Reviews

The crew were always cheerful, friendly and helpful. The boat was very comfortable and clean. The food was excellent and the chef catered for my lactose and gluten intolerances extremely well. The river is very beautiful and our bike rides were great. Everybody had a wonderful time. Nothing not too like.

My first barge&bike (ebike) experience…and it was wonderful beyond expectations! Everyone on the staff was terrific – professional, prepared, charming, helpful. A last-minute change of itinerary (departure from Epernay changed to Soissons due to unavoidable issues with the Epernay route) was handled in a timely and transparent manner, and we loved the new itinerary. Bike guides Marcel and Hugo were extremely helpful (especially for this novice e-biker) as we navigated bike paths, villages and city streets; their complementary styles really worked to create a sense of community and friendship. Group singing at the cemetery where Vincent and Theo Van Gogh are buried (thanks, Hugo) and lessons on French music (thanks, Marcel) were a highlight, as were the very moving visits to cemeteries of US soldiers killed in WWI. We visited a number of spectacular chateau — including Pierrefonds, Chantilly, St. Germaine-en-Laye, and the gardens at Versaille. In addition to planned activities (for ex. Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh spent his final months), there were spontaneous discoveries like a group of senior hikers in the Forest of St. Germaine with whom we shared conversation and a photo, and the visit to the Hotel de Ville in Compiègne where the town administrator graciously gave us a tour of the building and explained town governance to us. And the champagne…we were not only greeted with a champagne toast as we arrived on the barge but later had a fabulous tour of the Mercier establishment with a tasting, followed by an afternoon exploring the other champagne establishments up and down the Avenue du Champagne. The food was excellent (thanks, Frank) – hearty breakfasts featuring fresh breads, meats and cheeses, yogurt and fruit and granola, hard-boiled eggs (with messages drawn on each one!), and special treats like pancakes, French toast or scrambled eggs; pack your own picnic lunches in re-usable containers; gourmet, multi-course dinners that were prepared in the tiny barge kitchen! The bar service worked very well, allowing guests to purchase bottles of wine and individual drinks and beers, keep a tab and pay in cash at the end (thanks, Milton, for this and for your many attentions to guests’ every need). Captain Marco and assistant Mo made sure there was smooth sailing every day…even in tight quarters. The final afternoon, when we cruised into Paris on the Seine on a warm, sunny day, past the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame was an unforgettable experience. This was my first BoatBike tour…but it definitely won’t be my last!

This was the perfect vacation and the guides and crew were awesome!

Absolutely brilliant week cycling, sailing, catching up with friends and relaxing as we sailed the Ionian Islands.
Crew were fantastic, guides informative and engaging, great swim stops (amazing spots) and fun riding days.

The tour was pretty with nuce routes and nice passengers and also many of the staff.
Problems:
The food was generally fair-poor, even for me who is not very picky.
We signed up as soon as the tour was availability and requested a quiet room. They totally ignored this and places us right next to the entrance and manager station. Very frustrating. We are able to move after some hassle.
The bikes were heavy and no option to upgraded to better bikes.

We have never been to Croatia, but are friends with several friends that have been there. This is our 5th trip with Boat Bike. We went with our Canadian friends that we met 2 years ago on the Amsterdam trip. We liked the smaller boat, limited to 20 guests, and the itinerary. The housekeeping services were good. The itinerary got even better during the trip. The Guides combined 2 days of smaller trips into one day and added another great ride on another day. Our group’s skill level was pretty evenly matched and we all really enjoyed the added day of bike riding. We’re glad we got e-bikes for this trip since islands are essentially the tops of mountains. It was beautiful, nicely paced and challenging enough. The food on the boat was great, too, and was a nice representation of the common Croation foods. I would recommend that one of the chefs introduce each of the meals and tell us what and why we’re having the foods being served. Also, having the menu posted each day would be appreciated. Other Boat Bike trips, and others, we’ve been on have done this and we and others appreciated that.

The bike rides and scenery were great. I found the meals just average although the service was excellent. Our guides did an excellent job

My husband and I had a wonderful time on the Bike Boat Tour (BBT) to Champagne. Although the route had to be changed due to the unexpected closure of a tunnel on the Marne River, BBT prepared an alternate route that took us to Versailles, Chantilly Castle, Compiègne and Soissons, with a day trip to Hautvillers and Epernay by bus. Our guides Joan and Marcel, and Eric the boat captain were very friendly, knowledgeable and patient. This is our third bike and barge tour and the food prepared by Frank the chef was the best of all the trips!

The guides were very good. We specifically appreciated the routes they chose, maximizing time spent in the woods or on bicycle paths without traffic. The guides were concerned with the safety of the group but were also very fun — taking the opportunity to link us up with a group of French hikers for example. The crew was excellent— Marco, the captain, Milton,the host, Frank, the chef and Mo! Food was great. Bicycles were my favorite ever.

Really enjoyed our bike and barge tour from Amsterdam to Bruges. The e-bikes were a must. Super easy to use and made for an enjoyable experience. The food on the boat was amazing. We enjoyed all of it. Tour staff very friendly and helpful. Going during the end of the season found a lot of the cafes on route were not open. It is helpful if you are use to using gps on your phone. Would definitely go on another bike and barge trip.