Spain

It starts with the guides and they deliver on a continuous basis. Andrea and Javier (Javi) are excellent at delivering the experience promised by VBT and go above and beyond to make it all work and make sure you are happy. There are always glitches along the way, mostly created by the guests. They work tirelessly and effectively to solve every problem. Like all the other trips (we have done many). It's so much more than the wonderful biking. The farm visit to the apple orchard is amazing. Who knew so much science and technology are needed to be successful in this day and age. They explained why more than 150 apples stresses the trees and produce inferior apples. They showed us the technology they use to eliminate excess blooms. The resultant apples, juices and ciders are wonderful. The enjoyment of our visit to the Dali museum was magnified many times over by the enthusiasm and knowledge of Kim, our guide. I had no idea how many elements were in each Dali painting and how his mind worked.

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

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!

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!

My husband and I booked this trip for his 50th with 5 other couples. To say it was the trip of a lifetime is to put it mildly. Though this was self-guided, VBT was always there if needed and made luggage transfers seamless. The accommodations exceeded expectations. Cannot wait to book another VBT trip!

Great trip, well organized and easy to enjoy the sites and scenery.

The trip was very well organized - hotels and restaurants were very nice and in great locations. The ride routes and offerings were even better than we could have hoped for - beautiful scenery and interesting stops along the way. Our guides were (CJ and Juanixto) were the BEST! We are looking into another VBT trip next year!

For those considering what week to go or what to bring, we traveled Mid-April to beginning of May 2023. – it was 50’s at breakfast, 60’s when starting to ride and 70’s mid-day. We needed a sweater for outdoors in the evening. Spain had gone 100 days without rain and our week was no exception- no rain. We felt the weather was perfect for riding. For a number of trips we have used e-bikes --- for the fun of riding them and to be sure we had energy when we finished the ride to go out and do more in each town. The Breezer is the best e-bike VBT has offered so far. The low step through, thus low center of gravity makes it a better choice for those not used to the weight of an e-bike. The Breezer has plenty of power and an upright riding style ( something I personally need due to arthritis in my wrists). The bikes were tuned perfectly to shift easily and handle some very steep climbing in the optional rides. Here’s hoping Breezers are added to many more trips in the future! For the most part, we were riding gently rolling hills on narrow low-traffic roads. We saw more other bikers than cars, especially in the north. The cars we did see were very respectful of bikers. Oh, and the smell of the orange blossoms was like riding through a flower garden for miles. The route planner did a fantastic job. Out of hundreds of safe, well-warned turns, there was exactly ONE I would have rewritten, it was a very blind turn left onto a high-speed road. We have used Ride with GPS for years and love it. We enjoyed the custom comments added to the ride! We particularly liked breaking up the morning and afternoon rides on the ride routes and offering optional routes for those who want a bit more challenging riding. The independent rides were a new feature we had not experienced before and in Mallorca, where there are so many routes, it was a great addition. In the morning, our guides Bibi and Anna outlined the day with their white boards and creative art. Bibi and Anna were fun, attentive to safety, and concerned for every member of the group. They were both excellent riders as well. The trip was well designed in that everyday there was an event or dinner to look forward to. Breakfasts were huge buffets often with a menu in addition to the buffet. So, it was hard not to find something you loved or wanted to try tasting. It made breakfast a quicker event than some other trips we’ve been on when we all had to order off menus. Dinners ,that were included , were pre-ordered- again making them timely. Most dinners included shared, passed, starters of local Spanish tapas, another fun chance to taste something new. The lunches on the road – picnics, winery tasting lunches could be as substantial or as light as you chose to make them. Many dishes and tapas were passed and those who were hungry could stock up as needed. Another nice surprise was the included wine with dinner. The hotels were all top notch although one did have small rooms, however, it’s location was stellar. It was right on the town square and in walking distance to many fine restaurants with reasonable prices. Anna and Bibi closed out the trip by meeting us as we loaded onto the bus to the airport with the most memorable goodbye we have ever experienced! They played a techno song “Mallorca”--- and danced their way up and down the aisle of the bus. Their smiles, energy, and connections to us all made the trip even more special.

Very enjoyable trip. Guides were excellent. The meals on the River Boat were also excellent. Would highly recommend this trip.

I enjoyed the trip. The rides were well conceived and challenging - except for those several towns with the coblestone streets.

This tour is excellent. The biking routes are interesting and offer challenge for all levels, with the option of a ride in the van always there for bikers who want to avoid some hills or just need a rest. The scenery is spectacular. The tour has a perfect combination of ride days and tour days. Our trip leaders were bright, personable, competent and a fun, integral part of the group. The hotels, food, and cultural events tied it all together. I highly recommend this tour. I want to go back tomorrow!

This was the best VBT trip I've had. Great biking,and mix of culture. Excellent unique hotels,and our guides were extremely fun and happy to share their culture.

This is a wonderful trip with wonderful guides! It gives you a taste of what it would be like to walk one of the Caminos in its' entirety - I hope to go back and do that one day!

It was well planned, had great accommodations and super guides. We experienced the best landscapes of three separate caminos. I give it a 5 in spite of some rainy days

I was looking for a sunny getaway with moderately challenging walks, picture-perfect towns and taps. This walked delivered all that and more. The guides were outstanding and my fellow travelers were enthusiastic as well as kind and interesting to be with. The landscapes were surprisingly different but all gorgeous in different ways. Truly a trip to remember.

So much fun. Six lovely days of hiking (I wouldn’t characterize it as “walking”), fabulous guides, great food, and nice accommodations. And the participants were interesting, upbeat, and encouraging. And the scenery — spectacular. Our guides were knowledgeable and attentive and exuded enthusiasm and humor. Enough superlatives? Since this was the a new tour, CW included an extra professional to observe and identify opportunities for improvement. There were a a couple of very minor issues which will perhaps receive tweaks, but nothing of note. We loved the positive attitude of all involved. Also, we appreciated the excursions supporting local entrepreneurs (e.g., small winery, orange orchards, salt production). Looking for the next destination with Country Walkers.