Fun-filled week on a bike … Amsterdam to Bruges

My husband and I just got back from the Amsterdam to Bruges bike tour, having joined my cousin and her husband for the trip. This was our 2nd Netherlands bike trip and 4th European bike trip. It was a fun week. Using the boat as base is a great way to go. You don’t have to pack up everyday, and when you’re on the boat it tends to be peaceful and a different way to see the countryside. The biking was very easy, mostly flat bike lanes and quiet roads. The Fluvius had wonderful staff, friendly and helpful. Jorritt, the young man working on the Fluvius, always got the bikes off and on the boat (with a grin, always), and even took all of our dripping wet shoes and dried them out in the engine room overnight (thank you again, Jorritt!). Food was plentiful and good. The young women staff members were quick, friendly and hardworking. The captain kept us afloat all week and made it through the locks on time. Our guide, Guus, was informative, friendly and very good at finding new tires in small towns! The cabins are small; it is a barge, after all. However, there was a real shower, unlike on our other bike-barge trip. We slept well, ate and drank well, and made new friends. It was a multi-national group with many lively conversations, including about politics. Love those varied perspectives! How could you improve the trip? 1. More bike maintenance. Some of the bikes needed it. 2. More vegetarian options on the menu. 3. Perhaps split the biking group in two. It was a big group and it would have been more fun to ride in smaller groups. I highly recommend this trip, especially to those looking to discover the joy of biking in another country or for those looking for an easier trip. It was actually a relaxing week on a bike with wonderful companions.