2 Star Bike Tour Reviews — 1 to 30 of 72
Marcia V.
3 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Around Lake Constance
Austria, Germany, Switzerland
We picked up our bikes and tested them. Everything was fine. When we set out the next day. We were cruising right along. Some of the markers were hard to find as there are so many cyclists and trails and bike routes. We did get lost but there was always someone to help us. The next day my friends bike would not go into peddle assist mode. We stopped at a bike shop and were told that the problem was in the wiring of the bike. Upon calling our outfitters we were told that they would bring us a bike at 10:00 the next morning, 11 hours later. We ended up having to take a fare boat at our expense , to get to the next town. The replacement bike did show up at 10:00 the next day but that hardly gave us enough time to make it to our next destination. We lost a lot of biking time in those two days. Trip site has yet to reimburse us for any of the inconvenience and does not respond to our emails. I would highly advise going through a different company.
Tripsite staff • 2 months ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Marcia, I do sincerely apologize for the troubles with the e-bike. I realize how frustrating that was. However, I did exchange several emails with your friend and have sent reimbursement several weeks ago.
I hope you were still able to enjoy this beautiful area!
Lisa P.
3 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Sarah
Heart of Holland
Netherlands
It was a family reunion with friends whom most have never been on a bike & barge trip…ever! It was fun, exciting, adventurous and EPIC. If you are curious about a bike and barge trip, take the leap and do it. You may see something, meet someone or reinvent yourself that changes your life.
Edward C.
3 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Along the Danube - Four Country Tour
Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary
The lack of communication on the lack of planning for weather. There should have been plans in place for us to visit all 4 countries that we paid for, or compensation for missing Budapest.
jan • 3 months ago Tripsite Staff
This highly unusual storm effected 1000s of travelers in the region and the local folks on the ground were completely overwhelmed. Apologies that your trip did not entirely work out. thanks for your business and we hope you'll travel with us again.
Carolyn W.
4 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn
Berlin to Wolfsburg
Germany
Disappointing trip. Our only day in Potsdam nearly every museum was closed. Countryside and small towns just were not very interesting. I don’t believe this same itinerary is being offered next year. Food on Merlijn was just ok and we were given small sandwiches for lunch.
Roe P.
4 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Admiral
Lycian Coast E-bike & Boat
Turkey
The staterooms smell very heavily of sewage, which is nauseating and makes sleep very difficult and unpleasant. The boat has significant deferred maintenance and needed cleaning. The captain seemed pensive and the crew and tour leader, although kind and friendly, somewhat disorganized and untrained.
The scenery, food and historic ruins were amazing. The eBikes were in good condition.
MARGARITA ROSA M.
6 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Feniks
Tulip Tour - 8 day
Netherlands
This barge trip was my second one but definitely it wasn’t better than the first. The main reason of this disappointment was the guide. We were a group of 12 with a wide range of ages and personally I think he wasn’t able to adapt to every bodies needs and we had to look after ourselves. The guide didn’t explain much about the history and meaning of the places we visited, which, to my mind, diminishes the value of this experience.
JV • 6 months ago Tripsite Staff
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We apologize that the guide did not meet your expectations and will use your comments to improve our service for future trips.
lisa s.
7 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Danube Bike Path - Vienna to Budapest
Austria, Hungary, Slovakia
tripsite was always a little confused and there were mistakes made, we got our info the day we arrived for the first day of our tour. The hotel did not know a thing about our packets, and again I had to make a call on vacation. The person that showed up was clueless about bikes did not know how to put on pedals or adjust the seat. He did not have our train tickets as someone forgot to put them in the packet. one of the bikes was missing a fender and a bag. The hotels were hit or miss. The Stockl hotel was dirty and smelly, we both got a rash that was scaly and itchy. I had to call Euro bikes to get our train tickets again. As they forgot to digitally send them. ,( second time). The directions were hit or miss. Gps was better. I have done many bike tours and I loved the Danube tour just need a more organized company. Electric bikes worked great!!
castles were great!
