Germany Tour Reviews — 271 to 300 of 1722

Coen and Christina and the crew. We appreciated how all of you worked together to make us comfortable and cared for.
For Elizabeth, the bike ride and for Kathryn the special attention given to me after the injury.

Recommend a suggested packing list.

The Vivienne is a superb boat with comfortable rooms, excellent meals, amazing staff - from Captain Igor to hotel manager Margot to program director Leslie to restaurant manager Najeh to our wonderful server Nidhal and all the crew who carried bikes, took care of rooms, reception, bar and the like. Everything ran so smoothly. Party events were memorable and fun. The Danube cycling beautiful, as were the cities and towns we visited with so many historic sites. We would recommend this trip and this boat to everyone!

The Merlin ship was extremely impressive. The captain and crew ensured all participants were well taken care of. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were fabulous, and the deserts were lovely! Our bike tour guide shared historical information on most outings, which was quite interesting. Additionally, there were tours along the way of castles and wineries - an added benefit. We highly recommend the trip and the Merlin ship in particular!

Being pulled up by the police for riding on the motorway. It was so scary - we had no option but to keep going. This was between Stanstad and Sarnen. This is despite paying for the kamloot app. Days 1-3 were good. We don’t like riding on roads - but 4-5 was not so fun

First and foremost, the captain, chef and crew were outstanding. The trip would not have been the same without their host of talents & hospitality. The Merlijn itself was pristine with all the comforts of home. The passengers were treated like royalty. The bikes were upright which allowed for comfort and made the scenic views easily accessible. Our biking guide Ilse, was knowledgeable about all the historical sites we visited. She was extremely patient with her 22 riders. The cycling was easy with predominantly paved trails with minimal incline. Moving through large cities (ie:Trier) was often difficult with 22 riders often separated through stop lights. It may have been safer to split the groups.
It was our first trip to Germany and the scenery was stunning along the Saar, Mosel & Rhine rivers and many photo predominantly were included. We were especially impressed by the day we biked from Cochem to the town of Eltz, enjoyed an enchanting hike to the Eltz castle, toured castle and biked on to Koblenz. Another highlight was the tasting tour by the owner of Storck Winery in the town of Traben-Trarbach. The unexpected meeting of Captain Coen’s parents and rafting with their barge on the Rhine was delightful. We always looked forward to the cruises during and after breakfast!
Overall, the bike & barge was more than a bike trip. It was all the experiences of boating, dining, biking, hiking and making new friends from all over the world. We would highly recommend this trip!
Thank you Coen & Christina for making the magic happen on your Merlijn ☺️

Rating this tour is challenging in a way due the the fact we were there during the worst weather condition's in that part of Europe in years. The Danube rising at unprecedented levels along with flooding. I'm sure you are well aware of all of this. The Vivienne crew and Leslie the tour director did an amazing job of keeping all of us on board safe and making every attempt to help us to continue to have the best possible experience we could given the horrendous conditions.
While we missed out on a lot of cycling and seeing and experiencing this part of Europe, we were very fortunate to be able to do what we could, given the conditions.
Again, Chapeau to Leslie and the crew of the Vivienne!

We like that each day have different options for additional activities that made each day special. We like the difference between landscapes of two rivers.

positive note- Professional friendly crew always helpful. The organisation was magnificent and the food was good and plentiful. The bikes were well kept and great to use. The original plans had to be changed due to the bad weather but other options were available. Riding without a guide meant that extra time could be spent taking photos and exploring what we wanted to do. The extra options turned out to be real gems- the castle at Greinberg was fascinating with all the historic ties, the bike tour of Vienna was outstanding (our guide's voice was loud & clear so that the 2 deaf people could hear the local snippets and frank, humorous commentary), Mauthausen memorial was extra kms & uphill but possible to quick visit time wise. The bus to opera & back worked smoothly. The only tour negative was the constant cold rain but proper preparation, clothing & attitude meant riding without crowds was much easier. On the last day one rider with hypothermia was picked up by van. The organisation was excellent and the evening briefings of what to expect the next day were very helpful.

Budapest and Vienna were fabulous cities to see. I would suggest that more info, printed the day before on bike routes be given out to everyone. The info meetings were hard to get all of the details and minimal route information changes. Also, bike routes for each day should be based on temperature and wind direction with advisories about how much water to bring along, where to get more. The bike route that was suggested for Bratislava was terrible: prior information on the 30 mph wind gusts that we headed back towards the boat in and 90 degree temperatures made the trip difficult and dangerous: my husband almost suffered from heat stroke and we could not find any place on route to get water after making the return after the bridge crossing.

