South Holland Tour

Tour Reviews

• Judith R. 4 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  Very nice boat. We had a mildew smell problem with our room, and the boat crew acknowledged it and when they were unable to fix the problem they upgraded us to a nicer room. The crew was terrific, and the boat was very comfortable.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Gilberto M. 4 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  Unforgetable trip becouse this country is amazing! The boat crew and bike guide were also very nice! Thank you!

  Boat: Liza Marleen

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• Pamela R. 4 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  Sailing on the barge through Rotterdam harbour. This bike and barge tour was amazing. The barge was so comfortable,the crew were wonderful,food was absolutely first class.Our guide did a fabulous job,and was so nice.We would urge anyone thinking about travelling in Holland to consider doing a bike and barge tour with this company.We are in the upper age group,and had no trouble keeping up.

  Boat: Sailing Home

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• Tracy v. 4 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  This was a retirement celebration for my husband. We were a total of 8 family members. The Liza Marleen was a great boat- food was marvelous and our tour guide superb. Out 16 mo old grandson was accommodated for and I must say our fellow passengers were the kindest bunch we could have hoped for. It’s hard traveling with babies-but we could not imagine the vacation without him

  Boat: Liza Marleen

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• Diane H. 5 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  I was extremely disappointed in the quality of the bikes. I had assumed from what I read that the bikes were hybrid bikes similar to what I own: less than 30 pounds, gears, maneuverable, easy to ride. These bikes were very heavy, hard to pedal, hard to walk. No one got the bikes off the barge for us to ride or put them back on. That means I had to struggle with the bike up and down a steep and dangerous metal ramp. I was more tired from riding 30 miles on the flat on one of these bikes than I was after riding a metric century up some pretty big hills on a road bike. I do not believe that a bike and barge trip should emphasize the biking and provide such poor bikes. Electric bikes were an option, but I do not choose to ride one. I want to ride a good quality hybrid or road bike. Riding was so much work that it took away some of the pleasure of seeing the Dutch countryside. The rest of the trip was very nice, but the biking was a big part of why we went on the trip and it was a huge Read more… disappointment.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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  • Jehiel from Tripsite 5 months ago     Staff

    Hi Diane,
    I am sorry to hear that you were disappointed in the type of bike offered on this tour. We make it very clear that the bikes used on De Amsterdam are "7-speed unisex hybrid touring bike (Velo de Ville C100 or Gazelle - Chamonix)". We also include pictures of the bikes in your pre-trip travel information. It is unfortunate you missed this information. Regardless, I, glad you enjoyed seeing the scenery along the way!

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• Abraham V. 6 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  An amazing physical experience with 68 fellow bikers from Germany and the US. Dutch hospitality warmly visible on multiple beautiful biking paths. Well organized tour. Tour leader Magreet Klijn deserves kudos for leadership role.

  Boat: De Nassau

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• James G. 6 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  Most excellent trip! Beautiful country, people, art, and delicious food and drink! I was most surprised by the amazing churches and the cycling culture! Our crew, captain, chef, staff and guide were very helpful and informative. Everything was on time! Even made time for swimming! The route map provided and GPS Tracks were great. I was the only person aware of the GPS tracks on the trip, not sure if others missed this or if their agents didn't provide -Thanks Tripsite. Also, Tripsite Support Agents via LiveChat were very helpful prior to the trip! The only thing I would do different is bring my own bike seat, just used to it I guess...

  Boat: Wending

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• Jackie L. 8 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  My wife and I had never done a bike trip before, let alone a boat and bike one. Our South Holland Tour turned out be fabulous that way exceeded expectations. The Dutch landscape was beautiful. Our boat, Sailing Home, was charming and immaculate. A daily highlight was getting to know our fellow shipmates over dinner. And what dinners! They were of varying cuisines lovingly prepared by Eline, our Cordon Bleu-trained chef. Some random thoughts: 1) we brought our own helmets, but it was unnecessary as the boat had helmets of varying sizes, 2) I was anxious about the quality of the bicycles on board which turned out to be needless worry; our 24-speed bikes were in great condition, 3) we had no idea who our fellow travelers might be, and strangers became friends who shared email addresses at trip’s end. We’ve had multiple vacations in Asia and Europe; our South Holland Tour was one of the memorable.

