Europe Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 2011 to 2040 of 5225

Simon was an outstanding guide. He kept us abreast of the days events, weather, and sites we would be seeing. The Sarah and crew were also outstanding they were very approachable and friendly. They answered any and all questions we may have had. The food was great even though I was a little apprehensive about the two vegan dishes served on board. I would also like to give a shout out to Anuke our trip site point of contact throughout the planning phase. She answered any and all question (and we had a lot) in a timely and professional manor. We are already talking about doing another boat & bike tour we had such a great time.

The dolomites were incredibly beautiful. The food aboard was the best we’ve had!

Scenery from Mantova to Venice was agricultural for the most part. A broad mix of surfaces to ride on and some detours on the self guided which could be confusing.

When things are this wonderful, it is difficult to choose a highlight … guess all can be grouped together under amazing customer service. The boat was kept spotless, the food was delicious, and our guides were incredibly flexible about routes to please all and their knowledge made all extra enjoyable…. My only suggestion is sign up! You won’t regret!

We loved our day at Keukenhoff Gardens. We also enjoyed the amazing dinners on the boat prepared by our chef, Paulina. As for suggestions, the bike leaders need to understand vacation culture more. The bike leader seemed to be in a rush wherever we biked, and was not happy if we wanted to stop and take pictures of the countryside. Many people like to stop and take pictures!! We would pass by beautiful fields of tulips and hyacinths, but couldn’t stop to take photos (except maybe a 30-second stop to get one quick photo) because otherwise we’d be too far away from the rest of the biking group. We weren’t given any kind of detailed maps of where we would be biking, so if we did want to stop and take pictures, or drink some water, or grab an energy bar from our sacks, and we lost sight of the others, there would be no way to find or catch up to the rest of the group later on. One of the reasons why we liked Keukenhoff so much was because we were on “our own time” for the entire day, and didn’t have to worry about being on someone else’s schedule. We would have also liked it if the bike leader would’ve pointed out some interesting facts and history about the different places we visited. We got almost no guidance about what to see or do at each of the villages/cities we visited.

The barge route was very nice and the food was excellent.
The Fluvius is an old barge and had several maintenance issues including; no hot water for 3 days, electrical problems and other maintenance issues. In their defense, the captain did his best to make it up to us with reduced bar bills and a free canal ride.
Bettina was superb particularly since it was her first time on this tour. Tom seemed to want to be elsewhere. His communication issues were almost nonexistent and attitude gruff.
Ride with GPS was very good though those of us who chose self guided were pretty much on our own.
The patch kit provided did not include a wrench so fixing a flat would have been tough for a bike mechanic and impossible for any other.
We did have wonderful entertainment one evening. I would have loved more history as it is such an important part of these countries.
All in all, if the Fluvius had been in better shape and Tom not so gruff, it would have been a wonderful tour.

Scenery
Keep two groups apart with staggered starts.
Would have liked more information about what we were seeing- know difficult to do - more stops perhaps?

the trip to the flowers was outstanding.

This was my first bike and barge trip and I had an amazing positive experience from the first to thd last day of the tour . The crew did such a great job keeping us all posted of events happening each day . I have learned so much from this and will cherish the memories on this tour . Looking forward to more bike and barge trips .

Riding through the countryside and seeing the flowers in the fields...................then smelling the waft of the hyacinths as you continue riding. Intoxicating on every level !

Don't let the weather determine whether or not you are going to ride that day. The weather changes quickly and you will miss out !

Pay close attention to the explanation of the road signage, colours of the bike paths and walking paths.

The Captain and crew were outstanding especially our daily tour guide Machiela who was extraordinary with kindness, Knowledge, and very eager to please everyone
Tip to others would be to expect about 20% riding on ruff gravel and ruff tarmac

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.

The crew, the lodgings, and the bikes were fabulous. Breakfasts were good… dinners took two hours every evening ~ which was a bit long. The food was… interesting. Soup really bad a couple times, and seemed rather understaffed as far as getting beverages. Also the wording of the afternoon beverages misleading. It sounded as though coffee and tea would be available all day until 4:00, but that is incorrect. Coffee and tea were available free from approximately 3:00-4:00 only. After that, everything costs. All in all a very enjoyable experience. Nico in particular was great, arranging the rides. Weren’t able to dock at the two northern towns of Haarlem or Zaandam because of engine trouble, but made the best of it, staying in Amsterdam and riding out of there instead.

the most memorable part was biking through the fields of flowers and the farm fields. It was a joy to follow the canals and green fields. We decided to use e-bikes, we had a headwind one day and the e-bikes made it easy to peddle. We found out the reason they are known for windmills. The weather was a little chilly, so not bringing gloves was our mistake.