Tripsite staff • 2 months ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your feedback. I apologize that you felt we were "always a little confused" and details were missed. This was a very last minute booking and your final travel information was sent to you the day you submitted your final payment - 2 days before the trip. I realize it may have been frustrating that you were confused upon arrival at your first hotel.
Overall I'm happy you loved the Danube and I hope you were able to bring home many fond memories of your trip! - Carla
Sandra S.
7 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Clair d’Etoile
Champagne Tour
France
Not many memorable parts of the journey.
The information provided about the mileage each day was inaccurate. The rides changed and the downloaded GPS maps were useless.
The guide lost members of the riding group and we had to wait long periods of time.
I requested fish and had vegetarian meals instead
I could go on. Very unexpected experience and very disappointed
Eileen B.
8 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Madeira Island by E-Bike
Portugal
The equipment wasn't adequate for route. The batteries on ebike expired before route completed on days 2 and 3. Rating should've been difficult. I think it would've been impossible to do as a self-guided tour. Our guide was fabulous and made adjustments to route due to closed roads and to avoid tunnels.
Anderson
8 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Pearls of Dalmatia
Croatia
Just returned form a Pearls of Dalmatia on board the Romantica. I am very disappointed. The food we were served was less than acceptable. Vegetable soup without any vegetables (none, zero), chicken noodle soup with no chicken or noodles, thin chicken filet (2 nights) that would have been fine had they not been over cooked (think shoe leather), a lot, lot of pasta. Coffee & tea were complimentary with breakfast only, any other time, lunch, dinner or in between, there was a surcharge. However, there was plenty of bottled drinking water..good thing as you pay cash on board $60 euros per person for water.
Guides were friendly, stateroom was standard bike & barge size & layout. I would have preferred more riding, but what we did was good, certainly challenging. Bikes were in good working order.
Ian and Phyllis Paine
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer
Classic Tuscany E-Bike tour
Italy
If considering a European cycling tour, we would suggest using a European company that is available to provide support when their bikes are not working properly. Tripsite does not stand behind their promises.
Carla • 1 year ago Tripsite Staff
Mr. and Mrs. Paine,
I apologize this trip did not meet your expectations. Our Tripsite support line is available 24/7 and goes directly to my mobile phone, however I never heard from you. Our local partner is just a phone call away as well. I am sorry you have declined my offer to speak on the phone about your claims and additionally that you are not happy with the more than fair reimbursement we sent you. It would be my suggestion to consider a guided tour next time and also a tour that matches your ability of cycling. I am happy to discuss further.
Best wishes on future cycling tours!
Deborah H.
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer
Primadonna
Along the Danube - Four Country Tour
Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary
The Danube is one of the top places to bike in Europe – and I’ve done it many times over the last eight years. However, I did not enjoy the Primadonna. I wish that Tripsite would’ve told me that it was a “bargain” cruise. The staff was not very professional, and although breakfast was very good, dinner was somewhere between OK and unacceptable. Worst thing was the bike route description briefing. The cruise Director talked in circles and you never had a clear understanding of what you were doing. We had to ask a lot of questions and make notes to be clear. Many people in my group struggled - and the printed hand out they gave us was worthless.
Very disappointed in Tripsite for letting me book this for my group. I feel it was their responsibility to tell me that the Primadonna and it’s staff were the bottom of the barrel on the Danube boat and bike list, compared to others they offer.
In sales, they call that: managing expectations.
I wish we would’ve taken the Manon (which I did last Summer) – far better in every sense.
Timothy V.
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer
Allure
Koblenz to Merzig
Germany
Stopping at local towns to sight see and hit a cafe mid-morning and for a glass of wine or beer in the afternoon. Allure barge never made enough food for our group, rarely made stops while biking at cafe’s or towns for coffee or drinks in the mornings or afternoons. Felt rushed to get from point A to B and not enjoying the ride.
