4 Star Bike Tour Reviews — 91 to 120 of 1278

What I am left with is the memory of the wonderful people I met on the trip. People from all over coexisted, braved some very wet weather, adapted to continuous itinerary changes due to weather conditions and still had a lovely experience. Food and accommodations were excellent. Kudos to the guide Peter who spent hours on his computer sleuthing out alternate routes for cycling as our itinerary continually changed. We missed some cities and had little time in others but you can't control Mother Nature or "traffic control" on the canals. All in all we had a great time and I will definitely book another B & B trip.

The most memorable part of the Madeira Multi-Adventure Tour was simply seeing so much of the island, with its many different landscapes. The hiking and biking tours took us through arid peninsulas, lush forests, rugged mountain peaks (specifically the impressive Pico Ruivo), and by majestic oceanside cliffs and towns nestled on rocky beaches. Our whale watch on the last "free day" allowed us to see the entire south side of the island by boat. We saw so much of the island during the week we were there.
What should be improved is communication on how the transfers to the starting points of each activity day worked, as well as transfers of the luggage. We went into the trip not quite fully understanding who was picking us up each morning, where they were dropping us off, and who to contact at the end of our activity day to pick us up. How our luggage would get to our next hotel was unknown too. However, after a few days we learned how things worked, but more description up front would be helpful to others doing this tour in the future. Additionally, we read the bike tours offered ebikes only - but ended up not getting them. We were given normal mountain bikes with a wide range of gears, which ended up being great due to the majority of our riding being downhill -- so no real need for the ebike. However, we may have paid more for something we did not end up getting. Overall, this trip was truly an adventure and we had tons of laughs and made lifelong memories! :)

Our group truly enjoyed the week on the Vivienne. The bike trails were well maintained and routes well marked which enabled us to enjoy the amazing scenery each day. The staff on Vivienne was incredible.
Two complaints were the e-bikes were very heavy
and there were no water bottle holders on the regular bikes.

Cycling through the small towns and fields. So picturesque and very calm riding.

Staff were great and worked very hard for all of us during the week. Unfortunately strong winds kept us docked for a day so we lost a day riding north as planned and caused other changes in the itinerary which apparently is not common but can happen. Food was very good and enjoyable to meet others from other countries during social hours.

The boat was very nice, the scenery was lovely, food great, and the group interesting with people from a variety of countries. Guides, especially Stefania, were very good.

The Bellezza is a beautiful boat. Proud captain, Ante and his team are extremely service oriented, particularly the two women servers. Staterooms were larger than expected and the beds and showers were very comfortable.
The featured hot tub was not Hot and the upper deck bar area was never utilized for group entertainment or drinks. Such a waste!
Our two cycling guides, Ivan and Marko were highly experienced, professional, informative and safety conscience.
Several of us were dissatisfied with the food provided and the number of meals that we had to purchase on our own. We appreciate that the cuisine was Croatian with a heavy emphasis on potatoes, sauces and carbohydrates but more emphasis on seafood, salads and vegetables would have been preferred. (For one lunch, tuna was so salty that it was inedible and the vegetables were overcooked.) We also would have appreciated having lunch on some of the smaller islands or taking a picnic lunch.
In all, it was an incredible experience through the beautiful Dalmatian Isles.

Tour Guides were excellent. Rooms are very nice. Croatia is beautiful. Dining room is very loud. Food was ok, not as good as other tours we have been on.

Biking along the Danube bend. Beautiful shaded path, interesting scenery. Catching last minute standing tickets to the Staatsopera in Vienna was amazing! Coming into Bratislava while a Trans-Danube Swim was occurring was a unique experience. Great meal at a hotel recommended restaurant (etterum) in Mosonmagyaróvár. The bikes were adequate for our 200 mile journey. I only wish I had a water bottle holder on mine.

Very much enjoyed riding and seeing all the seaside towns and stops as we rode. Just beautiful!

