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"If you want large busses, large groups and large, "big box" hotels, Adventure Travel Group isn't for you. BUT, ... " ... Being a part of the craziness of the Tour de France itself, the restaurants and food, the lodging--all far surpassed my high expectations. I've been on many bike tours and ... more reviews Butterfield & Robinson butterfield.com "After
having taken a lot of Backroads trips, I thought B&R was
going to be a more expensive version of the same thing. It's
not ... "My Backroads vacation riding through Tuscany was the best vacation of my life .. ".. I like that they have different pricing options (classic or deluxe). Go now while the tourism business is hurting ...more reviews BikeRiders bikeriderstours.com "The hotels and food were excellent and the guides were top notch. The small group size was ... "We have taken three tours with BikeRiders. All three were excellent ...more reviews "For the price, I was really impressed with the lodging. We actually stayed at mostly 3 star ... " ... I was not looking forward to carrying two day's worth of baggage in my paniers ... more reviews Ciclismo Classico: ciclismoclassico.com "Every year we take a trip with Ciclismo Classico. They just seem to keep getting better and better ... " ... Having travelled with B&R, Backroads and CC, I'd say that Ciclismo Classico hotels are almost as good as that of ...more reviews Classic Adventures: classicadventures.com " ... a well planned tour at an excellent value. Our guides were very knowledgeable and friendly... more reviews " ... well thought-out itinerary, challenging yet fun rides, and lots of great food when off the bike ..." "This specialized operator has a wealth of knowledge about cycling in Europe. They are former racers ... more reviews Duvine Adventure's: duvine.com "... bicycle vacation through unspoiled villages in France, while staying in charming inns and chateaux, eating gourmet cuisine and tasting world-class wines ... " This
was my second trip with DuVine, and they always seem to make
life so easy ...more
reviews "I've taken trips (over 40) with all the major companies and Easy Rider is the best value by far..." "If you are considering a bike tour of Ireland, more reviews
"The hotels are comfortable and clean, generally in smaller friendly towns .... " ... Here's what we like: great, incredibly helpful guides, well-planned itineraries; unstructured, informal days with just enough group activity but not too much; flexibility; excellent bikes; great value ....more reviews Experience Plus! experienceplus.com "... Excellent value and wonderful tours with great accomodations and meals. Roads selected are paved country lanes with very few busy highways. "ExperiencePlus' system of using chark to mark the route at the start of the day is fabulous ... more reviews Far and Away Cycling FarAndAwayCycling.com "The
routes take you on the most interesting, less travelled roads with
beautiful sceneries ... " .. Freewheeling will never cancel a trip, no matter how few participants. We stayed at the same luxurious locations as Backroads but our trip cost much less. " "Groups are smaller than most other groups. I was impressed both with the quality of our guides and the quality of our accomodations ..." more reviews Great Explorations: greatexplorations.com “..The biking was challenging and the coast was great.... La Corsa: lacorsa.com " ... great routes and guides, challenging cycling, great hotels & food and the very personal attention of the directors on each rider's needs. "... beautiful road with very little traffic. Service was outstanding as the ride leaders were the company owners. more reviews Randonnee: randonnee.com "... There is a tremendous
sense of freedom in being on your own with no schedule except your
own but also knowing that Randonnee is there ...more
reviews "... The bikes were exceptional (as you would expect of Trek); the guides friendly and hard-working; and the other riders fairly strong and very social ...more reviews Van Gogh Tours: vangoghtours.com I've done three tours with this company and plan to do more. Here's why: ... My husband and I have tried three bicycle tour companies, and Van Gogh is our favorite. The rides are ... more reviews " ... VBT is a great value compared to many of the other groups. ... "The trip itinerary was good, but guides seemed tired of their job ... "I thought I would save money and buy the plane ticket through VBT. What a mistake! ... more reviews Bike Adventure Club - "Rode
2 weeks, 12 days riding / 2 rest days, in Dordogne.. Well organized.
Excellent que sheets. 2-3 star hotels. BAC is nonprofit. Any money
not spent during tour is returned to riders. Actual cost of tour
was $1600. Included all breakfasts, all dinners except 1 night.
