Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, the sooner the better, especially with the Bike & Boat tours, and particularly when traveling with a group. Tours can fill up quickly, especially in Holland when the tulips are in bloom! We are finding that our tours are filling up earlier every year.

Our Reservation Information page is a good resource providing details regarding the process, from start to finish.

Bike and boat tours or our hotel based tours
We invite you to phone, email, or chat your requests for availability. Many times we can place a cabin on hold for you or even request that a room or rooms in a hotel be set aside for a few days. Options are offered as a courtesy to you and you will not be under any obligation. However, as always, we do advise you do not make your air travel arrangements until you have officially reserved and been confirmed.

Hotel to hotel tours
We cannot place rooms on hold therefore we do not check availability. You are advised to submit a reservation for your preferred tour date and if possible, provide a second date as well. Once we receive, we will request that our partner begin the process of contacting each hotel, arranging luggage transfer, etc. If your requested date is not possible, you will not be under any obligation. However, and this is important if the date can be confirmed, it is an official booking subject to terms and conditions of such. Be sure that all of your questions are answered and you are ready to commit before submitting a reservation.

In general, the currency shown on each tour page corresponds with the accepted currency in the country/countries where the tour takes place (with a few exepctions). We buy the majority of our tours in Euros and it is simply cost-effective for you and for us. In this way, the price you see remains fixed. Only the exchange rate changes. We provide a calculator on the pricing page of each tour so that you can estimate your price in US and Canadian dollars. For tours operated by U.S. based companies, prices will be in Dollars. If the tour is offered in another currency, we suggest using an online currency converter to estimate your cost.

All prices are per person based on double room occupancy. Single bookings will incur a supplement. Please inform yourself in regards to what is included and not included in your tour and indicate upon reserving if you are requesting options not included in tour price such as, but not limited to, transfers, electric bike, and bike protection.

We now accept payment in Euros, US dollars, and Canadian dollars. Our EU clients can pay directly to our European account in Euros without any wire fees. Those from Australia, New Zealand, and several other destinations can also pay in their own currency into our European account using a transfer service. If you prefer to use a credit card, do note that a 4% surcharge will apply. Please read our Payment page for more complete details.

For those paying in US dollars and Canadian dollars, the exchange rate will be the bank rate plus 1.5 cents. If more than 100 days* before travel, you can request that your invoice be prepared sooner if you see a favorable exchange. As always, a deposit is required upon confirmation. This will be credited to you as a partial payment for your tour. Full payment is due 90 days before travel. If you are booking a tour less than 90 days before travel, full payment will be required, once confirmed.

*For CHARTERS, payment will be due 150 days before travel.

We strive to offer a variety of tours that will please all levels of cyclists but rating a tour for the difficulty is probably one of the hardest things we do. So many factors play into what one experiences on a bike tour. Cycling 10 miles in the rain with a headwind can turn an otherwise easy tour into one of those days you hope to forget. Be sure to look at the difficulty rating of the tour (s) that interest you. If you have any concerns, ask us! Many times we can provide more information in regards to elevation, etc. Another important thing regardless of difficulty rating is to get saddle ready! Nothing will dampen your enjoyment of cycling more than a sore bottom! You can be aerobically prepared but if you do not put in "saddle time" you will be sorry.

A good rule of thumb is the plus 10 x 2 rule.

• Plus 10: If the longest day on your tour is 25 km, then you should be able to ride 35 km. On self-guided tours, the unexpected can happen, you can get turned around, inadvertently adding kilometers, so be prepared for the unexpected.

• X 2 means that you are able to do this distance AT LEAST twice in one week. Most of our 8-day tours entail at least 5 days of riding. You will benefit even more if you add at least one ride of a shorter distance for a few weeks before your tour.

As the difficulty level increases, so should your pre-tour preparation and training. For those booking a difficult tour, the assumption is that you are a regular year-round cyclist who understands training techniques. Hills require hill work and long distances require longer times in the saddle.

