Fleur

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

I recently returned from a bike and barge trip in France which I booked through Tripsite. The trip was from Montargis to Paris and was provided by Bike Boat Tours based in Amsterdam. This trip was exceptional as it was for myself and 9 of my family members, eight of whom had never traveled to Europe before. I have personally used Tripsite many times in the past and as in all previous instances they were totally professional. They handled any communication to the tour provider, provided a link for trip insurance and all last minute advice regarding clothing, tipping, currency exchange, location where to board the boat, etc. Working with Tripsite is key to making foreign travel easy and I'm sure I will be contacting them again.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

The captain, crew, and tour guides were super people. We feel like we are all close friends. Tamarra and Janeke were the best tour guides and went out of their way to became permanent friends. The sites and routes selected were fabulous. I loved every day of cycling but was enchanted with riding through the forests around Fontainebleau chateau. My husband d and I are senior citizens (68 and 74) and the bikes were the best. Hills were no problem for us

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

The guides were wonderful. We saw so many interesting and beautiful spots. The highlights were the Keukenhof Gardens and the Floral Market, but we have many many memories. We have friends booking based on our recommendation!

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

Our barge "Fleur" was perfect in every way as were the staff. Starting from the beautiful Belgium town of Bruges you cycle along the various canals and rivers on quite country roads, paths, cycleways and tracks through countless quaint towns, villagers and towns, including the Somme (WWI battle grounds).We highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting a casual cycle through stunning country side and of course the bonus of cruising into Paris on the Seine River , with all its sites and landmarks.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

Our bike tour included stopping to visit inside a working windmill, a roadside stand for regional cuisine called kibbeling, the flower auction and a seaside stop for fresh herring. An unforgettable trip even though the tulips weren't quite in full bloom.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

The entire trip was exceptional from beginning to end. The accommodations were perfect (you can't beat having your hotel follow you). The food was amazing and the staff were the perfect hosts. The guides did an exceptional job guiding us through the beautiful towns, villages and countryside of Holland. A trip my wife and I will always remember.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

Very enjoyable trip! Great accommodation, great cycling and great crew & guides.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

This trip is not accurately described. Most of our group found the biking to be quite challenging, yet it was rated as "Easy to Moderate". This is a misrepresentation and should be adjusted. On the first day, one our group had to be taken to the hospital due to the heat and exertion. The captain of Le Fleur could use some lessons in hospitality. He and his crew occupied the salon every evening for their meal after we ate, and then they stayed there for the evening. This put the guests out on the back deck as the only alternative -- and then he scolded us when we were laughing due to the noise. The captain did not treat us like guests, but the other team members were friendly. The fact that we sailed with the captain's young daughter and their large dog was a surprise. I would not recommend this boat, but enjoyed the sites and activities. I have taken two other bike and barge tours, and this one did not compare favorably.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

The 8 day Tulip tour was fantastic. The boat, bike, food, staff and scenery was everything we had hoped for! The only thing we couldn't control was the weather and the tulips not quiet in bloom....we dodged the rain and saw many daffodils and hyacinth and met new friends to top it all off. Thanks for the memories!

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

Wonderful trip! Even though the tulips were a bit behind because of the extended winter, the tour offered wonderful scenery and a plethora of other flowers. The guides were great and the pace accommodated all the participants. Great food, accommodations, service and staff!

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

Just ended this tour this morning and it was one of the best vacations we've ever taken. Can't say enough about the captain, staff and guides on the Fleur-very glad we chose a guided trip as there are numerous detours and unclear route signs. Fantastic sights, excellent equipment, wonderful food and fun fellow passengers, REALLY important to take the right clothes (we wore t-shirts, short, sandals and down coats/hat/gloves in the same week) Full rain gear including waterproof shoes or boots is essential. Also be aware the wind in the Netherlands can be brutal-we booked e-bikes and were REALLY glad we did! Steps down to cabin are very narrow and steep - almost like a ladder, so make sure you can do this several times each day. Excellent communication from Tripsite regarding booking and all information. Thank you Cpt. Steffy, Elsa, Aga, Nellie, Helena, Petra and Bert for an extraordinary holiday!

