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.

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.

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!

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

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.)

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.

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 .

This is an unusual partnership between a luxury River cruise and a traditional bike trip. It has some disadvantages.

We were on Emerald Sky with this VBT Rhine Bike & River Cruise. I had specified that I needed a lactose intolerant diet. This was not offered to me at all. Last VBT bike trip, when it was only VBT riders, all was perfect for the foods I need. I also saw this with those who needed gluten free meals. My only menu option for dessert was cheese and fruit. I got very bored with this. I spoke with a server and she found sorbet and it was delicious. I see Emerald Sky should have followed through the specifics VBT has passed on to them.

We have done barge cruises and bicycle trips, but this was the first barge/bike trip and it exceeded our expectations ! The crew on the Magnifique I were fantastic and tended to all of our needs on the barge. The guides worked hard and tirelessly to be sure we had a grand experience. Axcel and Arnot were great! We brought our grown children and they were closer in age to the guides than the rest of the guests, which was nice for them.

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.

I enjoyed the biking, the other guests and the leaders. The mileage was perfect and automobile traffic was minimal. The flat trails meant the e-bike assistance was often kept at a low level or not needed at all. Biking through the vineyards and villages was great. We enjoyed Luxembourg City, Cochem, Koblenz and the Berlin extension. The castle tour was very good, but bell tour and wine tasting went on a bit long. The rooms on the barge were tiny, making it difficult to unpack and making it difficult for two people to move in the room at the same time. There were multiple instances when we received directions on meeting the barge only to find out the barge was not where it was supposed to be, resulting in a few pronged waits. We received some conflicting information about the extension to Berlin that was finally straightened out. Then, our train to Berlin was cancelled and the travel help line did not help much at all. The meeting spot for our driver in Berlin was not communicated clearly. We needed to go through multiple layers (calling the help desk who called the car service who called the driver) multiple times. It would have been easier to take a cab. Overall, we had a good time biking but the operations side of things was not up to the standards we’ve come to expect from VBT. Next trip - we will be back to moving hotels every 1-2 nights.

Great trip, highly recommended. Some hills were steep but short.

The trip was amazing and very enjoyable. The only glitch was the tunnel was closed on one of the day trips and the copied map provided for the alternative route wasn’t very clear and we got lost. We called the support person but it was 2 hours before he called us back.

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 had an excellent time. The hotels were wonderful. The food was great. The trails picked for excursions. Were EYE popping?

This was my first VBT trip and it was amazing. My only regret is that I didn't start making these trips sooner.

A wonderful week of biking, boating & site seeing. Our guides, Sophie and Bruno, left no detail unturned.

I have been doing bike trips with VBT for almost 30 years. I can honestly say this was one of the best.