This trip was a great experience! This was not a luxury tour, but it was a tour for those of us who like a little adventure and to feel like a part of the host country. The slower pace of the tour allows one to really experience the culture and lifestyle of Norway and Sweden. This is a trip for people who are ok with last minute changes to the itinerary, weather unpredictability and not always knowing what will happen next!

Un general the castles we visited and the ride the last day was the best one in terms is the mix of castles and view a round the road.
On data 2-3 it was a little bit too “underpopulated”, not mucho too see for a big part of the day.. and we experienced lot of wind!

The riding was both beautiful and challenging in places and the food was excellent, including the breakfasts. The premium hotels were not up to four star standards and could have been planned better. The bikes did not appear to be well maintained and required maintenance along the way.

We went on the premier version of this tour. Madeira is beautiful and the hotels we stayed at were great, with good breakfasts. When the weather was good, the biking and hiking were wonderful. On rainy days, the paths were extremely slippery, creating a real challenge. There were many things to do and see outside the planned activities.

We found the local tour operator to be somewhat disorganized - late to pickups, sometimes slow to respond to texts, and unclear information about which of the extra activities had transportation and which didn't. The bike guides and drivers were great.

The bike paths, scenery and charming villages were amazing and as advertised. The Obernai to Riquewihr ride was not as advertised. Due to the steep climb at the end, we all ended up walking our bikes up the last portion as e-bikes passed us. I don’t think this should be advertised as “moderate”.

The hotels were generally very good, a few comments:
• On arrival at Hotel Diana Dauphine in Strasbourg, we were advised that our bikes would be made available the next morning. When I confirmed this shortly after, we were given access to our bikes that evening, however the receptionist did not have the required luggage tags. I contacted the hotline and the representative from Espace Randonee, was rude and insisted that the receptionist had the tags. After I assured him we had checked with 2 different receptionists, he said he would contact them. The luggage tags were made available shortly thereafter. Communication with Espace Randonee was an issue.
• In Colmar we were advised that, due to the large group from Vermont Bike Tours, there were only 2 superior rooms available (not 3).
• We were disappointed that the trip ended in Saint-Louis, France. The hotel was underwhelming and there wasn’t much to do. As of today, your website still reflects Basel, Switzerland as the final destination. This is misleading and should be changed.

All in all it is a beautiful tour. However, be sure your biking skills are top notch and don't expect an easy ride. Lots of long uphills and downhills with sharp hairpin turns. The vineyards are beautiful and so are the views. I would not call it a wine tour, rather a castle tour, as the long daily distances leave very little time - if any - for wine tasting. Also, only a few vineyards are open for tasting after pre-arranged visit. But, enjoy the excellent, inexpensive local wines with your lunch and dinners.

We really loved the Alsace region. The first few days we followed the Alsace Wine Route and you really do ride through the middle of vineyards. The scenery is beautiful and the villages are very picturesque. We opted to spend the day in Colmar and I was so glad we did. It was a highlight of the trip.

We found the description of the ride as Moderate to be misleading. We expected rolling hills and some climbs, but the steepness of the hills going into Riquewihr and Kayserberg was extreme. All the other riders we saw on the route that day were on e-bikes. So unless you are a very strong rider, I would recommend getting an e-bike.

The only disappointment with the itinerary was that the trip was changed to end in Saint-Louis, France rather than Basel, Switzerland. There really isn’t much to see or do in Saint-Louis. If this is going to continue, the trip description on the website really needs to be changed.

It was wonderful travelling through the vineyards and chatting with the local farmers as they harvested the grapes. We also enjoyed travelling along scenic rivers and canals. Almost everything was paved, and only a small percentage of the trip was on roads with traffic. But the description of the ride is misleading. it should be described as moderate to difficult. In the material, it gave estimates of the grades of the various climbs. I rode with a Garmin GPS and it showed much different grades. For example, the last (#5) climb on Cycling Day 2 from Obernai into Riquewihr is described as a 3.3 percent grade over 5.06 km. What it doesn't say is that 3.3 percent is the average. In fact, much of the climb was between 3 and 6 percent, and a portion was over 9%. I registered 13% on my Garmin. This is not a moderate activity. We experienced similar discrepancies on some of the other days.

