Croatia

This was our 2nd VBT tour and we were highly disappointed. The rides were not easy and in some cases unsafe. Two hotels were great; the other two were dirty, had horrible accommodations, and lacked customer service. Move-on days were not well defined nor easy to do. The local host was nice and informative.

I just returned from a VBT cycling trip, and while the cycling routes and views were absolutely stunning, the hotel accommodations were some of the worst I’ve ever experienced on a group trip. The first two hotels were dirty, poorly maintained, and nowhere near the “4-star” standard advertised. Linens were stained, bathrooms smelled of sewage or urine, drains were clogged, and even the pools had visible mold. These properties were closer to budget motels than quality hotels, and the going nightly rates were a fraction of what we paid through VBT. By the time we reached the third hotel, which was finally nice, it felt like an insult that we only got one night there after five nights of subpar conditions. Other travelers in our group felt the same way and were equally disappointed. The cycling itself was fantastic, but the accommodations were a huge letdown and made the trip feel like a poor value. Unless VBT seriously improves the quality of its hotel partners, I would not travel with them again.

We had a great week on this trip. One island is more beautiful than the next, and the rides were absolutely gorgeous! The guides and driver (Neve, Lada and Mario), along with the other guests on the boat really made the trip for us. A bike trip through the Croatian Islands has been on our "bucket list" for some time and we were thrilled to be able to check this off our list with such a success.

We have been on several trips with VBT and they have again delighted us. Croatia is a beautiful country and I feel like we got to see some really exceptional sights on this trip. Our trip leaders, all locals, really enhanced the experience with their local knowledge and caring customer service. The food, wine and accommodations were all excellent. We got e-bikes which helped us enjoy the trip even more. Our group was compatible and both the pre- and post- add-on trips to Zagreb and Dubrovnik were amazing. We are so glad we did all of it. We would highly recommend VBT and especially this trip to anyone.

Just returned yesterday from Croatia. This was our first VBT tour and I'm sure it will not be our last. Our guides, Marko and Vanja were exceptional and we hated to leave them. They went above and beyond with recommendations for restaurants, things to see and do during the tour as well as the post tour extension in Split.

This was an absolutely delightful experience. I am very impressed with VBT's way of supporting the local economy by hiring local guides, and setting up dinners with locals. Our hotels were great, the guides were wonderful, and i learned so much about local culture and history. Our guides, Mario and Neven, are just wonderful people and so helpful fun to be around.

From having caring and knowledgeable guides to great companions, beautiful hikes, great places to eat and stay, it was a wonderful trip.

The guides were very well informed and attentive, the itinerary was just right for experiencing this beautiful place. We were able to accelerate our pace on certain of the walking routes which worked well for some walkers. A great experience overall.

This walking tour was awesome. The different venues, hikes and lodging was all terrific . The single factor that made the trip so good, were the two Guides. Dani and Dani were so thoughtful, knowledgeable, and their trips to lunches and meals and wine tasting, at various venues were remarkable. Getting to know some of the locals at these venues, and visiting places off the beaten path, were one of the high points, in my view.

We had an amazing time on this trip and could not have been happier with our decision to take our first ever group tour with Country Walkers. Everything about our trip was seamless. Our tour guides, Dani 1 and Dani 2, were knowledgeable, mature, funny and amiable, each in his own way, and added greatly to the trip/experience. Their local knowledge of culture, food, people, history was unmatchable. We had deep trust in them, and we knew that although everything seemed to go smoothly, they were constantly working behind the scenes to adjust plans due to weather, changes in schedule, etc. They made it look easy, but we knew it was not. Of course the hiking was nice, the views and location fantastic. The food was sumptuous and always different, so we sampled many things and felt we got exposed to all kinds of traditional Croation fare. The wine and grappa were always flowing generously. The eating locations themselves were unique. We heard rumors that this tour was being regrouped or cancelled and were quite surprised as everyone in our group seemed quite happy indeed. It would be a shame to lose these fantastic guides/guys.