menu most nights, all but one place was a fabulous recommendation of where to dine each night (the Brasserie la Banque in Epernay was the place we didn’t enjoy at all)
    - bike drop off in Reims was smooth - and the operator was there early to give us our initial briefing

    I guess my one idea for improvement was to offer additional bookings of champagne house tours/tastings/visits as it is not easy to research ahead of time. Early morning or late afternoon would allow for easier planning and there are options for both almost every day. I certainly would pay for that. At the very least, a list of some places that are friendly to tours/visits would be helpful if we need to plan our own.

    But overall, it was a lovely, relaxing, and champagne filled experience - exactly what we wanted when booking this trip!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    France
    • Cycling day 1 (photo by Robyn Larkin)
    • Tasting in Hautvilliers (photo by Robyn Larkin)
    • Tasting at Venoge in Epernay (photo by Robyn Larkin)
    • Tour of the limestone caves at Vollereaux (photo by Robyn Larkin)
    • Parva Domus Chambres d'Hotes (photo by Robyn Larkin)
    • Vineyards near Hautvilliers (photo by Robyn Larkin)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • A Taste of Italy
    (5/5) Daniel Serventi June 30, 2023

    An Exquisite Way To See Italy!

    · A Taste of Italy: Emilia-Romagna

    To be honest we did not fully know what we were getting ourselves in to - but this trip checked every box and surprised us with how well thought out it was. Each hotel was beautiful in accommodations and city placement. Dinner and activity recommendations were on point. And most importantly, the bike support and GPS were perfect. I would recommend this tour to everyone and anyone! Would recommend that you purchase the additional cooking class- It was the highlight.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    This is our first!
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)