Portugal Tour Reviews — 211 to 240 of 340

Surving the rain. Seriously.... SINTRA.

every day was very special

We did the self-guided tour. My wife took the e-bike, and me and my daughters took normal bikes. It was an excelent combination.
The support was excellent, hotels are amazing.
We loved the tour.

The self guided e-bike trip in the Douro valley was spectacular and went off without a glitch. Planning and communication with Tripsite was spot on and we especially appreciated the guidance and support from Sergio for the bike tour. Accommodations were excellent. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and would certainly recommend this trip.

Cycling alongside the Douro with views of vineyards, quaint villages, and castles. A picnic lunch prepared by our guide at a castle was the crowning jewel.

The Douro River area is absolutely beautiful with a wide variety of agriculture, geography, cities and small villages to enjoy. Biking provides a great experience unlike what can be done on a bus tour. We were a group of twenty two, estimated ages 50 and up, all with reasonably similar skills and fitness levels. The cycling was well managed by a team from Germany (fluent in English) and the equipment was in excellent condition with a few minor issues promptly addressed. The daily tours started with transportation to a drop off point well above the river to begin cycling to the docking location of the Alva, a beautiful nearly new ship. Much of the cycling was therefore downhill and the occasional up hills were easily managed by most with power settings on the E-bikes. We'd consider most of the cycling as moderate and relatively safe on mostly country roads, although there are stretches of downhill with sharp curves, steep drop offs and city biking including cobble stone roads that less experienced riders may consider risky. The daily biking ranged from about 17 miles to 37 miles with periodic stops for rest, water, refreshments or lunch on the longest day. We'd recommend having at least some prior E-bike familiarity. The September weather was near perfect - cool mornings, warm afternoons, sunny, no humidity so light jackets over short sleeves seemed to be just right.

The entire Douro valley was spectacular with its terraced steep walls. Food was excellent and service was good. We loved the bike tour guides and the rides, especially the one that began in Almeida.

First the good review. The boat was excellent. Food and staff were very good. The Terra Nova biking company was terrific. The guides were knowledgeable and each day’s bike ride was really great. We would recommend this bike/boat to anyone.
However we were extremely disappointed in TripSite as a company!! We have now been on 4 TripSite Bike and Boat, but on this trip there were originally 9 who made reservations 4 couples and one single. We all submitted our reservation and our deposit and all received confirmation. Some time later (a couple months) the single member of our party received a notice that her reservation though confirmed was being cancelled even though she had been paid extra for a single room. She also was a two time previous TripSite customer. The remaining 4 couple fully intended to cancel as well but our friend begged us not to and said she would feel worse if we didn’t go so we continued and took the trip. TripSite that was the poorest business practice we have ever encountered, totally low class and just down right greedy. In the past we have recommended your company to many other friends. We will not do that in the future and in fact will likely avoid booking through your company. Basically you have lost 11 repeat customers. I hope it was worth the extra cash you made booking a double versus a single.
It is unlikely that you will share these comments on your website, but if we could have rated Tripsite you would have gotten zero or one star, so please don’t take credit for the 5 star rating!!!

The biking experience was ok but not great.
The most disappointing part was having a German ship and guides. Maybe we didn’t do our research but we had not expected this. As we would not want a bike ride in Germany by Portuguese guides. Also, totally unsustainable practice to bring the van and bikes back and forth from Germany.

Our trip was fabulous.
The coastal roads were amazing.
We felt like Sergio was available anytime we needed him.
The hotels were mostly perfect.
We would recommend this trip to all our friends!

First 2 days along the Atlantic beaches is great.

Riding along the Atlantic coastline was magnificent.

The trip was more of a bike ride than informational tour of the country. We thought we would learn more about Portugal.

Riding along the ocean. I would've liked to top and embrace the first view of the ocean after riding through all the traffic the first day.

I really appreciated Sergio making arrangements for my early return to Porto before the last day of trip. John was funny and liked his humour. Paul was great to be there when seriously needed for flat tires, chain disconnects, snacks and such. A wonderful time!

It was an easy ride with great bikes. Our group was large and our guide handled us well. We were disappointed in two coastal towns being shut down so very few shops or restaurants were open. Hotels were great.

The memories of cycling along the Atlantic coast past long white sand beaches and through charming seaside towns remain long after the trip’s end. This route has incredible scenery. The experience of meeting other walkers and cyclists on route to Santiago enhances the feeling of a pilgrimage. The trip was well organized, the guides knowledgeable, and the accommodations and food exceeded my expectations.

This was a beautiful tour of northern Portugal. We rode through vineyards, along beautiful rivers and the Atlantic coast. The accommodations were excellent and the suggested restaurants gave a great example of classic Portuguese food.

The trail was beautiful. Loved going thru the eucalyptus forest the aromas lovely. Being next to the rivers and ocean was great. Most of the trail was covered with shade making the hot days most enjoyable.
Hotel accommodations were nice. Liked having different styles of hotels - each had their own character.
Recommend to have a couple more food recommendations for lunch as some restraints were closed Mon & Tues due to being late in the season.
All our bike were new models- well maintained. Our host made sure several times during the trip that everything was working ok.

