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 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 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!

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.

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 .

Bike and Barge on the Rhine River 2022 A beautiful way to see the countries of Germany, France, and The Netherlands. Float the Rhine waterway at night and ride the pathways through castles, quaint villages, and vineyards by day. Easy roads and lovely fall weather gave us a taste of days gone by. Our guides grew up in Europe and were knowledgeable concerning the history and current customs. We met lovely guests who became instant friends. Thank you VBT!

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.

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!

We were on the Magnifique (not the Princess Royale), but we LOVED this tour. The biking was mostly flat and easy, and along the river - with a few days heading off the river path to explore the countryside. The leaders were fantastic! They blended a great knowledge of the area, the history, personal stories and passion for biking and guiding. The Magnifique was super comfortable, the food was amazing and the staff was helpful and friendly. 100% recommend this trip.

This was our ninth trip with VBT and once again, they delivered. The Mosel River is lovely and the bike riding could not get any easier, predominately on bike paths. I think out of 28 people, 24 were on electric bikes. All bikes were well maintained and of the higher quality. We were aboard the Magnifique I which was top notch and comfortable. Heads up on accommodations. We had a "state" room and were very comfortable. Room for two chairs, small table, closet with shelves and hanging room, snug but efficient. My understanding the non-state rooms had little storage, no chairs forcing people to live out of their suitcases. Understand their is a lovely sitting room "upstairs" for all to enjoy and spend time with the other guests. Our chef was excellent with a number of outstanding meals. Our three guides, as usual, were patient, helpful and well informed. Guides Axel, Aernoud and Chris were extremely knowledgeable about the local history, kept us informed of local highlights to observe and visit, and were always available to solve any issues that arose. Sadly, our weather was not perfect, cool and cloudy, but that was what I expected in mid-October. Everyday we said no rain and rain it did not! Unlike land rides, there are more logistics. Sometimes we traveled on the barge during dinner, lunch or dinner, but mostly we would meet the barge at a mooring. I am very prone to motion sickness but floating down the river posed no problem. Beware, tipping is a little more extensive on this trip. Besides an additional guide, there is the boat crew to tip but not individually and not quite as much. Happy travels!

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.

My husband and I really loved this trip. We have taken many guided tours (which we love) but really enjoyed the independence that a self-guided tour gives you. The accommodations were excellent, the bike routes were challenging (we did the long options each day with road bikes), and the scenery was pretty French countryside on quiet bike paths and small roads. We needed some mechanical assistance one day and our local contact was just a phone call away and very helpful. Overall a great experience and in the right location we would definitely consider another self-guided tour.

This was our first self-guided tour and we had a lovely trip. The scenery was beautiful: small villages and hillside vines. The food and wine was amazing. The ride was primarily on bike paths, and as usual the hotels were terrific. VBT never lets us down.

We have done several VBT trips and this one rates at the top. The view and scenery were stunning. The biking was easy and relaxing. And fortunately, we were blessed with perfect weather. But as with all VBT trips, the guides truly make a difference. Jacky and Cedric were awesome. They are long time friends and play off of each other so well. They are helpful, informative, and really take care of you. The biking is easy and relaxing on this trip. The accomadations and meals were great. Highly recommended. We had a great time.

Very beautiful scenery , good guides and the pre-trip is great

Our cruise/bike trip from Lyon to Nice was great! Despite the cool and sometimes rainy weather and fierce winds, we rode on! We enjoyed the walks through each city, and the beautiful rides along vineyards, and fields of fruit and sunflowers. The olive oil tasting was fun and delicious, and the walk through the museum and delicious lunch by the water looking up at Pont du Gard were highlights for us! The bike routes were easy to follow and well thought out. And last but hardly not least was the delightful and knowledgeable guidance of our trip leaders, Sophie and Bruno. They shared so much about the areas we visited, and were so much fun to be with. There was nothing they couldn’t or wouldn’t help out with- we felt so secure under their leadership and guidance!

Sophie & Bruno, the trip guides, are very enjoyable, accommodating and knowledgable about France, the historical sites and culture. The rides were easy, scenic and offered the appropriate level of activity for beginner to intermediate riders who are over 50 and not wanting hilly courses. Sophie and Bruno did provide us with additional options for a couple days when we wanted to go further. The food on the ship was excellent. The hybrid bike I rode and the road bike my husband rode were both very good. The GPS system to guiding us is very good. We did get off course a few times but with the GPS system it is possible to get back on course. The rooms on the ship were very small but very comfortable - we upgraded to a panorama level room and it was well worth it. This way of biking and sightseeing is great for us "older" people who want to get out in the countryside and bike but don't want the extra work of packing and moving every couple days. This is not for people who want hard challenging bike rides but more for people who enjoy flat roads through countrysides, vineyards, along the river and canals. We didn't really like the last hotel in Nice but the location was great so that was OK.