A valid passport is required for all European trips. Visa requirements will need to be determined depending on your destination and your nationality. For US citizens, please visit the US Passports and International Travel page. For our international travelers please visit the embassy website of the country you are visiting to research requirements. Please be familiar with your own country's passport/identification requirements and the country that you will visit.
Canadian clients, please visit Canadian Travel and Tourism information
Australian clients: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
New Zealand: New Zealand Safe Travel

Since 2010, we no longer print and mail a large brochure or mail final travel information. This saves us a considerable amount of time and money, both of which we need to better serve you and to keep our costs low. Two to three weeks before the start of your trip, we will email you all the travel documents and trip information you need. If you would like it emailed sooner, we will do our very best to comply but cannot guarantee this, especially during the peak travel season. For many of our trips, more detailed information (such as route descriptions, maps, and tourist information) will be provided as well upon arrival.

WiFi is everywhere today and many of the boats and hotels on our tours do provide this service. However, most likely, it will not be what you are accustomed to! Due to the steel construction of the ships and barges, signal strength and speed can be affected and many times hotels offer this service only in the lobbies and public areas. If you are expecting and requiring reliable, strong, and effective WiFi we recommend that you consider your own portable WiFi device which can be rented from numerous companies throughout Europe and the World. We have personally tried MyWebSpot in Europe and have been very impressed by their service. You can pick up their device in 1000s of locations throughout Europe or request to have it mailed directly to you before your trip. The pre-trip mailing can be to your home in the USA or Canada or some other location in Europe. After using the WiFi hotspot during your holiday you simply mail it back in a pre-paid envelope from anywhere in Europe. Click the image below to see packages and get a free quote.

We work with dedicated local partners who have designed the tours and spent hours mapping the courses and writing the route descriptions and as such, are protective of their material. As well, mailing road books would incur international shipping costs and would not be cost-effective.

Yes, you will receive route descriptions for all self-guided tours and possibly the guided ones as well upon arrival at your first hotel or onboard your boat. Please look at the included and not included section of the tour of your choosing. All the routes have been thoroughly surveyed and outlined beforehand. They traverse as much as possible over good quality and lightly traveled roads, side streets or dedicated biking or hiking paths. In addition to the route descriptions, your travel package frequently includes information on the main attractions of the town or region you'll be exploring as well as local maps. Several of our tour routes can be lengthened or shortened according to personal preference. You will find more information about the routes on the tour page under "skill level."

Comfortable athletic attire is appropriate for all our active vacations. For our bike-themed tours, you may also wish to bring along a padded/gel saddle cover or padded bicycle shorts for extra comfort. Please be reminded of the temperature differences when traveling through the mountains and valleys. Multiple layers of clothing tend to work best for all kinds of weather. We also recommend bringing a windbreaker and full rain gear and your own properly fitted helmet for bike tours. It is a good idea to check the local weather conditions just prior to departure. To read more, please visit our Packing Tips page.

When you are ready to submit a reservation you will be asked to provide your height so that our local outfitters can determine your correct size. If there is any additional information you feel will be helpful in determining the best fit, feel free to add that in the comment section of the reservation form.

We advise that when you are assigned your bike or when you pick up your bike (particularly for self-guided hotel to hotel tours) that you check it over thoroughly, take a test ride to ensure everything is working properly, that all included accessories are indeed accounted for, and everything is up to your standards before starting the tour.

We think the question here should be 'Should I wear my own well-fitted helmet?' The answer is yes. Your own helmet is best for many reasons. It fits (we hope). It is clean (you hope), and you are accustomed to it. If you find it overwhelming to pack, we suggest wearing it. Once you board, you can tuck it away in the overhead. We figure it out and you will too! That aside, many times you can borrow or rent a helmet. Look at what is included with your tour and at the pricing section under 'Options'. If available, please request at time of booking!

Bicycle protection covers the cost of the repair or replacement of bicycle parts in case of an accident. It also protects against theft of the bike while it was locked. The key to the integral bike lock will always have to be produced in order for bicycle protection to cover the loss. You can obtain bicycle protection through us at the time of booking.

Hybrid bike protection:

• 8 days or less: €10
• 9 to 12 days: €15
• 13 days or more: €20

Electric bike protection:

• 8 days or less: €20
• 9 to 12 days: €30
• 13 days and more: €40

No problem, just be sure to state your requirements at the time of booking. Generally, the more restrictive dietary requests will incur a supplement.

Extra nights in certain cities or towns are usually possible, such as before or after a tour. We can assist you in the booking process or provide recommendations for you. If you are searching for a hotel, we typically recommend Booking.com

We have partnered with AirHelp to ensure that our clients are compensated and cared for when they encounter a delayed flight or cancellation. Visit www.AirHelp.com to learn more about your rights and how to start a claim.

