Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 721 to 750 of 4712

We had a great time on our bike & boat trip down the Danube! We were aboard the Primadonna. The highlight of the trip was Budapest. What an amazing city! It was a rest day so we had all day to explore. We left by night when all those incredible buildings were lit up and reflected in the Danube.
Optional city tours were available when we weren’t cycling. I recommend them because we learned history & facts about where we were. The organ concert in Linz was a wonderful experience too.
The boat was great. The staff was helpful and friendly, the meals were good, reflecting the region and our lowest deck room was comfortable. It did surprise us the first morning how close to the water level our window was!
The last day, cycling through vineyards and villages in Austria was delightful.
We would recommend this trip to others. The terrain is easy so you can enjoy your surroundings. We were glad we opted for the e-bikes. The Primadonna doesn’t provide helmets though but sold them in their little bike shop on board for €35, so we bought them.
Most of the people on the trip are retirees. Not many young people. They still have to work! They would enjoy it too though.

The people on the trip and the staff were all memorable. The scenic trails and the system of rivers and canals. Visiting the towns and villages on our own.

Scenery, staff was wonderful.
Need better lighting in bathrooms. Hard to put on makeup with a tiny light behind you in ceiling.

The evening cruise out of Budapest with all the illuminated building was so amazing.
Take your time in the smaller towns and cities as you bike to the larger cities. Most of the big cities are more difficult to get around. With the exception of Vienna, the guided tours were superb.

The bike riding was a lot of fun and the swim stops after biking were fantastic! The crew were very pleasant and friendly. Dora our bike guide was fun and patient with some of the slower riders.

It’s hard to pick one thing. The ride leaders & rides were awesome. They took the time to make sure there was a great bike fit. Food was spectacular everyday. Fresh and delicious. The crew were funny and knew their boat. Rooms were clean and ready for us when we arrived. And Venice to Mantova—perfect. I highly recommend this trip and this boat.

The tour was fabulous! The ship's captain and crew were extremely helpful. Max, the chef, treated us to gourmet meals from around the world. When the weather turned foul (high winds to Force 7-8 and some rain) the captain provided us with some viable alternatives to visit that worked out well. One of the best parts of the trip was working with the crew to trim the sails. It helped to unite the group in a common task and allowed us to interact in a unique way. We're thinking about coming back for more in a couple of years.

Experiencing the beauty of Croatia, swimming in the Adriatic, getting to know others from around the world and sharing laughs with our fabulous guides.

I was pleasantly surprised at the comfort and cleanliness of the boat, nice air conditioning (which was critical in August) and the quality of the food. The crew was extremely hard working and did everything to try to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable. Our guides (Filip and Bubi) were fantastic and made our trip extra special. They followed the protocols to make sure we stayed safe but were also flexible when the weather conditions did not cooperate; they were able to switch plans seamlessly and find activities that were fun and enjoyable. They also both had wonderful senses of humor and made us laugh throughout the trip. I give them the highest rating of all!

A couple of suggestions:

1) Allow passengers to bring their own wine/spirits on the boat. I realize that this is a money making venture for the boat company but I would rather be charged more overall and be able to bring on board and share the local wine/spirits with our fellow guests.

2) Have a cappuccino machine (or Nespresso) to use at our leisure on the boat. I saw these on other boats when we were docked up with them. Again, I'm happy to pay extra upfront for this but I hate to be nickled and dimed every time I want to enjoy a cup of coffee.

3) Make time in the daily schedule to swim off the boat. We only enjoyed this opportunity the last two days and it was a highlight. Also, more water toys - floats, kayaks and paddle boards would be appreciated.

4) Develop a more comprehensive packing list - I'd be happy to help with that if someone would like to call me about it.

5) Make sure to advise participants to bring plenty of local currency (in this case Euros) and make sure to bring a cash debit card in case you run out. There were a lot of instances on the islands where vendors did not take credit cards and I was concerned about using all of my cash because I wanted to save it for tips for the crew.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip and I'd be happy to be a reference if anyone has any questions or would like to discuss the trip.

