Switzerland  Bike Tour Reviews (page 2)

  • (4/5) Petexter October 10, 2016

    Great all Round trip except for the maps

    · Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers

    Route maps failed at the departure point from the main route to the hotel. Upside: met a lot of very helpful people. Downside: consistently irritating.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Late September
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 2/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) apitzer October 19, 2017

    Cycling in Switzerland is Way more Accessible than you think!

    · Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers

    I went on a portion of this tour from Thun to Bern to Biel/Bienne as a BikeTours.com staff member. The route was super easy to follow, very flat, and almost always on bicycle paths. We covered the daily distance quickly and were rewarded with more time to explore the perfectly-preserved and lively medieval town centers each night. The northern part of Switzerland is on a plateau, so it is not at all like the Alps. I missed the mountain views, but I definitely appreciated the more flat terrain.

    Don't miss the Old City, the Clock Tower, the Rose Garden, or the bizarre, centrally located Kindlifresserbrunnen (German for "Child Eater Fountain") in Bern. Allow time to explore Biel/Bienne's old town. It is smaller than Bern, just as charming, and with a more local vibe. The nightlife in Biel/Bienne was more lively than expected, and there seemed to be a large student population. This is a fully bilingual German-French city. Very unique!

    I visited Konstanz for one day at the end of this tour, and it was beautiful! Very charming, red-tiled buildings dominated the historic district. Be sure to climb up to the top of the Cathedral in Konstanz, and definitely visit the Island of Mainau, which is a beautiful botanical garden.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 3, 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    This was my first!
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Switzerland
    • Photo 1 (photo by apitzer)
    • Lake Thun Hillside (photo by apitzer)
    • Bern (photo by apitzer)
    • Spiez (on Lake Thun) (photo by apitzer)
    • Streets of Bern (photo by apitzer)
    • Swiss Chalet (photo by apitzer)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Aare Cycle Route
    (4/5) Heidi August 17, 2017

    Fun bike trip through switzerland

    · Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers

    A different and fun way to experience Switzerland. About 90% on dedicated bike paths or bike lanes, which makes it a very safe way of biking. Hotels were mostly very comfortable, but most lacked air conditioning, which would have been greatly appreciated in temperatures of 90plus degree for most of the week.

    What was the date of your tour?
    7/30-8/7/2017
    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 young kids, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Switzerland
    • Photo 1 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 4 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 5 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 6 (photo by Heidi)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) Professor October 10, 2016
    · Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers

    What was the date of your tour?
    9/26 - 10/4
    How many tours have you completed?
    12
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat 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?
    Switzerland
    • 3/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Aare Cycle Route
    (4/5) kpatout August 21, 2019

    Great trip!

    · Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers

    The biketours.com staff did an excellent job making sure we were prepared for our trip. The route was beautiful and manageable (even for those of us who weren't experienced cyclists). One concern we had was that the directions within a city - to and from the hotels - weren't detailed enough and we needed to use our cell phones and google maps to find the way every time. We were also unable to reach the local tour company by phone after making many attempts. However, biketours.com was able to help us each time we had a question. Overall I would definitely recommend biketours.com and this tour in particular.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    one
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 2/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 1/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) James Ruzevick 8 months ago

    A nice tour but a few hiccups along the way

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    On the first day of the tour, our bags were not delivered by the 6:00 pm promised time. I called the emergency number and found out that they never were picked up from our departure hotel. The fault was with the Hotel Halm who said that we had never checked in the evening before. Our bags arrived at about 8:00pm but it kind of ruined a nice evening that I spent waiting in the lobby instead of enjoying a pleasant dinner. On the 3rd day just as we started our ride my wife had a flat rear tire on her e-bike. Our instructions stated to not attempt to change an e-bike rear tire. It was a Sunday and the bike shop in town was closed. I asked to have another bike delivered but was told that it was not possible. We were told to take a train to the next town where a replacement bike was to be delivered by 0900 the following day. The replacement bike arrived at about 10:45. The rest of the trip went according to plan. The weather on the 3rd day was really beautiful, so I regret that we were not able to ride on that day.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) Al Coop 8 months ago

