Bike Tour Reviews  page 2

  • Danube Discovery
    (5/5) Kathy 1 week ago

    Nice trip! We had a really good time.

    · · Danube Discovery: Pedaling from Germany to Austria

    We've done numerous bike trips around Europe but wanted to try a bike and boat this time. It's not a deluxe trip, but exceeded our expectations. The Prinzessin Katharina is older, but very well maintained, with traditional style decor. We had stayed in Passau the night prior and the taxi ride to the harbor was quick and easy. We had an upper level cabin, which was compact but had space to move around and decent storage. I peaked into the main deck cabins as well, which were laid out a little differently but seemed about the same size, with maybe a little less closet space. Don't excpect many outlets for charging your devices, as there are only a couple in the cabin. There is also a restaurant and a lounge with a bar on the upper deck. The sun deck is spacious, with lots of loungers, tables and chairs, and some covered space for shade.
    There is assigned seating in the dining room for the whole trip. Most of the passengers were German speaking, but they made a good effort to put English speaking guests at the same table. Breakfast was a pretty standard buffet, with breads, pastries, fruits and juices, as well as a few warm dishes with eggs, sausage, bacon. They also let you pack a lunch from the buffet choices. The dinner menu had 3 or 4 entree choices each night, along with a couple of starters and a couple of desserts. The food, while not gourmet, was very good. No beverages were included, so you had to pay even to have water with your dinner. There is a good selection of wine and cocktails available from the bar. Coffee and tea were provided at breakfast.
    The daily meetings to provide info on the next day's route were useful, with separate meetings provided for German and English. As expected, the bike routes kept mostly to dedicated bike paths or segregated bike lanes along roads. You rarely have to deal with much traffic, and the route is generally very easy to follow. The rental bikes provided were quite good, and comfortable.
    We only did one of their optional tours, going up to Schloss Greinburg in Grein. On a day when the schloss is normally closed, the tour company was able to arrange this tour, and we enjoyed it.
    What really made the trip so good was the crew and all of their efforts. The dining room and bar servers, housekeeping, the front desk staff, and the deck crew responsible for loading and unloading all the bikes were all outstanding, friendly and helpful. Our cruise director Monica did a great job keeping eveything running smoothly.
    We enjoyed our trip despite some unseasonably cold, rainy and windy weather part of the time. We're looking forward to planning another bike and boat trip.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    8
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    • Prinzessin Katharina arriving in Grein (photo by Kathy)
    • View from Schloss Greinburg (photo by Kathy)
    • One of the manysmall towns where you can take a break (photo by Kathy)
    • Sun deck (photo by Kathy)
    • 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
  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (5/5) Susan Cleary 1 week ago

    Amazing!

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    My friend and I did the UNESCO Albania tour (self guided)and it exceeded all our expectations.

    The routes were breathtaking. Riding through the mountains, even in the rain,
    I felt like we were in a virtual reality ride.

    Our tour guide, Aldo was fantastic.
    Every morning he checked our bikes and made sure we had everything we needed. He would also be seen in the hotels mornings and evenings helping serve meals and drinks.

    The sag driver, Fitim, was wonderful too.
    He would wash bikes after rainy days, make sure we had water and occasionally give a whistle if we happened to take a wrong turn and he was in the vicinity.

    The hotels were great with one exception, however, the others certainly made up for it especially the first and last night.

    Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
    Thank you Aldo and Fitim!

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 19
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 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
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Sparta and the Mediterranean Coast
    (5/5) Wendy Walton 1 week ago

    The Quiet Side of Greece

    · Sparta and the Mediterranean Coast

    After the hustle and bustle of Athens so enjoyed our cycling experience in much smaller Greek towns with more of a local atmosphere. The bike company did an outstanding job of route planning, a harder day followed by an easier one with the option to include a rest/ exploring day instead. The local accommodations were varied and all excellent and no issues checking in, sometimes earlier if we finished quicker. The luggage transfer was flawless. The hills and wind made it challenging but still so enjoyable.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    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?
    Greece
    •  (photo by Wendy Walton)
    •  (photo by Wendy Walton)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Algarve Coastal Route
    (5/5) Robert Anderson 1 week ago

    The Algarve didn’t disappoint.