  Boat: Sailing Home

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• John S. 9 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  Great trip, beautiful scenery, terrific bike paths, good food, fine accommodations, no complaints! I would highly recommend this itinerary!

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Kathie W. 9 months ago     Verified Reviewer

  Southern Holland Tulip Tour on the Anna Antal- small group, smaller barge, excellent guide/cook/staff, relaxed setting, comfortable room, clean, clear directions and guidance. Very affordable plus arrival city for us was Amsterdam so accessible from the get go. Perfect weather which is out of anyone’s control but it made the biking extraordinary. Highly recommend this trip.

  Boat: Anna Antal

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• Cheryl M. 1 year ago     Verified Reviewer

  Loved the little towns, biking through them. Really nice trails. Sadly rain a couple of days but can't control the weather.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Wilf C. 1 year ago     Verified Reviewer

  In short, the South Holland boat-bike trip exceeded all my expectations. The routes, scenery and attractions were unbeatable. The boat cabins were small (akin to a university dorm room) but were extremely functional and comfortable. All of the staff did their utmost to satisfy our needs. We experienced windy days, a rainy day and lots of sun - the biking was always good. I'm typically a trip planner, so having all the logistics taken care of by the tour company made this an exceptional cycling vacation. I have already recommended the tour to many of my cycling friends.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Colleen S. 1 year ago     Verified Reviewer

  I very much enjoyed the beauty of the Netherlands countryside. Amazed by the extent to which the country is so bicycle friendly!

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Daniella from Tripsite 1 year ago     Staff

  This tour is incredible. It is all in one: beaches, dunes, historic towns, beautiful scenery, taste richness. Idyllic rides crossing the countryside passing by dreamy little towns while enjoying the caring of a dedicate and welcoming boat crew which felt like family. Getting up in the morning was a blessing. Every pedal took us to a new horizon of beauty, iconic landscapes and charming quarters which involved us in a good state of mind and body. Your whole self responds to this amazing atmosphere of enjoyment. History and culture just embraces you for the whole time. Meals are delicious; trying the local cheese, fruits, street food, or just finding a picturesque corner for a coffee is priceless. Getting back to our boat (Liza Marleen) was like arriving at home after an exciting and rewarding adventure. The captain and her crew knew exactly what we needed to replenish our energy while making every meal a pleasure. We were also lucky to get warm and long days, so as an extra, we got to Read more… jump into the inviting waters to extend a little more the incredible experience of each day. Our 7 years old daughter loved everything, even the cultural aspects of it is an invitation to all ages and tastes. I recommend this tour to every and anyone. It is definitely a bucket list top item.

  Boat: Liza Marleen

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• Ronerto R. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Exciting bike and barge tour throughout Southern Holland. Definitely proclaiming a successful trip in a beautiful Holland. Safe and crew were very attentive and courteous.
  Felt mislead by bike insurance offerer by Tripsite. Later found out bike staff on the barge that if the bike was damaged I would have to pay upfront the amount of damage that I caused to the bike staff and then I can put a claim to the insurance by Tripsite which I would be reimbursed at that time This was a minor snafu and I was very disappointed about the misrepresentation when I was told the insurance would cover everything upon needing the coverage for bike damages.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Donald B. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  South Holland trip was beyond what we were expecting in terms of scenery, trails and dedication by the Holland tour operators.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Rachel F. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  It was the trip of a lifetime!!! This was a trip on my bucket list and could not have asked for better!! Thank you!

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Katie H. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  This was a very positive experience. Bikers of all abilities can participate in this tour. The navigation can be a bit tricky. I would definitely recommend using the navigation app in addition to the maps & briefings. However, there was usually a friendly local or another member of the group not too far away to help get you back on the route. The barge was very nice. We had an upgraded room. Plenty of storage space. The guides were excellent. The staff on the barge couldn’t have been nicer. The food was very good. The tour itself exceeded my expectations. Holland is beautiful. The route took us through a variety of geography. Lots of quintessential Dutch experiences, windmills, cheese, delft, etc.. The de Amsterdam is a larger boat than most so you have a large group. Neither here nor there, just a note if you prefer a more intimate group.

