Spain Bike Tour Reviews (page 2)
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★★★★★ Debbie McLaughlin 10 months agoAn amazing, exhilarating and exciting trip
· Andalusia: Southern Spain
My husband and I are so happy we chose to explore southern Spain by bike. This was a very different trip than we were used to but it was the best way to see this beautiful part of the country. Even our mis-adventures (truth be told, the way out of Seville in 90 plus weather was tough and some of the directions were a little off) left us laughing like kids (we are in our 60s)! We will definitely explore other bike tour options with this company. I will never forget the beautiful and endless landscape of sunflowers. Breathtaking! And the accommodations after a long, hot ride were simply outstanding. We would do it again in a heartbeat!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Mary Payne and Kimberly Leahy 10 months ago
Awesome until the last day!
· Andalusia: Southern Spain
My girlfriend and I did this trip on hybrid bikes in early June and it was a great trip. We are intermediate riders and have done lots of riding in Canada but this is our first bike trip. The hotels (Hotel Fernando 111, Parador Carson’s, Hotel Andalou, Parados Arcos de la Frontera, Hotel Villa Jerez, Parador Cadiz) were excellent, there was a nice mix of different biking routes/paths, some more challenging than others (because of the heat) and our luggage arrived at the hotels safely and promptly. Everything went as planned except on the last day of our ride, from Jerez to Cadiz, where the directions and roads in the guide book did not match the GPS . We got lost a few times as the directions were very confusing! We gave up when we got lost in San Fernando and decided to hop on the train for the last 10km of our journey.
Some suggestions :
*Better and bigger GPS
*Rewrite the instructions from Jerez to Cadiz
* more communication as there was no communication at all the minute we started the trip and nothing after the trip either.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Evelyn Landry 10 months agoPerfect way to experience northern Spain
· Northern Spain: Cantabrian & Asturian Coasts
This was a great way to be introduced to Northern Spain. The hotel accommodations were all great. The bicycles were in great condition and fit perfectly; they were great for the climbs. We really appreciated having two nights in some of the towns. Gave us time to explore the area after a good night's rest.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5-10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Stanley Holman 10 months agoExcellent tour.
· Medieval Villages of Catalonia
This self-guided tour was easily managed. The cycling was moderate, and most of the route was on either dedicated bike routes or calm roads. A reasonably accomplished cyclist would not need to dis-mount for the occasional steep or rough section (always short.) There was plenty of time to move from hotel to hotel and there were only 3 days when a move was required. There were numerous opportunities for refreshments along the way. AND the scenery was grand! Such a lovely way to see the countryside - riding through farmed fields, villages and towns. Able to smell the air and the scents of the flowers, hear the birds and feel the sun and the breeze. It was a great experience. And the hotels were excellent with delicious breakfasts.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May/June 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
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Philip Weickhardt 11 months agoHighly enjoyable and well organised
· Cycling Spain's Ebro River
We greatly enjoyed the beautiful and ever changing landscapes we rode through. The e-bikes we chose were greatly appreciated as there was quite a bit of climbing at some points each day. The routes chosen were good - mostly the roads we rode on were quiet with few cars. The hotels were mostly small and rural, but the hosts were excellent, the food good and the accommodation comfortable. The quality of the bikes, the orientation briefing and the collection at the end of the trip left nothing to complain about. The route guidance maps provided to preload onto the Ride with GPS App worked really well.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Theresa Schwingenschloegl 11 months agoA fabulous 7 days
· Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring
Our e bike tour was meticulously routed by our guide Daniel. With his planning we adapted our North American stomachs to a later lunch which was always timed perfectly for the 4 of us to to end our day, allowing us to relax and enjoy a delicious main meal accompanied by wonderful local wines and beers. It was a surprise to us that our bike tour was just the four of us but it turned out to be a wonderful active holiday at just the right pace. A mirror and a bell for my e bike are the only suggestions I could make. We were mostly on well packed trails but also had fabulous downhill riding on quiet well paved roads where you could see a good distance ahead, which gave confidence to a novice rider. The weather cooperated, our accomadations were very comfortable, our bags were always there ahead of us, the bikes were great. What wonderful holiday.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Theresa Schwingenschloegl 11 months ago
A fabulous 7 days
· Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring
Our e bike tour was meticulously routed by our guide Daniel. With his planning we adapted our North American stomachs to a later lunch which was always timed perfectly for the 4 of us to to end our day, allowing us to relax and enjoy a delicious main meal accompanied by wonderful local wines and beers. It was a surprise to us that our bike tour was just the four of us but it turned out to be a wonderful active holiday at just the right pace. A mirror and a bell for my e bike are the only suggestions I could make. We were mostly on well packed trails but also had fabulous downhill riding on quiet well paved roads where you could see a good distance ahead, which gave confidence to a novice rider. The weather cooperated, our accomadations were very comfortable, our bags were always there ahead of us, the bikes were great. What wonderful holiday.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Lisa Jonas 11 months agoWhat an amazing trip, but beware of the hills!
