France

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.

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 trip was better than anticipated. We expected a great time, but this was outstanding in service, leadership and bike friendliness.

We had an amazing time - And I can't speak highly enough of every aspect of this trip! Our VBT leaders, Sophie and Bruno, were exceptional, planning everything down to the smallest detail. They were a pleasure to be with in every way. We loved every hotel, each unique, and in the heart of a city, with lots to do in the area. Our e-bikes were brand new, and easy to navigate. We were blessed with beautiful weather and enjoyed our rides each and every day. I would highly recommend this trip - it will definitely not be our last. We are already booked for one next year!

We had a wonderful experience. The itinerary, guides and bike routes couldn’t have been any better. Everything was planned the minute we landed in Paris. Would definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in the Normandy history.

We had a wonderfully-planned week of cycling along small, beautiful farm roads with itineraries bringing us to the coast of most days. Riding in August in 70 degree weather was great. We all loved seeing the texture of rural, historic France and learning more about Normandy and Brittany. The trip includes a focus on local food culture - the visit to the Cider farm was really special, as were the Cancale oysters and dinners at local restaurants. We also got so much out of learning more about WWII even though I did not choose this trip primarily for that reason. There were helpful guided tours, and the option to visit museums if you wanted more depth. I'm so glad we could take advantage of this aspect of visiting France. The Trip Leaders were extremely knowledgeable, good humored, well-seasoned guides who knew the area well and had set up a number of local experiences. We found the cycling to be engaging - beautiful rolling farmland that left me in a little better shape by the end of the week but wasn't overly challenging. (The shorter option was also always available.)

The Burgundy Wine Route trip was an exceptional vacation...it was a great mix of activity, leisure, learning and sightseeing. The trip leaders were personable, knowledgeable, and fun-loving, our fellow travelers were all interesting and friendly people, and the food, accommodations, and scenery were all first class. The daily route length choices ensured that everyone would be happy with their activity level, too. I’d highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves good food, wine, and outdoor activity. The pre and post trip extensions are also well worth it...especially the pre-trip in Lyon...there was so much to explore there!

This was our first Vermont Bike vacation but it certainly will not be our last! What a great time .For us it was a perfect mix of activity,culture ,wine and food. The countryside is just delightful and beautiful. The guides were excellent and our fellow travelers were wonderful .

The trip was wonderful, good bicycling and excellent guides.

As always a great VBT adventure. Great bike routes through vineyards and orchards, along canals and rivers, and through quaint villages and countryside. Excellent tour leaders who were knowledgeable of the culture and area. Good group of bike riders. This was our first bike/river cruise. Emerald was a great partner. Past VBT trip have allowed us to become more immersed in the culture by staying at local hotels and dining at local restaurants. It was nice not having to move every other day. Overall an excellent adventure and would certainly recommend.

First timer and a wonderful experience. The staff and leaders are exceptional. Well organized and you are well cared for. Food, cleanliness of the boat and service were all above what was expected. Felt at home with everyone. Well organized group.

This trip was awesome. The barge upgrade was an amazing experience. Axel, Arnaud and Chris were fantastic. I felt well taken care of all the way around. What a fun way to see the German & French countryside; Many fun memories- I highly recommend this trip.

This was our ninth trip with VBT and once again, they delivered. The Mosel River is lovely and the bike riding could not get any easier, predominately on bike paths. I think out of 28 people, 24 were on electric bikes. All bikes were well maintained and of the higher quality. We were aboard the Magnifique I which was top notch and comfortable. Heads up on accommodations. We had a "state" room and were very comfortable. Room for two chairs, small table, closet with shelves and hanging room, snug but efficient. My understanding the non-state rooms had little storage, no chairs forcing people to live out of their suitcases. Understand their is a lovely sitting room "upstairs" for all to enjoy and spend time with the other guests. Our chef was excellent with a number of outstanding meals. Our three guides, as usual, were patient, helpful and well informed. Guides Axel, Aernoud and Chris were extremely knowledgeable about the local history, kept us informed of local highlights to observe and visit, and were always available to solve any issues that arose. Sadly, our weather was not perfect, cool and cloudy, but that was what I expected in mid-October. Everyday we said no rain and rain it did not! Unlike land rides, there are more logistics. Sometimes we traveled on the barge during dinner, lunch or dinner, but mostly we would meet the barge at a mooring. I am very prone to motion sickness but floating down the river posed no problem. Beware, tipping is a little more extensive on this trip. Besides an additional guide, there is the boat crew to tip but not individually and not quite as much. Happy travels!

