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.

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.

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 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.)

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.

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 was our fifth trip with VBT, but our first bike and boat trip. Staying aboard a river cruise ship while doing a week-long bike ride certainly has the advantage of only having to unpack once. Like others here, though, I think I prefer a motel to motel trip where you get more immersed in the countries and cities you visit by staying at local hotels and eating at local restaurants. I think the bike group is also more tightly knit by the end of the ride when traveling with just your small bike group rather than a ship full of river cruisers. But I am glad I experienced at least one bike and boat trip, and if you are considering a bike and boat trip, this is a great one. We biked in four countries. The cities and villages we visited were beautiful, interesting, and quaint. The bike rides outside of those cities took us through beautiful countryside, along canals, and past vineyards. The ride is mostly on bike paths, mostly flat, and mostly easy. There is one significant climb that was tough for this 69-year-old and a couple afternoons of strong headwinds. Otherwise - easy riding. The guides were fantastic. The ship was nice enough, although not as nice as some we’ve been on. We wondered when we signed up for the ride why they were busing us to Den Haag after we left the ship at the end of the cruise rather than keeping us in Amsterdam. But we are glad they did. We thoroughly enjoyed our day there.

The trip was wonderful, good bicycling and excellent guides.

Lovely countryside, incredible food on the Barge, the crew and bike guides were the best ever (this our 9th VBT trip). We loved it!

What a well planned tour. So special to have every aspect of our trip prearranged for us. They thought of everything. Just ride and enjoy.

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.

A trip well done from beginning to end, from bike to barge, from guides to chef and captain.

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.

Beaujolais, Chardonnay and beyond, this tour was all I dreamed of.

Beautiful scenery, fantastic leaders! Food and hotels were excellent.

I wasn't sure how the Valley of the Alps tour would compare to the Alsace tour and was pleasantly surprised. The Alps are stunning and each hotel was better than the previous. The bike routes were relatively flat and easy. The tour guides were fantastic, helpful and supportive throughout the trip. Would highly recommend this tour.

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!