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
Provence is a Pleasure!
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.
Idaho21, Idaho
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
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
Wonderful trip
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!
KHitchco, Canandaigua, NY
France: Normandy & Brittany
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
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
Great sampler tour of many beautiful places
This VBT itinerary is a fantastic way to experience both European cities and countryside. Our guides were master logisticians, kept us all safe from beginning to end, and were simply enjoyable to spend time with. The Emerald Sky ship was very nice, and the staff on board exceptional. Supplemental walking tours organized by the cruise line fit nicely into our schedule most days and were very informative. Beware that some of the riding options are truly options - i.e. they can't always happen. We were behind schedule one day and another day had to return earlier than planned to the ship due to low water levels on the Rhine. I highly recommend adding the Air Package which gave me more time in both Zurich and Den Haag. The hotel accommodations in both cities were excellent. The only glitch I experienced was not being able to find my driver at the airport upon landing. I eventually got help from the airport information service. Not the best start, but the rest of the tour more than made up for it.
Lisa MJ, Cleveland, OH
Rhine Bike & River Cruise: Basel to Amsterdam
Bike + River Cruise=a great vacation
This was a lovely, leisurely bike trip. Being on a river boat afforded flexibility to join the Emerald excursions or even just spend an afternoon on the top deck reading. Of course one could also opt to do full day cycling on mostly flat, scenic routes. It's rare that all needs can be met on a bike trip but this one had most covered: great accommodations and food, diversity in program options, and as much cycling as you feel like doing. Did I mention that our guides were terrific as well?
Isabella,
Rhine Bike & River Cruise: Basel to Amsterdam
Beautiful riding, that's about it.
The Moselle bike/barge bicycling was one of the best riding routes we've done. 99% bike trails. 1% on roads. Beautiful scenery. Disappointed VBT did away with hybrid bikes. Only choice e-bike or road bike. I've never been on either although I ride 6500 miles per year on my hybrid. This may be our last VBT due to no hybrids. The barge, billed as a luxury cruise, fell far short. The noise in the acoustically challenged dining room reminded me of the volume of a Deep Purple concert at San Francisco's Fillmore West in the 70s. We had to take our meals out to the deck. Speaking of meals, I heard the words, Stouffers, Swanson's, Green Giant, Ore-Ida, & Pepperidge farms being used as comparisons. The cabins air conditioning was inadequate. Unless you like waking up sweating. The guides were good. Not the best but no complaints. VBTs tipping suggestion policy is totally out of control. Note to VBT 'pay your people a liveable salary!!!'.
Repeat customer,
Germany, Luxembourg & France Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Beyond my expectations
This was my first VBT trip and it certainly won't be my last. It was beyond my expectations! The staff, crew and guides were phenomenal! I hadn't been to Germany since 1984, and it was even more beautiful than i remembered it. From the beginning all the way thru to the end, it was wonderfully planned out and the accommodations were wonderful. I made some great new friendships and learned so much about this country and they people who call it home.
Mary Szymanski,
Germany, Luxembourg & France Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Wonderful trip with a hiccup
We had a wonderful trip. The bikes were new and great. Rides were fairly level and easy. The guides were helpful, knowledgeable and first rate. The food and accommodations were also quite good. Highly recommend this trip for a first trip with VBT. We will definitely be looking at other VBT tours. Only hiccup was on the first day. There was no one from VBT with the bus to pick us up at the first hotel. The bus driver just had a schedule - which was also incorrect and could not contact anyone from VBT as it was 3:00 AM in the States. I also understand there were problems for individuals returning to the States due to the Lufthansa strike but we continued on our own and missed those.
Jan K, Northern Virginia
France, Luxembourg & Germany Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Highlights of vineyards and grape harvest
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.
Seattle Beth, Seattle
France, Luxembourg & Germany Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Perfect time of year to coast through wine country
Beaujolais, Chardonnay and beyond, this tour was all I dreamed of.
Bree, Nebraska
France: Vineyards of Beaujolais
5 star Selfguided 🚴♀️ tour - VBT
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.
Sully Ahamed, Mystic, CT
France: Vineyards of Beaujolais
Biking trip
This was a great trip. Beautiful rides every day on great biking paths. The guides, Cedric and Sarah, were two of the best. Knowledgeable about each of the towns we visited and always friendly and patient. Best ever.
Nancy B, Texas
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Best Trip Ever!
This was a trip of a lifetime! My mom and I joined the group and were led by 3 amazing guides! Jean Marc, Philippe, and Margot were so wonderful. They kept us safe, kept us laughing, and helped us make great memories!
Julie Gerughty, California
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Experience countryside France
Our tour guides, Sophie and Bruno were the best! We experienced rides along lovely canals, through gorgeous vineyards and quaint villages. Our accomodations on our ship couldn't have been better, and we met some nice people.
France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
Cruising and Biking pair just like Wine and Cheese
This was our third VBT trip, and it strengthens our plans for future ones. Our guides Sophie and Bruno were professional, personable, highly experienced, and fun! They had the answer to every question, from biking issues, GPS, and we especially appreciated the the very deep local expertise they displayed. We loved having the ship as a luxurious "home base", and not having to change hotels every other night. The service and cuisine on the ship was excellent. Each location and the rides/tours were as beautiful as we expected; the GPS instructions worked very well.
Phil G, Massachusetts
France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers