Spain

I wasn't sure I would be able to do this ride. But I had no problem at all. I used an e-bike and kept up the group and had a ball! Everyone on the ride was wonderful and fun to be with. If you aren't sure you might be up for a ride thru Spain, think again. Anyone can do it using an e-bike. I can't wait to do my next trip!! Hum, where shall I go?

We loved this trip! The scenery, the biking routes, the guides, the accommodations were all fanatastic. We liked the other guests, the fabulous breakfasts and particularly loved our post trip to Mallorca.

We thoroughly enjoyed our first VBT experience. The tour route was very well laid out and we cannot not say enough about how impressive our tour leaders, David and Frederico, both of whom are natives of Portugal. Kudos to VBT for the way they planned and conducted our tour!

We loved this trip! Beautiful and varied biking routes; knowledgeable, competent and engaging guides, top-notch hotels, delicious food and interesting cultural activities. I wish I could do it all over again!

We recently returned from our self-guided biking trip through Spain and enjoyed a truly memorable experience. VBT delivered on all aspects of lodging, bikes, self-guided app, and pre-trip planning. Our in-country hosts were readily available and willing to help with minor adjustments mid-trip. The routes were predominantly local road biking routes with minimal car traffic to worry about while riding. This was our first VBT trip and we would be more than happy to explore another area of the world with VBT!

Having been on three other guided VBT tours we chose to sign up for this self-guided tour this time. VBT provided great ebikes, helmets, repair kits, excellent GPS directions on RidewithGPS, along with luggage transfer service. We had a contact with a VBT employee in case of emergency, but there were no other riders on our tour. I sometimes missed having a guide for local knowledge and rest stops, but we really enjoyed having the freedom to explore beyond the prescribed route, finding restaurants, beach rides and sights we would have missed on a guided tour. We saw less of the Costa Brava area than we would have on the guided tour, but we enjoyed riding our bikes into local towns in the evening for drinks and dinner. The routes were largely in the interior of la Costa Brava, up and over small mountain passes, through beautifully preserved medieval villages, farmland, and olive groves, with limited coastal riding except near the destination hotel. The hotels were all excellent and provided secure areas to leave and charge the bikes. The last hotel, Hostal Empuries, located next to the impressive Empuries GrecoRoman ruins, was particularly lovely, situated on a beautiful cove with excellent amenities excepting a swimming pool. We really enjoyed our independence during this self-guided trip!

Excellent trip. Jose and Juan are the best, they were so helpful and fun to be with

For those considering what week to go or what to bring, we traveled Mid-April to beginning of May 2023. – it was 50’s at breakfast, 60’s when starting to ride and 70’s mid-day. We needed a sweater for outdoors in the evening. Spain had gone 100 days without rain and our week was no exception- no rain. We felt the weather was perfect for riding. For a number of trips we have used e-bikes --- for the fun of riding them and to be sure we had energy when we finished the ride to go out and do more in each town. The Breezer is the best e-bike VBT has offered so far. The low step through, thus low center of gravity makes it a better choice for those not used to the weight of an e-bike. The Breezer has plenty of power and an upright riding style ( something I personally need due to arthritis in my wrists). The bikes were tuned perfectly to shift easily and handle some very steep climbing in the optional rides. Here’s hoping Breezers are added to many more trips in the future! For the most part, we were riding gently rolling hills on narrow low-traffic roads. We saw more other bikers than cars, especially in the north. The cars we did see were very respectful of bikers. Oh, and the smell of the orange blossoms was like riding through a flower garden for miles. The route planner did a fantastic job. Out of hundreds of safe, well-warned turns, there was exactly ONE I would have rewritten, it was a very blind turn left onto a high-speed road. We have used Ride with GPS for years and love it. We enjoyed the custom comments added to the ride! We particularly liked breaking up the morning and afternoon rides on the ride routes and offering optional routes for those who want a bit more challenging riding. The independent rides were a new feature we had not experienced before and in Mallorca, where there are so many routes, it was a great addition. In the morning, our guides Bibi and Anna outlined the day with their white boards and creative art. Bibi and Anna were fun, attentive to safety, and concerned for every member of the group. They were both excellent riders as well. The trip was well designed in that everyday there was an event or dinner to look forward to. Breakfasts were huge buffets often with a menu in addition to the buffet. So, it was hard not to find something you loved or wanted to try tasting. It made breakfast a quicker event than some other trips we’ve been on when we all had to order off menus. Dinners ,that were included , were pre-ordered- again making them timely. Most dinners included shared, passed, starters of local Spanish tapas, another fun chance to taste something new. The lunches on the road – picnics, winery tasting lunches could be as substantial or as light as you chose to make them. Many dishes and tapas were passed and those who were hungry could stock up as needed. Another nice surprise was the included wine with dinner. The hotels were all top notch although one did have small rooms, however, it’s location was stellar. It was right on the town square and in walking distance to many fine restaurants with reasonable prices. Anna and Bibi closed out the trip by meeting us as we loaded onto the bus to the airport with the most memorable goodbye we have ever experienced! They played a techno song “Mallorca”--- and danced their way up and down the aisle of the bus. Their smiles, energy, and connections to us all made the trip even more special.