Thanks!

Kari

Our Merlijn adventure was a magical package- from the cozy cabins, fabulous food, smooth! charming bike paths, and superior guide -to congenial fellow bikers. And the ebike made it possible for my elderly knees. The scenic rides were away from the hustle and bustle of large cities. Idyllic, highly recommend.

Our 2 guides, Philip and Bubi were excellent. Always in great moods, funny and receptive. They did everything to ensure our safety while on the bikes and instructing us in where we were going. Very helpful with arranging Ubers at the end of the trip and taking time with us.

The guides were amazing! The trip was so well organized. Due to weather they had to make a quick decision to change our route and it went effortlessly. The food on the boat wasn’t very good - I suggest giving people some options rather than plating and serving. The bathrooms only have a porthole so they lacked ventilation and were very stuffy. The staff worked extremely hard. We made wonderful friends from all over the world. All in all we had a marvelous vacation!

The most memorable part of our trip was the people we met and got to know in our trip. Riding through beautiful scenery and small villages was also wonderful. This was our first time on ebikes, they were essential for our enjoyment of the ride since it was very hilly. Our guides and all of the crew on the boat were amazing!

The route was amazing and the guides were great. The food was average at best. Folks were assigned a table for dinner. Despite that, the waiters still had to ask everyone whether they had ordered the fish or the chicken. Folks should have been able to sit with whomever they wanted to. Being stuck with someone who was a pompous ass for a week is ridiculous when the waiters can't even get who ordered what correct anyway.

Cycling in Lido and Pellistrina was fantastic. The cycling guides were all over the place. The boat went to Murano to see a glass blowing factory. We were told to be back at 4:45. We returned at 4:40 and the boat had already removed the gangway and was preparing to sail. We communicated with tripsite that we wanted a room with a window that opened that we could escape from if necessary. The window was less than 12" wide when opened. Clearly not was advertised. The guides frequently stopped after just a few minutes to talk about some unimportant building that wasn't even on the Ride with GPS app. The itinerary says you spend two nights in Venice. The boat is not in Venice. You have to take a Vaparetto to get to Venice. It is close but it is not Venice. That is false advertising. The espresso / cappucino machine had sour milk in it every morning. We had to buy our own Vaporetto passes even though the boat knew everyone would need them. This is ridiculous when you pay $5,000 for a trip. The whole crew had made arrangements with a group of Italian passengers to take them on a bike ride near Venice but didn't give anyone else the option of going. They also didn't tell anyone. The itinerary says you can get on the boat at 11:00 but the boat was gone to support the last bike ride. So folks who went to Venice had to stay out in the heat for over 4 hours.

What a wonderful adventure! The barge was lovely. It was so nice after a day of riding to sip on a tasty adult beverage and watch the world go by. You could tell the staff really enjoyed working with each other and their joy and sense of fun was contagious. Our meals were varied, filling and done with attention to detail. Thank you Inma for the recipe of one dish! The walks into town lead by our bike guide were very informative and gave you a real taste for the life. The biking was not difficult (especially with an e-bike) and the terrain was amazing. The landscape of the Netherlands was so peaceful. I especially loved cruising thru the small villages. I look forward to doing another Bike and Barge trip with Tripsite and Cycle Tours soon. What a great active, but not too active vacation.

Tips: No need to bring your own helmet. Bring an Allen wrench for small adjustments for your bike to customize it to your ride. I brought my own padded seat cover and was happy to have it but with padded bike shorts others did just fine. Bring patience. There were a few things out of the companies control such as weather and broken bridges. Roll with it. Pack lightly. Pulling a heavy suitcase over the cobblestone streets is challenging. In Bruges, there is a free electric van that will take you into the town near many popular hotels and then take you from your hotel to the train station for free.

We saw so much if Holland, every day was such a great adventure. We had ebikes and would recommend them to people even if they bike regularly.

