France

I want to rate this trip as 4.5 but that option is not available. The biking was great - loved the e-bike! Visiting the towns/villages along the route was a highlight. There were advantages and disadvantages to the river cruise; being a small part of the larger group of cruise passengers made it difficult to form a cohesive biking group. But staying in one place for the duration of the bike trip was a plus. Recommend the trip for those who enjoy biking as well as visiting historical towns and villages.

Perfect trip included spectacular scenery and weather, awesome group of cyclists, perfect accommodations, and wonderful VBT leaders…thank you Sophie and Bruno.

Wonderful Trip. Beautiful part of the world. Great trails. Informed guides

Six fantastic days of biking! This was our first ever bike trip and we thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. We were very lucky to have such perfect sunny days that were book-ended by rain. We loved the two gals that led the tour...they were "over the top" in every way! I had never been on an E bike, but quickly took to it and now want one of my own. I still felt that I got a lot of exercise ...just loved it. Every morning the bike would be ready with a bike bag and fresh water with lemon and the helmet. The hotels were all top notch also. This particular trip has amazing scenery, so it was very lucky that clouds didn't obscure the magnificent peaks. Will definitely try another trip!

The trip was amazing and very enjoyable. The only glitch was the tunnel was closed on one of the day trips and the copied map provided for the alternative route wasn’t very clear and we got lost. We called the support person but it was 2 hours before he called us back.

My husband and I really loved this trip. We have taken many guided tours (which we love) but really enjoyed the independence that a self-guided tour gives you. The accommodations were excellent, the bike routes were challenging (we did the long options each day with road bikes), and the scenery was pretty French countryside on quiet bike paths and small roads. We needed some mechanical assistance one day and our local contact was just a phone call away and very helpful. Overall a great experience and in the right location we would definitely consider another self-guided tour.

This was our second trip with VBT. We absolutely loved our first tour ( Germany, Austria, Switzerland - Bavarian Alps & Lake Constance ) Our Bike & Barge tour was even better! The barge, the other guests, the guides, the food, the scenery were just about perfect. On the second day of riding I mentioned to a guide that it was an ideal day. He smiled and happily told that the next four days get even better. It was true! While the transfers between pre and post trip cities were lengthy and complex, I wouldn't want to miss out on our immense enjoyment of Munich and Berlin. It's difficult to imagine a different tour being better. We'll see, we signed up for a VBT tour for '23 the day after we arrived home. Thank you to all who made this tour an unforgettable and joy filled experience.

The boat part of this trip was wonderful. As usual, VBT leaders were excellent. The scenery along the Mosel was gorgeous. Our difficulties were with the pre-trip to Munich, and the post-trip to Berliin. The hotel in Munich was very small, we couldn't unpack our clothes because there was no where to put them, the shower was small and the water temperature went from hot to cold in an instant. There was no elevator - we had to climb 2 flights of stairs with heavy bags, others had to climb 4! Since many of VBT's travelers are 60, 70 and up, it's not as easy as it used to be! The location was far from the Old Town, and we had to take trams or the U-Bahn or taxis to get there. Not the worst thing, just not very convenient. We didn't find out about details for our transfer for the boat trip until late the night before, which isn't very good communication. The hotel in Luxembourg was FABULOUS! We all wished we could have spent more than just one evening there. Gorgeous hotel, spacious, near sites to visit, etc. The boat trip was great all around with great staff, excellent food and beautiful views. If only we could have had more time to visit the small towns to shop and explore...and maybe at least one day to sleep in would have been appreciated without having to miss a ride. But it was still awesome. The hotel in Koblenz was fine. The bus transported us the next morning o the train station, and just dropped us off with tickets, but only 15 minutes to catch our train. There was no representative from VBT to tell us where to go or what to do. Some of us have traveled the trains in Europe before, so we were able to get to our train just in time. However, it was such a mad dash, that some of our group just jumped on a car and we didn't even know if they had made it. We had to call on cell phones to tell them what to do and which car to go to. This was an awful oversight from VBT, and very surprising/disappointing. We were also verbally told by one of our bike leaders that Berlin was the train's last stop, when in fact, our station was the next to the last stop. I had to go around and tell everyone and make sure they were ready to hop off with bags, as loading and unloading goes very fast. The last hotel in Berlin was very nice, bedrooms and baths were spacious, but again, no place to put unpacked clothes except on the floor and some hooks! I don't want to sound like an ugly American, because we're really not. Even the boat did have some shelves for us to organize our clothes! But the breakfast buffet and bar were very nice with very pleasant staff. And VBT's communication for airport transfers for everyone's different venues and schedules was very good. Overall, my take -away for this trip was that VBT needed better communication with the shuttles, transfer times and help at the train station. Hotels with closet space or shelf/dresser space would be very much appreciated. A little more free time in Luxembourg and along the Mosel towns would be ideal.