Only possible drawback to BAC trips: Trips set up by trip leader
so they get trip for free. Trip only as good as leader." - Ron
W, Denver, CO Bent's: "This is a UK based company specialising in Germany and Austria. They provide good value tours with very enjoyable bicycling. Organisation is reliable, and they should be considered by anyone wanting good value" - J. Brua, London England Bicycle Adventures: "We have taken three tours with BA in the western USA and enjoyed them thoroughly. Their guides are superb, equipment is first class, and logistic arrangements are flawless. This is a very reliable company, well managed, which provides great value." - Larry D., Tacoma, WA Bicycle Africa: This is a not for profit group that offers guided, self-supported tours in Africa (and now some in Cuba and SE Asia). The tours are off the normal tourist paths and while a bit more "adventure" than most group tours, they are the experience of a lifetime. Not the kind of trip for everyone, but a truly memorable trip." - Mischa K, San Francisco, CA Bike and the Like: " A perfect biking vacation! Experienced, knowledgeable ride leaders who instantly turn a group of strangers into a circle of friends; interesting and varied routes; great side trips; wonderful food; I can't think of anything Bike and the Like can do to improve. My wife and I had the time of our lives, thanks to Suzie and Roger!" - Tim S. Stafford, VA Bike Hike Adventures: "This company is top notch. They run multi-sport adventures in South and Central America, Canada, New Zealand and Tanzania. Days are full of adventure, the equipment is real quality, food is plentiful and yummy, hotels are quaint with loads of character and the guides, 10+. I highly recommend them." - Gordon Ross, Toronto, ON Bike
Switzerland: "Bike Switzerland is an excellent value.
Days are organized so that riders have a choice between doing
a long day or a short day. The tour crosses the while country
West to East...an excellent way to see Switzerland." - John
B. Bike Spain: "Generally good organization. Staff was friendly and outgoing. They worked hard to give the full "Camino" experience. Van support was very helpful on those terrible uphills! Food was generally very good." Dawn S. Ottawa, Canada Celtic Trails: I just
had the best vacation of my life on Celtic Trails. Paul who runs all tours is past
cycle racer for Ireland. He only leads tours in Ireland because
that is what he knows best. We went to the neatest hole-in-the-wall
pubs with amazing music. The biking is a scenic 40 miles a
day (generally on empty roads). He takes pictures of your whole
trip (we had over 1000 at the end). Plus, wine is included
as are daily lunches and dinners! - Melina Hoyer, Berkeley,
CA Cycle Tours Slovakia: "Cycle
Tours Slovakia, www.cycle-sk.com was a wonderful experience.
We have ridden in three continents and were surprised to find Slovakia
one of the most varied and fun. We brought our road bikes and
did many days of pretty tough cycling with some great mountain
passes. The three-star hotels and all-inclusive food were great
but the Gypsy band Jana had arranged for us was a real surprise!" - S.
Feller, Phoenix, AZ "I cycled through Spain with these guys and I can honestly say it was the best bike trip I have ever taken. The company is run by a couple Maggi and Geoff who are delightful and give you all the support and information for this adventure through Moorish Spain. What surprised me most was the high quality of accommodation, restaurants and bikes, and the route was just beautiful." - Robert Woodlow, Seattle, WA Cycling-centuries.com - "On
a scale of 1-10, Cycling-Centuries.com provided a trip that was
an 11. We rode along the coast of Portugal in
September of 2005 and they did an amazing job of running
the trip. It
was definitely a trip we won't forget and look forward to the
next one with them!" - Steve Johnson, Plano , TX Discover France: "Tour of Loire Valley. FANTASTIC! Excellent routes and accommodations. Highly recommend." - Joy F., Wethersfield, CT "We found Discover France to the be the value for self-guided touring in France. They were about 25% less than the alternatives, and stayed in many of the same places." - Andrea C, Del Mar, CA Erickson Cycle Tours: I have a love-hate relationships with ECT. I have done 2 tours (Dolomites and French Pyrenees). Stunning scenery and HARD! riding. Small groups. Nice hotels and meals. Support minimal, however--there is a van but you never see it, and even if you call them for help, it is unlikely you will get it. I would use them again only because they offer unique and challenging routes and they carry our stuff. They need to improve their service, however." - Bend, OR Eurocycle: " We have used Eurocycle for three tours in France, Austria and Italy and have been well pleased. Their web site offers both independent and guided tours throughout Europe www.eurocycle.at with