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.
France
Exceptional vacation
CMMitch, Arlington, VA, USA
France: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux & Avignon
loved our rides thru Provence!
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.
TrishB, Northern California
France: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux & Avignon
Wonderful trip to Alsace!
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!
Cheryl M,
Switzerland, Germany & France: The Black Forest & the Alsace Wine Route
Highly recommend - VBT and Alsace Region
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!
L Byrne, Outside Philadelphia PA
Switzerland, Germany & France: The Black Forest & the Alsace Wine Route
Bicycling France Normandy/Brittany
Planning and ride with VBT was priceless!. Our bicycle hosts did a fabulous job taking care of our every need. We also did the 3 day in Paris pre-trip, which if you do the 3 day Paris pre-trip, make sure you book all excursions in advance. We pre-booked Eiffel Tower, Palace Versailles, Tuk Tuk Paris, Louvre Museum. My one negative comment was in the city of Dinan. We had a tour guide that was obviously very familiar with the City, Architecture and history. Unfortunately, we could not hear a thing she said. She talked softly, kept walking away, talking to 1 or 2 people....you get the idea. It would have been much better if she had us wear earpieces while she talked. Other than that, fantastic time and would recommend this trip.
Beech9A, DC
France: Normandy & Brittany
Beyond Expectations
Biking in Normandy and Brittany was recommended to us by a fellow VBT biker on our previous trip and we are so happy that we listened to him. The daily parade of classic French villages, farms, gardens, and estates were simply beautiful. Our guides Sophie and Jean were The Best, and we learned more about French culture, history, and language than we could have hoped for. We recommend this trip to everyone!
scienceteech, Elmira, NY, United States
France: Normandy & Brittany
Best vacation ever.
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 .
Goldenboy1, Vancouver, WA, USA
France: Burgundy, Beaujolais & Dijon
Fantastic trip!
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!
karen27, Denver, CO, USA
France: Burgundy, Beaujolais & Dijon
Trip of a lifetime!
Great trip, don’t buy the airfare. The guides were amazing, the rides were beautiful and well thought out. My only complaint was the airfare. Booing through a 3rd party made changes very difficult, and the VBT attitude was “not our problem” from the first airline issue. Buy the trip but get your own airfare
Matt C, Frederick MD
Rhine Bike & River Cruise: Basel to Amsterdam
Cruising the Rhine on a bike saddle
Great guides! Easy to use vocal GPS apps, for some of us independent riders. Beautiful country side, fairly easy riding with or without e-bikes, currently I’m a 72 year old male and enjoyed every mile. The Emerald Dawn was a pleasure to ride home to, comfy accommodation with a family feeling of as well! Good food and drink, helpful staff, very clean ship. We’re presently in the process of planning our next adventure with VBT.
Val Taylor,
Rhine Bike & River Cruise: Basel to Amsterdam
Barge cruising is great!
Cruising on the Princess Royal was a delightful way to travel! We could relax each evening after a full day of biking and enjoy delicious, thoughtfully prepared meals and good company. Our guides Axel, Aernoud & Steffi were enthusiastic and full of detailed information about the Moselle and each of the river towns we visited. They anticipated our every need or wish. Couldn’t ask for better!
Sherri, Richland WA
Germany, Luxembourg & France Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Unforgettable Scenic Biking
Bicycle riders, cyclists, and food and wine fanciers alike should not miss this Mosel River Valley immersion. The history, the sights, the food and drink and total experience are unforgettable. The trip was enhanced by the VBT guides with their extensive regional knowledge and expertise. The Magnifique I barge was the perfect platform for the river.
Colorado Dave, Grand Junction, Colorado
Germany, Luxembourg & France Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Don't miss this one!
River cruise, hiking/walking, cycling all in one tour. Very high marks!
Kailans Grandma, Raleigh, NC
France, Luxembourg & Germany Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Blog equivalent
Don’t bring your bathing suit because you will not swim in the river! Do bring a bar of soap and a small flashlight so you can see into your cubby/closet. The meals are spectacular! Biking is so much fun!
France, Luxembourg & Germany Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Peaceful French countryside at your own pace.
This tour has a little bit of everything we wanted. Great riding in gorgeous French countryside, excellent accommodations (as always with VBT), our bikes were perfect and GPS maps were easy to follow. Having an affinity for wine doesn't hurt, but this ride would be great just to experience the culture and atmosphere of the area.
Tail Rider, Michigan
France: Vineyards of Beaujolais
Drinking Chardonnay in Chardonnay
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.
Rich 1, San Diego
France: Vineyards of Beaujolais
Valleys of the Alps, Lakes Geneva and Annecy, Fran
Beautiful scenery, fantastic leaders! Food and hotels were excellent.
anon, California
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Outstanding trip with some shortcomings
This was my third VBT trip. The cycling and beauty of this tour was outstanding, but I felt that there were some shortcomings in comparison to previous trips. There was no local experience of dining at the home(s) of locals, nor were there any guided tours provided by outside guides. The support vehicle had limited snacks and they were only available once in the morning when we stopped an hour or so after breakfast. It would have been nice to have snacks available at the end of the morning cycling or in the afternoon as on previous trips. I still provided a good rating based on the other aspects of the trip.
John Arney,
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Great Lyon to Nice Trip
I have been doing bike trips with VBT for almost 30 years. I can honestly say this was one of the best.
Ct biker, Connecticut
France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
Exceptional
Amazing trip. Great guides and the ship staff was exceptional. The chef did an outstanding job of feeding us.
Mary McKenna, Oceanside, CA
France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
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