Staff Picks Bike Tour Reviews (page 2)
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★★★★★ Nathan June 30, 2017Great trip
· Castles and Wines of Portugal
The tour was a lot of fun. Location was great. Tour operator was very helpful. Hotels were wonderful. Only problem was that it was very hot. Probably best before June as weather is unpredictable. We had bad luck of a heat wave and riding in 100 degree heat was hard and made us rush through some of the middle towns. This was a shame as local people were very kind and towns were interesting and filled with a lot of history. Would be a perfect Spring time ride. The second to last day is very hard as is one earlier climb but overall a great trip. We plan on doing one of the other tours offered by this operator in the future.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 11-17
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ carlye5 July 2, 2017Beautiful country sides!
· Croatian Vineyards and Villages of Undiscovered Istria
We had done a 4 week trip to Croatia and surrounding countries, and our bike trip was the last week of 4. It was beautiful weather and we had a great time!
Biketours.com did a great job organizing everything for us, and taking care of our needs.The third party tour company fiore tours was only average. We still had a great time, but there was plenty to improve on. The tour company gave us very poor instructions as to where we were meeting for the tour, and the emails given to us were incorrect. It was an adventure to get to the starting hotel to say the least. But we rented road bikes and they were great bikes. Very light, and the company offered many pedal types.
My only other concern was that the "itinerary" listed on the site mentions all these great things, but in reality you have to do a lot of work researching and planning where to stop each day. Many of the options they give us are only open in the afternoons, and are very close to where we were starting, so even if we started around 10am which was rather late, many wineries were still closed. After the first two days of being disappointed by not being able to find the suggested stops, and then finding them closed, we realized we had to do some leg work as far as finding stops along the route. Then the tour improved immensely.
My boyfriend and I are 23 and 25 and fit people, although not big cyclists. We chose an "easier" route so that we wouldn't be exhausted after each day. However, we were complete toast every single day. So if you aren't in good physical condition, I do not recommend this. Most of the route was rather hilly, especially day 3.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Mid June 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- only this one.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson July 3, 2017
Thanks very much for this feedback. We'll address all of your points with Fiore in hopes of improving the experience for future travelers.
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★★★★★ alicia July 7, 2017A great bike ride
· Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
My husband and I took this ride in late June 2017 as we were in the region for a wedding. It was an absolutely fantastic way to see a beautiful part of the world. The towns were charming, the scenery beautiful, and the people friendly. This trip is definitely not well-suited for anyone who is looking for a heavy dose of nightlife as the towns along the route are all fairly small. Think villages and ski towns.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ MominBC July 11, 2017Wine Country Tour
· Cycling Spain's Ebro River
Much better than expected, we did the self guided option. Pick up was on time, the bikes were great and the route map and directions were easy to follow.
Most roads were quiet and the hotels selected were superb. It was unforgettable and I will definitely do another one with this tour group.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 18-25, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 0
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Paul K July 23, 2017
Amazing tour. Just as advertised
· Cycling Spain's Ebro River
We had a fantastic time. Simon obviously has this tour down to a science. Everything was exactly as advertised. We loved the rural roads and small hotels we stayed in. We found the Terrain stunning. There were some challenging hills but overall anyone with a reasonable level of fitness would have no difficulty with this trip. I would book with this tour company again.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 18,2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two
- 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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★★★★★ Newbie August 9, 2017
Beautiful Austria!
· Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
This was a wonderful tour for a "beginner" like me! The countryside was gorgeous, the bike paths varied, and the extra sights mentioned in the navigation book were easy to find and well-worth stopping to see. Everything organised by the tour company ran like clockwork: the bike delivery, hotel reservations, luggage transfer and mountain-pass transfer.
The three of us on this self-guided tour did not always agree on the direction to take, which led to quite a few "navigation discussions" and a few wrong turns, but that actually added to the adventure of the experience. Two days out of our five ride days, including the longest day, were in the rain (pretty heavy rain, in fact). Judging by the printed material, this is not unusual for the area, so be prepared!
A great experience - the area, the ride and the organisation!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Start date: 23 July, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- none
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ Ernie August 12, 2017
Scenic Tour
· Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
The scenery was even better than the promotional pictures indicate. The arrangements were great, the hotels were wonderful, and I would recommend the half-board option. Food was super. Rained on us several days but it was still beautiful. Directions got a little vague in some cases through the cities. We were very happy with our experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ DickZee August 12, 2017Dalmatian Coasts up close
· · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat
This trip met my expectations. Ebike made it easy (I'm 86) Well planned itinerary as trips started easy and progressed in difficulty.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 29-Aug 5, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- over a dozen
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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★★★★★ Purple Sneakers August 17, 2017The Peloponnese
· Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
we were drawn into the sumptuous landscape of the Peloponnese from the first kilometers of our ride around Tripoli, as were taken (by GPS) intimately through a wonderful and beautiful landcape. the second day was largely a continuation of the first, until the farmland gave way to the coast. the following day was perhaps the most beautiful as we climbed along the coast reminiscent of Big Sur, though the water below was utterly, and achingly the turquoise color only found along the Aegean. the route eventually took us inland to the archaeological site of Argos on the Plain, and finally Nafplio, a small seaside village with a Byzantine past. it was a glorious day. while the remainder of the our riding revolved around the nearby archaeological sites—Mycenae and Epidaurus—the landscape remained the draw. an exceptional countryside, highly recommended.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 24 June - 1 July
- How many tours have you completed?