What a remarkable bike and boat trip among the canals and tulip fields of Holland. There were so many excellent aspects to this trip. From the comfort of the boat to the friendly and all-out accommodation of the crew, the excellent food, the new condition of both the standard and electric bikes and biking guides that I cannot begin to appropriately praise for their fantastic job in leading our group of 24 bikers across the landscapes of Holland. A magical trip to be sure.

From the moment we entered Quo Vadis, the staff welcomed us and continued to provided excellent service throughout our stay. Food quality and variety was wonderful.
Tour Guides were knowledgeable, patient and accommodating.
The continous bike paths through rich fertile fields of multicolored flowers, windmills and well kept farms are forever memorable. So many people along the way greet us! We're looking forward to another barge and bike trip next year! Thank you for great vacation!

Bicycling each day in Holland.
Such a beautiful country.
The guides were very knowledgeable and always had activities planned

The scenery was beautiful! The people that we biked with were great companions for the week!

Loved everything about our boat bike vacation! Great crew, accommodations and guides. Thanks so much. We look forward to more trips

Great trip. Liked getting to know the guests and crew on a small boat.

Gorgeous scenery and lovely people! I will say that we did not luck out where weather was concerned, but that’s Mother Nature for you! The crew on our boat was fantastic and made our stay very comfortable.

I found the European bike very heavy to maneuver so I chose to stay with the barge rather than cycle on several days, and the scenery from the deck of the boat as we travelled was spectacular. Watching the houses, farms, tulip fields and other boats go by was something I will always remember. The architecture in Holland is so unique and easily observable while boating by on the canals. Our crew was so nice to spend that extra time with as well. It was a great option and I am glad I made that choice—I saw so much en route and had additional time to tour our destinations.

What a fantastic trip! From start to finish, this was a top-notch experience in all areas making it a great value, as well. The Merlijn is a beautiful boat and just the right size. Plenty of room to enjoy my time when not biking, whether visiting with other passengers or reading a book on my own. The rooms were spacious enough and comfortable with everything I needed. The Captain and Crew are professional, knowledgeable, and extremely nice and accommodating. All our meals were deliciously prepared by Christina. From a buffet breakfast and hand packed lunch to a 5-star dinner every night. Not only was every meal delicious as well as beautifully served, but accommodations were also made for each person whether it was gluten-free, vegetarian or if you just don’t like goat cheese! The bike rides were well planned and expertly guided by Tammy. We learned the rules of the road and felt safe at every turn. We kept a comfortable pace allowing us to take in the scenery. Be prepared for the weather – just in case! Tammy shared her extensive knowledge along each ride as well as providing a walking tour during the evenings in each new city. We saw windmills and waterways, churches and cheeses, architecture and apple pie! And, of course, flowers. While we were a bit early for the full tulip blooms, we also saw daffodils, hyacinth and the trip to the Keukenhof met all the flower needs! Highly recommend this trip!

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

The scenery was beautiful. I was disappointed that I had to miss the last two days of the biking tour because the ship had engine trouble and had to go back to Amsterdam for repairs.

Riding through the countrysides of the Netherlands was on my bucket list and it did not disappoint! The incredible beauty of the wetland areas and the diversity of bird life far exceeded my expectations!

I must sing praises for our tour leader Nico! He was always there when we needed him! Are there more than one of him?

Watching the De Amsterdam crew one day sail the boat through the canals is a must! It was a peak part of my trip watching them maneuver sideways and make the turns ! Such incredible scenery and seeing the huge variety of boats and vessels was outstanding!

I love any bike and barge/boat tour. This is my second bike tour. We had a wonderful time on the Tulip tour. Our guide Arnold was amazing. He made sure we saw lots of fields of tulips. Gave us a lot of history in each place we went to. My favorite things were the Keukenhof Gardens and the Royal FloraHolland Auction House. Plus every old town we went to was also amazing, seeing the history of each town and the old town structures.
My advice to anyone booking a bike tour is no matter how strong a rider you think you are, always get the Electric bike. You never know how the winds will be. By day 3 we had 4 riders who had started on regular bikes switch to E bikes. Luckily we had extra E bikes on the boat. My partner who is super strong gave his bike to another passenger who was struggling to keep as he had not used the electric on the bike. So for him it was easy.
Definitely a great tour and would recommend to anyone. We did 25 miles each day and 36 on the last day.

The Magnifique II was truly magnificent. All the little extras were greatly appreciated. The room and bed was very comfy and the meals were superb. I can't say enough good things about the excellent bikes, the tour leaders, and the timing for the lovely tulips. The whole thing was a treat for my granddaughter and me

All of the crew and guides were exceptionally pleasant and helpful.

Eating apple pie along the way!