This was the best cycling trip ever! A total exhilarating adventure!! The vistas, the terrain, the food , the accommodation were absolutely perfect. It really was a trip of a lifetime. As we rounded every corner there was another adventure. There was a smile on the groups faces constantly as it was a fun and somewhat challenging ride. The e bikes were really appreciated on the steep hills. However it still required hard pedalling,
I cannot give enough praise to Sergio and the crew. They took excellent care of us every minute. The group dinners were very enjoyable. This tour fills fast and I can now understand.
Sign up for this as the spots go very quickly and I can now say I understand why it is so popular

There were so many memorable aspects of our self-guided cycling tour from Porto to Santiago . . . too many to list. It's easier to list the negative parts of the trip because there were NONE, except for wanting to stay even longer! I really have to give a shout-out to Sergio and John at the bike shop in Porto because every aspect of this self-guided trip was extremely well organized and the trip went off without a hitch from the GPS and app directions, the daily luggage transfers, and the wonderful hotels . . . everything was perfect. Thank you for an amazing trip!

Wonderful trip! We were a party of eight, ages 55 to 72, and did the 8-day self-guided tour. The scenery was spectacular, the e-bikes were almost new (two of them were brand new), the GPS route finding was excellent, the hotels were all very comfortable, and the baggage handling was flawless. Most of the riding was on dedicated bike paths, backroads, or elevated wood paths. There were a few short sections of sand that required pushing the bikes and a few busy stretches of road (all with good shoulders). Two memorable hotels are Parador de Baiona in Bayona which is inside a castle, and Torre do Rio in Caldas Dos Reis which is in a remodeled 18th century textile mill featuring a waterfall pool and spectacular gardens.

The GPS guidance takes you from door-to-door of each hotel on the tour. We got off track at least once a per day with the GPS it is easy to get back on route. I recommend using both the Garmin GPS provided by Top Bikes (the tour operator) and the "Ride with GPS" route that Top Bike will help you load on your phone at the orientation session.

We had a few days of rain near the end of the trip but fortunately is came in short intense bursts that we could wait out in a sheltered spot. We did the tour in early September so it was quite warm. I recommend taking a bike rain coat and possibly a helmet cover. The panniers provided by Top Bike are water proof.

We are already planning our next self-guided bike tour!

What a truly wonderful trip. The team at Top Bikes, specifically Sergio, John, John N and Miguel were totally fantastic. We had so much fun. The E-bikes were brand new and very useful on the trip. They loaded the GPS maps (which were very reliable) onto my Edge 1030 which was very helpful. They did a great job getting us setup. Miguel happily led us out of Porto on our first day. While this trip is relatively flat the first three days the terrain is extremely varied. Paved roads, cobblestones, narrow streets, wooded paths with branches and pine needles through forests, boardwalks (some elevated) and SAND. The portions of the path particularly on the first two days with stretches of sand along the coast required some walking. But the scenery is varied and beautiful and all the pilgrims on the route are very pleasant. All of the hotels were quite nice and two are in beautiful centuries old buildings. We did self guided but were lucky enough to meet up with Sergio, Miguel, and John N on our sixth day when the group they were leading caught up with us. We had a great hilarious dinner with all three of them. These guys know their stuff and love helping their clients have a great vacation. We are already telling other folks to come do this trip with them next year!

The tour is amazing. It's the best way of knowing the north coast of Portugal. The villages are really nice, the landscape is beautiful, the hotels were good. The route was really easy to follow. We didn't have any trouble at all. The only thing that would have been better is if could have ridden over less national roads.

This was a fantastic bike tour in so many ways for our family! The pre-trip planning and communications were organized and prompt. The trip had a great combination of physical activity (bicycling about 25-30 miles per day), options (e-bikes available), thoughtful and accommodating guides (Sergio and Miguel), beautiful scenery in 2 countries (3 days in Portugal and 3 in Spain), history (Camino de Santiago), and outstanding hotels and delicious food. We couldn't have asked for a better trip. It is so relaxing, comfortable and convenient to stay in wonderful hotels with meals provided. Our family has done several other active vacations in other regions---this one may have been the best!

Biking town to town is a great way to get to know a country; you see places off-the-beaten trail, ride through tiny towns, national forests and coastal cities, sample local specialties from seafood to wine to dessert. The comradeship, meeting new people was also great.

Suggestions? Drink water and wear lots of sunscreen!

Best Part? Scenery and trials we traveled on and some of the accommodation we staying at.

Each day had a different riding experience it would be difficult to choose one! The food was amazing, the biking was varied and unique, and the people that organized our trip were meticulous with their directions!
Additionally they were always there with an answer and we always knew they could assist us if needed. Excellent people and a huge shout out to Tour Adventura !!!
Portugal was wonderful and we’d do it again in a heartbeat!!

Once we cleared historic Porto and hit the bike trail along the seaside, we enjoyed visiting the small coastal cafes and seeing the beautiful long beaches. Along the route, the size and quality of the beaches blew us away!

The entire trip was most memorable: the scenery, the care taken of us by our guides-Sergio &Joa, the lanes & trails through town & country, the other group members , the nightly accommodations.
The trail riding on an EBike was ‘easy’ but there were some scary spots and steep climbs that added to the excitement!

The whole experience was extraordinary. Starting with the warm welcome at Porto until traveling back from Santiago de Compostela. Sergio and Juan Carlos were the best! We opted for the self-guided tour and we were equipped with all that was necessary for such an incredible adventure. The daily overview that is provided for you to read every day to understand how your next day ride will look like was great to have. It is provided both printed and also available to download in a mobile app. Hotels were amazing and well prepared to welcome bikers. Porta do Sol Hotel in Caminha, Portugal has a great SPA with pool and sauna, great to enjoy after your bike ride. My e-bike was a great differentiator to manage uphill's. Loved it! I would recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys biking with great scenery alongside the coast. We may consider to repeat this journey anytime in the coming years.