5 Star France Tour Reviews — 91 to 120 of 596

We have so many great memories of our trip that it is hard to pin down an "absolute favorite". Here are some of our best and most favorites memories, in no particular order of importance! The staff was so welcoming and helpful, we felt connected to all of them right from the start! The bike riding was fantastic--the ease of the e bikes, to the scenery, and then the visits at the historical sites such as the Roman mosaic, the Puerta Nigra, and the bunker from WWI in the farmer's field, we thought we had the best guides and were very well informed about the details of our day. Our accommodations aboard the Iris were comfortable, clean and well maintained. The other passengers were a lot of fun, and we felt comfortable spending time with each group. I cannot say enough about the food! We all looked forward to our excellent dinner after a long day of cycling, and the breakfasts were filling and tasty, every time! One day, after a 35-mile ride, some of the other passengers decided to continue for another 12 miles, but many of us chose to stay on the barge. The captain welcomed us into the wheelhouse and we were educated on how to operate the barge while going through a lock and dam!

Every part of our trip was Enjoyable! The bikes were comfortable and easy to use, the rides were not too strenuous but rather “ a good day on a bike”. The routes gave us an Immersive look at the country side. Our guides were Fun and helpful. The staff of the ship went above and beyond and even provided a cake and a celebration for my husband’s Birthday!! Truly , a Bike and Barge trip is the Best way to see the Country! I could have turned around on the last day and started Another Trip! Thank you to our Wonderful Crew on the Magnifique I!!!!

Our time on the Merlijn was fabulous! Coen and Cristina, the ship's owners, are the absolute best as was the crew. Everything from the accommodations, the food, the tours and the biking was top notch. We especially enjoyed the bike helmets that allowed us to listen to our guide provide guidance as well as historical information on our rides. We are already looking forward to choosing another tour aboard the Merlijn.

The whole trip was excellent. To many thing to choose just one.

The trip on the Merlijn was wonderful. The captain, crew, and guide were all 5 star. Accommodations on the barge were very nice, with modern baths, excellent lighting, and adequate storage. The guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the areas we biked through. The wine tour we had one evening was the best I have ever taken. One evening we all had a meal out at a German restaurant that was delightful. I like the bike helmet they provided. It networked with the guides helmet and she was able to give us information as we road on excellent bike paths.

The biking in the southern France with the scenery was fantastic! The guided bike guide was a fountain of historical knowledge of the area as well.

The scenery along the Mosel River was spectacular and the heritage buildings and the history associated with them was both interesting and educational. The friendships that developed along the course of the trip added to our enjoyment and memories. The food was excellent although possible less in the way of trying to produce high end dishes and providing more in the way of comfort foods especially during the cold and rainy weather soups and stews would have been appreciated.

Biking and boating into Germany, Luxembourg and France was spectacular. Seeing the incredible vineyards and tasting the wines from this area. Our stay and the crew on the Magnafique 1 was excellent and we hope to book another tour.

Although the weather wasn't always the most cooperative, the biking along the Moselle offered beautiful scenery of steep hillside vineyards with stops in small towns along the way. Our tour guides were fantastic and easily (or so it seemed) adapted to the route changes that needed to be made due to the flooding of the Moselle and the fact that the bike paths weren't always accessible. Our guides were knowledgable about the areas we visited and offered interesting information about castles, churches and other areas of interest in the cities.
As far as tips for others, if you are planning a bike/barge trip, be prepared for varied weather and biking conditions. Being flexible will allow you to enjoy things that aren't necessarily what you had expected.

The Merlijn is the best sailing ship in all of Europe if you want to bike. The captains Coen and Cristina (also the ship owners) are just wonderful people. I feel like family every time I travel with them and this was my 8th trip with them (7 trips in the last year alone). So if you want 5 star accommodations, service and meals, this is the ship to sail on. Their bikes are the best out there and I feel confident in saying that as I have done 15 bike and barge trips! Give the Merlijn a try and you will be hooked like I am. The Merlijn also gets the best bike guides out there along with extremely friendly and caring crew. Love the Merlijn and Coen and Cristina.

