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.

I LOVED this vacation. I am an avid biker; my husband is not; and we both enjoyed the levels of activity and flexibility. The vineyards and villages were amazing to see, especially by bicycle. Jean and Jean Francois took care of our every need, and the accommodations were wonderful. What's not to like?

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.)

The trip through Normandy and Brittany was beautiful, historic, and fun! It was the perfect mix of biking though the country, visiting historic sites, and enjoying special treats along the way. Our guides Luc and Kevin were outstanding!

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 .

Ashley coordinated our original trip in May, but we had unexpected health issues and she assisted us with every detail for our July trip. Get trip insurance, but don’t expect them to answer the phone to assist you when transportation fails to arrive at airport for transfer. Highly suggest upgrading airline tickets to business class as travel has become very stressful. Covid is still an issue with travel!! Our group was fantastic and we had great camaraderie. Guides were not as good as on previous trips. Limited support, snacks and language skills. The Emerald was amazing! Upgrade to panoramic view if able. Food, staff, amenities were excellent. Enjoyed ebike on this trip. GPS is a must- download maps BEFORE you travel. Pre trip- Zurich is a clean, safe and beautiful city. Use Rick Steve’s guide for one of touring. Have dinner reservations before you go for best restaurants. Get Zurich Pass before you go!

Wonderful people, great food, very comfortable room on the Emerald river cruise boat. Biking on long dedicated bike paths through beautiful country was great. Some biking in heavy traffic areas requires caution. VBT takes care of everything! VBT guides were fantastic. If you are in good shape for biking, you will love this adventure through historically important regions of Germany, France and Amsterdam. Guides and local people share their knowledge and thoughts about recent as well as centuries of old history.

Fun bicycling! Electric bikes, paved paths, German food, French Food, and a floating hotel. Hard working and knowledgeable guided.

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.

Beautiful scenery. Outstanding Tour Guides. Memorable experiences.

We were on the Magnifique 1, with fabulous leaders and crew! Although there were challenges, they met all of them proactively and made sure we had a great trip. The scenery and smell of the grape harvest were highlights.

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.

Sophie, Jacki, and Eve were all nice and attentive. We would have been happier to pay a higher price upfront so more meals were included and drinks were included with meals.

This is a great trip. The views of the snow covered alps as you rode were spectacular as were the lovely villages (late May trip). It would even be better if we wound through a few more small towns instead of so many bike paths. I personally wouldn't have minded a few hills. What made the trip, however, were our two guides, Michel and Cedric, The have been friends for thirty years. It showed and their comic interaction was most entertaining. Cedric gave a few days of Swiss history which was excellent. They were both excellent bike mechanics, which always helps. The hotels were diverse, from 1000 year old abbeys to newer, high end ones. The food and wine were also great. 5 STARS!

Good flat rides in interesting rural areas of the Rhône Valley. Staying on a river boat and not living out of a suitcase was a plus. Accommodations were quite comfortable. The food on the ship was excellent and it was nice to not have to hunt for restaurants.

Loved this tour. A combination of riding through the scenic areas along the Rhone and Isere with all the support of great guides, experiencing local cultures of each area and then returning to a "floating hotel" with all the benefits of comfort and great cuisine--- I found a must experience combination!