Experiencing the great scenery, this was our very first trip to Europe. Loved it our ship, crew, guides were all first class.

Meals were great
Barge was perfectly updated
Tours were so-so

We loved the small ancient towns on the route. Walls and moats make for a most interesting experience. Ingrid was exceptional. We learned a ton about the country every time we were able to spend time with her.

The beauty of the cycling route and the relaxed yet active daily schedule

This trip is for experienced ebike riders only. I rode with sone ebike newbies and they fought with finding the right combination of fearing and power. Low cadence with turbo power doesnt work. They newer ebike riders think it will

The best part of the trip was the cycle portion through Austria’s Wachau Valley winery district. Truly picturesque!
Advice: Bring a Tupperware type container to pack your lunch. The boat provides a small sandwich and fruit but if you prefer to eat something else or just more than the sandwich, you need to have a container for it. We started packing the hard boiled eggs, and fruit in our bike bags but a container would have made it much easier. There are not very many opportunities to eat lunch at a restaurant while you are cycling, but plenty of gorgeous places to have a picnic. A travel picnic set with a cutting board, an a knife and fork would come in very handy.
We signed up for all the bus/walking tours to give our saddles a break. They were all great but the bus tour in Budapest we could have passed on because the boat docks right in the center of all the tourist spots so it was just as easy to navigate touring there on your own. Friends we met on the boat did the bike tour there and said it was great but I couldn’t face getting on the bike again that day:). Vienna is harder to get around so unless you feel pretty adventurous, I recommend the tour. We also did the trip to the concert and it was gorgeous- well worth it!
The e-bikes were awesome, and very comfortable. We bought gel seat covers and brought them with us which I think helped a lot. Unless you are a seasoned cyclist, it’s a lot of time on the bike and the tush gets tired.
Overall an amazing trip, the staff was fun and helpful. Our tour director was a substitute for the regular person and he was good but cranky. The regular tour director had awesome reviews so I think we just happened to get an off week!
I highly recommend this tour and now am ready to do another bike and boat in a different location!

The Bruges to Amsterdam Barge and Bike tour was simply wonderful! Every detail was attended to. The cabins were beautiful, the food was gourmet, the staff was delightful and attentive. We were surprised by all the extras like walking tours, special drinks and snacks before dinner, and an education on Belgian beers. We loved every minute of it!

The Magnifique II is a beautiful boat and worthy of its Luxury designation. Our chef, Andreas, prepared incredible meals each night and each meal was better than the night before. The service staff, Violet, and Ruvie-Ann were attentive, caring, and professional. Our bike guides, Roseanne and Hester each took care to ensure we had a wonderful experience. My husband and I loved every minute.

Overall, the cycling days of the trip were "outstanding" and the cycling leaders along with the remaining staff (ALL) were great!! Many details were provided regarding each day's trip and any facts/information related to a specific area during designated stops. Regarding the meals, I really enjoyed the dinner entrees, interesting food combinations! Breakfast variety was great, and each of us made bag lunches with the choices, which made for a simple and convenient selection. I highly recommend the Magnifique IV - MUCH fun!!

Suggestion: It might be beneficial to increase the selection of plant based or vegan meal options to better accommodate these passengers.

We are looking forward to planning and participating in another boat/barge trip in two years!! Thank you for making this trip fun and exciting!

Cycling through the dutch countryside.
The guide/support crew.
The personal relationships developed between the passengers (that are continuing through social media)

The food and service on our boat were A1. Our tour guides were super helpful and went above and beyond!

The bike ride through towns and the countryside was fabulous. Dont need to be in super fit shape but helps to wear padded bike shorts or bring a padded seat cover.

The barge accommodations are luxurious and food was excellant.

Visiting Saarburg and Treier. Eating delicious food. Being on board with a great group of people. And the crew who helped us. Riding through the different towns and being able to see life from their view.

The self-guided bike tours and the guided bike tour of Budapest. More time in Bratislava and more time for the last ride would be my only criticism.