Cheryl Smith
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer
Saint Moritz to Lake Garda E-Bike Tour
Switzerland, Austria, Italy
Carla from Tripsite • 1 year ago Tripsite Staff
First and foremost, thank you for your patronage and as well, taking the time to provide feedback on your recent bike tour with us. I'm truly sorry to hear the tour did not meet your expectations, and I appreciate the detailed account of the issues you faced.
Interaction with the Owner: We deeply regret that you felt uncomfortable during your interaction with the owner. We have a long standing relationship with this owner, and I've sent hundreds of guests traveling with her, so needless to say I am very surprised there was such an uncomfortable interaction.
Overbooking & Pricing: It's disheartening to hear that you felt the tour was overpriced and overbooked. We strive to provide the best value and experiences for our participants. Note that this tour is structured a bit differently than some of the other tours you have participated in the past, which does account for more costs.
Support Vehicle: The safety of our participants is our Read More top priority. I understand there was some nasty wet weather and the bus was able to bring all the guests to the next hotel. I am not clear on the two emergencies you speak of and will elaborate further with the tour guides.
Meals & Accommodations: We are sorry to hear that our meal offerings and accommodations did not meet your expectations. We strive to provide a balanced mix of local cuisine and comfortable stays, and are re-evaluating based on your feedback.
Luggage Transfer: It's important for our guests to have a seamless experience. I'm glad to hear that, at least towards the end, your luggage was taken to your rooms, but we'll work on ensuring consistent service throughout.
Again, we apologize for the inconveniences you faced and truly hope we can make it up to you in the future.
Warm regards,
Carla
Ingdís Lindal J.
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer
Catalonian Flavors of the Mediterranean
Spain
The hotels were great and the weather good.
Steve • 11 months ago
Can you expand on your review?
Sharon E.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Bordeaux to Sarlat Wine and E-Bike Tour
France
Several of our friends have used your company in Portugal and have been very pleased. They mentioned meeting an area manager before the ride for an orientation, as well as raving about their awesome hotels. Please let us know if you would like further details, but sadly we were quite disappointed in this ride that we were very much looking forward to.
Carla • 11 months ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Sharon, Thank you so much for leaving a detailed review. I am so sorry about the inconvenience of the detour you had to take. Unfortunately sometimes we are not aware of construction until a client informs us. The route has since been reviewed and adjusted accordingly.
We are also disappointed to hear you did not enjoy the L'Ostal de Pombonne. This is a highly rated accommodation and most of our customers enjoy their stay, however I understand it may not be everyone's cup of tea. For future reference, it is possible to request city center accommodations for the duration of your tour.
Nevertheless we hope you were able to bring home many great memories from your trip!
Timothy R.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Prinzessin Katharina
Along the Danube - Four Country Tour
Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary
More of a boat trip than a ride. Lots of time stuck on the boat, minimal time at each location. Many rides cancelled or shorter than the advertised tour.
Jean B.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
De Amsterdam
South Holland Tour
Netherlands
Getting to see so much of the Green Heart of Holland. However, incompetent dining room staff making me late for outings, insufficient/late availability of food for packing lunches, one guide leaving mid-trip, broken down barge meaning loss of 2 days of itinerary and then overloaded internet making us unable to download alternative routes, maid skipping our room first day - all made this a memorable trip as well, but not in a good way
Tripsite Staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Jean, Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback. It's really a shame your ship had engine troubles! I know the captain works hard to keep everything running smoothly but some things we cannot control. An incompetent staff is not acceptable however and I am forwarding your comments to the ship manager. Hope you were able to bring home some good memories!
Levi H.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Harmonia
Highlights of Dalmatia E-Bike & Boat
Croatia
I wish the group leader an responsible for eight people signing up for this trip. Guides were good, response from trip site was horrible when our bags did not arrive another party that we had signed up also did not have their bags arrive. Very disappointing with no bike clothes no pet it shorts no pedals etc.
Tripsite Staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
I am sorry about your unfortunate luggage situation. We phoned you several times to try to help but unfortunately we do not have any control over the airlines' delivery time. I hope you had a great tour nevertheless!