    · Algarve Coastal Route

    The bike tour was a fantastic experience with great views and fantastic food. Cycling through the small fishing towns and visiting with the locals is a great way to explore the cultural. On our first day we experienced some minor issues with one of our bikes. We were able to continue riding and within a short time had a replacement bicycle delivered to us. The local bike tour company was very helpful. The trails and path’s took us by so many amazing sights it was hard to take it all in. The hotels, with the exception of one, were fantastic and had in great locations. The dining options are plentiful and prices were very reasonable. We used GPS navigation which makes the ride much more enjoyable as you don’t have to constantly be stopping to read instructions. We used the Garmin device from the tour company and they also provided the daily route information for us to load in the Ride With GPS app. The last two days we did experience some hills. My wife appreciated the e-bike.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    Five
    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?
    Portugal
    • Small fishing village. (photo by Robert Anderson)
    • Repairing octopus traps. (photo by Robert Anderson)
    • The beautiful coast. (photo by Robert Anderson)
    • Benagil cave. (photo by Robert Anderson)
    •  (photo by Robert Anderson)
    • Mile (KM) marker 0.0. The end of the road (photo by Robert Anderson)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
  • Wine, Dine and Electric Bike in Burgundy
    (5/5) plumeria 1 week ago

    Trip of my dreams!

    · Wine, Dine and Electric Bike in Burgundy

    The perfect way to France! Our guide was great - a very knowledgeable local and wine. He loves his hometown (Burgundy) so much. We enjoyed our journey safely with him. The hotels were very charming and comfortable. The meals were perfect.
    Exactly this tour was wine and dine!

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    France
    • 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)
  • Algarve Coastal Route
    (5/5) Sue Collins 1 week ago

    Private tour with Fernando

    · Algarve Coastal Route

    Such a fantastic day touring around Lagos area. Rose about 40km on mountain bikes through beautiful gravel trails and some roads. Stopped for lunch in Luz. Such a wonderful day!

    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
  • Tuscany and Umbria
    (4/5) Mary-lou Huculak 1 week ago

    Challenging but worth it!

    · Tuscany and Umbria: Cycling in the Heart of Italy

    Gorgeous views over every hill and string every bend. Challenging even on ebikes but spectacular views.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • Rolling hills of Todi (photo by Mary-lou Huculak)
    • Charming accommodation in Castiglione del Lago (photo by Mary-lou Huculak)
    • Assissi is magnificent (photo by Mary-lou Huculak)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 1/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • From the summit to the sand
    (2/5) Molly Troop 2 weeks ago

    Must be an expert

    · San Sebastian E-MTB Tour

    1. The guide really didn't provide much information about San sebastian which I thought we would get some history about the area or basque culture
    2. The guide brought a friend and neither of them wanted to accommodate my entry experience. I had researched the biking area and knew there were paved roads to go up if I thought the off reading was too much but they continued to push what they wanted to do, not what I was comfortable with
    3. The guide did no introduction to our bikes. There was zero instruction given on how to use the electric nor a review on any part of the bike
    4. Only take this tour if you are a very experienced mountain biker and only want to mountain bike.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Much harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    • 3/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 2/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
    • 2/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Swiss Lakes by Ebike
    (5/5) Dixon Leavitt 2 weeks ago

    Great Way to Experience a Country and Culture

    · Swiss Lakes by E-bike: Lake Geneva to Lake Lucerne

    We had a great time on this tour! The hotels were top notch, with great food and amazing spas. The routing was right on point, we really liked the EuroTrek app and the routes in there. That app along with Apple Maps got us everywhere we needed to go. We were lucky and did not have to use any of the tools or pump included. Bikes are a huge part of Swiss Culture. Travel on the roads, or on public transportation, was seamless.

    The funicular in Vevey on day 1 saved a lot of climbing. I would highly suggest taking it! Same with the train over the Brunig Pass. The cycling demands were very manageable. There was some walking up hills, but the last 3 days were almost all flat or downhill. If you stay in Spiez, after your ride, I suggest taking the Nielsen Funicular to the peak. From there, you see the valley you ride down from Gstaad to Spiez.