  Boat: De Holland

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• Scott P. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Our trip through south Holland was a history lesson with activity all in one. We had the day to enjoy countryside, beautiful gardens, canals and the old brick homes and cities along the way. Each morning we had fresh local baking to start our day and pack a lunch. We enjoyed a wonderful three course supper every evening experiencing different cuisines and fresh local produce. Many evenings a history walk was included after supper, finishing the day with some information on the city we were near. The week went by too quickly. ( I would recommend bringing earplugs to help sleep as some of the mooring places were noisier than where we live.) All in all a very wonderful holiday, we would do it again.

  Boat: Wending

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• Sarah D. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  There were 3 of us from the USA traveling together. They told us to lock our bikes and take the key with us when we went into a store or restaurant. Toward the end of the trip we ( all 3 of us ) went into a store and did not luck our bikes. When we came out of the store one of the bikes was GONE. We took one of our other phones and called the USA to have the spouse lock the missing phone and track the bike on the GPS. The missing bike was 6 miles away at a big store. The shop owner called the police- the police went to the store- closed the store down for 45 minutes and locked all the 4 doors to the store. The police walked into the store looking for the red and black bike bag- saw it- walked up to the man , who was using the stolen phone and arrested him. He had stolen bikes before. They were so happy to catch him this time. The police never found the helmet and the man took $100, US dollars. They found the bike in the front of the store, as we knew the bike's # Read more… and brand. The phone was recovered. The thief was put in jail for 2 nights- we were told. The bike was returned to the barge. The victim was returned to the barge by the police. Lesson learned- NEVER LEAVE YOUR BIKE UNLOCKED and TAKE the KEY! On a lighter note- the wildflowers and wildlife a long the canals, were unbelievable! Would do it again, but lock our bikes.

  Boat: De Holland

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• Martha B. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Scenery was excellent, dinners on the boat were superb, and the guide (Peter) was friendly, helpful, and competent. Suggestion--let there be hot water for tea or coffee available any time--not just till 6PM. Also, supply plastic bags for packing lunches--or advise people to bring their own.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Pam W. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  This trip exceeded all my expectations. It is a wonderful way to see the country. The accommodations were very comfortable. We will be back. And recommend it to our friends.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Dave C. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The De Amsterdam is more like a cruise ship than a barge, very nice cabin, very nice dining room.

  Boat: De Amsterdam

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• Norma B. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  This trip has been on my bucket list for several years. I did it, just turned 70 years old. We had a lot of rain so felt we were constantly rushing or dodging the rain....no fault of yours of course. This was our first time using the bike trails so were somewhat confused but we did it. One suggestion would be to inform riders which direction to head, left or right, off the ramp. Loved it.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Adrianus S. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  My wife and I were part of a custom tour charter excursion as sibling/spouse reunion. The cycling portion of the trip was wonderful and accommodations on board were wonderfully. Great captain, hosts, and cooks did a wonderful job. We would love to do it again!

  Boat: Zwaantje

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• John B. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Cycling gave us a good look at south Holland. Wonderful variety. Passed through peaceful farm land and enjoyed the many small towns we passed through. Getting lost from time to time forced us to interact with locals and many of those occasions turned into highlights. Found the Dutch people to be most helpful.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Gaye S. 2 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  It was quite an adventure! Best way to see the real country and people of Holland.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Eileen C. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The Southern Tour from Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a wonderful trip. It was my first time on a cycling tour and I felt that I received all the information that I needed in order to prepare and to make a wonderful experience. The route had nice a diversity between cycling and stopping in Dutch cities. The crew was very helpful and friendly, and the food was great. My bicycle couldn't have been more comfortable. I highly recommend this trip.

  Boat: Liza Marleen

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• Walter V. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  A wonderful way to see the Netherlands and experience different parts of the country. Food on the barge was excellent. I do recommend you practice a lot before the trip to prevent saddle sores. Proper biking pants helps a lot.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Doyle S. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Most Memorable Part: The trip to kinderdijk was fantastic.