The most memorable part of the trip was leaving Budapest after dark and floating past the lighted buildings and monuments along the Danube. The biking along the River was beautiful and diverse; wine country from Krems to Marbach was very pretty. Most of the routes were along bike paths though some intermittently were on rural roads and through the cities of Vienna and Budapest. Some days biking were very warm, but there were a couple of cold days with temperatures less than 10 degrees C. Its a good idea to come prepared for cool and rainy days both biking and sightseeing; layers with a hooded raincoat was essential. My wife and I are fit bikers riding often in the Colorado mountains, but opted for eBikes on the boat cruise. No regrets on this decision, we road with minimal eAssistance most of the time, but when the winds, and sometimes rain, came up on long rides, or we wanted to catch sites off the main route we had the ability to extend our rides and still make the timing to meet the boat at the next city.

Loved it! We went as a couple and met wonderful people. Two things to suggest
1. Better app navigation
2. Lighter e-bikes ( other companies like VBT and backroads have lighter, safer bikes

Staff couldn’t be nicer and we had a flood emergency which was handled professionally and compassionately

.The trip was well managed by Lesley.He was great. The boat staff were not very helpful so that was a bit frustrating at times.Food was good. Lots of activites. Biking was fabulous.

The bikes, the ship, the crew and the food! All were fantastic! We definitely feel that our experience aboard the Vivienne was a value commensurate with the cost. The upgrade to a Superior room was worth that little extra cost as the views were beautiful. The bikes were in great repair, the e-bike controls were easy. None stop scenery as we rolled through woods, urban roads, country trails and picturesque towns. Even the weather did not disrupt our enjoyment as Captain Igor and all crew worked to keep us safe and entertained during three days of nonstop rain and 30-year record flooding on the river. We have great stories to share!

Disappointing trip. Our only day in Potsdam nearly every museum was closed. Countryside and small towns just were not very interesting. I don’t believe this same itinerary is being offered next year. Food on Merlijn was just ok and we were given small sandwiches for lunch.

The most memorable part for me was the scenery. Biking through the "hinterlands" and Bavaria was very beautiful and interesting. The fruit trees and the family farms were charming.
The ride was more difficult than I expected and I was not expecting to ride on gravel and dirt paths. At times that was a bit challenging. I think the rating should be moderate to difficult.
We had too many people in our group, 14, and only one leader. She was wonderful but she had never ridden the route and was not very knowledgable about the route or the area. One of the participants had to ride "sweep".
I would have liked a little bit more free time. We had zero time to do any shopping or sightseeing in the villages that we stayed in. The 2 to 2 1/2 dinners were a bit long although delicious.
The hotels were wonderful and the food was great. Because of weather we did not have picnic lunches but our lunch stops were very good.
I felt we spent too much time standing around and waiting. At times things were a bit disorganized but I do believe that was because of the inexperience of our leader.

Unfortunately, the most memorable part was the weather--10 degrees, 25kph winds and rain for a goodly portion of the tour. Suggestion? Never believe the long-term weather forecast.

The staff were uniformly friendly and eager to serve, the food was excellent and the quarters very nice. Places we visited were lovely.

A few of the routes were shared with motor vehicles, and this wasn't clear. While it was not an issue for me, my wife was uncomfortable with it. Drivers in Europe are generally much more polite and tolerant than those in the USA. I would not have liked the experience as much in the US.

The TripSite team took care of all the details, was responsive to questions, and made our trip easy and worry free. Prague to Dresden was our second trip and we hope to book many more. We select the upgraded hotels and add on extra nights for an even better experience. The new navigation app made biking even easier. Advice to bikers: do your homework on the suggested side trips - some were nothing burgers but a couple were spectacular and worth the time.

Guide Fabian was wonderful. Guided tours were good. Loved the scenery. Sixteen in group was too many. In fact two chose not to ride and 14 was still too many due to varying abilities.

Cycling along the Danube and entering small villages as we cycled. It felt very “intimate” like we were part of the life of the village.

Vienna and Budapest at night. Coffee and cake at 1600. Breakfast buffet. Large lager.

Unfortunately, I tested positive for Covid 19 the evening after the first ride. Nevertheless, the trip was very enjoyable, especially because of the kind attention of the staff on the IRIS, especially our hostess, Kim. I have to say, sitting on the deck of the IRIS, cruising along the Main in Bavaria, is not such a bad way to go! I did get in two days rides at the end so also got to enjoy the biking.

Magical trip thru the villages and vineyards of northern France and eastern Germany. This trip has a great pace for getting to feel the atmosphere of the region. Definitely would suggest anyone coming from a far distance give themselves a couple of days to acclimate before starting the trip!