Biking the Wachou valley, outside Vienna. It was an incredible ride, with great places to stop along the way. The trip was great, the crew handled all those bikes great. Would have liked more time in some of the cities, and more diet options.
But, that’s being kinda picky, it was a great trip and would recommend.

Wonderful biking throughout! App was helpful as was the route book. The arrow stickers Leslie put out were great. Bus/walking tour in Bratislava was good. Would have been nice if we stopped to taste some specialty foods. Not much time to explore. The bike tour in Budapest was fine while we were on the bike paths, but then the guide took us on some VERY busy streets with no bike lanes and mingling with cars, I was scared. then he lost three of us. Vienna concert was lovely. The Vivienne staff was very friendly and worked hard to get the bikes in and out, feed all of us and serve drinks. Great job by all of them. Leslie was always around and did a great job of managing all aspects of the trip.

Since we only got to spend 1 day in the champagne area, that part was not memorable. The historic features we did see were WEI museums and cemeteries.

The entire crew on the boat were wonderful. The two guides, Mieke and Wim worked very well together. The chef prepared wonderful meals for us each day. Scenery was fabulous.
Now that most riders are riding ebikes that should be all that is offered. The push bikes with only 8 gears were impossible for riders to keep up with the ebike riders, Never had enough time to stop and take pictures.

The mix of beautiful countryside and vibrant cities and towns.

The ability of the captain and crew to change itinerary based on weather and sea conditions. The experience was not detracted from by moving to plan B or C.

The great people we met & the staff on the boat.
My negatives about the boat was the lack of an outdoor seating area to enjoy - probably due to the size of the boat. Also I felt 18 people for one guide was not great from a safety perspective. No mirros on the bikes or communication capabilities between the guide & the person identified as the ‘sweeper’.

This was my first trip on the Merlijn Bike & Barge. I was with a group of 3 couples that had done this trip before on the Merlijn. I found it outstanding, the equipment was excellent,( my wife and I rented electric bikes ) the cabins were very nice and roomy. Our meals were breakfast and dinner, the breakfast was good but I believe it could have been better, The dinners were first class....The barge also had a nice coffee bar and Bar that were excellent too. The trip was memoriable and I highly recommend the Merjin...

The scenery was beautiful! The Merlijn was beautiful and very comfortable. But, the standout for the trip was the staff. Coen and Christina made our week so wonderful and kept us well informed. “Cat” at the bar and serving was very charming and fun! He knew all our names by day 2! Simone kept our cabins tidy and did a great job on our laundry. June was always tidying up the ship and keeping it looking great. Ilsa was a really good tour guide and was very knowledgeable about the history of Austria.

The room on the boat was lovely and the food was very good. We did a guided tour and I felt our guide was inexperienced She did not have many safety measures that I have had on previous bike trips. i.e a sweep and ensuring everyone is ready to go before taking off. Also would have been better to be able to visit some cultural places like the Abbey, museums or churches. We were not given anytime on our rides to do this. The highlights was the wine region and wine tasting.

The views cycling Bruges, the countryside, windmills etc
Boat was nice, food was good, nice staff.

I recently completed the Authentic Holland trip aboard the Magnifique II. The vessel was well-maintained, staffed by an excellent team, and featured outstanding cuisine. I greatly appreciated the expertise of our guides, Erna and Niels, who provided valuable insights into the region. Our itinerary included cycling through wooded areas, along dykes, and through scenic towns and countryside. Each day, mid-morning, we sstopped for coffee and toured historic villages.
The only aspect that did not meet expectations was the absence of a visit to Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot. Although we stopped in Muiden for lunch and had time to explore, the tour description included a photograph of the castle, which led to the assumption that the site would be part of the program. Guests were permitted to visit independently, but time constraints made this challenging. Incorporating the castle’s entrance fee and allocating a dedicated visit period could enhance future experiences. Overall, I found the bike and boat tour to be highly rewarding.