Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 3031 to 3060 of 3706
L. Schmidlin
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Normandie Along the Danube - Four Country Tour
Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary
Was a great trip. Boat and tour guide were outstanding. Some of the staff were a bit stand-offish, but within reason. Just didn't make you feel 100% welcomed all the time (made you feel more of a guest than family) but again, well within reason. Got lost a few times so perhaps the maps could be a bit more directed, but again, not bad. Overall, it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it. Thanks - Larry
Barbara Kallay
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Zwaantje Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
My husband and I had a great bike trip. Riding through the Belgium/Netherlands was delightful. The staff made the trip most memorable- Jacob (bike guide), Els (boat captain), Thomas (cook).
Debra Hendry
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Princesse Royal Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
Our first bike barge holiday and we loved it. Good mix of nationalities as guests. The Magnifique truly was glorious.
D. Power
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Zwaantje Champagne Tour
France
The staff on the Zwaantje made the trip!
K. Jevons
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Sailing Home North Holland Tour
Netherlands
It was a great bicycle trip. Beautiful countryside, bike paths were excellent and the guide "Hugo" was exceptional. Barge was perfect. We were able to see the real Holland, not the typical tourist city Holland. Communication and arrangement of the tour with Tripsite was very good. Thanks.
D. Valkenaar
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Patria Koblenz to Saarburg
Germany
The boat staff were outstanding! The boat dinners were outstanding! The boat breakfasts and lunches were just okay.
The biggest downside to the trip were the totally inadequate route guides. They were not written for new-to-the-route riders. On one hand, they assumed the user was familiar with the route and knew where they were going. On the other hand, they seemed to have been written by someone who had never ridden the route, who just looked at a paper (or electronic) map to write the guide.
Finally, the on-boat guides were of minimal help. While they seem to have ridden the route, they did not explain the complexities a new rider would encounter along the way. They did, however, explain the highlights to look for on each route.
With those two exceptions, the trip was wonderful! As for the most memorable, being dog people, we really liked having the captain's dogs on board.
S. Littlefield
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Tijdgeest Highlights of Holland
Netherlands
Holland has such fabulous bike routes and a tradition of bicycling. We left the boat by 9 am and reconnected with it by 4 at a new location. The cities that we rode to and through were old, small and quaint. The many stops along the way we're interesting and the people everywhere were wonderful. I highly recommend this trip.
A. Harris
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Vita Pugna Mantova to Venice or Venice to Mantova
Italy
A fabulous experience. We will seriously consider further barge/bike holidays with you.
A. Miller
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 8 day
Belgium, Netherlands
We loved the trip. Hank, Jantien, & staff were super as usual. The electric bike was a bit heavy. My(Anita) electric bike at home feels much lighter--it's smaller. Look forward to another trip on Merlijn & with Jantien & Hank. --Anita & Duncan
L. Reisinger
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 8 day
Belgium, Netherlands
The staff of the Merlijn were delightful and very personable. Enjoyed them thoroughly.
J. Klok
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Tulip Tour - Amsterdam to Bruges - 8 day
Belgium, Netherlands
Travel aboard the Merlijn is always a wonderful experience. Our guide, Felix, was excellent. This was our fourth trip and we will return for more.
D. Dray
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Florentina Golden City of Prague
Czech Republic
Our first day was quite rocky… The directions were not good and the routes were not well marked. Everyone was frustrated. The guide promised to bike out again from Prague and redo it--hopefully that happened.
Deena Dray • 8 years ago
I neglected to state how wonderful this trip was in my initial review, which focused on what was wrong instead what was right---which was everything else!
We loved our French balcony room; though there were 75+ on board, one never felt it was crowded. The beautiful lounge at the front of the boat was often empty.
The staff were great. Food just OK but still decent. The wine and beer helped! A diverse group of travelers which made it fun. Highly recommend this tour.
Jehiel • 8 years ago Tripsite Staff
Thanks for updating your review, Deena! Glad you enjoyed your trip overall. We hope to help you plan your next one!