For bike and boat tours, you will be welcomed on board by the crew, assigned your cabin, and can settle in. Your tour guide or onboard tour director will fully inform you and the others what to expect during your cycling vacation. For self-guided hotel-based tours and self-guided hotel-to-hotel tours, the first day is check-in and settling in as well. If cycling, you will find your rental bike and material either waiting for you, soon to be delivered, or you will have been informed where you need to go to retrieve this. Personal tour meeting is not always included with self-guided hotel to hotel or even hotel-based tours so please do not assume that this will be the case. If this is important to you, please read carefully what is included and not included in your tour. If you have any doubts and feel that it is not clear, please ask us. We want you to reserve the tour that is best for you. Guided hotel-to-hotel tours or supported tours will generally involve a welcome meeting and tour presentation at some point during that first day.

Though rare, problems do incur! If you encounter a problem, a phone call should quickly solve it. You will receive local emergency phone numbers for this purpose. The local tour operator (or tour guide for guided tours and Bike & Boat tours) will ensure you are back on your way as soon as possible. For the guided tours, your tour guide will be happy to help you with any problem on the spot or to fix a flat tire (or any problems with your bicycle). For self-guided bike tours, you will be provided with an emergency repair kit to fix a flat tire. It will be assumed that you are able to fix your flat on your own. Contacting the local hotline number provided is the most efficient and effective way to solve any problem. Though we are here to help, due to the time difference, you should first try to solve your problem on the local level.

Only on certain guided tours. Our experience has taught us that virtually every prepared cyclist is able to make it to the next hotel without difficulties! In the event of an emergency, our local operators will work with you to come up with a good solution.

Most people put on their rain gear, get on their bicycles, and cycle, knowing that the weather cannot be controlled! If you are on a guided Bike and Boat tour and the weather makes cycling absolutely impossible, the guide will arrange an alternative program which may include a longer visit to one of the towns along the way or a cultural excursion. You can always also stay on board the boat and sail to the next stop. Depending on the country you are in, and the type of tour that you are participating in, sometimes you can simply hop a train to your next stop.

You can expect an email within 10-15 days of your return outlining ways to submit feedback. However, we always welcome feedback...so feel free to chat, call, or contact us anytime!

Our trips have been specially chosen for their location, their accessibility, their local attractions, and their terrain. All of our cycling vacations take place in areas that are safe to travel and within surroundings well-suited for the two-wheeled traveler. They are popular cycling destinations. The local tour operators we work with are very familiar with the area's surroundings and pride themselves on the tours that they have designed. They will assist you in every way possible. If you have any special requests, we will do our best to accommodate you.

A tour operator is essentially the owner of the tour who contracts with us to sell the tours. We work very closely with all the companies whose tours we offer. They have researched the routes and destinations and have planned daily itineraries with great care. We have also made an effort whenever possible to meet the tour operators personally and to either experience a tour ourselves or at the very least, visit the boat and barges. We are originally from Holland and has cycled in many countries, we are quite familiar with Europe. To read more about our relationship with our local partners visit our Partners page.

Most of our trips include excellent bicycles; exceptions to this are some of the Road Bike Tours and possibly the U.S. tours. However, top-quality bicycles are always available for rental. You may bring your own bicycle to use (be sure to state this at the time of booking!), for which a discount may or may not apply. Children's bicycles may also be available by request. We request your height at the time of booking since the bicycles are customized before arrival. To learn more about the bicycles we use and see pictures, please visit our Bicycle Page. Though helmets are many times not required nor included, we highly recommend that you bring your own properly fitted helmet. If you are traveling with children, please ask us regarding the availability of helmets. Packing a helmet is much easier than you think and should be on your priority list of what to pack.

The vast majority of our tours also offer an electric bike option or a battery-assisted bicycle. Electric Bikes consist of a modified or custom bicycle frame with pedals but include an electric motor, usually in the form of a hub motor, mid-drive motor or belt drive connected to the rear wheel. They allow a rider to either pedal the bike or leverage the power of a battery. One thing to keep in mind for self-guided tours in which there is no support is that changing a tire on an electric bike in the event of a flat is a bit more time consuming and complicated than on a regular bike. (On guided tours, assistance with any problems with your bike is available.) Electric bikes are not designed for those who have no cycling experience. You must have good balance and control.

