Portugal

Portugal was our 11th VBT trip and 12th biking trip. It was the best or at least equal to our other great trips. The guides were the best ever and the hotels , especially the Farm House, were excellent. The biking was challenging at times but very good overall. We highly recommend the trip and very much want to return to Portugal. Great food, great wine and a beautiful country. We felt very safe on the roads and highways as Portugal drivers are very courteous to bikers. Absolutely nothing to complain about and as with all VBT trips, a great value.

This was our first VBT vacation. We were very impressed with the planning, accommodations, and route. It was a wonderful experience to bike along country roads with guides who knew the area. The hotels were lovely and the meals were delicious. Everything was top-notch.

The bike routes were well planned and reasonable is length of travel. We were in need of an air pump and it was promptly provided. This however should be available in future ventures and should travel from hotel to hotel with our luggage. The hotels were reasonable but not a five star as we expected. The meals provided by VBT we less than average and should have perhaps been planned at a more authentic Portuguese restaurant. Our bike routes had very little authentic stops along the way. Some pre arranged activities would have been enjoyable for example a port tasking, or a local Market or even an authentic coffee shop where we might be expected and served a coffee and pastry. Also a planned final dinner with the group and perhaps a leader to join us would have ended our trip nicely.

Portugal was culturally rich and the people were warm and friendly. The self guided tour worked well and the routes were well marked. I didn't realize that October was the foggy season or might have scheduled the trip at a different time.

We thoroughly enjoyed our first VBT experience. The tour route was very well laid out and we cannot not say enough about how impressive our tour leaders, David and Frederico, both of whom are natives of Portugal. Kudos to VBT for the way they planned and conducted our tour!

We loved this trip! Beautiful and varied biking routes; knowledgeable, competent and engaging guides, top-notch hotels, delicious food and interesting cultural activities. I wish I could do it all over again!

What an amazing trip! The Douro Valley was nothing short of magical. Cannot recommend this trip highly enough. The bike-boat experience was phenomenal (Emerald Cruises was top notch) and the Portuguese VBT leaders and entire boat crew made it an unforgettable experience. The exposure to the historical culture and centuries-old commerce along the Douro were a highlight. Bravo VBT

We really enjoyed this trip and would recommend it. The routes were scenic; the bikes excellent; the food very good; the leaders outstanding; the other experiences (tours, wine tasting, etc.) were fun and informative; the hotels at the beginning and end were very nice. We would suggest using the e-bikes as the terrain is hilly.

The landscape is beautiful, the hikes encompass a variety of terrain and experiences, and the wines are delicious!

The itinerary for this trip was very well thought out. The local guides, Diego and Pol, were beyond great. I would rate this trip as moderate, but you could elect to skip portions of the hikes to make it easier. The accommodations along the Camino were originally monasteries. The trip was so much fun. Thank you, Diego and Pol.

I had a wonderful time and found the trip to be be terrific. The guides, Helene and Anna, were wonderful - knowledgeable, kind, thoughtful, encouraging, and possessing great senses of humor. The trip had a good variety of activities. I liked the accommodations - they were all so different - and the food provided. I wish there had been more meals included although the guides did a great job making suggestions. Some people on the trip wished for longer hikes. I see their point although these were right for me, given the hills.

What better way to experience local and come away knowing a place, really knowing than walking through yhe vineyards, strolling through villages and eating your way through Portugal.