    Wonderful Experience

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    My wife and I went on a self guided tour and had a wonderful experience. We feel so fortunate to have found biketours.com. Overall I would rate the tour company good to excellent. The only suggestions I have are that my wife’s e-bike frame was not fit properly for her smaller body size. Secondly, we initially used Google Maps which guided us on more main roads than we expected. Not until a couple of days in to our tour did other cyclist suggest downloading a cycling app which their tour company suggested. Their app guided us on more scenic off-road trails. I now understand why when the booklet says 30 km to 40 km the shorter distance is on more main roads and not off roads. As a first timer I think biketours.com could be clearer in their correspondences or booklet and possibly suggest such apps. Overall everything was first class and we had a fantastic and memorable experience. Thank you and hopefully we will use biketour.com for future trips.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2024
    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, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) charlotte lenssen 9 months ago

    Adventures around the Bodensee

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    It was a super fun trip experiencing the different towns and landscapes. All hotels were acceptable and some were exceptional. My favorites were Lindau and Konstanz. We had 2 rainy days, so got lucky with weather. Austrias Fänder bahn was worth it too.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 2024
    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
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    •  (photo by charlotte lenssen)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 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
  • (4/5) Francine Steger 9 months ago

    Lake Konstanz Biking in September

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    Great time of year to do this trip. Not crowded. Weather was perfect, not too hot and mostly dry. E-bikes were great, even for first-time users.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    9
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) Renata Ostwald 9 months ago

    Self guided tours

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    Great experience, hotels were great and luggage transit even better. The only thing disappointment I had was regarding the routes…. It’s so easy in Europe ( once you know what path to take since it’s all signed ). Guidance regarding which sign should be followed would have been helpful. But it was an great trip

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 1/5 Tour documents
    • 1/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) Alan Burnet 9 months ago

    Great circular cycling route

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    Really enjoyed our cycle tour of lake Konstanz. The luggage pickup and drop offs were very efficient and the hotels provided secure locations to lockup our bikes. All the hotels had great breakfast buffets and mostly great rooms. The standout hotel was probably in Lindau as it was the only one with a pool and spa. We appreciated having daily recommendations for stops and sightseeing which we could plan the day before and it was fun to find random lake swim spots.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    •  (photo by Alan Burnet)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (4/5) Kimberly Silva 9 months ago

    Not as Expected

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    This was the first trip I took with Bike Tours and I did not think the bike path matched what was described on the website. There were many more parts of the paths that were unpaved and a bit treacherous than described. There was also a lot more street riding in traffic than anticipated. I would not recommend this trip for any riders under the age of 16. The hotels and services were outstanding however.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) Claudia June 25, 2017

    We enjoyed the route and the cities on our 11 day Constance tour

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    We rode the unguided 11 day Lake Constance tour in May. Our weather turned in our favor and we had lots of fun riding the bike paths as well as locating the paths and hotels.
    The scenery is varied and the towns photogenic. It was wonderful that each day of our trip was somewhat short so we could stop and enjoy everything around us.
    People along the way were helpful, even if they didn't speak our language and we knew little German. Routes were sometimes unclear to us, but usually it was not a big deal. We weren't on a tight schedule. I would recommend a smartphone app such as Maps.me be used in conjunction with the provided maps. It helped us not go to far astray. I have described our trip as "a scavenger hunt on 2 wheels". It made it an adventure.
    Our bags were usually waiting for us when we arrived at our hotel. Hotels provided were comfortable and convenient.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 20, 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    7
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) go pro September 22, 2017

    team frogs

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    What was the date of your tour?
    september 15
    How many tours have you completed?
    0
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 2/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) BenO October 3, 2017

    Nice Hotels and great bikes.

