France

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 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.

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

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?

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!

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!

We had 2 guides that rotated driving the sag wagon and riding with the group. Guides were very easy to relate to, knowledgeable about the area and fun to be with. I would rate the level of biking to be easy but beautiful country's to ride threw on a bike. The ship was top notch in every way. The food, staff and ammenities on board were the best. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for this trip.

This was a wonderful, well planned trip. I do wish that the very first, warm-up, ride had not been through Basel at rush hour; it was rather unsettling, especially for the first ride. Also, when you ask for information to reserve the size of the bicycle, more information than a person's height, e.g. inseam length, should be requested. The bike reserved for me did not fit and the tour guides were very considerate and creative in obtaining one from the ship. However, that did delay the first ride for the whole group. The tour guides were very attentive to the needs of all the individuals in our group. The rides were very enjoyable and doable. I loved the locations we visited: Breisach, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Obernai, Koblenz, Cologne, Monnickendam--all were scenic and interesting. The food and accommodations onboard the Emerald Luna were exceptional and much appreciated. The pre- and post-cruise extensions were great, too: accommodations, included tours and suggested sites. This is a great trip for all levels of bikers.

A well organized and well executed excursion. The VBT staff was experienced and prepared for the trip. All VBT staff were friendly, understanding and willing to engage all guest questions and issues. Several times the VBT staff went well above the normal expectations in addressing the passengers requests. It was obvious that they were well trained and also loved what they do.

We have been on several VBT bike trips, and this one goes to the top of the list. Scenery was beautiful, bike paths were great, food was delicious, and Axel, Felix and Werner were outstanding guides! Really enjoyed being with a fun group of bike and barge riders. Also enjoyed the pre trip in Berlin and the post trip in Paris. No problems with transportation. Thank you VBT!

Our VBT trip through Germany, Luxembourg, and France exceeded all expectations. Our wonderful guides — Steffie, Peter, and Axel — were knowledgeable, funny, and incredibly approachable. The barge crew was also fantastic. And what can I say about Chef Roger and his amazing meals? I’m just glad we were biking each day to work off the extra calories! This trip was unforgettable, and I highly recommend it — 5 stars!

I was on the trip on the Mistique. Do not have one single complaint about the trip or the leaders. I can’t even think of one suggestion to improve the trip. The leaders were absolutely fabulous, well informed, enthusiastic, & totally committed to us having a fabulous time. They totally went above & beyond. The trip itself was incredible. The biking very well organized, and mapped out. No matter where we were VBT had wonderful tours set up, even on the after trip and the leaders showed us additional points of interest to make sure that we got the most out of our visit. Even when I got a flat tire, the leaders took care of it almost instantly and definitely enthusiastically. The food was fabulous, definitely 5 Star. Clearly, the chef was passionate about his work. He came out and told us about each meal each item on the Mail menu and explained why he had chosen certain ingredients.The service on the barge was incredible, too. None of this is hyperbole. I highly recommend VBT to anybody wanting a fantastic (cycling) trip.

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.

This was a wonderful trip with some of the best biking paths I've been on. And the guides were wonderful.

VBT truly exceeded all expectations on our recent vacation! They made everything so easy, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience without stress or hassle. It was the perfect way to explore the breathtaking valleys of the Alps — every detail was thoughtfully curated, from the stunning hotel selections and engaging cultural activities to the incredibly scenic bike routes and just the right amount of free time. What made this trip even more memorable was our amazing group. Our tour guides Felipe and Luigi were really the cherry on top of it all! The camaraderie we shared felt effortless, and it's clear that VBT puts a strong emphasis on creating meaningful connections among travelers. That focus really shines through and turns an already beautiful adventure into something truly epic. Can't recommend it enough — we’re already dreaming of our next trip with VBT!

VBT guides were great as well as the Cruise Ship staff. VBT administration need a bit more education on the details of this Tour. To elaborate, when I first was inquiring about the tour and the bikes available, I was told the E-Bikes were not being used on this tour. When we arrived we learned that the majority of the guests had E-Bikes. The first 2 days were quite windy, and if we had an E-Bike we would have joined the group, but instead did a local tour with the Ship group. On the last day of riding my husband and I were able to borrow E-Bikes from guests that were not riding that day. My husband's battery was not fully charged and another guest had no battery at all and had to find the support vehicle to even ride. The accommodations were great, staying on the 2nd floor or 3rd is a must to take in the spectacular views. We were on the 2nd floor and the only problem was noise from above which was easily rectified with earplugs which the ship provided. Logistics at the Train Station leaving Paris for Lyon were not coordinated properly, assigning random seating so we could not sit with our spouses. But once we figured it all out we truly enjoyed the train, taking in the spectacular scenery on our way to Lyon. VBT's logistics coordination were completed without a hitch. Always on time and done with comfort in mind. We enjoy good food and would rate theirs fairly at the top, but some came up short. Wouldn't hold this against them. Dining room was beautiful and the buffets were laid out so that there were hardly ever a line to stand in. We would recommend this tour to all.

Perfect trip included spectacular scenery and weather, awesome group of cyclists, perfect accommodations, and wonderful VBT leaders…thank you Sophie and Bruno.