independent tours running about $125 per day. One of the best cycling values I have ever seen, including B&B, luggage transfers, bike rentals. Guided tours are slightly more." - Larry D., Tacoma, WA Europe by Bike: "Just returned from their Tour de France trip. It was highly disorganized, had way too many people (180). I would not recommend this company to anyone." - Kevin MacAfee, St. Paul, MN "I went on Europe By Bike's Tour de France tour in 2004. It was a disaster of a trip. It was under staffed and had insufficient resources. The rides had no cue sheets or maps and were poorly planned. The rides also had no support... The bikes were carried on home-made racks in box trucks cushioned from each other by pieced of cardboard! I know of several bikes (mine included) that were seriously damaged. There are so many things that went wrong on this trip, it was unbelievable. " - Brian S., Rockville, MD Eurovelo Tours - "Excellent Tour, Excellent accomodations, Superb
meals,Fantastic itniaries, Increadible hosts...Thanks...Will go again
will have no problem telling all my friends and cycling enthusiasts" - Mark
N., Toronto, ON. "What a remarkable journey we had with First Light! We loved it! In fact, my wife has called me at work already several times whining that she wants to be back in Bohemia on a bicycle." Judith M., San Francisco, CA "We did an extensive search before choosing First Light for a Southern Bohemia tour. We're glad we did. Our lodging was the best in the area, all 4-5 star. The food was exquisite...we ate at only the best restaurants and the wine was surprisingly excellent for Czech wines." - Vince B., San Diego, CA "Great routes, comprehensive maps and I love those Cannondale bikes…thanks to the great trip guides too. We especially liked the fact we were paying at least $500 less than another bike group who was staying in the same hotel as us and cycled one day less too! Hats off for pulling off such a quality tour for the bucks." - Fiona J., London UK France Active Travel: Great ride on country side roads. My husband and I went on their provence trip and we were pleased by the kindness and high knowledge of the guide. The trip was van supported, small group (they don't take more than 8). Good choice of accommodations and the food and wine.... lovely.- Anne Kraviski, New York, NY GreatCycling.com offers
choices of over 20 rides based out of a three-star hotel in Riccione,
Italy. The
rides are geared for riders of all levels, from leisure to triathlete. Packages
are fully inclusive with many extras, yet comparatively value priced." - Eli
S, Toronto, Canada HAT Tours: "... offers affordable Bike and Barge tours in Europe. We did the Loire Valley tour last year and loved it. We averaged 25 leisurely miles/day riding rolling hills through quaint villages with frequent stops at wineries, impressive castles and many interesting sights. The barge meets you each day at your destination so no need to pack up daily and those wanting a break from cycling can spend a day on the barge. This is a perfect vacation for a couple where one partner is a cyclist and the other isn't. $1100 for 7 nights included accomodations, bike rental, tour guide, transfers and 3 meals per day (breakfast and packed lunch were pretty basic but justified daily visits to bakeries). Accomodations were small cabins but okay. Bikes were heavy 21-speed dutch hybrids which were suitable for the terrain. I took my own saddle and clipless pedals. This is NOT a luxury tour nor is it for avid cyclists seeking long distances or speed on lightweight road bikes. But, it's affordable and fun. We'll be back next year! www.hat-tours.com" - Linda H., Vancouver, BC Headwater Holidays: "Self-guided tours mean you get a map and a destination, with some vague route suggestions. Good hotel choices, and good food. Curiously, the tour prices are MUCH higher for registering from the US as opposed to registering from the UK. Overall a good experience" - Chuck P, Washington DC. Italian Cycling Center: "The Italian Cycling Center, rather than doing point to point tours, offers guided rides from a base at the foot of the Pre-Alps in northeastern Italy. Three groups, at different ability levels, do a daily loop through the mixed terrain of the Veneto. Riders can choose between daily Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner routes. Dates are whenever you choose during the May through September season. All meals are provided, including wine and bottled water. The price is €140 a day with everything included". - G. Pohl, Philadelphia PA "The Italian Cycling Center is a wonderful way to experience Italian cycling and life in Italy. Each day offers a few rides depending upon level of fitness and interest. The rides are wonderful! Typically, you return in early afternoon for a great lunch and spend the afternoon doing whatever interests you. Based in a small hotel located in