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    Nice trip but a better cycle guide would help a lot. Spent about 40% of out time lost. Trail signs were difficult to find in places.Not recommended for families with small children.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 12 to September 27
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany October 4, 2017

      Thank you very much for your review. It's valuable information for us to understand that the directions didn't meet your expectations on this self-guided tour. We'll work with the tour operator evaluating the directions for our future clients.

    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) Geoff m October 6, 2017

    Must do ride for most reasonable cyclists

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    Having ridden Salzburg to Vienna, this was the second bike tour ride for 2 couples in their late 50's. The guys regularly do low distance triathlons, so they rode normal bikes and their wives rode electric. We chose the 3 star hotel deal that was quite ample but many hotels did not have air conditioners so ok in shoulders and winter seasons but possible too hot in summer. Maps in and out of cities are confusing in places and you can easily miss a sign so you have to be careful.we did the while circuit and average speeds only 13 km hr with many stops. Overall worth doing. Would recommend asking for lower floor rooms in hotels that do not have elevators.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) Bulldozer October 8, 2017

    A cultural deep dive

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    Our second Bike Tours trip and this one was as enjoyable as the first. Of the four of us two are experienced bikers and two are entry level. To balance things our two entry level people had e-bikes (and they did better than us!)
    This trip has a good balance of riding and events and if you add to that the dinner package the pressure of finding the right restaurant after a long day in the saddle goes away (especially one of your party is a Coeliac)
    The inclusion of vouchers was a great addition to the package and were well thought through by the team as were the hotel selections (1st & last day the hotel provided a lounge area for early / late arrival which was unavoidable due to long haul flight schedules)
    If you are prepared to explore a little on the journey then getting a little lost is all a part of the day. There are always friendly locals who will help you to get to the next town, that was our experience.

    What was the date of your tour?
    26 Sept - 05 Oct 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    2 with Bike Tours
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • The places you find when enjoying the journey and the destination (photo by Bulldozer)
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany October 9, 2017

      We're glad to hear you all had a great time on tour. I love eBikes for the same reason- everyone can cycle together! I agree that exploring and being comfortable with getting a little lost adds to the journey!

    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) LindaF September 5, 2018

    Great biking trip sound Lake Konstanz!

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    This self-guided trip was perfect for our group of 13 riders. Quality equipment made for a hassle-free week. Most hotels were very accommodating. I recommend you only use hotels that are willing to supply fans for those hot summer nights.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 24 - August 4, 2018
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) Blain M Archer September 20, 2023

    Wonderful adventure around Lake Constance

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path

    we were three on this tour with one being a novice who had difficulty riding an ebike due to inexperience. He got better after the first 2 days.
    we got lost a bit nearly every day but never felt real lost as we knew where the lake had to be most of the time and we were always going in the right direction. The reason for this was the signage was not always understandable.
    we always found help from many nice people who were eager to assist.

    What was the date of your tour?
    sept 10 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    11
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (4/5) Waterdog September 24, 2019

    Wonderful tour

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    The bike, accommodations, and breakfast where all very good. I rented an eBike and am so glad I did. Some parts of the route were
    harder than I had anticipated. The eBike made those times considerably easier to endure. My only negative about this trip was that the maps and directions were extremely poor at times...numerous times. The worst was when we were trying to find the hotels in the afternoon or leaving town in the mornings. The good news is we were usually able to find pedestrians or other cyclists to ask, but we could ask three people and get the different directions. That being said, it was still a wonderful adventure. I'll definitely book another trip through biketours.com.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 6-15
    How many tours have you completed?
    3
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • Photo 1 (photo by Waterdog)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Waterdog)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Waterdog)
    • Photo 4 (photo by Waterdog)
    • Photo 5 (photo by Waterdog)
    • Photo 6 (photo by Waterdog)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 3/5 Route selection