Reviews

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!

I had a great time along with my 7 friends and the other 10 travellers. It was well planned and I enjoyed every minute. The staff was great and the food above expectations. I will certainly do another trip again one day.

Our group of 8 has just returned from a most memorable boat bike tour aboard the Fleur. Although our original tour through Burgundy was canceled in 2020, the Servicedesk worked overtime to accommodate a rebooking for Paris to Montargis. We found the communication and information pre-trip was prompt and detailed. Once onboard we found the hard-working crew of five under the leadership of Evert personable and efficient. The accommodation was comfortable and spotless, with plenty of cupboard space, good ventilation, and a well-appointed bathroom. The Covid protocols in place organized the eighteen guests in their own bubbles for seated dinner service and assigned specific breakfast times for an assisted service buffet. We appreciated the water and coffee dispensing machines, as well as the quantity and variety of snacks. The varied and delicious food was expertly prepared and presented by Loek, with a good selection of beer and wine available in a self-serve bar. Each guest kept their own tab with the total in Euros due at the end of the week. Although we thought we would be supplying our own wine and paying a corkage fee, we found the quality of wine by bottles or glass to be enjoyable, with the cost of alcohol averaging about 25 Euros per day (we drank way too much…) Now for the piéce de resistance, the cycling! We loved the daily routes through the French countryside and were impressed with the numerous tours, including Fontainebleau, the sculpture garden Jardin Bourdelle, and the Living Museum of Beekeeping. The terrain was moderate with the wind sometimes playing a role in the effort required to cycle the 40 to 50 km per day. Andre, our guide, was entertaining, informative, and encouraging. He scheduled timely breaks and was sensitive to the group’s pace. We thought that we would be cycling independently using the Ride with GPS app, but elected to remain with the group as we enjoyed Andre’s local knowledge, humour, and route variations. This tour left us wanting more, and we hope to return soon! Many thanks to Evert, Adwin, Loek, Sara, and Andre for making our stay extraordinary.

I had high expectations from the info published and my pre-trip research. I was not disappointed from the cute and comfortable barge, condition of the bikes, dinner meals and variety of drinks. Our tour leader, Tamy was the best accessing our fitness levels and interest in our cultural stops. I thought the amount and distance spent on our bikes was perfect for an active vacation. After dinner as an option, we took an informative walk into the village making every day enjoyable. The Captain of the Fleur was very personable and interacted with us each evening. If one could not ride for a day, you were welcomed to sail the canals without malice. The barge was spic and span and the chef presented gourmet type food. I’m sure I will try another trip in the future with Bike/Barge—good value and great fun