It was wonderful to visit rural parts of the Douro Valley on e-bikes. I was impressed with the challenging and scenic rides mixed with local tours to olive press, winery, port warehouse, and medieval city tour. We liked not having to pack our bags every morning for a hotel move and it was nice getting to know the service staff on the boat. Well done!

We love VBT and the best part of this trip was our leader, Manu. He is awesome! All VBT leaders are great, and he is at the top. It was the initial offering of the trip, and some kinks will be addressed, I am sure. Coordinating the boat and the buses (there were A LOT of buses) and biking is complex. We enjoyed the chance to mix with other travelers on the boat. We enjoyed unpacking only once. The Douro is not a river where you can bike alongside, like the Danube--so there is a lot of bus transfer time on twisty steep roads (some complained of car sickness). It is a hilly area--definitely on the "moderate" scale, not the "easy-moderate" scale. Climate always a question-in late April we had both cold (40's) and wet and warm (70s) and sunny. The olive oil mill and winery were good experiences. The archeological site was sketchy.... If you like hills and don't mind the bus, a good trip to some less accessible areas.

Nick and Roman made the trip so special. They were there to meet our every need and gave us of themselves. The biking is superlative and the lodging very unique and memorable

Very scenic bike ride through miles and miles of olive trees neatly planted in rows! Guides were so helpful and courteous. Time to tour Cordoba and Granada without biking. Beautiful accommodations - especially Hacienda Minerva in Zuheros. Post trip in Barcelona is a must! Gaudi's architecture is so creative and beautiful!!

Fabulous trip! The guides were great, landscape unbelievable and the rain made it an adventure

As always, fabulous guides but, for the first time in 10 tours, so-so walking that was nowhere near what was originally outlined when I first signed up. Disappointing at best.

This was a trip of a lifetime. We loved all of the small towns we visited and each of the walks. The hotels were great and the food was delicious. We loved the tour of the salt mine along with the vineyard and orchard groves. The guides were knowledgable, helpful and energetic. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was the timing of our pre-tour stay - over labor day which meant many sights were closed in Palma and created over crowding for the remaining sights and restaurants. The grounds at the Port de Soller hotel were great as were the amenities, however the room was a bit dated and the shower was difficult to use. However, we would consider even doing this tour again if the itinerary was slightly different.

Loved this tour! The guides, Hille and Isabel, were knowledgeable about Mallorca and Deia, and shared the information in an interesting manner; plus they were highly competent group leaders who were fun, funny and upbeat. Fellow hikers were friendly and interesting, and as a group we created a comfortable esprit de corps. The hiking was designated as easy to moderate, with seemingly something for everyone in the group - stronger hikers often took the lead while others walked at a slower pace. The 4 - 5 star accommodations were extremely comfortable and the food was fantastic (and a lot more than most of us usually consume)! This was my first hiking tour, and I look forward to doing another.