Europe Tour Reviews — 2401 to 2430 of 6870

The magical moments were riding in avenues of trees along the Danube, on paths in the villages in northern Hungary, the old city In the stunning giyor and in all of Hungary it is a complete surprise in the landscapes and the historical cities.

Walking through the Keukenhof Gardens and seeing the blooming fields of tulips, and smelling the fragrant fields of hyacinths as we were riding was amazing, especially as the pouring rain held off until almost the end of the day! But walking around Ghent, and Bruges were equally delightful, if for a different reason. Of course the fabulous meals Christina prepared for us on the Merlijn were memorable. For future riders on this trip, know that the tulip experience is only one day of the entire trip so that you aren’t terribly disappointed, and be sure to have rain gear at that time of year!!

Definitely the biking part was the most memorable. The scenery was incredible and I loved riding through the vineyards and small towns along the Mosel.

The cataclysmic flooding event was memorable. We appreciated Javier’s support and direction when our route was blocked.
Unfortunately we were unable to remove one of our spd pedals at the end of the trip in Parma because the staff person in Bologna over tightened it. We are beginning the Mur river trip on June 4 and would appreciate your delivering it to us for that trip.

Loved entire trip, but best of all was cycling through the quiet, pastoral countryside with the cow and sheep bells accompanying us: don't hurry through farms and small towns to reach each day's hotel! Also, santillana del mar is just incredible, a step back in time.

Our excursion along the Ebro River was spectacular . The ever changing scenery was breath taking . The roads , for the most part , were quiet and free of traffic . Accommodation along the way was well organized by the tour company , Iberico, Our hosts were very welcoming , rooms were clean and comfortable and the excellent evening meal and breakfast that were offered reflected the region .

I would strongly recommend that e bikes be the chosen mode of transportation as there are many, many very long and steep climbs. Perhaps Pack and Pedal in their rating of the trip, could state «  Easy to Moderate «  with E bikes .

This particular trip will be remembered as one of our very favourites.

Many thanks to Trip Site for organizing all the details for us .

Pat

The crew on the boat was very accommodating; any issues with our cabins was readily addressed. The chef was excellent; one of the best we've experienced on the many bike tours we've been on. The menus included regional favorites and we all received a cookbook that included recipe favorites from several chefs.

Scenery was terrific and accommodation was very good. When arriving at each town or city don’t continue all the way to central point as per Ride With GPS, as you may be well past your hotel already. Switch to google maps as you enter the city and search your hotel.

Great tours, especially the cheese farm, and of course anything tulip related, and windmill tour. Beautiful boat, excellent bike rides.
Great guide.

The tour was wonderful and our guide, Francine, was terrific. This trip was well organized, the equipment was first rate. The bikes and helmets provided were wonderful. Our guide categorized this trip as a "sightseeing by bicycle" adventure and that is a perfect description. There are fast-paced bike rides if that is what you are looking for, however, we thought this pace was excellent for seeing the countryside, taking photos, and visiting smaller towns/cities that we would have otherwise driven past.

The barge we were on, the Merjlin, was amazing- first rate service and food. The rooms were very comfortable and quiet. The common area was a great place to relax before meals and converse with our fellow travelers. The food was amazing and the service was great.

One thing we were not prepared for is the issue of tipping- the suggested tip was for $10/pp/day for the ship staff and $10/pp/day for the guide- which would add $440 to the cost of the trip. Of course as we are from the US, we are very familiar with the tipping culture but we were not expecting it on a European adventure. Yes, it's mentioned on the information section but I guess we skimmed over that. I would prefer they pay their staff a living wage and skip the tip. It costs the customers the same.

This was a river cruise with a biking contingent of 19 people out of 100 people. I would have enjoyed more biking. I especially enjoyed our picnic at Castello Rodrigo, the food and views were fantastic. Later that same day we stopped for a break in a small town where the local townspeople invited us to see their church. Truly magical!

The district was very interesting and there were many scenic and historic areas of interest to me

Vineyards and villages

The staff and guide were wonderful. My only criticism is regarding the food: put out some snacks when returning to the barge after riding. One small bowl of chips for 22 people is insufficient. Secondly, the time from start to finish dinner talked too long ( 1 1/2 hours). While of course the staff must eat as well, they shouldn’t be eating after putting our plates down. Our dirty plates sit in front of us for 30 minutes while they eat. The food is very good though.

Review of local cycling etiquette would have been helpful

The guides were knowledgeable, helpful and fun. Due to the rain our trip had several changes in itinerary. The guides worked very hard to give us as much biking experiences as possible. I was very grateful to have an E bike, and that all members of the tour were on E! bikes. The food on the boat was delicious and our rooms very comfortable. I would recommend this trip to anyone.

The guides were wonderful. They had local information and history to share with us, laughed at our misadventures and were extremely supportive as we hiked, rode bikes and just viewed the scenery. Miguel was there every step of the tour as our contact person. Marco was wonderful and had great suggestion for dinners around the island. Joesphina had the local history down and could personalize it to make the country come alive.

