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.

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!

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.)

Planning and ride with VBT was priceless!. Our bicycle hosts did a fabulous job taking care of our every need. We also did the 3 day in Paris pre-trip, which if you do the 3 day Paris pre-trip, make sure you book all excursions in advance. We pre-booked Eiffel Tower, Palace Versailles, Tuk Tuk Paris, Louvre Museum. My one negative comment was in the city of Dinan. We had a tour guide that was obviously very familiar with the City, Architecture and history. Unfortunately, we could not hear a thing she said. She talked softly, kept walking away, talking to 1 or 2 people....you get the idea. It would have been much better if she had us wear earpieces while she talked. Other than that, fantastic time and would recommend this 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!

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 two guides were really great. They did everything possible to create a very enjoyable riding experience for all of us. My carbon fiber road bike was phenomenal. Like floating along. The choice of bike routes was fine. Very scenic, and illustrative of how people lived in these rural communities. I especially enjoyed the wine tasting stops. Learned a great deal about the EU and agriculture there. The ship was very nice and the food excellent. However the VBT group was a bit constrained by the rules and schedule of the large number of people on board for the cruise only; ex:!the dining experience was very loud and raucous. The only other comment is that the airport pick up in Zurich was not well organized and the taxi taking us from the hotel opera to the ship was totally disorganized resulting in the driver being lost for a couple of hours searching for the boat.

The trip was overall wonderful. The guides were great, flexible, helpful, kind, efficient and made all run smoothly. The ride routes were interesting and lovely. The boat was luxurious with excellent food and fun entertainment.

The Mosel River trip was quite memorable. I loved cycling through the river valley, the history, the scenery, the vineyards and of course our VBT guides and staff on the barge. Everyone was very accomodating and ensured that we had a great experience. I'm glad we selected this destination and would recommend to any avid cyclist.

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.

The bike&barge on the Moselle is better than advertised. We were very lucky with the weather and our group of six enjoyed every moment.

Our VBT Bike and Barge trip along the Mosel River was absolutely marvelous and an experience I will never forget. From start to finish, every detail exceeded my highest hopes. Traveling with VBT is pure joy; the accommodations, leadership, and seamless organization made everything effortless. The scenery was breathtaking, with each day somehow more beautiful than the last. The staff seemed to anticipate every need before we even knew it ourselves, making us feel completely cared for. The food was delicious and perfectly paired with wonderful local wines and beer. Karima and Antine provided delightful service throughout the trip, graciously serving our meals and keeping our cabins beautifully prepared. Axel, Peter, and Steffie were incredible hosts whose warmth and energy made this journey truly extraordinary.

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.

I have been on 9 VBT bike trips in Europe, and this just might be my favorite. From the pre-trip in spectacular Chamonix to the conclusion in Lyon, it was idyllic in every way. The countryside, excellent bike trails, and charming villages and towns made the biking a pleasure. Many in our group used eBikes, but it was mostly easy terrain for road bikes, too. This would be an excellent trip for someone's first VBT experience. And our guides, Sarah and Cédric, were hands-down the very best - helpful, funny, warm, and knowledgable. They are the models for what all guides should strive to be.

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!

Great trip! Wonderful leaders!!! Sophie and Bruno are two of the best leaders we’ve ever had on a VBT tour (we’ve been on six). Food on the Emerald riverboat was superb. Only criticism is that on my step through hybrid, there wasn’t room on the bar for my water bottle. That made it necessary to stop for a water break and that’s difficult.

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.