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

The whole trip was great. Other passengers on the barge were great, weather was good, one couldn't ask for anything better. The Tripsite staff were extremely helpful and I have always found them to be most professional.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

I am still raving about our trip - we loved every minute of it. Loved the cycling through all the fields of tulips and Lia our guide was fantastic. The barge was warm and welcoming - like coming home at the end of the day - excellent food. I only have good things to say. Just do it!

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

The excellent staff and guide combined with the great mix of rural and forest countryside and the history in the cities and towns along the way.
Tripsite should do a better job of editing the text on their website. There were several incorrect descriptions.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

Two items that were not as expected.
The literature states two guides but there was only one guide. This means there could only be one guided ride per day. So provide two guides or change the description of the trip to say only one guided ride per day.
Our pre-trip information provided a location for the where the barge would be moored in Paris. We selected a hotel near this location and planned activities based on this location. The boat did not dock at this location. We were not told that the location was changing. The boat docked. We didn't know where we were at and our guide also didn't know where we were at. Guide was very good. This was an issue with the boat captain.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

Needed the second guide as group unwieldy for one. Unlike prior trips, guide gave little info on trip sites/locales, despite being quite personable.

  Fleur Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The trip provided both the opportunity to see the countryside in an up-close and invigorating manner, but it also allowed for memorable time to get to know and enjoy our fellow travelers.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

The staff on Fleur were wonderful and our guide Lia was excellent sharing so much info about the Netherlands.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

One of the best European Vacations I have ever done. Well worth the money. Will never forget how beautiful the Tulips were.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

EVERYTHING about this trip was fabulous! We will have long lasting memories about everything related to this trip- the booking process with Tripsite to the barge and crew to the tulips and windmills to the wonderful biking experiences throughout The Netherlands. I would highly recommend this trip to everyone!

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

Everything was wonderful, from the newly renovated Barge, the staff, food, agenda and bikes. The booking process sometimes was a bit confusing and questions took a bit to get answers to via email. The cost was so reasonable and good value overall! I will definitely travel this way again!

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

What stands out is the friendly competent crew - Coba, Marianne and Petra, the gourmet chef - Franco, the experienced knowledgeable guides - Piet and Wouter. Together they made the two week journey both comfortable and memorable.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris or Paris to Bruges (copy)
Belgium, France

What stands out is the friendly competent crew - Coba, Marianne and Petra, the gourmet chef - Franco, the experienced knowledgeable guides - Piet and Wouter. Together they made the two week journey both comfortable and memorable.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

We had a fantastic trip on the Fleur, It was well above our expectations.
The crew were fun and helpful in every way. ( food was excellent )
Bikes were easy to ride, i would take a gel seat cover for extra comfort.
Cabins were bigger than expected and the bathrooms clean with a instant hot water.
Our guide was informative, she took us into places that you would not normally enter.
We had a fun team of riders, thanks guys from the Smurfs xxx

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

Nearly everything excellent. The only downside was the cycling was promised to have the option of two different rides each day i.e. a long or a short ride with two different guides. There was only one guide so both options were compromised into one medium length ride each day. Many on the tour would have preferred a longer ride most days.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

It was well above our expectations in every way, cabins, staff, cleanliness and the gourmet meals all the time. Fantastic experience.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

Everything exceeded expectations. I would definitely recommend the Fleur and trip

  Fleur Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium

The Bike and Barge was one of the Highlights of our tour of Holland. The boat is comfortable and the food is great! Yes the room are small but that is no worry since there is so much to do. You can sit on the bow of the barge in comfortable chairs after a day of biking. Everything is planned out well. The meals, bike tours, city walks etc all start on time like clockwork. The guides are informed and you learn bits of history as you pedal. Really a great way to see and learn about a country. I would highly recommend this trip to the bike enthusiast.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

About the only confusion was the gratuity. In your write up it stated 3 - 4%. On our room door it said 5 to 8%. Which was a combined amount. So it was a little confusing. We tipped the 8% maybe a little more. Not a problem for us, but some people budget for an exact amount. The trip was wonderful.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

The crew and barge were just terrific. The food was excellent and plentiful. The French towns and scenery were a delight.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

I left my heart in The Netherlands. The people are so great there.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

