VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers
Now More Than Ever Groups of All Ages Are Booking Cycling Trips
VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations Unveils Good Buy Discount for Group Trips in 2016
BRISTOL, VT — August 24, 2015 — Multigenerational travel is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry and tops the list of travel trends, according to the Virtuoso Luxe Report. This type of exploration includes active tours, adventure trips and celebration travel. VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations has seen a significant increase in group bookings, with reservations growing by fifty percent for 2016 departures of the 54 unique itineraries offered by the Vermont-based tour operator. According to VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, bicycle clubs, community groups, fitness organizations and other groups have traveled together on VBT trips in the past year. The top group destinations for 2016 include:
Holland/Belgium
The top trip for group travel is the Holland and Belgium Bike and Barge: Amsterdam vacation—which was named as one of National Geographic Traveler’s ‘50 Tours of a Lifetime’ in 2015. A group of up to 24 can stay on a cozy yet spacious, two-deck passenger barge that has been converted into a fully-serviced floating hotel, ideally suited to navigate the shallow waterways of Holland and Belgium. With the ease of only unpacking once, guests enjoy delicious meals that the onboard chef prepares using fresh, local ingredients—often purchased daily at local markets—and paired with regional wine. Travelers will bike along quiet roads and bike paths throughout Belgium and Holland. A highlight on the trip includes cycling to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Holland’s largest collection of traditional windmills decorate the horizon.
Croatia
Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands, in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, offer travelers a unique cultural experience in a tranquil, rustic setting. On VBT’s Croatia: The Dalmatian Islands vacation, multi-generational travelers enjoy the luxury of moderate bike routes with a helpful support van to aid with any uphill sections, so the whole group is able to pedal at a comfortable pace and enjoy the thrilling downhill’s together. These breathtaking rides along huge expanses of scenic hills, tiny villages, idyllic beaches and miles of black pines and lavender fields create the perfect setting for a family adventure. Aside from the scenic bike routes, the Croatian cuisine is a highlight featuring spreads of olive oil, honey, figs, cheese, mussels, dried meats, lamb and fish. Groups will also enjoy learning how to prepare local dishes with a cooking lesson hosted by a local family.
Puglia, Italy
Often overlooked, the region of Italy travelers will explore on VBT’s Puglia: Italy’s Undiscovered Coast bike tour is a paradise full of delicious food, stunning scenery, unique architecture and welcoming locals. This VBT trip is ideal for groups due to the easy bike routes along coastal roads that overlook the glistening waters of the Adriatic. Travelers will ride past ancient olive groves and the iconic trulli homes of Alberobello, which traveler’s tour with a local guide. Whether the group chooses to stick together, or go at their own pace, at the end of the day everyone meets for great cuisine and a comfortable stay in cozy masserie—authentic 16th-century fortified farms. This trip includes group pasta-making classes with a local family, tastings of the local Primitivo red wine and samplings of locally-sourced almonds, olives, seafood and cheeses.
Provence, France
Southern France is the perfect destination to experience with a small group on VBT’s Provence: The Alpilles bike tour. Groups will visit Saint Remy, where the famed artist Vincent van Gogh painted “The Starry Night,” among 150 of his final paintings during his stay at the Saint-Paul Asylum. Travelers will taste authentic French cuisine, including a variety of French cheeses, at a picnic in the heart of rosé country prepared by a local family. Guests will also bike along the Rhone River and stop at the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct constructed in the 1st century, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Germany/Austria/Switzerland
Groups will love to bike along a picturesque alpine lake on VBT’s Lake Constance: Germany, Austria & Switzerland tour. The combination of three different countries allows travelers to explore charming villages and gorgeous gardens like Mainau, an island dedicated to manicured gardens bursting with colorful flowers. Bring the whole family for a ride on the Pfanderbahan cable car for a trip to the top of Pfander Mountain to view the “Swabian Sea.” In Switzerland, explore Stein am Rhine and walk along the cobblestone streets and sample traditional Swiss chocolate after biking the rolling hills along the beautiful lakeshore.
Austria/Germany/Czech Republic
VBT’s bike tour of Czech Republic, Germany & Austria is ideal for groups as you ride along quiet bike paths and a lovely forest through Sumava National Park far from traffic and villages. Travelers will learn about Bohemian culture during visits to the preserved village of Holasovice and a stay in Cesky Krumlov—both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Groups will also bike along the Inn River to Passau for a delicious picnic on the riverbank. VBT’s travelers will also enjoy a boating adventure along one of the most popular routes in Europe, the Schlögener Schlinge in Austria, where the Danube snakes through steep, forested mountains in a series of sharp and scenic bends.
Take advantage of VBT’s Good Buy Program for group travel this fall. Everyone in a group will receive 5% savings off a 2016 vacation if reserved (and paid in full within 14 days of booking) before October 29, 2015. To learn more about VBT’s Group Travel Program visit: www.vbt.com/tourpage/group-tours/. To request a catalog or reserve a VBT active vacation, visit www.vbt.com or call 877-395-5290. Mention the booking code VBT1518.
MEDIA CONTACT
Gianna Wyatt, Quinn
212-868-1900 ext. 278
[email protected]