So much fun! Loved all the vineyards and charming towns we rode through. Our captain, mates, chef and guides were top notch! Highly recommend this bike tour, we loved it!

We (couple in early 60’s) have recently completed this routing. We rode hybrids (what we usually ride) and found the level quite manageable but I would question the ‘easy’ part of the rating. There were indeed some good climbs. I suspect that a large majority of riders may ride ebikes, making the climbs and the longer days easy. The Classic hotel selection was just fine. The bikes were great. We appreciated the notes on destinations and attractions in the paper guide but as a navigational tool it would have be useful only in a pinch; You’d be turning the pages constantly, GPX files are the way to go and even though there were a few ‘right turns’ that were actually left ones, the directions were great! We appreciated the variety of road types. The back lanes were lovely and the bigger roads generally has either good shoulders or bike lanes.

The trip was wonderful for us. We enjoyed two weeks of biking and sightseeing. The guides were knowledgeable and catered to our needs. They were pleasant and helpful. The barge rooms were comfortable, nothing fancy but well equipped. We rented e-bikes and were happy that we did. Biking from 9 am-3/4 pm. every day for 2 weeks made the experience more enjoyable on the e bike. We enjoyed the group of people we were with. They were there for the experience and we all meshed easily. Overall, it was wonderful. Bring warm clothes for fall biking. We had rain and cold temps.

The most memorable part of this trip was NOT the boat breakdown for 2 days but the absolutely beautiful , kindly, acceptance by everyone with the unfortunate circumstances. I did not hear one grumble or complaint by anyone on board. Everyone worked tirelessly and professionally to correct the issue and make alternate arrangements for the bikers. It was the biggest and best display of humankind working together to make things right. It was so heartwarming to experience such a wonderful situation especially during these very challenging world situations. I can’t praise us ALL enough for making the trip such an unforgettable experience.
Sincerely, Sally Coomber

I enjoyed all parts of this trip. Our guides, Alv and Hetty were very friendly, relaxed, and patient. They both were well informed, and provided interesting commentary and information along the way. When things did not go as planned, they always had another plan. Everyone was made to feel welcome and comfortable.
The bike paths along the river were incredible, easy to manoeuvre, and very scenic.
The meals on the barge were delicious. All the staff were friendly and courteous.
I’m looking forward to another trip wit Tripsite!

The highlight of our trip was the German city of Trier. There was so much to see in this ancient Roman city. We only scratched the surface, but the Black Gate, the huge cathedral, the beautiful gardens and the lovely city center were amazing. We happened to be there when they were celebrating Unity Day in Germany and there was a band playing, with people dancing and singing. That just made it so much more festive. My suggestion for others is: take this trip, you won’t regret it.

The barge crew, the fabulous food, our wonderful guide and meeting great people from all over the world made this trip ever so special. We came together as a team and simply had a lovely time. We needed to ride each day because Sara’s meals were delicious and we ate way too much. I mean that as a compliment, for sure!
The towns we biked to and through were beautiful to see. Our guide, Georgio, did his homework.
Can’t wait to do another trip. In fact, we already inquired about one through tripsite today!

The ambiance on board with all the guest cyclists was matched by the excellent service from all the staff. Both cycling guides were professional but more importantly they were fun to be with. The Mosel Rivers quiet charm and fairy tale villages made for a wonderful experience despite the rainy days.

The overall experience was great. Our guides were fantastic, the scenery was beautiful and the boat and rooms were super clean.

I have been on five bike and barge trips before, and this one was very special due to the crew on the Estello… Georgio, Our bike guide was full of history, fun and knowledge of the area. Sarah, our chef was absolutely amazing… We rode our bikes through some beautiful countryside as well as on many well paved paths…. Met so many nice people. Highly recommend this trip… I prefer the small or intimate bike and barge trips in this certainly met that criteria!