This bike/barge trip couldn't have been better! The rides, the guides, the barge, the barge crew, the scenery, and the extra guided adventures were superb! We'd highly recommend this trip!

A remarkable selfguided bike trip! Because it was selfguided, we took our own time pedaling and sight seeing. The bike app that loaded each and every turn and maps was amazing! It was also very good to have a short and a long loop biking so individuals can choose how many miles they want to bike every day. One suggestion would be to have rest days in between and make the trip longer. Chateau Pizay was superb as the other places we stayed. All in all i will give a 5 star rating. I am waiting for VBT to put up other self guided cycling tours.

This was our first self guided trip, and I really enjoyed it. Biking in the French countryside seemed ideal for a self guided trip where we may want to stop longer in town, or enjoy a more leisurely lunch. The routes were challenging, since all the longer options went to the must see places (how can you not have a Chardonnay in Chardonnay??). I still enjoy the non-electric bikes, and found this to be the most challenging of my VBT tours, but it was still do-able, and I felt great at the end of each day. Just be prepared for some longer routes and hills. The infamous tunnel was open and a highlight to bike through. The guide said it's closed mid-October through March to allow bats to roost over the winter. Our restaurant stops on the route were fantastic, and it was nice to see how proud the waiters were about the local wine.

This trip is great. The locations, the riding, and the trip leaders were all excellent.

I have been lucky enough to travel to many places-in nany styles-solo-with my husband-with lots of family and friends. I never compare places because I enjoy all for different reasons. THIS WAS BY FAR MY MOST FAVORITE TRIP OF ALL!!! So I guess Iam comparing-LOL. The hotels-the scenery-the food-the perfect bikes-amazing guides-and the group itself all combined to make it absolutely amazing!! Consider us VBT lifers-we can't say enough!

Sophie & Bruno, the trip guides, are very enjoyable, accommodating and knowledgable about France, the historical sites and culture. The rides were easy, scenic and offered the appropriate level of activity for beginner to intermediate riders who are over 50 and not wanting hilly courses. Sophie and Bruno did provide us with additional options for a couple days when we wanted to go further. The food on the ship was excellent. The hybrid bike I rode and the road bike my husband rode were both very good. The GPS system to guiding us is very good. We did get off course a few times but with the GPS system it is possible to get back on course. The rooms on the ship were very small but very comfortable - we upgraded to a panorama level room and it was well worth it. This way of biking and sightseeing is great for us "older" people who want to get out in the countryside and bike but don't want the extra work of packing and moving every couple days. This is not for people who want hard challenging bike rides but more for people who enjoy flat roads through countrysides, vineyards, along the river and canals. We didn't really like the last hotel in Nice but the location was great so that was OK.

We loved our first ever VBT bike and river cruise from Lyon to Nice in June. Accommodations on the boat were great - comfortable cabins, helpful crew, interesting tour options and fun evening activities enhanced a beautiful trip down the Rhône. The bike tours were fun and memorable with stunning vistas along each route. Both of our bike guides were friendly and helpful which was especially important for a bike novice like myself. The VBT team was able to find the right size E-bike for my small stature, and even switched standard tires to a smaller size to accommodate me. Our group of 9 riders bonded and although individuals/couples rode at their own pace, we all met up at various points for fun experiences together. It was a fabulous trip and we look forward to our next VBT experience!