Europe

Enjoyed the bike ride, the small cities and towns, the archeological site at Empires and the trip leaders. A delightful corner of Spain.

Our 7th trip and this might be tops, but they are all so good. This trip is easy and we are so glad we did not order eBikes (we are 79 and 82). Our guides were terrific and the trip is planned so there is time for art (Dali two places),Greek and Roman ruins, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, walking the coast, seeing the Costa Brava from the sea, and exploring the old city of Girona as well as an introduction to Barcelona, where we stayed on for a week in an apartment. Hotels were great too.

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.

As with all our VBT experiences Portugal did not disappoint. The trips are planned well from the time you take off from home until you land back at home. The transfers, the accommodations, and the in between are well thought out and planned. Any necessary changes are planned for. Portugal is tourist friendly, they are ahead of the curve with the pandemic, follow the rules. It is tough to find a bad meal, the weather was great; there is a lot of history. The cycling was easily doable for all who cycle 25 miles with some wind or hills. If you take only a few trips, make this one.

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.

Enjoyed the variety of sights and rides. The guides were awesome and knew alot about the culture and history of Scandinavia. I apprecaietd the variety of skills the guides demonstrated in biking, tending to guests, history, and every aspect of ensuring the trip was enjoyable for al. l

This was such a great trip. Copenhagen was such a lovely city and perfect to discover by walking. Sweden was so beautiful and the biking was an exciting discovery each day. Bodhi and Philip were just wonderful as our guides - fun, professional and always helpful. We had never been to Scandinavia and this was such a lovely way to see it.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Nice combination of pedaling in pastoral settings and activities that included a day-and-a-half in Oxford, lovely Burford (the meat pies at The Royal Oak are a must!), Blenheim Palace, cream tea in Bourton-on-the-Water, the Hidcote Manor Gardens, and a tour of the Roman Baths. We stayed the extra day in Bath and explored - it was very nice! The undulating hills of the Cotswolds were a nice challenge on road bikes. Residents and (car) drivers were pleasant and courteous. The bonus is we had amazing weather - mid to high 60°s, sun, clouds, and no rain (okay, a very slight shower one afternoon for 20 mins.!) Our tour leaders - Conor and Mick - terrific guys that really made the tour so pleasant!

Every detail of this trip was well thought out, perfectly planned and expertly, as well as thoughtfully led by Dan and Hattie, who live in the area. Their connection to the Cotswolds personalized this trip in ways that would not have been possible without their guidance. VBT organizes their trips with an emphasis on interesting, varied and challenging routes, as well as as focusing on the cultural traditions and history of the area. Ending this trip in Bath, with its 2000+ years of Roman history was incredible, and was the perfect contrast to the English countryside. The accommodations, as well as the dining experiences, were first rate in every location we stayed, charming and indicative of the history of the area and people who live there. This trip exceeded every expectation I had. Dan and Hattie were skilled, knowledgeable and most of all genuine in their concern for each of us in the group and making this trip a lifetime memory. Again, thanks to them both for their sharing their home with us in so many meaningful ways.

Great trip. Eve and Jean Marc were fantastic guides. We rode hybrid bikes and they were perfect. There were only two little hills that were more difficult than easy. The Abby we stayed at was our favorite

Wonderful cycling in the Alps on trails and country roads. The highlight may have been riding the gondola and hiking on the glacier on the pre trip extension in Chamonix and Mont Blanc

This VBT trip does not disappoint! The attention to detail for every visit and experience was remarkable. I live in the mid-west and don't have many hills to train on so these rides were challenging for me, but doable and once I was done I felt very satisfied. The accommodations were all different and great in their own way. The guides were energetic and informative. I highly recommend this tour - it's a great way to see Greece!

The experience with VBT went beyond expectations as did the part of Greece where we cycled. The Peloponnesian Peninsula is a relatively undiscovered biking jewel, I enjoyed it far more than biking various Greek Islands. Accommodations were excellent and Greek food speaks for itself. VBT and the guides went out of their way in providing a 5 star experience. The bikes were new and top quality, the routes were varied and interesting. The guides bent over backwards to please us and provide a great biking as well as cultural experience.

This is one of the best VBT trips we have done, and we have done many. The guides were superb and the rides really varied. The places we stayed were wonderful and truly gave you a sense of the region. This is not a hard riding trip and interspersed with many beautiful ferry rides. Come and try it. You will like it!!

The Italy Lake bike tour was a treasure trove of experiences starting with our hotel in Sirmione on Lake Garda’s southern peninsula. Situated directly across the road are 1st century BC Roman structures. And a 12 minute walk to tour a Medieval castle. Next up Lake Iseo which provided spectacular views along wide well-maintained bike paths. Various quick ferry rides over to Monte Isola included a private candlelit dinner, and a subsequent bike circumnavigation around this island. Before reaching Lake Como we stayed in the ancient town of Tirano, terminus for our ride on the Bernina Express into Switzerland. Guide Giovanni transported our bikes. Up we rode to a high meadow overlooking the magical snow capped Alps before completing our ride in St.Moritz. In Lake Como we enjoyed a farewell dinner with our competent, caring and professional guides Angelo and Giovanni.

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.

This was our fourth VBT trip, and our first self-guided tour. It was excellent. Our host, Daniel, explained everything at the outset and exceeded our expectations in getting a replacement bike for my wife when the first one proved problematic due to her carpal tunnel issues. The routes provided and the “Ride with GPS” worked very well. The accommodations were excellent, with nice rooms and great breakfasts at each place. The biking was “easy,” meaning mostly flat and downhill; no need for an e-bike here (although there were many on the path). The scenery was the prettiest we’ve ever biked through. All in all, this was a great biking experience.