  Boat: Wending

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• Christa V. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The combination of beautiful bike routes and coming back to amazing meals each evening made for a vacation I would consider doing again.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Pak Ching A. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Most memorable part: Getting to know many friends from different countries.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Sian W. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The biking was wonderful with a great variety of landscapes and villages to see.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Thelma K. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  I learned and saw things from the Netherlands that I had never seen before. I loved the cycling through the dunes.

  Boat: Zwaan

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• Daniel A. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  This tour was the perfect way to see the Netherlands.The biking and scenery was wonderful. The staff was nice, the food was adequate, the boat could use a style update but it was clean with basic small cabins.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Azam E. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Boat and bike trip was our first experience. It was really amazing and well- organized one :)) we just wish to have more options for healthy food on board and choose our table at dinner time to socialize with more people than having assigned seats every night. -Thank you

  Boat: De Holland

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• Connie V. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Loved all the windmills, museum's, and bike routes. The food was delicious. Staff were excellent. I recommend to do the long routes as you get to see more.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Mike S. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The overall experience was excellent. We enjoyed the intimacy of a relatively small group on the boat. It allowed us to meet a number of people over the course of the week. We will definitely be returning in the future.

  If I had one suggestion it would be to limit the number of days where there was a deadline to meet the boat in the late afternoon as these deadlines sometimes creates pressure to complete the route quicker than I would have otherwise chosen.

  Boat: De Holland

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  • Jehiel 3 years ago     Staff

    Hi Mike! I agree with you. We will pass this along to our local partner to see if we can remedy this. Thank you for the suggestion!

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• Lauren F. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The most memorable parts were the wonderful roads to ride on in The Netherlands, the food was delicious, the staff members were accommodating and friendly .
  We loved this barge experience so much we signed up to do Northern Holland.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Kathleen L. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The most memorable part was riding through the windmill countryside.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Sya C. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The most memorable part was the wonderful hospitality we experienced on the Zwaantje. The captain and staff were great and I could recommend them to anyone. It was a fantastic way to enjoy a siblings reunion.

  Boat: Zwaantje

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• John O. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The crew on the barge were fantastic. The trip exceeded our already high expectations.

  Boat: Zwaantje

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• Cornelis S. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  We were very pleased with the bike/barge tour on the Swaantje. Being a slightly smaller boat, it took us right into the heart of the towns. Boat staff most friendly and accommodating. Our bike guide Felix was a gem. Great sense of humour and understanding of everyone's concerns.

  Boat: Zwaantje

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• Helen M. 3 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The scenery was beautiful and the barge was lovely. The most memorable part of the trip was the people - the Dutch are friendly and helpful, and the Angela Esmee crew was exceptional!

  Boat: De Holland

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• Maggie C. 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Wonderful standard of accommodation - meals quality and cabin comfort were excellent. Cheese tasting on board every evening was an unexpected bonus. The bikes are operated by a pedal break which was a new experience for our group of 7 but we adapted over the course of the trip. The cycle routes were excellent, not too strenuous and were long enough so that you really felt that you had a good day's exercise and yet there was just enough time to stop off in some of the lovely towns and villages for museum and cafe visits.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• W. Flink 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  This is our third bike and barge trip and we would come back to do another. We had a great time! The boat, the Liza Marleen, was very nice, the crew very friendly, and our bike guide informative, interesting, and a lot of fun. It was very nice going on a small size boat and the crew created a family-like atmosphere which made the trip very enjoyable. One one particularly warm and longer day, the crew handed out delicious popsicles as we climbed back aboard at the end of the day. We appreciated the all the small details like this. We tell many friends that they should do one of these Bike and Barge trips. We'll be back.