We had a wonderful time. The biking was great and the scenery picturesque. The barge cabins and lounges were comfortable and the food was great. Our guides, Axel, Steffi and Aernoud, were entertaining and looked our for our comfort and safety. Our only complaint was the excessive heat but that was not predictable or controllable. Next time we would go in the fall, not August. The side excursions to a former bell factory and to a family run winery were very interesting. We enjoyed seeing Roman mosaics in Nennig, the Roman amphitheater in Trier and the Eltz castle along the Mosel. The tour was equally balanced between vineyards, historic towns and castles, and enjoyable companions, food and wine. Our pretrip to Berlin was enjoyable and the hotel had easy access to transportation. We thought our walking tour through VBT would be the day we arrived so we had booked the following day for a tour of Potsdam. Therefore we ended up paying for a walking tour of Berlin the third day. Our tour guide to Potsdam educated us on the public transport system. Our post trip to Munich was disappointing only in that the hotel was not air-conditioned and it was not close to central Munich. Our VBT guide did take us to central Munich and showed us the sights we might want to visit on our own the day we arrived. She was very cordial and helpful and even said we could call her anytime with problems or advice.

First timer and a wonderful experience. The staff and leaders are exceptional. Well organized and you are well cared for. Food, cleanliness of the boat and service were all above what was expected. Felt at home with everyone. Well organized group.

I would have given a 5 star, however VBT didn't adjust the ride times for the extreme heat we experienced. Riding in the heat late in the afternoon is never enjoyable in my opinion.

Great job change of itinerary was great would have been nice to meet in Basel for pick up

We had a wonderful experience. The itinerary, guides and bike routes couldn’t have been any better. Everything was planned the minute we landed in Paris. Would definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in the Normandy history.

We had a wonderfully-planned week of cycling along small, beautiful farm roads with itineraries bringing us to the coast of most days. Riding in August in 70 degree weather was great. We all loved seeing the texture of rural, historic France and learning more about Normandy and Brittany. The trip includes a focus on local food culture - the visit to the Cider farm was really special, as were the Cancale oysters and dinners at local restaurants. We also got so much out of learning more about WWII even though I did not choose this trip primarily for that reason. There were helpful guided tours, and the option to visit museums if you wanted more depth. I'm so glad we could take advantage of this aspect of visiting France. The Trip Leaders were extremely knowledgeable, good humored, well-seasoned guides who knew the area well and had set up a number of local experiences. We found the cycling to be engaging - beautiful rolling farmland that left me in a little better shape by the end of the week but wasn't overly challenging. (The shorter option was also always available.)

The Burgundy Wine Route trip was an exceptional vacation...it was a great mix of activity, leisure, learning and sightseeing. The trip leaders were personable, knowledgeable, and fun-loving, our fellow travelers were all interesting and friendly people, and the food, accommodations, and scenery were all first class. The daily route length choices ensured that everyone would be happy with their activity level, too. I’d highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves good food, wine, and outdoor activity. The pre and post trip extensions are also well worth it...especially the pre-trip in Lyon...there was so much to explore there!

This was our first Vermont Bike vacation but it certainly will not be our last! What a great time .For us it was a perfect mix of activity,culture ,wine and food. The countryside is just delightful and beautiful. The guides were excellent and our fellow travelers were wonderful .

Bike routes were beautiful and enjoyable! Loved the town of St. Remy and the location of our hotel. Really enjoyed Avignon and again, the location of the hotel made exploring the city very easy.

This was our first VBT vacation and we have already registered for a second trip. Provence and the Alpilles is a beautiful region of France with abundant fruits, vegetables and other agriculture. The bicycle travel through the French countryside gives an up-close and personal travel experience.

I LOVED this vacation. I am an avid biker; my husband is not; and we both enjoyed the levels of activity and flexibility. The vineyards and villages were amazing to see, especially by bicycle. Jean and Jean Francois took care of our every need, and the accommodations were wonderful. What's not to like?

We had an amazing time - And I can't speak highly enough of every aspect of this trip! Our VBT leaders, Sophie and Bruno, were exceptional, planning everything down to the smallest detail. They were a pleasure to be with in every way. We loved every hotel, each unique, and in the heart of a city, with lots to do in the area. Our e-bikes were brand new, and easy to navigate. We were blessed with beautiful weather and enjoyed our rides each and every day. I would highly recommend this trip - it will definitely not be our last. We are already booked for one next year!