Diane P.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn
Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Going to Poland. This trip was too rural and remote. Very few stops and few points of interest. Mainly dirt paths or cobblestone paths that were very difficult to ride a bike on. The farm fields we drove our bikes through were awful, some were full of holes and quite dangerous. I do not recommend this trip for those who have back and neck problems or those who never have rode a mountain bike.
Bonnie G.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Love Boat
South Greek Aegean Sea
Greece, Turkey
The captain backing up the ship to fit into a small space at the dock.
Sarah k.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Silver Coast of Portugal
Portugal
The trip was more of a bike ride than informational tour of the country. We thought we would learn more about Portugal.
Tamara R.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Now, on the to problems with the ship. Upon arrival, we were given the key to our cabin in the lower forward part of the boat. I opened the door and the smell of mold and mildew just about knocked me off my feet! I immediately turned on the air conditioner and set it to cold with the fan running constantly. If the fan went off for even a few minutes, the smell returned. There was absolutely NO ventilation in these rooms, not an exhaust fan, nothing! Every time we took a shower, the entire cabin turned into a steam bath which made it impossible to dry my hair or put on make up. After a day, I started becoming very ill from the smell since I am highly allergic to mold. My throat was sore and I was having asthma which is the normal reaction to me being exposed to mold spores. I was not the only one who had a problem with the smell in the cabins. It seems as if the further forward you got in the boat, the worse it was. The upstairs was unaffected although those who had cabins up top with opening windows had no heat for the first 2 nights. Bottom line is that the boat is a floating nightmare and I would never, ever, use that company for trips again. It needs to be renovated before taking any more passengers. The crew did the best they could in trying to clean but then it just smelled like moldy clorox.
This boat needs to be renovated before carrying passengers again. On a positive note...Kudos to the chef! The food was excellent!
Tripsite Staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
Tamara thank you so much for these comments. We have spoken to the owner of the Fluvius and your complaints have been heard and dealt with appropriately. Foremost, I want to emphasize that this is not the quality we demand from our boats. Professionalism and friendliness towards our guests are our number one priority, but unfortunately, we missed the mark on your tour. We are so deeply sorry for this.
The Fluvius is currently undergoing renovations and deep cleaning to ensure no one experiences these same problems.
Margaret W.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Mosel & Saar
Germany
Think twice before booking a bike and barge tour along the Mosel & Saar rivers in Germany on the Zwaan boat. It was infested with BED BUGS...cabins 1 & 2. My tour embarked Sept 19, 2022. I ended up with over 50 bites that were nearly unbearable! My last three nights of the tour I slept in on-shore accommodations but continued riding with the group. There are other larger boats that are available. Maybe a little more money, but worth the safety of your health. The fiasco that one has to go through to rid your clothes and luggage from bed bugs is difficult when on vacation. Save yourself and book on another boat!
Tripsite Staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
We appreciate your comments so much! This helps us improve our tours. Unfortunately, we did indeed have issues with bed bugs on your departure. They are a terrible nuisance and I can imagine how uncomfortable it was for you! I am so sorry for this. Bed bugs are not an uncommon occurrence where travelers come and go, and can happen even in the most luxurious ships or hotels as they are extremely difficult to eradicate. The Zwaan has since been cleared by an exterminator and cleaned thoroughly. I truly hope the compensation you were given makes up, if only partially, for your experience on board.
Donna D.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
This trip was a disappointment compared to our previous week on the De Holland. This barge has no ventilation. The lower rooms were very damp and moldy smelling. We would have to open the door to the hallway after we showered. No fan in the bathroom and no way to eliminate moisture or odors. They were not using a proper disinfectant spray between groups so the virus germs can stay in these damp rooms. One woman entered the barge with Covid. She ended up passing it to 9 people.. They were all asked to leave the barge on their own expense. People need to be aware of this potential expense. Guides were ok but best for experienced riders. They encouraged independent travel but they are in the process of changing from the GPS maps so it was confusing and we frequently were lost and had to look at the map. No serious troubles.