One of my discoveries for this trip was that I think I prefer a self-guided tour to a guided one. The group was larger than what I was really comfortable with, as I like to stop for photos and wasn't comfortable doing that with the large group. (My spouse and I had just finished a 6 day self-guided tour thru Holland). The bikes were fine, but one of our group had constant problems with hers. The food was fine, but I prefer more options, and would have liked eating away from the lunch basket-type of fare we fixed ourselves from barge foods. I loved that the guides gave us interesting evening walking tours.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

The price was very reasonable - much below others we considered.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

Had a wonderful time. The crew were amazing. Fred the guide was very attentive, knowledgeable, and always willing to help. Well organized with unique side trips. The food was great and the crew were all very friendly and helpful. What a beautiful country and lovely way to experience it. I will definitely recommend it to my friends.

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

We loved our trip to the Netherlands to bike through the tulips and have recommended this trips to lots of friends and family!

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

We had brand new bikes and the guides had to spend most of their early evening time adjusting the bikes (Brugge to Paris trip) but in the end got all the bikes adjusted so they all ran well. All the boat staff and guides were fantastic.
Love your trips-must do more.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

Almost perfect in every way. Only bad was I wanted more of everything.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

Loved the crew, but Clive (our chef) was the best. I have since done another bike and barge trip with another company and was totally disappointed with the food we were served. I am looking forward to doing another bike and barge trip this year.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

We had an absolutely fabulous time in September this year on this trip. Cycling was fantastic-Francien an excellent guide, Inma a wonderful gourmet cook. The crew was always helpful and cheerful. The group of fellow cyclists were great fun - lots of laughs. Thank you, we will be back!!

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

The April 14th, 2013 trip on the Elodie far exceeded my expectations. The dynamite crew provided excellent care and service. Meeting people from other countries, sharing stories, riding in the wind (and just a little bit of rain) and dining with each other for the week was a bonding experience. Ine, our guide, was patient and knowledgable, Vamme was a good captain who joined us on some of our city strolls and Sander was a chef extraordinaire ~ definitely the "King of Creme Brulle" ! My friend and I hope to take another Bike & Barge trip ~ and would arrange our trip around the Elodie. What wonderful memories!!!

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

We just returned from the Tulip Tour on the Elodie. It was fantastic. Our guide, Ine, was great, even going the extra mile by offering city walks each evening. Sander, the chef, created outstanding gourmet dinners enhanced by his enthusiastic description and presentations. Our captain was great, pitching in as needed. The bikes were brand new and of excellent quality, and the biking was really fun - challenging at times with the wind, which added to the enjoyment. We got to tour a working windmill and a cheese producing farm and learned a lot about the Netherlands. No tulip fields this week but that was the only disappointment and it was overshadowed by all the positives. A fantastic trip!

  Fleur Tulip Tour - 8 Day
Netherlands

What a fabulous time! The crew on the Elodie could not have been better. Sanders, the chef, put out gourmet meals every night, with wonderful breakfast choices each morning. Our guide for the week, Miriah, took such good care of us, was always cheerful & helpful, and we really saw an amazing cross section of the Netherlands.The April 7th trip, this year, was cold, and unfortunately because of the very late spring there were very few tulips, but that didn't dim our enjoyment, and it was highly unusual. Some of the mileages shown are a little short. Day 2 was possible to do 34 miles & day 7 was 22 miles. All do-able even for someone who hasn't kept up on their cycling.

  Fleur Montargis to Paris
France

We took this tour in July of 2010. We have used tripsite before and have loved the experience. But I have to say, that for the biking, we liked the Netherlands tour better. There weren't many sites open to tour. Cafes and restaurants were often closed when we got there. Having said that, the scenery was beautiful. The food was wonderful too. And it was a treat to barge our way into and around Paris. Thank you.

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

Fantastic-had a great time, food was great and bike tours were very good. Comraderie on the Fleur helped make the trip and the guides were fun with all the grief they received from us. Many sites were visited you would never see on a "packaged" tour

  Fleur Bruges to Paris
Belgium, France

This was a fantastic tour. The guide, captain, and cook were all wonderful. Great way to see the country, on small roads and bike trails. We saw an amazing amount of varied things in 14 days.