Austria

With a two adjustments, the trip would be a five star trip. One is to move the warmup ride from the congested, cobblestone streets of old town Passau to an easier riding environment. Second is to be more selective in the room choices in the hotel in the Wachau Valley. Otherwise, the trip met my expectations and more. The riding is in varying environments - forests, mountains, riversides, vineyards, orchards, and small, ancient villages. The elevation changes are minimal, there are long stretches where there is no stopping at intersections, and best of all, for all but small portions, you are riding on dedicated bike trails or bike lanes without having to worry about vehicles. Navigating was easy with Ride with GPS, and we took cues from the trail signs and the bicycle traffic. The luggage transfers and shuttles operated flawlessly.

The self-guided tour was wonderful and well paced - it went through beautiful and interesting country, the people I met were kind and the food was terrific! I had some trouble, though, with the Ride With GPS app. It functioned poorly with frequent messages that the GPS signal was weak. I had to seek out directions, several times, from people in towns or on the trail.

Our trip was just wonderful. The scenery was the star of the show, but it was enriched by the cultural experiences, meals, thoughtful guides, little “surprises,” and congenial fellow travelers.

I signed up for the tour as a single and went home with 15 friends. The organization was very well done. The leaders were excellent. The accommodations were fine to excellent.