Best bike trip ever!
Ignacio, Borja and Phillip from Ibero cycle, to the accommodations to the scenery which was jaw dropping at every turn, we enjoyed every minute!

Beautiful scenery! Very pleasant hosts at accommodations. Inclusion of five dinners and breakfasts worked well, especially considering the rural nature of this tour. Hilly terrain...consider e- bikes.
Overall, our best bike trip ever!

Beautiful scenery! Very pleasant hosts at accommodations. Inclusion of five dinners and breakfasts worked well, especially considering the rural nature of this tour. Hilly terrain...consider e- bikes.
Overall, our best bike trip ever!

Great crew on the ship. Had a large group of 19. Was very satisfied with all aspects of the trip. On time, on schedule, and good value. The guide was able to assist a couple of people who wanted to find old family connections during the tour which made a very memorable trip for them.
We did arrive a couple of days early to get our bodies adjusted to the time change. Also spend a extra few days in Maastricht to take in the local sites. (well worth it) A day trip to Valkenburg was excellent.
Minor issues. Could have used a extra guide to split the group in two more compatible riding groups. With the large group it was hard to move through traffic( stopping at intersections or crossing roads) Dutch traffic was extremely polite and accommodating.
We were blessed with a couple of local people on the tour who assisted in filling in information for us tourists. Where to eat, what to try, tips on getting around, and what types of pastries or beers to try.
Map and GPS riding system worked wonderfully.

The most memorable aspect of our trip has to be the incredible staff members and friendly people of The Netherlands! Each of the staff was welcoming, engaging, and so hard working! We mostly experienced Cori as she led our biking group, and she proved to be a very effective leader. She was a highly capable biker, very knowledgeable about all things Dutch, and kept our group on schedule with a steady, relaxed attitude. The other bike tour leader Angela was also quite helpful and capable, always willing to help find an answer to support us. Another staff member who really caught our attention was Ingeborg. Talk about a hard worker! She was a jack of all trades with a wonderful disposition and demeanor that was so fun and friendly. We truly enjoyed her for the warmth of her personality as well as her dedication to serving our needs! Our Chef Jorde's menu selections, plating and presentation was fantastic. We sure missed him once we arrived back at home and had to cook for ourselves! The food was memorable, varied, and delicious. It was clear that the staff members, led by the Captain, had a collaborative team mentality that prioritized our comfort and needs. The days are quite structured between meals, biking, and daily agenda meetings. The communication from staff about each day's itinerary and the support with bikes and equipment was very effective at keeping the group informed and ready to roll. We prepared for the conditions by dressing in layers and brought rain gear, as the weather proved to be quite variable. And after being on a bike for a good portion of the day, we looked forward to the comfort of the barge with a soak in the hot tub a delicious dinner, and a good night's rest. The variety of sites visited and terrain covered by both bike and barge was very enjoyable. From the city of Amsterdam to the Netherlands countryside with the windmills, the gorgeous tulip fields and gardens, and ultimately to the North Sea coastline, we enjoyed it all!

Bike tour through the fields of tulips was life changing. Our amazing tour guide took us through farmland so we could enjoy the tulips up close as well as see all the baby farm animals. Every aspect of the trip was fabulous. I highly recommend this trip to those who love being active outdoors.

The crew of the Quo Vadis and the guide were excellent, treated us like family. Food was excellent and plentiful. Bikes were great. The only thing I would suggest is that you put mirrors on the bikes for safety reasons. USA people are not used to having someone pass on our left without an announcement or bell ring.

This bike route was wonderful…so much variety. The cycling was very enjoyable with a few challenges along the way to keep things interesting. To experience the El Camino by bike was an amazing experience. The tour guides did everything possible to make our journey safe, interesting and fun. The accommodations were top notch including two outstanding hotels. With the help of the guides we experienced wonderful local food. This trip is a must do…..and would recommend using an e-bike.

The country side was breathtaking. The history of the country from the Middle Ages to post WW2 was fascinating.

I highly recommend this tour. It was more comprehensive than any other bike tour I have taken, with unique opportunities to interact directly with locals - i.e. millers who tended a windmill, a baker with an extensive collection of WWII memorabilia in the back of his bakery, a boat captain who took us for a ride through the canals in his small boat, etc. Most nights also included a walking tour of the historic city centers for those who wanted to participate.

The crew aboard the Quo Vadis were so friendly and accommodating, the food was delicious, and our bike guide (Rikko) shared a wealth of information about the history and culture of the area.

My kind of adventure, exercise, Europe, great food, fun people, and challenges.

Portugal is beautiful, food fabulous, lovely hotels and a challenging ride on the Camino.

Lots of most memorable parts of the trip - biking the countrysides and quaint towns throughout Flanders and Holland and the food and service on board Magnifique II.