Having experienced and enjoyed bike and barge vacations for over 10 years, I can say, without a doubt, that the Clair the de Lune's crew were the most attentive, professional, and charismatic. Like most, we select our tours based on destination, daily tour activity, and pleasant docking locations. Those factors are easily researched. The wild cards are often the barge condition, crew personality, and of course, the dining experience. Marco resolved all those concerns by keeping an impeccable barge, bringing on chef Jenny, housekeeper Catalina and tour guide Dick. Our rooms were clean and include both heat and A/C. The dining was inventive and locally sourced. Daily tours were perfectly planned and well managed to optimize our group members. The adage that you must sacrifice amenities if you choose smaller comfort barges over the larger boats did not hold up. We had uncooperative weather (they dried our clothes), flat tire, chain issues (rapidly addressed), difficulties getting to the Briare train (they loaded up personal vehicles and drove their bikes to ensure our timely departures). Bravo Clare de Lune!

No control re. weather, the rest was first rate. Perhaps the cabins leave a little to be desired but what do expect from the a boat bike experience. In this case the trip still exceeded all expectations and we have sailed with a few boat groups. I may also add that Frank, our cook was worth the price of admission alone.

We had enjoyed a bike tour on the original QuoVadis 2 years ago and were amazed at the renovation to lengthen the ship into the Magnifique I. Our group had a fun week that was challenged with a variety of weather and the boat needing repair at Trier. Our guides, the captain, chef and staff were very creative to make sure, even though we were quite off schedule we still had our daily cycle and experiences and then some. The bicycles were new and easy to ride.

Simply put, this bike barge trip was outstanding in so many ways. The cycling was at the perfect pace thanks to the excellent leadership of our two guides, Alv and Anja. The serving and support staff were very attentive. The new bikes were in tip-top shape. The cabin on the Manifique 1 was smaller than our last bike barge, but it had everything we needed, was spotless and was made-up for us when we returned from our ride each day. Our breakfasts offered many choices, the opportunity to pack our own lunches allowed us variety each day and our chef provided gourmet dinners each evening. Our captain Patrick pitched in to help out staff as needed. Our fellow cyclists from three different countries enjoyed themselves and we enjoyed their company. Cycling through Germany, Luxembourg and France was an unforgettable experience.

The staff—Marco, Dick, Jenn, and Catalina—were wonderful, professional, knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly! The trip through the French countryside was awesome! The Clair de Lune Barge was comfortable, and clean! The food was delicious! It was a marvelous journey!

My wife and I had a wonderful time. The routes, the chateaus, the bikes, the app, the luggage transfers, and the lodging were all good. Thank you for an excellent experience!

The boat was smaller than the others I have been on for other bike trips but the crew was great!! Very friendly and helpful. Dick our guide was the BEST! THEeals were very good too

In May 2024 my two friends and I did this bike trip.
Tripsite was fabulous organising our hotels and bikes. The best part was by 9 am each morning our luggage was picked up and delivered to our next accommodation in a beautiful town. The e-bikes were perfect to make the days ride very pleasant. The paths are very well sign posted, so extremely easy to follow and the terrain was for the most part flat making the riding easy.
I’d recommend staying an extra night in Amboise and Tours, lots to see.
We used the standard accommodation, all a bit quirky but clean and comfortable enough for 1 night stay.
All the accommodation are geared up for cyclists, all having places to store the bikes and some even for charging e-bikes.
You will not be alone on the path passing other cycling enthusiasts. France is a cycling country so you’ll notice lots of families out as you get closer to towns.
We rewarded ourselves with a chateau stay once we finished at Tours, it was the best experience for all of us..
We enjoyed it so much we are now booking the next stage of the Loire river.. we could not get enough of the scenery and especially the beautiful Chateaux.....stunning.

Most memorable: Crossing the Briare Aqueduct was awsome. The barge, Clare de Lune, and the captain, chef, crew, and tour guide made our trip most enjoyable.

Most memorable was the bike riding on e-bikes and the fun we had with the other people.
Suggestions: - more shelves in the rooms on the boat, more chicken and French food included in the menus, more bike routes that were not in traffic .
Also, more cold cuts available that were not pork- like the ham... more turkey and possibly humus.
Also, it would have been helpful to have mirrors on the bikes... Also, would have liked to know earlier that the route was being changed because of the water level.
Would have liked more information and history on the areas where the boat was docked. Also, it was nice to have a wine tasting - but one was enough- 2 not necessary.