  Boat: Liza Marleen

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• M. Gaherty 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Trip was outstanding however a comment. Upon our arrival on the boat, the first thing they tried to do was sell us bike insurance. We showed them the paperwork that we had paid 15 Euros. They countered that their ins was only 10 Euro and that it would be easier to settle a claim because we would not have to get reimbursed by you. We did not buy their ins but this turned us off immediately. Also, why are we paying 15 when they charge 10? This option should have been explained to us. Now the good news: boat was beautiful and we had a great room. Food was absolutely outstanding! I thought it was exceptional on Theodor Kormer but Anna Maria Agnes had them beat by a hair! And our guide, Niko, what a doll! Wish I could have taken him home with me! Prior to our trip my friends and I spent a few days in Amsterdam. While visiting museums, I lost my new jacket, new Galaxy S-7 phone and my digital camera! We retraced our steps, went to police station. I came to the conclusion that I might Read more… have left them on the tram but it was Friday, the lost and found was closed until Monday. On Day 2 of our trip, I asked Nico if he could help me by calling the tram lost and found, which he did. The next evening, he approached me with a big grin and told me that they had recovered my items on the tram. What a miracle! He wrote down the case # and gave me directions to find the lost and found. Thank you Thank you to Nico!!
  One suggestion: we were given no instruction as to what the street signs meant. I know a little bit of Dutch and even I had a problem with them. I would suggest that a handout be prepared for all English speaking, showing pictures of the signs and interpretations. Also, a short session on cars vs bikes; who has the right of way etiquette ...that would be very helpful. Several times, we stopped at intersections, only to have bikers pass us or swear at us for stopping. At times, the route numbers were confusing but that was not the fault of Nico. There were some route changes, construction, which deviated from the map.
  Overall, we had a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!II have already had some friends who are interested in booking a trip to Holland through tripsite.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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  • Jan 4 years ago     Staff

    Thanks for getting back to us, Maureen. Per our earlier conversation, we will be refunding you the difference. It is our policy to match the boats bike insurance price and we apologize for this inconvenience.

    Regards,
    Jan

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• P. Watson 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Due to the length of the cycling routes, there should have been better quality bikes. All gears should have been in working order.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• V. Silberstein 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  This was a fabulous trip! The best way to see the Netherlands is by boat and barge. This cruise far exceeded my expectations. The barge was homey and warm, the crew was so special. They took care of our every need, and did it in a friendly and caring manner. The chef was phenomenal! The value for your money was great. I would do this again in a heartbeat!

  Boat: Liza Marleen

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• N. Miles 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  There was initially a question with the insurance we had purchased from you. We had to purchase again on board. After it was reported to you, things were quickly resolved. We had another glorious trip with you and appreciate your help.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Lynda Vera 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  Excellent trip, guide & staff. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Only downside was the cabin or perhaps the pillow was a bit musty - had allergic symptoms/ loss of sleep during the night but was fine during the day.

  Boat: Wending

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• Jeffrey Douglas 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The trip is excellent and we are now booked for our third time. However, and I know this is out of control of anyone, but our last trip was affected because of the crane accident near Gouda. This caused a rerouting of half the trip and because of that, we missed half of the sites that we wanted to see. On another note, the country should really make it illegal to dump raw sewage from the boats. This is disgusting and makes the waterways unclean. One would think that the government should do something about this and set up pumping stations. Otherwise, we really enjoy the bike/barge rides and will continue to go on them in the future.

  Boat: Wending

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• Doug Dowell 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The food was spectacular on both tours. The crew and guides were excellent on both tours. In particular, having guides with expertise in the history and art of the area is much more important than expertise in cycling. We have been recommending these tours to friends and family all summer long. Thank you.

  Boat: Sailing Home

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• Bruce Carter 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  The route presentations by the guide were difficult to follow because they did not use a Powerpoint type presentation with a screen. This left the guest fumbling through paperwork which made the presentation difficult to understand and increased the risk of getting lost along the way.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Jean Louis Bergeron 4 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  On some days, we could have biked more. Very pleasant walks in the evenings.
  Very small window in our room.

  Boat: Anna Antal

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• Ron Neesham 7 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  We have just returned from our holiday on the Anna Marie Agnes which we thoroughly enjoyed. The whole voyage and cycle riding was well planned and, Ida, the guide could not have been better.

  We were allocated a dining table with a total of eight English speakers who all gelled from the first meal and we sometimes met at path side cafes.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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• Alison Stilwell 8 years ago     Verified Reviewer

  It has been about 5 years since I did the Southern Tour. I have wonderful memories and have been thinking about booking another bike/barge tour for the past few years. Maybe 2012 will be the year! Never having completed a bike tour, I was happily surprised by the quality of the bikes and was always able to easily keep up with the group.

  Boat: Anna Maria Agnes

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