    Luggage transfer was seamless. The first day, our bags showed up at 5:30 pm. The rest of our days, the bags were already in our room when we arrived at the hotels.

    Bike Tours and EuroTrek were great to work with. We will definitely do another trip like this one day! If you are interested in the tour and have questions, I am happy to answer them. Dwade39 at gmail dot com

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    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?
    Switzerland
    •  (photo by Dixon Leavitt)
    •  (photo by Dixon Leavitt)
    •  (photo by Dixon Leavitt)
    •  (photo by Dixon Leavitt)
    •  (photo by Dixon Leavitt)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
  • Bike through bustling Bruges
    (5/5) Mark F 2 weeks ago

    Cycling around Bruges

    · Bruges City Bike Tour

    Joost was our tour guide. He's local and speaks English very well. Joost used stories to tell us about the history of Bruges. The ride is on cobblestone, but the bicycle seats are very comfortable so I did not notice any discomfort. We traveled about 7 or 8 km. It was an easy ride with many stops. We never felt rushed and was free to ask any questions. We had time to take photos at each stop. A very nice tour.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 29, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    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
    • 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)
  • Portugal's Atlantic Coast
    (5/5) Kat McDonald 2 weeks ago

    Great scenery, great towns, very steep hills

    · Portugal's Atlantic Coast

    Overall, an excellent vacation. Of the four bike tours I've done, it's #1 for scenery, #1 for food, tied for hotel quality, #1 for quality of bikes, #1 for travel partner service (documents, pickup/drop off, timeliness), and #4 for route finding. There are some times on busy roads but the drivers were exceptionally courteous. Travelers should note how hilly it is -- very difficult on a road bike and still quite challenging on an electric bike. Route finding is a problem. I understand the local partner is adding step by step navigation, but I believe additional steps (such as stickers on signs) will also be necessary.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
  • Discover the stunning region of Provence by bike!
    (3/5) Francisco Averhoff 2 weeks ago

    Great location- tour operator lacking

    · Cycling Paradise of Provence - to and from Avignon

    Recommend the trip, with another tour company, not Walk Inn. Service and access to assistance was very poor

    Countries included in this tour?
    France
  • Split to Dubrovnik
    (5/5) Brett Wilson 2 weeks ago

    Trip of a lifetime

    · Split to Dubrovnik: The Islands and Coastline of Croatia

    Highly recommend. The islands are stunning - beautiful natural harbors, wineries, picturesque towns, charming local restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops. The rides were beautiful and very manageable (over the course of a day). Hotels were quite nice and transfers were flawless. We upgraded to carbon fiber bikes which was nice.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2022
    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
    • 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
  • Danube Bike Path
    (5/5) Ian Bailie 2 weeks ago

    Danube biking adventure

    · Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)

    Riding along the Danube river through Austria to Vienna was a wonderful experience. Everything was very well organised, from bike collection, through route guidance, accommodation and support. The riding is easy, though on our ride we did encounter some strong head winds. There is spectacular scenery and interesting villages to keep interest up. We thoroughly recommend the bike tour.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
    •  (photo by Ian Bailie)
    •  (photo by Ian Bailie)
    •  (photo by Ian Bailie)
    •  (photo by Ian Bailie)
    •  (photo by Ian Bailie)
  • (5/5) Beth Alcorn 2 weeks ago

    Cycling the south of France

    · South of France: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

    Excellent trip and experience. Every detail was covered from the first pick up and orientation to the drop off of our bikes. Route instructions were spot on, accommodations amazing and overall route beautiful. Highly recommend this trip!

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    8
    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?
    France
    • 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
  • Cycling the West Balkan Triangle
    (2/5) Andrew Lindsay 2 weeks ago

    Disappointing Tour - Did Not Meet Expectations

    · Cycling the West Balkan Triangle

    Positives:
    1) The e-bikes were very good and well maintained; the routes were generally excellent if a little short for e-bikes (rides often finished early afternoon whereas on most other organised cycle trips I've been on they were spread out over most of the day).
    The rides from Herceg Novi to Kotor; Ravno to Ston and Ston to Kun were particularly enjoyable - brilliant scenery and quiet roads.