a small town about 1 hour from Venice. The central base has the added advantage of allowing complete flexibility in your arrival and departure dates. As a result, interesting people are always coming and going during your stay. I met my future wife on one of my trips!" - Tom Kraus, Foxboro, MA International Bike Tours: - "Great value for the price! A support van and two guides. Small, probably 3 star hotels, clean, family owned, accommodating. Very supportive group riding, various levels of rides. These folks do the rides for Elderhostel, as well as the rides they do under their own name." - L Anderson, Gladstone, OR Pedal & Sea Adventures: "Tours in Europe and Canadian Maritimes. An awesome company with very small groups and personal attention. Guides generally have a relationship with the innkeepers and restaurateurs along the route, so the hospitality service is superb!" - Joe S., New Hartford, NY SpiceRoads Cycling Adventures. " I was a bit worried about traveling in Asia, and frankly about taking a bike tour. However, I was soon put at ease. SpiceRoads answered all my pre-tour questions. They helped with my Visa, and communicated clearly about exact cycling days and what to expect on the tour.They are pretty clear that the support responsible tourism and solicited my participation in their upcoming Tour of Hope, which supports funding for cervical cancer research. I fully recommend them www.spiceroads.com" - Jance Karsh Timberline Cycling Adventures: "I have done four tours with this company. I will not be doing anymore. Timberline offers tours in many wonderful areas and it was that which drew me back to them even after I found their first tour less than satisfactory. However, the last tour in the High Sierra of California was so poorly organized that I will not be touring with Timberline again. The daily route maps are awful, often wrong in some important detail. The leaders have sometimes good, but most often have been more interested in their own party than in supporting the group." - Carl G., El Cerrito, CA Tuscany Bike Tours: "This bike tour took our travel experience to another level. After having traveled through most of the European countries and taking part in many different bike tours I found Tuscany Bike Tours the best all-round value for money together with a very pleasurable crew who picked us up in Florence with buses and brought us inland towards a beautiful old castle. The bike tour took us back to the castle where we took part in a guided toour of the vine making facility and we were treated to some wine tasting and a delicious lunch ..." - Dave Gahan, Rotterdam Transalp Riders: " ... a new tour operator specialized on mountain bike vacations that cross the Alps; typically traverse 3-4 countries during an 8- to 12-day adventure vacation. The company sets itself apart from other tour operators by practicing sustainable tourism (supporting public transportation, organic products, small-scale businesses, conservation projects), by offering clients daily choices between epic or easy rides, and by being the only-English-language Transalp tour provider with a full roster of tours from West to East." VeloSport Vacations: "I can't say enough good things about Velosport Vacations. My wife and I did the Tour de France trip and the Provence camp. The riding was great: route selections, ride leaders, options for differing rider ability, great maps and cue sheets etc. The restaurant and hotel selections were excellent. Velosport specializes in France (and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean) - I only wish they went more places!" - Martin R, Washington, DC Wanderlust Bike Tours: Wanderlust Bike Tours is a "Mom/Pop/Son/Friends" operation, which is "still making it up". It calls itself "Luxury," but it is absolutely not. The operators are very nice people and fun to be around, but are not fluent in languages (only American), provide only adequate bikes (Wilmot), limited service (e.g. one lady had a flat tire for a day and a half;left bikes out overnight in the rain/gel pack seats got wet; missed rendezvous; did not brief daily trips adequately, possess only limited historical knowledge of areas toured). Nice folks who like to ride but their company is not recommended. - Paul,Coronado, CA WoWCuba: "Canadian company with resident representatives offering the best supported cycle tours available in Cuba. Enclosed trailers, top notch equipment, bilingual, experienced staff, and toll free res service in Canada. www.wowcuba.com"By far the best company doing fully serviced Yellow Jersey Tours: "went on their Tour de France trip last a couple years ago and had such a great time. I have just returned from my 2nd trip with them--a training camp in the Basque region. Staff is overly helpful and humorous. Their groups are very small ..." Maloy, San Francisco, CA
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