The Spa Triangle biking tour - late August 2024 was more rigorous than we anticipated...lots of hills. Four of us went and we are in our mid-late 50's. Two of us chose acoustic bikes and two got electric bikes. This worked out well because we are all around the same height and could switch off as necessary. Plus the electrics carried the paniers with all the food/snacks, drinks and all extras.
A couple things I'd like to mention. The Trip site partners were very friendly and for the most part very responsive. Sometimes there was a language challenge, but we got through it. We upgraded to the Superior Hotel category and glad we did because we can't imagine what the lower category would have gotten us. With that said, the first hotel: Schlosspark in Karlovy Vary was very dated and in 1 of the 2 rooms, the air conditioning was not working properly and it was very warm on our first night. We mentioned to the front desk and were told a technician would come by. By the time we returned after dinner, the room was still very hot and we mentioned again but were told there was nothing they could do. I then reached out to our Trip Site partners and they said they would speak with the hotel. The hotel offered another room but it too had no a/c. We were promised an upgraded room the next night. I ended up putting my mattress on the floor of the room my sister & cousin were in to be able to get a comfortable night sleep before our first day of cycling. As far as the "upgraded" room...it was equally dated and had a tub instead of a shower but it did have it's own mini-split for a/c.

Our riding that day was greeted with perfect weather and we had a picnic lunch at what looked like a castle. We also passed a nice covered bridge along the route. The one thing we definitely wish we had known and been advised of is that the only place in the Spa Triangle with Thermal spas is Karlovy Vary. The other towns you will stay/visit do not offer the thermal baths. Unfortunately, we didn't find this out until we were at the next town. The town itself is lively and we happened to be there at the time of a music and wine festival and lucked out with all the music in and around the town.

The next town of Frantiskovy Lazne was all painted in yellow and we stayed at the Spa & Kur Hotel Harvey which was by far the best hotel of the 3. It was the most modern and best breakfast spread. Although, don't get spa services here, they were disappointing...lots of oil being rubbed all over and nothing more. The town is sleepy but beautiful. There are lots of green parks in this town as well. Our rides from this town included stopping at Soos, a nature preserve to see natural springs. On our final day here, we biked out through the town of Cheb which was lovely and then had another picnic lunch at a church stop that had picnic tables. We also saw a herd of elk and ram along this route which was a wonderful surprise.  SHOW MORE 

The ride was always a. ‘bucket list’ item, & the scenery was outstanding, & the GPS was very beneficial. However, I wouldn’t rate the ride as our best experience, as there were a few disappointments. The Augsburg hotel was not very good. At the outset (day 1) the instructor was briefing a large group of German speaking cyclists, (for ~20 minutes) & advised he’d brief the English speaking cyclists afterwards, but he just came over & said we could start the ride, but we mentioned that we were advised to go to the Dom Hotel for instructions, & he just said - ‘what do you want to know?’, & it was annoying that we had to wait ~1 hour & cycle an additional 2km to get that instruction. Plus, the bikes did not have drink bottle cages, which would have been beneficial. I acknowledge the advice regarding 20kg weight restriction on luggage, & when we left Australia, our (3 pieces) luggage were weighed at the airline checkin at 19kg, 20kg, & 21kg, & we redistributed some luggage to the bike panniers, & then received notices on the end of day1 that out luggage was overweight 1 x 23kg & 1 x 21kg, & that we had to reduce the weight or the luggage would be left behind (we relocated the required amount to my backpack), but I suggest your partner recalibrate their scales (plus it surprises me that 20kg is OK, but 21kg is not). Additionally, we were only provided 2 luggage tags each, so we couldn’t buy another piece of luggage, to redistribute the weight (despite the instructions provided that we’d receive 3 luggage tags each). Additionally, once we arrived at our daily destination, there was no directions given to our accommodation hotel, which resulted in additional cycling (I had to use my Australian iPhone to access GPS, which was costly). Occasionally, there was a few trail signs that conflicted with the GPS, & a couple occasions when the written instructions provided a 3rd point of view.

What a trip of a lifetime. We made wonderful memories and saw beautiful country side and the architecture is unreal.
This was a easy bike ride and recommend it to any rider.

Had a wonderful time on the bike trip, it was an excellent way to see the countryside and small towns along the way. The hotels were very nice, right in the center of things. We would certainly do this trip again.
The only issues we had were occasional navigational problems, particularly on the first day, but for the most part the route was easy to follow on dedicated bike paths. Having a data plan for Europe is a must as that can solve a lot of navigation issues.
Overall this was an outstanding experience for us, and it is an excellent way to travel and really get to know the local area.

4-star experience aboard this ship! Fun adventures and beautiful scenery off the ship. Staff was exceptional, so courteous and friendly. The meals were simply amazing, every single one without exception. I enjoyed the daily cocktail special each day in the lounge and the fun onboard activities too.

Riding through the grapevine vineyards.
Riding through the forest in aschaffenburg.
Riding into the little towns

Leslie our Cruise Director was Great! We were lucky to meet a lot of new people. All the people working on the boat were wonderful and did a phenomenal job! From the Food to the cleanliness of the boat! Loved Disco night!

The whole experience was wonderful ! The boat, service , food and rides. The
Programming was so fun and the rides were incredible. Rented and ebike which I
Was happy with. I was able to enjoy it all stess free

The only recommendation I would
Have is to have mirrors on bike