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.

Our cruise/bike trip from Lyon to Nice was great! Despite the cool and sometimes rainy weather and fierce winds, we rode on! We enjoyed the walks through each city, and the beautiful rides along vineyards, and fields of fruit and sunflowers. The olive oil tasting was fun and delicious, and the walk through the museum and delicious lunch by the water looking up at Pont du Gard were highlights for us! The bike routes were easy to follow and well thought out. And last but hardly not least was the delightful and knowledgeable guidance of our trip leaders, Sophie and Bruno. They shared so much about the areas we visited, and were so much fun to be with. There was nothing they couldn’t or wouldn’t help out with- we felt so secure under their leadership and guidance!

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!

Very pleasant riding in mountain valleys & around lakes with a nice mix of city and village life. I enjoyed the longer miles. Hotels for the most part were very good. Food included in the tour varied from OK to great.

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.

A remarkable selfguided bike trip! Because it was selfguided, we took our own time pedaling and sight seeing. The bike app that loaded each and every turn and maps was amazing! It was also very good to have a short and a long loop biking so individuals can choose how many miles they want to bike every day. One suggestion would be to have rest days in between and make the trip longer. Chateau Pizay was superb as the other places we stayed. All in all i will give a 5 star rating. I am waiting for VBT to put up other self guided cycling tours.

This bike and float vacation was a wonderful way to meet new friends with similar interests. The guides were amazing and so knowledgable about the regions we traveled in. They were very well organized, considerate, and excellent at anticipating all the travels needs. the boat crew was equally as efficient and excellent. The chef made magical meals that were always delicious.

VBT offers wonderful guided tours with very knowledgeable guides and support people to guide you during the pre and post trips.

Overall really enjoyed the trip! VBT staff and barge staff were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. They had a challenge to deal with the extreme heat that was present. The barge itself does not appear to be adequately outfitted to deal with such heat. The individual room AC was inconsistent at best. Not the staff's fault as they constantly tried to make it work as best they could. As passengers, we took steps to reduce the heat's impact and the staff accepted deviations from their normal procedures, which was good for all.

We enjoyed beautiful, scenic trails led by 2 very helpful, informative and caring guides. Our ship was very comfortable and the staff very competent and caring. Meals were delicious and dietary preferences were accommodated, too.

Well organized. Bike leaders were super. Great routes. Nice bikes.

Great guides! Easy to use vocal GPS apps, for some of us independent riders. Beautiful country side, fairly easy riding with or without e-bikes, currently I’m a 72 year old male and enjoyed every mile. The Emerald Dawn was a pleasure to ride home to, comfy accommodation with a family feeling of as well! Good food and drink, helpful staff, very clean ship. We’re presently in the process of planning our next adventure with VBT.

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.)

Biking in Normandy and Brittany was recommended to us by a fellow VBT biker on our previous trip and we are so happy that we listened to him. The daily parade of classic French villages, farms, gardens, and estates were simply beautiful. Our guides Sophie and Jean were The Best, and we learned more about French culture, history, and language than we could have hoped for. We recommend this trip to everyone!

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 .

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!

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.

This trip was better than anticipated. We expected a great time, but this was outstanding in service, leadership and bike friendliness.

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?