Reviews

It was well organised, the guides were very attentive and considerate with the guests. The routes were very nice and not too difficult, catering for all the levels of difficulty. Very good bikes. Food was delicious and the cook was amazing. The atmosphere in general was kind and I felt like we were in family.

Superb holiday, Will the guide was such an ambassador for the company and the itinerary outstanding. Great room, food and hospitality.

We really enjoyed our tour from Paris to Montargis with Boat Bike Tours on the barge Fleur. Even though the cabins were small, they were very clean, and each one had an ensuite and enough storage room. The meals were excellent…a good selection for breakfast & the “make your own” lunch, and tasty & varied three course dinners. There was always tea, coffee & iced water available. This time we had ebikes which made the cycling so much more enjoyable. They were easy to ride & good quality. I had a flat tyre on the last day, quickly fixed by one of the guides. The guides were friendly & helpful & we visited some very interesting places. Just a couple of downsides…alcohol on board was expensive & the suggested tips should be included in the fare. Otherwise, a very positive experience!

Low water was a challenge for our route but didn’t have any effect on the fun and enjoyment experienced on our bike/boat cruise from Sens to Paris. The smaller boat hosted just 16 passengers which was great for getting to know the others on the trip and creating new friendships. The crew and our guides were wonderful. We were served a hearty breakfast with plenty of options to build our lunches for the days ride, followed by dinners that were exceptional. This was our 2nd bike/boat excursion and we’re looking forward to cruising with them again in the future. Having a “traveling hotel” makes for a convenient and carefree holiday experience.

I think overall the tour was enjoyable and food was a highlight. Having to modify the tour route because of canal water levels made it difficult for all. I felt the tour leaders were somewhat unfamiliar with some of the routes. The first full day was a ride of nearly 50 miles and quite hot. This was not described as being this long so many were not prepared with sufficient water. I think your bikes are tired, I had issues with brakes dragging which made the hill climbs even more difficult. Mary Ann and Andre attempted to adjust this in route to no success. It took returning to the boat and loosening the wheel nuts to better center the tire between the calipers. The last night on-board the Fleur was not enjoyable as there appeared to be issue with air conditioning the cabin and it was unbearably hot sleeping.

As the Montargis to Paris trip was described as ‘premium’, our expectations were high relative to other boat-bike trips. On the positive side, our tour leaders were good – pleasant, accommodating, entertaining, and kept us at a good cycling pace. However, the boat itself was disappointing. It felt run down, common areas were shabby, we seriously questioned the level of hygiene, and the food was so-so at best.

Our 3rd trip with BoatBike Tours did not disappoint us. We love the smaller boats where we can get to know our fellow travelers well. The Fleur offered clean, neat, air conditioned cabins. Plenty of food and amazing dinners! Our 2 guides worked very hard to give us a wonderful experience, even with the change of itinerary caused by the drought in France. We had a perfect blend of biking through the countryside, visiting historic sites like the Castle at Fontainbleau and the village of Barbizon, plus touring a winery and an ostrich farm. The entire crew created an atmosphere where we passengers became a family for a week and we enjoyed getting to know guests from several countries who all shared a love of biking.

The app had many issues and our guides got lost almost every day. The guide should be more knowledgeable able bike repairs like flat tires. The boat and its crew were great.

I absolutely loved our tour guide Tamara! She made the trip very very special and most of all made us feel safe. I also appreciated the staff on the Fleur. However, I felt Peter ( the 2nd guide) could improve his explanations and patience with our group. He definitely favored the German guests over us Americans. I would be interested in another tour in the future, if Tamara was our guide.

The boat is very clean and comfortable, staff are knowledgable, friendly and helpful, food is very good and bikes are in excellent condition. A very enjoyable trip, thank you!