· Majorca: A Loop Tour of the Beautiful Balearic Island
We loved this trip. So, so, so glad we upgraded to the better bikes! If you don't LOVE BIG HILLS, make sure you get the e-bike (I'm not kidding!) The hotels were nice, but we were extremely disappointed when we realized after finishing one of the days' rides that we had 10k MORE to get to our hotel. We had a little difficulty with the route loading slowly in some areas, so we had to backtrack. Hint 1 - make sure you have international phone service so that you can access google to search where you should be just in case. Hint 2 - make sure you read the printed directions each night to find the next day's starting location because it won't be your hotel.
- What was the date of your tour?
- March 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Jo-Ann Del Vecchio 11 months ago
Great ride but a few concerns
· Majorca: A Loop Tour of the Beautiful Balearic Island
First thing of concern is a water bottle, I bought my water bottle but the did not have a holder for the bottle
I also am not sure of the conditions of the Nikes my back tire was low at the starts and had to be looked at before taking off
The location for the paella was awful by the time we got there we were told they were closing and anytime we asked for a drink we were informed that we were keeping them open
Also the paella was awful the chicken was ful with Bones
The last town port de soller was absolutely gorgeous but the ride out was a concern to us and we opted not to ride
All in all it was a great trip- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Jennifer Willans 11 months agoSelf guided Road cycle trip in Catalonia, Spain
· Catalonia Road Bike Tour: Girona to the Sea
The hotels were excellent. The trip was graded as moderate and this was appropriate. We were happy the operator provided options for making the days more difficult if we chose to. There was a very good variety in the routes and the scenery was excellent. The routes were very well planned and easy to follow on the device they provided. We felt safe on the roads (routes) provided. The tour operator was available over WhatsAPP and responded quickly.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Julie Griesert 11 months ago
Fabulous trip
· Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring
This was our third self-guided bike trip and probably the most organized and well-planned. Daniel met us at the first hotel and was very thorough with instructions, giving us both a map with notes as well as a gps that worked great. He even made dinner reservations at one of the hotels (the restaurant is amazing and reservations must be made in advance). We loved the variety of areas the route took us through - country and coastal. The last 2 hotels were over the top, and the last one was our absolute favorite. Things to know when considering this trip: you have to want to bike most of the day, that's what these trips are about. We'd start our days with a great breakfast and then were on the road by 10 or 10:30, biking until the afternoon (anywhere from 2 - 4pm depending on the mileage). I had an e-bike but the other 2 of us had regular bikes. I was happy to have the assist so I could keep up. You will likely run into a few stretches that aren't pleasant; maybe next to a noisy road, or suddenly it gets super windy or rainy and bugs are flying into your eyes (I recommend eye wear of some kind) but then you are in blissful sections in the middle of a quiet forest on a rail-to-trail path, or rolling through sunny fields of wheat. The less pleasant bits were rare but do note that these trips are better for people who can handle a bit of rain or wind or whatever. Food tip: Meal times in Europe are skewed later and restaurants and stores may not be open when you want to eat. Try to plan ahead and either buy picnic food in town in the am so you can eat on the road later, or be prepared to eat a fixed price multi-course lunch in the later afternoon (unless you are in a bigger town that has more options). We managed to convince a couple places to do a lower fixed price lunch with fewer dishes but it's just not the norm. By the end of the trip we were so done with large meals. It was new for us to have the 2 night stays in 2 of the hotels but they were at our 2 favorite hotels and with the one on the coast, we ended up taking advantage of the 2 nights by not doing the second day's ride. It was cold, windy, and a bit rainy so we ended up taking a very slow morning until the rain subsided, then we walked the coastal footpath, which was gorgeous. It worked out well as a nice break. Also, I recommend not looking up the hotels in advance - one of the fun things about these trips is rolling up to the hotel in the afternoon and knowing nothing about it. On previous trips we've had some pretty odd mixes of places, including one semi-creepy place (not on this trip) that we still laugh about today and even kind of appreciate that we ended up there. All-in-all a great trip.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 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
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Ulla Dueck 11 months ago
Great adventure!
· Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring
This was our first visit to Spain and what a fabulous way to see part of the country. Our guide (Daniel) was the best. The terrain varied many times along the route, but was always manageable. The hotels were great and the food was delicious. Loved the abundance of seafood.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Martin Gorfinkel 12 months ago
Great Biking Trip in Andalusia
· Andalusia: Southern Spain
The biking trip was fantastic. It was our first time doing a biking trip and this experience was wonderful. Everyone who helped us was truly great. I had many questions before signing up and after. The personnel in the United States were patient and informative. The man who delivered our bikes was truly a wonderful and helpful person. We were on a self-guided tour and we had trouble getting out of Sevilla and he went out of his way to assist us and make sure we were on the right track. The bikes were absolutely great. We are both 65 years old and consequently decided to use e-bikes. The GPS was a must and incredibly helpful as was the guidebook presented to us upon arrival in our first hotels. The hotels by and large were excellent. Maybe one exception was the one in Jerez. The route was well thought out and incredibly diverse. One day biking on farming roads, dirt roads, the via Verde ( an old rail-trail), one day amongst estuaries heading into Cadiz. It was an unbelievable breathtaking way to see the country. We met so many lovely people along the way in small town bars and restaurants. The day after we turned in the bikes we wanted to start a new biking trip.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Craig Williams 12 months ago
Loved all the old cities!