Hotel to Hotel tours are exactly what the name implies. You cycle or hike from hotel to hotel, each day enjoying the scenery, each night or every couple of nights staying in a different hotel. A Hotel Based tour means you stay in one hotel and cycle or walk the surrounding areas. The Hotel-to-Hotel tours include luggage transfer. The based tours will offer a number of routes from which you can choose. On Bike & Boat tours you stay onboard a barge or boat. As the boat motors to the next destination, you cycle and meet it there. The convenience with the Hotel Based tours and Bike and Boat Tours is that you only have to unpack once while still exploring different regions. The Hotel to Hotel tours are very exciting and adventuresome, each day brand new!

We offer self-guided, guided or supported active vacations.

Self-guided tours provide detailed route descriptions with maps and GPS tracks to guide you along the way. The routes have been tested and surveyed and you are provided a number you can call in the event of a serious mechanical breakdown or emergency. Self-guided requires self-sufficiency, flexibility, and a sense of adventure. The expectations are that you will be able to use the information provided to explore independently and if cycling, will be able to repair any flat tire and handle minor emergencies on your own.

A tour designated as guided generally indicates that you will have a guide available to hike, bike, and assist you on your daily routes. Sometimes a guided tour is actually a supported tour in which a support vehicle is available for questions, and guidance, and may serve as a sag wagon. All of this information can be found in detail on each tour page.

Road bike tours usually entail a daily itinerary with a focus on mileage and/or challenges that a varied terrain can provide. Bike tours are completed on a hybrid/touring bike with less mileage and an emphasis on culture and history. This is not to say that some of our road bike tours do not provide the opportunity to explore and enjoy the local surroundings so please peruse all our tours because you might find an area in our road bike category that you will enjoy or vice versa. The biggest difference lies in the type of bicycle that is utilized. A road bike/racing bike has thin tires and racing handlebars that allow the rider to “drop down” low over the bike. The road bikes are lighter in weight and not geared as low as a hybrid/touring bike. The hybrid cycles have a flat handlebar, thicker tires, and are a bit heavier than the road cycles.

We strive to offer a variety of tours that will please all levels of active vacationers. The majority of our tours fall within the Easy to Moderate level which means they can be experienced by the beginner as well as the enthusiast.

We find that rating tours is not an exact science. It is not just about the daily mileage or elevation gain. The important thing is to read the difficulty details on the tour page you are interested in. Daily mileage is provided and details regarding the routes.

Cycling tours:

• Easy: Flat terrain. Average daily distances approx. 16-30 miles
• Easy to Moderate: Terrain is mainly flat with some sloping hills. A daily distance can sometimes exceed 30 miles.
• Moderate: Terrain is made of rolling hills with some climbing involved. Itineraries frequently include two or more days with mileage more than 30 miles.
• Moderate to difficult: Climbs are more frequent and strenuous, such as you would find in the Tuscany region of Italy.
• Difficult: Very hilly terrain such as you will find with our Road Bike Tours or some of the tours in Croatia. Daily distances normally exceed 40 miles, but not always. A very mountainous terrain but shorter daily mileage will often times warrant the designation of Difficult.
• Very Difficult: Road Bike Tours with longer daily distances and strenuous climbs.

* Road Bike Tours will, of course, have more mileage and a higher level of difficulty. They usually will have a rating from difficult to very difficult.

Hiking tours:

• Easy: Short distances on relatively flat paths with no climbing. Paths or rural roads that are well maintained and easy to follow. Perfect for those with little or no previous experience on walking trips, or leisure and relaxed walkers.
• Easy to Moderate: Some longer distances on varied terrain but mostly well-maintained trails, and/or quiet country roads and paths. Some ascents and descents but nothing too strenuous. Perfect for those with a relatively good level of fitness
• Moderate: Longer distances on rugged and varied terrain with regular steep ascents and descents. Ideal for regular walkers with a good level of fitness or beginners looking for a challenge.
• Moderate to difficult: Long days with significant and consistent steep ascents and descents on varied terrain which may be rugged. Those participating at this level should have a good level of fitness.
• Difficult: Full days on challenging terrain, longer distances, ascents and descents. This level is for experienced walkers with a high level of fitness. The terrain is rough, and may be mountainous and remote.
• Very Difficult: These tours are only for experienced and/or very fit hikers featuring high mountain hiking and strenuous routes. Walking on exposed slopes is common. Designed for very fit hikers looking for their next challenge.