S. Lior
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Magnifique II Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
The most memorable part of my trip were the small towns and villages that we visited. These are places where tourists rarely venture. The people are friendly and open for conversations; willing to share their lives and experiences with us. And curious to know about us as well. I have so many wonderful memories.
M. McPhee
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
San Snova Southern Dalmatia
Croatia
A fantastic tour. Really well organised and the guides had great local knowledge. One of our guides even spoke 5 languages so he made everyone feel welcome. The scenery was amazing especially the island of Brac with the most wonderful early morning reflections of the beautiful village in the bay. The food was tasty and plentiful rivaling the odd episode of "Masterchef"
At the Captains dinner we also learnt that the boat was built by the captains family over 4 years with no design drawings. Amazing. We met some great people on board from Brazil and Germany. A fantastic adventure. We enjoyed the Croatian undulations!!! There are a few hills but it is worth it!!!! Enjoy
C. Abernethy
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Wending North Holland Tour
Netherlands
The small tour group was perfect for my 12 year old son and I. The biking was awesome - we both loved cycling through the farms and along the canals. Although it was rainy and windy for majority of the time - we still enjoyed it very much. The food was fantastic!!
P. O'Hagan
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Magnifique II Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Having the map to tryi to not get lost was so much fun. Thank you to all the staff for making the bike barge a great activity vacation.
A & M Decourcy
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Magnifique II Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
Great trip BUT.. We decided to cycle with 6 others because we are experienced riders. We were counting on the signage being much more complete and easier to follow. At times, there was no indication of where to go. Our path just ended! Also, the bigger group, of about 18, had some inexperienced riders and we felt that riding in this large a group could be dangerous...which proved to be the case.
In one case, a previous rider had taken the liberty to use a marker to write our path number on a sign. Thanks to him/her we were able to continue on without taking out the GPS. Had this been done on several other signs, we would not have had to find our way ...using GPS..on many occasions. There were also 4 other Europeans, who cycled as a group, who experienced the same sense of frustration as us.
We will forward a photo to the Tripsite website. Thanks for providing a most enjoyable and memorable trip.
T. Petersen
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Deriya Deniz Amalfi Coast - Tyrrhenian Sea
Italy
Loved our guide, the food quality and variety was the only disappointment.
D. Pincar
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Magnifique II Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
I would recommend it, but with reservations. I think there should have been two guides, one to take a faster group and one for a beginner group. A few people on the trip should not have been. They were not comfortable on their bikes, and were a daily danger to whomever they were near. Something should have been done about it.
I also would have liked to ride faster, and spend more free time in the little towns.
L. Barker
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Magnifique II Amsterdam to Bruges
Netherlands, Belgium
Had so much fun. Looking forward to doing it again. Been telling everyone they need to try it. Just riding your bike through the towns over cobble stone or brick. Just a great way to see a country.
D. Fish
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Iris Metz to Cochem
France, Luxembourg, Germany
The trip was enjoyable. Only drawback was that follow along Moselle River, some of the scenery of the vineyards became boring after a while. On previous trips we traveled more inland, seeing sights and then meeting up with barge at next destination.
L.G. Germishuys
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Bordeaux Bordeaux - Châteaux, Rivers & Wine
France
Really impressed by the effort and kindness of the staff on the boat.
J. Lockwood
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
My Story Along the Danube - Four Country Tour
Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary
Only bad was some hills and a very long bridge (wife is afraid of heights and had to walk the over mile long bridge).
C. Morrison
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Iris Metz to Cochem
France, Luxembourg, Germany
Had a wonderful time. The staff was very accommodating in making modifications due to the previous heavy rains and high water. The last day bike tour of Metz was disappointing in that it is a very difficult city to navigate on bikes with a number of people.
Jehiel • 8 years ago Tripsite Staff
Hi C. Morrison,
Im sorry that you were disappointed with the last day of riding. I can assure you that your safety is one of our top priorities and we try our best to ensure routes are safe and easy to navigate. In spite of the rain, I hope your overall experience was positive!