    2) Accomodation - Hotels were all very good apart from Marija 2. This hotel was a good 20 minute walk from Kotor; room was clean but rather dark and miserable (no view; no balcony but lots of signs instructing occupants what not to do). Fried eggs at breakfast were cold). By contrast the Hotel Stancia in Ravno was a delight.
    3) Food - This was an enjoyable part of the tour. The 'included' lunches and evening meals were very good. The lunches at Ravno, Ston and Kun were especially enjoyable - offering liquor tasting; olive grove visit and locally produced food respectively. The local restaurants we chose for our evening meals were also excellent.

    Areas To Improve: As a guided introduction to the West Balkans this trip has nothing to recommend it. The guide, while perfectly charming and an excellent cycle tour leader, had next to nothing to say about the countries we visited (their history; their customs and culture; their flora and fauna). I suspect his Company has never provided any training on how to be a tour guide.

    This tour makes it very easy to miss exploring the old town of Herceg Novi; the walls of Kotor and Cavtat Old Town (indeed most of the group did) because they were never recommended or even mentioned; nor did we cycle to them). Dubrovnik is the jewel (albeit a very busy jewel) of the West Balkans and it would be very easy to book this tour and never see it (the old town is a 40 minute walk from the Hotel Adria).

    I've cycled many times with Explore and Exodus on group guided tours and their delivered experience is vastly superior to that of BikeTours.com.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    I've been on well over 20 bike tours. The West Balkan tour is bottom quartile. Your guides need training. Happy to provide more feedback.
    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?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro
    • Little Ston-the hotel is on this harbour. Delightful spot. (photo by Andrew Lindsay)
    • View from near Perast - another superb setting (photo by Andrew Lindsay)
    • Ride thrrough vineyards en route to Ston (photo by Andrew Lindsay)
    • Visit and lunch at the Olive Grove near Ston (photo by Andrew Lindsay)
    • Cycle track along the old railway line to Ravno, Bosnia (photo by Andrew Lindsay)
    • 2/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 2/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
    • 2/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Discover the stunning region of Provence by bike!
    (3/5) Francisco Averhoff 2 weeks ago

    Great location- tour operator lacking

    · Cycling Paradise of Provence - to and from Avignon

    Recommend the trip, with another tour company, not Walk Inn. Service and access to assistance was very poor

    Countries included in this tour?
    France
  • Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
    (4/5) Heather Reynolds 2 weeks ago

    Fun time

    · · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour

    The tour was fun but the company had one of our main itinerary items (the flower auction) scheduled during a time that it was closed so it just was not part of our tour even though it was on the itinerary. Our guide made the best of it for us by finding a substitute activity (once we complained that it was being skipped and was a huge part of our overall trip)but the company should be accountable for its agreed upon itinerary.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Holland
  • Discover the stunning region of Provence by bike!
    (2/5) Francisco Averhoff 2 weeks ago

    beautiful countryside

    · Cycling Paradise of Provence - to and from Avignon

    the hotels were very nice (we upgraded) and the bike riding was very doable and the countryside was beautiful. we have done 5 self guided bike tours through biketours.com and have been very satisfied, however for this trip the actual travel agency in France (Walk Inn) was unsatisfactory: 1. they did not meet with us and did not go over the routes; 2.did not meet with us to go over the bike equipment; 3. we had trouble with the GPS system on our phones and they provided no assistance; 4. the written maps/routes did not match the routes on the GPS (once we were able to get it on our phone); 5. the GPS routes that we finally downloaded were often for the trip going in the opposite direction which made the navigation more challenging; 6. Finally, the hotel transfers and bike provider were subcontracted by Walk Inn making coordination difficult and furthermore, Walk Inn did not answer our calls using the phone number provider for emergency contact. Overall because of the in country travel agency , Walk Inn, this trip was only fair and could have been excellent.

    Countries included in this tour?
    France
  • Portugal's Atlantic Coast
    (5/5) Michael Coulson 2 weeks ago

    Terrific time, on and off the bikes!

    · Portugal's Atlantic Coast

    Great way to see the country, and the people, food, hotels, was all fantastic.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal