France

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.

Great trip! Our guides were great hosts and made sure everyone was safe, comfortable, and getting the most out of each day. Gorgeous part of the world.

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

This was our first VBT trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The guides were knowledgeable, positive, friendly, helpful and very professional. The GPS navigation was great. The routes were scenic, culturally diverse, and well thought out. The excursions/tours were interesting too. Recommend the ebike for the hills!

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.)

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.

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 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 fifth trip with VBT, but our first bike and boat trip. Staying aboard a river cruise ship while doing a week-long bike ride certainly has the advantage of only having to unpack once. Like others here, though, I think I prefer a motel to motel trip where you get more immersed in the countries and cities you visit by staying at local hotels and eating at local restaurants. I think the bike group is also more tightly knit by the end of the ride when traveling with just your small bike group rather than a ship full of river cruisers. But I am glad I experienced at least one bike and boat trip, and if you are considering a bike and boat trip, this is a great one. We biked in four countries. The cities and villages we visited were beautiful, interesting, and quaint. The bike rides outside of those cities took us through beautiful countryside, along canals, and past vineyards. The ride is mostly on bike paths, mostly flat, and mostly easy. There is one significant climb that was tough for this 69-year-old and a couple afternoons of strong headwinds. Otherwise - easy riding. The guides were fantastic. The ship was nice enough, although not as nice as some we’ve been on. We wondered when we signed up for the ride why they were busing us to Den Haag after we left the ship at the end of the cruise rather than keeping us in Amsterdam. But we are glad they did. We thoroughly enjoyed our day there.

This trip was wonderful! The daily rides were primarily on bike paths which provided access to amazing countryside views, beautiful rivers, lush vineyards and lovely towns. The guides were fantastic and kept us well-informed of the days events. The snack and wine tasting stops were always a treat. I would highly recommend this trip! We are already looking at options for our next VBT adventure.

We have been waiting since 2020 to take this trip! So worth the wait! The Mosel is just beautiful. The guides were knowledgeable, kind, experienced and just plain fun to be with. The Magnifique I was lovely but not luxurious but I am guessing if you bike you are ok with that. The crew was efficient, hard working, kind and polite always. Excellent food and drink!

Some logistical issues/pour communications by VBT on the front end, most notably we booked/paid extra for a suite but were put in a standard room. But the crew & guides were wonderful once we got underway.

This trip was first class. We enjoyed exploring Luxembourg City and Metz before boarding the barge. The barge experience was excellent - the rooms were small but adequate, the food was wonderful, and the crew was attentive and engaged well with the guests. The bike leaders, Axel, Arnaud, and Felix worked very well together, were very well organized and knowledgeable, and were very funny and entertaining as well. Felix's piano skills were a surprising addition to some of our evenings. Most of the riding was on very good, paved bicycle paths rather than on roads. I would make two suggestions: first, incorporate a short history lesson about the Maginot Line and include a couple of short stops to allow viewing of some of the remains of that fortification; second, find a way to allow another hour or so in the very charming town of Saarburg that we had to rush to see. The combination of VBT's organization and support, beautiful scenery, great food and wine, and glimpses into history from the Roman times until the present made this a very memorable week.

The boat and bike was an excellent choice. Our guides, Werner and Chris were like being with family. Chris entertained us with his guitar playing and singing! The people working on the boat were friendly, respectful and funny.

Exceeded my expectations mightily. Gently rolling hills and vineyards and little traffic for the most part

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.

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!

This late September trip was our 17th VBT trip and in our top two along with Valley of the Dolomites. We had great riding weather and spectacular scenery. Most of the riding is on bike paths. There are several interesting towns to visit during the rides. The guides, Sophie and Eve, were among the best VBT guides we have had and were able to suggest a slightly longer ride on Day 4 with great views of Lake Annecy and successfully deal with two medical issues during the trip. Unfortunately we had rain during the pre-trip to Chamonix and did not get great mountain views until the day we were leaving. The post-trip in Lyon is worthwhile. I would recommend getting the 48-hour Lyon Pass at the TI center, which is close to the Hotel. Another reason to recommend this tour is that in every town you can find a very good chocolate shop.

The consummate France Biking and wine trip. The guides were outstanding the routes were amazing and the food and wine were the best. Highly recommend including both the pre and post extensions to Paris and Nice for a complete France experience. The ship and crew were superb. Excellently maintained and operated vessel.

Our VBT trip starting in Lyon France was well organized and the route was beautiful and interesting. Our leaders, Bruno and Sophie, were reliable and a joy to be with. The Emerald ship was clean, food was delicious, and the staff was friendly and helpful. We will certainly do more VBT trips.