B. Curry
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Maastricht to Bruges
Belgium, Netherlands
The barge - The Merlijn was unbelievably wonderful with huge cabins and wonderful big bathrooms with large showers.- very nice big dining room and bar area. All super clean! Wonderful hosts! The biking I found a bit disappointing mostly biking along the canals where there were trees on each side and not being able to see the countryside. Our last day we biked thru small villages and farms and I found that great!
My e-bike was great and I was used to it in a day or so. They are much heavier than a normal bike and if a bit off balance they are harder to right. They are a great help on the hills.
Our guide Lia was lots of fun. Very sharp map reader and knowledgeable regarding the history. The passengers were mostly German and very friendly.
F. McElroy
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Maastricht to Bruges
Belgium, Netherlands
Great experience! We loved the way the English-speaking and German-speaking groups coalesced - to a large part due to Jantien , our amazing hostess, chef and boat-owner!
D. Miller
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Zwaantje Champagne Tour
France
The ship, captain and crew were wonderful. Our guide was totally unacceptable!
My only complaint regarding the boat was due to the small cabins. The French locks are narrow, so the boat is narrow, making the rooms a bit to small for my comfort.
Our main concern was the unprepared tour group leader. She was constantly undecided on how to proceed. I think it was more trying to please the group than not knowing what to do. There should have been a route guide for each person (all we received was a large map with no route shown on it). She needed to be a leader rather than a friend!
E. Hull-parsons
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Fluvius Bruges to Amsterdam
Belgium, Netherlands
I have planned to contact you with feedback, but haven't. The staff was great except the guide. He was not friendly or helpful. We were all disappointed in his lack of leadership and "guiding". Of the three trips we have taken, this was the least appealing. The route was not attractive, and mostly industrial, urban or rural. We were near places we know were charming and interesting, but did not visit them. I'm left wondering if it is that tour company. For 35 people biking there really should have been more staff on the road with us. Still love you!
N. Foley
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Soleo Provence - Wilderness of Camargue
France
My travel advisor (Carla) is already aware that, although we registered as two vegans and sent a reminder a week or so before we left for Europe, the information had not been transferred to the chef. So we ate as vegetarians (eggs and dairy) for the trip rather than eschewing all animal products as is our preference.
Our trip leader was not experienced on the route, having only travelled it once before in the opposite direction, and this meant a few wrong turns to be corrected... But Ronnie was as pleasant, friendly, encouraging, and multilingual as you could ask for! The only problem I encountered with the bikes was the lack of suspension -- which meant for a bruised tail bone after the first day when we travelled a very bumpy, broken pavement back road on the return from Chateauneuf de Pape ;-)
Richard Oliver
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Iris Metz to Cochem
France, Luxembourg, Germany
We sailed on the Iris, from Cochem to Metz, 18-25 June. It was a most delightful and joyful experience. Even with initial high water from unseasonal flooding and occasional detour from the bike paths, it was an incredibly memorable experience -- the crew, the tour guides, the food were all top notch, and the camaraderie among the other bikers was phenomenal. Special thanks to our two bike leaders and guides, Roelie and Wouter, who were fantastic in making the rides safe and mostly easy, and with an in-depth knowledge of historical sites. A special treat was having the ship's owner on board, Lenny was very engaging and most pleasant. Aline, the chef, served delicious meals, especially the final banquet was a true feast! Again, our thanks to Lenny and the entire Iris crew.
Bike + Boat Tour Reviews by Country
Boat/Barge Reviews
- Magellan
- Magnifique I
- Magnifique II
- Magnifique III
- Magnifique IV
- Mare fan Fryslân
- Merlijn
- Florentina
- Normandie
- Princess
- Olympia
- Panagiota
- Pape Prvi
- Primadonna
- Princesse Royal
- Prinzessin Katharina
- Romantica
- RV River Kwai
- Sailing Home
- San Snova
- Sarah
- Stella
- Sundial
- Swiss Crown
- Thalassa
- Flying Dutchman
- Vietnamese Junks
- Vita Pugna
- Vivienne
- Wending
- Zwaan
- Zwaantje