- many
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Greece
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★★★★★ Fishchico August 18, 2017Spectacular Tauren bike route
· Tauern Bike Path (Salzburg-Salzburg)
This was an amazingly beautiful route through small villages, stunning granite mountains and wildflower meadows everywhere. Not to be missed were Krimmel Falls with vintage train ride and the Werfen Ice Cave. Signage was good, we only missed one directional marker but remembering that "the adventure begins when the plan fails" kept us in good cheer! Meeting locals when inquiring for directions is sometimes the best part.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 21 - June 29, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 9
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ WLG63 August 19, 2017Love Slovenia!
· Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
The trip is a wonderful overview of Slovenian geography and culture. The biking is varied and not too difficult, and the routes incorporate stops and side trips to interesting cultural sites. We had 1/2 board and the breakfasts were average to better than average and certainly enough to feel satiated. We had to do some route finding...day 2 was particularly confusing, however, on day 3 we learned of the app Bikemap which is fantastic and we highly recommend....far easier to follow than the included materials (the Slovenian tour does not offer a GPS option). Though the printed material was a nice addition, we relied on Bikemap for the remainder of the trip. The lodging was average to nice, depending on the area, and all places, with the exception of one, had good air-conditioning in the rooms (we were there in August during a heat wave) and we were able to comfortably relax and sleep. Our only complaint was with the hotel in Piran...it was noisy, run down, and did not have air-conditioning though they claimed to. We were hot and tired after a day of biking and unable to relax in the stuffy, dumpy rooms (we had 2 rooms and both were bad). The staff was very nice but the overall experience was a disappointment after and otherwise great trip (our experience at this hotel was not unique, I discovered many negative reviews on the internet). We were particularly frustrated because in Piran and Potoroyz there are many lodging options. I suggest the company charge
more and put clients in a nicer hotel. It's best to have clients end on a positive note. If the tour company continues to book this hotel I suggest guests find alternative lodging for the last night. Otherwise, Slovenia was wonderful and the tour a fantastic family vacation. We travelled with our 19 year old daughter.- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Slovenia
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★★★★★ EDWH August 23, 2017
Fun, but a few qualifications
· · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat
We had a great time but the parks were not quite as interesting or attractive as we had hoped. And some of the bike rides (the 3rd day in particular) difficult hills with nothing at all to see. Description said a ride around Vraner Lake and we never even saw it. That was coupled with the hottest week in the summer as temps were near or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Guides showed little flexibility in schedules or changes to accommodate the heat.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 29, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 25 or 30
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson August 24, 2017
Thank you for your feedback, and I'm very sorry you did not enjoy the tour. It's one of our more popular tours, and we've generally received great feedback. I did it a number of years ago and loved it. That said, guides change from year to year (or even more often), and other changes (positive or negative) can come into play.
As luck would have it, one of our staff members will be checking out the tour in a couple weeks, and he will pay special attention to the issues you rose.
Again, thank you for taking the time to provide feedback!
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★★★★★ RobertH August 30, 2017
Innsbruck to Salzburg Austria: OUTSTANDING!!
· Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
This is a very well run self-guided tour that takes you through beautiful Austria. I was out of the regular "American tourist" areas and experienced true Austria. I had the 7-day tour with a rest day in Zell Am See - highly recommend this option. I did some hiking and a boat trip during my "rest day"! Beautiful mountains and lakes. All my B&B's / hotels were excellent and the staffs were so nice. I also did an extra day at the end of the tour in Salzburg. Wonderful city. The bike was excellent and the represented on Day #1 was very nice and explained working the GPS.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 14 to 20 August
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8 to 10
- 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?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, founder and president August 31, 2017
Robert, thanks very much for your great feedback. The tour is a wonderful combination of popular and off-the-beaten-path destinations. I'm glad you had a great time. I agree that it's an excellent idea to add a rest day in Zell am See, one of the most beautiful cities on the planet! And at least one extra day in Salzburg is a must!
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★★★★★ DavidW September 5, 2017
Amazing scenery day after day
· Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
We have cycled in most countries in Europe and picked this trip for two reasons. 1) Our adult daughter was traveling with us, and she loves mountains, and 2) I had major knee surgery this past winter and wanted a ride that was fun but not overly strenuous. This trip met both criteria and more! The scenery from day-to-day was unmatched. My wife and I had visited some of these locations in winter, but the summer was a different and wonderful experience. This trip would be great for novice riders because it would be very hard to get lost (mountains on both sides). Also, being able to ride on dedicated bike trails with very few stretches of road is a great benefit. Just enough gentle climbs to keep your heart pumping.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 20-26, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 12
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Austria
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★★★★★ Jane B September 19, 2017
Beautiful countryside in Northern Spain!
· Cycling Spain's Ebro River
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour through the countryside along the Ebro River -- the terrain varied from the hills at the river's source, through beautiful canyons and into the broad valleys of the Rioja. The hotels were wonderful, with hosts who were friendly, helpful and provided great dinners. Our bikes were in perfect condition. Overall, this trip exceeded our expectations. This is Northern Spain, so more clouds likely, but it only actually rained one day of the ride. Morning cool and clouds turned to afternoon sun and warmth. Perfect biking weather.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept. 3-10
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Spain
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★★★★★ Tina Turner September 30, 2017
Loved every minute!
· · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 23
- How many tours have you completed?
- None
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Croatia
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★★★★★ mkleyn October 3, 2017Better than I expected!
· Cycling and Cooking in Tuscany
Our guide,GiGI, was fabulous. He knew everyone's style and accommodated each of us. Loved the cooking in a homey kitchen. The restaurants we were taken to were in small local towns, and the food was fabulous!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept. 23-29
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was the first one.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Italy