For our Road Bike Tours, quality road bikes are available for rental. However, we do understand that many clients desire to bring their own road bikes with them and we encourage you to research your preferred airline for policy and fees.

In the details section of each tour page under where you'll stay, the category (and sometimes name) of the ship you will be staying on is listed, and you can click for more details on the type of ship used. For general information about all the barges, please click on barges and boats.

Bike and Barge

The majority of bike and barge experiences are set in Holland and Belgium, whose histories are extrinsically linked to the seas, and the canals and waterways that connected the interiors to the ocean marketplaces. Barges are smaller and are specifically designed to maneuver small canals and tributaries. They can also be found in Germany and France.

Examples:

1. Amsterdam to Bruges

2. Bruges to Amsterdam

3. Provence Wilderness of Camargue

4. Cologne to Bamberg

Bike and Boat Tours

In this category are larger river cruisers, such as on the tours offered along the Danube River, and smaller vessels with larger motors that can handle the smaller rivers of Germany and elsewhere. Also included in this category are the ships used in the open sea experiences, in for example, Croatia. Though some are designed with masts, the sails are not used for wind power, but for affect.

Examples:

1. Along the Danube, Four Country Tour

2. Bordeaux – Chateaux, Rivers and Wine

3. Dalmatia from Dubrovnik Plus

Bike and Sail

The majority of sailing adventures are true sailing experiences, complete with hoisted sails and wind-dependent itineraries. All have back up engines, of course.

Examples:

1. Bike and Sail Northern Ireland

2. Bike and Sail the Frisian Sea

3. Tyrrhenian Sea

The size of the group is dependent on the size of the ship used, which vary. Usually, group size is between 15 to 30 participants (with a bare minimum of around 10); although, during the busy summer season, the ship is generally always fully booked. There are also larger ships used, especially along the larger rivers. Chartering your own boat is also an option. For more information on chartering a boat, please email or phone us!

Mainly, the United States, Canada, Australia and all over Europe, such as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. Do expect a multi-national group of participants and languages other than English.

We generally utilize 2- to 4-star hotels and always with private facilities in each room. Bed & Breakfasts may also be used. Breakfasts are usually included. For some trips, you will have the option of choosing your level of accommodations. The trip price is based on double room occupancy. Single rooms require a surcharge or single supplement. There are one or two boats in our program in which the cabins have "shared" facilities which are perfect for families.

This will be stated under "what's included" on each tour page. Most of the cycling trips include breakfasts and sometimes dinners, which tend to take place at the hotel or near the hotel. All beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are not included and need to be paid for separately on location.

Luggage transfer is included for all the hotel-to-hotel tours. The luggage will be transferred in the morning, and will arrive at the next destination sometime in the early afternoon. For some hotel to hotel tours there is a luggage limit and/or a weight limit. Please refer to the travel information that you will receive from us for details on each tour operator's guidelines in regards to luggage. During the day, it is helpful to have a small backpack to hold items such as snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain jacket, pocket change, passport, camera, etc. that can slip into your pannier or handlebar bag and easily removed when you stop at places of interest. We advise, that even though most panniers are described as waterproof, that you put your electronics in a strong, sealed, plastic bag, in the event that you encounter inclement weather.

You will find this information under "Travel" or "Local Travel" on each tour page. Additional information is provided in the travel packet that we will email to you. For train schedules and the like, the internet is a valuable guide. One useful site for train travel all over Europe is Die Bahn. For travel in France, another good site is www.sncf.com. For driving directions within Europe, Mapquest.com can be useful. Keep in mind that local transportation costs are generally not included unless stated otherwise. (Please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of these sites or that they have not been altered, discontinued, or otherwise changed).

The month of April provides the best opportunity for seeing Tulips blooming in the fields through the actual window of opportunity for this is quite short. The Tulips in the fields are being cultivated for the bulbs and to have a strong, healthy bulb, the flower needs to be cut back shortly after the peak bloom. The weather is the ultimate determinant and may lengthen or shorten the time frame by a week or two. If you miss the peak tulip time you will still see flowers in bloom! Holland is the land of flowers! Before the tulips, come narcissi and hyacinths with their enticing aroma. Late-season highlights at the Keukenhof include lilies and dahlias, as well as indoor exhibits. Visit our Tulip Time page for more info.