Tripsite staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
Thank you so much for taking the time to write to us, your comments are incredibly important!
I'm so terribly sorry for the experience you had aboard the Fluvius. The boat was not at all up to our standards during your departure, as we have been made aware. The boat is currently in the shipyard to undergo renovations and deep cleaning for the coming season. We will ensure these problems are rectified!
COVID is still a lurking issue when it comes to travel. At the time, regulations required anyone infected to quarantine off the boat. We understand how inconvenient this is, most of us here in the office have experienced it. Unfortunately, post-COVID travel carries this risk. Thankfully, these regulations are loosening every day and we could see them disappear entirely in the future.
Thank you again for this feedback, this is how we get better.
Frank G.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius
Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The ebike trips through wonderful countryside and lovely small towns en route were great. Dinners were excellent on board but I would try a better quality boat. The Fluvius is old, tiny cabins, no bathroom hooks, towel racks; shower head falls, dangerous 6” high step which caused a fall, unresponsive captain to requests to fix shower. Crowded buffet in a tiny space for 40 people. Bikes and staff excellent except captain. Tripside is doing a disservice by choosing such a downgraded boat. Surely there are better choices.
Tripsite Staff • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
Thank you so much for your feedback. You help us be better! I'm so sorry your time on the Fluvius was not enjoyable. The Fluvius is one of the older boats in our program. We try to be as transparent as possible about the accommodations, from the good and bad to the ugly, but this boat definitely needed maintenance and thorough cleaning. I apologize so much you didn't get to experience it in its best condition. The owner has informed us that the Fluvius is in the boatyard currently to undergo much needed revisions.
Terry h.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Danube Bike Path - Passau to Budapest
Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia
The challenge of finding our way and doing it successfully despite the guide books being almost useless. The guide book for the Passau to Vienna book was slightly better but that was mostly because the paths were self evident. The book for the Vienna to Budapest leg was quite useless.
Carla • 2 years ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Terry,
I'm sorry to hear the route descriptions were useless. We are working to present new and improved route books for the 2023 season. In the meantime, I recommend considering using GPS tracks for future tours which should lead to seamless guiding.
Silvia S.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Caprice
Provence - Wilderness of Camargue
France
The route and group were amazing! The cities are very nice and historical… what I fell could be better is reception of participants of tour… inviting each one to identify oneself with others, to make a group… And I think our guide wasn’t so careful with the group… so quick some days… with no explanation about the beautiful little towns we were!! So pity!!
And they could help us about car parking before tour… You could have better support to guests.
Kathy Feeley
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Istria to the Adriatic
Slovenia, Croatia, Italy
This tour was described as having a dedicated bike path and great for families.After completing it today I have to disagree.
Long stretches (20 kms) of Parenzana path were like washed out river beds, full of deep loose gravel and rocks.Unless-you are used to this surface then it is very slow going,scary and dangerous .
My cycle buddy and I both fell off twice,and had cuts and bruises.We have cycled all over Europe and have never been on anything like this.We did cycle from Piran to Grojnan and Grojnan to Motovun and the path was really bad,a goat track in some parts.
We caught a taxi from Motovun to Porec as the Komoot map indicated 20 kms of unpaved path through the forest and no roads to turn onto if we needed to escape .
This state of this path really is atrocious and it’s the worst self guided tour I have ever done
Richard S.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Luxury Castles of the Loire
France
This was a self guided tour and the directions provided were terrible. Spent a lot of time lost
Carla • 1 year ago Tripsite Staff
Hi Richard - We appreciate you taking the time to leave us feedback. We're so sorry the inconvenience the route descriptions may have caused. We'd like to point out that we do offer GPS tracks for download on your personal device (GPS or GPS app on your phone) to avoid getting lost at all! The routes & descriptions are reviewed before the start of a season to ensure all is well marked and correct. We always say, sometimes getting lost is inevitable when you're too busy enjoying the sights, but certainly it should not be a reoccurring issue.
All Tour Reviews by Country
Boat/Barge Reviews
- Admiral
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