· Best of Catalonia Cycle Touring
Great route, the cities we rode thru and old rail trails were safer than city/country roads. The guide was fantastic with educational info, language skills and expertise on coffee and lunch/dinner stops.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ LK Hessefort March 15, 2023
Wonder-full!
· Majorca: A Loop Tour of the Beautiful Balearic Island
We thoroughly enjoyed every day of our trip. The route was beautiful and took us through the interesting and diverse countryside. The app made navigation easy for our self guided tour and our manual bikes had enough gears to get us up the hills. We would highly recommend this trip.
- What was the date of your tour?
- March 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Sara Riordan December 2, 2022
Wonderful ride, wonderful scenery, wonderful people
· Medieval Villages of Catalonia
My friend and I chose the self-guided trip and loved every minute of it. Daniel was very thorough in orienting us to the itinerary and important details. The map and GPS worked great and we felt very safe. Our accommodations were nicer than expected with lovely hosts, great views, delicious breakfasts, and very comfortable rooms. The riding was not difficult and gave us a chance to explore as we wished. It was magical to ride through the rolling countryside and medieval villages. I loved riding along the coast and jumped in the Mediterranean at every beach. Our trip was the last week in October with (unseasonably) warm weather and no crowds. We visited castles, museums, an archeological dig, and a gorgeous botanical garden on a cliff above the sea. Last but certainly not least, the food was amazing everywhere we went. It was just perfect! Many thanks for a very well-organized tour!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Late October 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- My first organized by a company
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Margaret Steyn November 14, 2022
Fun trip as an introduction to cycling in Spain
· Andalusia: Southern Spain
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Had excellent instructions in a booklet. Having the GPS was good, although it would have been good to have a bigger screen as it was hard to read in the sunshine. There were 4 of us on the trip & we all felt the daily distance was good on the e-bikes.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 26th - 30th, 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- We have been on at least 12 trips previously
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Kathryn Staropoli November 14, 2022
This trip exceeded all expectations!
· Medieval Villages of Catalonia
This was the perfect trip! I love biking on a recreational level, and the friend I went with is a more avid biker, but it was great for both of us. It was challenging without being too difficult. We rode 20-25 miles a day on the self guided tour and loved it. We were on bike paths, trails, and dedicated bike lanes for almost the entire trip. We rode through farms and fields, along the sea, and through beautiful medieval villages without ever feeling like we had to rush to reach our destination, and we always felt safe. We met Daniel from Creative Catalonia, who set us up with the bikes, and he was incredibly kind and helpful. We had no trouble at all, so we never had to reach out for assistance, but I'm sure he would have been able to help us out if we were ever in need. They did let us know that the hotel restaurant where we would be having dinner was hosting an event the night we were staying there, and asked if we wanted them to make a reservation for us so we would still be able to eat there. We said yes and enjoyed a wonderful dinner thanks to their considerate outreach.
The GPS worked very well. My friend is very good with directions and she did a great job navigating. Some spots, those intersections with a number of options, were sometimes hard to correctly discern, but if we did choose the wrong path, the GPS quickly corrected us and we would be on our way after only a few extra minutes. The route they programmed for us was really great. We loved going through fields, farms, and wooded areas, riding along the Mediterranean was just beautiful, and we stopped in several of the medieval villages to explore, shop, or grab lunch. We didn't typically stop where they suggested we go for lunch or a coffee, but we were always able to find food and drink along the way. The stops they recommended for sightseeing were really great and we did stop for all of those. They were fun and varied. They included a botanical garden, the Dali museum, the ancient ruins of a city, and a lighthouse! The route they chose was exactly what we were hoping for.
They were also great about the luggage transfers. It was always at the hotel when we arrived and the hotels themselves were really nice, they were clean and comfortable, and each included a delicious breakfast.
We did go in the off season and really lucked out with the weather considering we were there the last week of October. It was perfect biking weather for me, clear and sunny, with temperatures in the high 60s and into the 70s every day. The fact that many cafes and restaurants were closed was not a big deal, we always found a place to eat. Quite honestly, it was a small price to pay for the lack of tourists. Everywhere we went was far less crowded than it would have been in season.
I highly recommend this tour and Creative Catalonia.- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Pamela Oberst November 7, 2022
Great introduction to Basque country
· Cycling Spain's Ebro River
We had a great time on the Basque wine country. Met 4 new friends on the tour and plan on riding with them again. Recommend this tour for everyone. Nice mileage and time to explore places of Interest.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 7
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Evelyn Savage November 7, 2022
Adventure
· Medieval Villages of Catalonia
Medieval Villages of Catalonia was an adventurous, fun and challenging bike tour. The villages were very interesting, the hotels very nice, the ebikes great and self guided directions mostly good. We had a few challenges finding some of the paths and the terrain was much more mountain biking than expected. But we found our way and enjoyed the beautiful countryside. One should be an experienced cyclist or mountain biker to enjoy the trails have some experience with directions to do self guided. Overall a very good way to experience the Baja Emporda coast and Medieval towns.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Spain
