Anna Maria IV boat/barge tour reviews — 1 to 18 of 18

3.4 out of 5

 


Mary P.
4 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

The castle tours were amazing. Sophie (coordinator on the Anna Marie IV) was adorable. Really enjoyed her and her nightly meals. The trip was not the Loire, because of water levels and sorry to say that it was just OK, but not much more. The main thing missing that I had expected was a trip to a vineyard. That would have made a big difference.

Susan M.
5 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

Most memorable-one big friendly group. Chef and Pilot were fine; guide and barge were adequate.

Janet N.
5 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

Spent one day on the barge - it was a huge highlight! Through so many locks, off for a walk along the canal, lots of beautiful scenery. Bliss.

Patti P.
5 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

The best part was traveling with friends. I would have enjoyed more information about the area and towns we were traveling through.

Karen T.
5 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

The staff and crew of the Anna Marie were very friendly and helpful but over all, if this was my first bike and barge trip, it would probably would have been my last. The accommodations were small, we knew that going in but because space was so limited, there was nowhere to hang the towels to dry properly so they should have been changed a little more frequently. The mattress on the bunk bed also needed to be changed as it was old and hard to sleep on.
The food at breakfast was the same for 7 days, as were the luncheon meats. The bread was fabulous but could have been switched up with some protein like eggs to start the day. The dinners were, on most occasions, tasty and delicious but lacked quantity after a long bike ride.
My biggest complaint was the cost of the water. The days were hot, the stores and restaurants along the way were closed and for the temperature we should have been provided with water or somewhere to fill our bottles. The boat charged too much Read More

Wendy K.
6 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

The crew on this barge and bike trip were outstanding. The weather was unseasonably hot and adjustments were made to the schedule to accommodate everyone's comfort. The route and attractions were well planned and interesting. We had some difficulty with the bikes provided by HAT tours - several (5 in total) punctures and one unfixable issue with a bike. This meant delays whilst the tiress were being repaired - approximately 1 hour per puncture. This meant that we missed out on seeing some of the attractions and had to cut short our time at others. The unfixable problem meant that one volunteer had to return to the boat via taxi and forego the rest of that day's itinerary. I would like to congratulate the crew on this tour as they did their utmost to ensure that these issues kept the disruption to a minimum. The group of travelers were also a very friendly and tolerant group of people who got on well. This also assisted in managing the issues with the bikes.
My Read More

Bruce K.
6 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

Roman, Matilde and guide Ari, couldn't do enough to make welcome and please our entire group, especially during some minor technical difficulties that were not of their making. The quality of the bikes, whether due to model, age or degree of maintenance is something that our entire group of eighteen agreed is an area that could be looked at HAT tours; a lot of pressure fell upon the Anna Maria crew (especially Ari) to rectify faults not of their making. A less flexible and tolerant group of paying passengers might have made for an uncomfortable trip.

John G.
6 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

The group was excellent. We had a great time together. Jean and I were the only Americans aboard but everyone spoke English.
This trip, rated moderate, was the most challenging of the four tours we have booked thru Tripsite since 2012. It stretched us to the limits of our biking abilities.
The tour was thru pleasant countryside but lacked the highlights of our previous tours- no Eiffel Tower, Venice canals or Pont du Gard.
The barge itself was a weak point, although it was not advertised as a strength.
Most disappointing was the food, especially the evening meals featuring mostly starches- pasta, mashed potatoes, quinoa and rice. Don't know whether this was a budget or skills problem.
The guide was excellent, competent, friendly and caring.
The bikes themselves were mostly good although there were some minor problems-with a tire once and an ebike battery that didn't fully charge overnight. Giro Libero bikes were in better condition than those Read More

Janet N.
6 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

Comfortable riding each day through lovely French countryside. A map of the day’s route for personal use would be a big help. Stefan and Florence are delightful, welcoming hosts providing excellent delicious meals. Make sure to spend a day on the barge during your trip - a definite highlight.

Jennifer M.
7 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

We knew the barge was old, but weren't prepared for the very tiny, cramped cabin space which was definitely not the one advertised!
Most of the bicycles were in fairly good condition, but my husband got one on which the chain kept coming off and had a fall because of that.
The barge operators, Stephan and Florence, were lovely and worked very hard to provide a good experience, cooking traditional French meals each evening complete with dessert. The tour guide, Jan, did an excellent job keeping the cycling group on track and adjusting our days to accommodate the extreme temperatures during the hottest week of the summer!

T. Gihring
8 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

Sorry, it rained the entire trip. Route and scenery would have been fine if not for that. Barge has seen better days. Staff (Stephan and Florence) are very pleasant.
Suggestion: Give the tour riders a sew-on patch to remember the tour.

Sharon Kravitz
8 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

The trip was organised very well. The international crew made the trip more interesting. We were glad that Peter had some flexibility in what we experienced. He was an excellent guide. We would have liked to stop at a few more wineries. Also we always seemed to be pulling into villages as they closed for lunch.

Carmel Manley
8 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

We are return users of Tripsite, we have found both the service from Tripsite and the tours (now 3 in total) have all been excellent. Great tours because of the combination of places, organisation and staff. Am looking forward to taking part in more in the future.

Bruce Belman
8 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

Great trip. Everything we were hoping for.

Laurie Frarey
8 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

There seemed to be tension between the owners of the barge and guy doing the cooking, cleaning and maintenance. The guy was trying to do the job of more than 2 people by himself. One day when he needed help with a cranky generator the captain was in a bar. We did not get clean towels half way through as promised. I have been on 2 bike and barge trips and this had the worst staff. The guide was good but left slower riders at several critical junctures. It did not happen often. Seems the system works best when the owner is captain. Means he is present and accountable.

Lorraine
9 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

We did this trip in Sept. 2014. Great biking, but barge has seen better days.

Bob hartley
12 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

We had a wonderful time. Martine and Margery were the best. Loved the trip

Kris Byrns
12 years ago

Verified Reviewer

  Anna Maria IV Loire Valley Bike and Boat - 2019
France

We did this tour in 2008 and had a wonderful time.