Reviews

This is our 5th boat and bike holiday so it’s a formula we love. We also keep returning to The Netherlands and Belgium…we haven’t found anywhere that caters so well for cyclists…we are not courageous in traffic nor good on hills. This trip was on The Gandalf…one of the smaller ships…takes about 20 passengers..the skipper, Hans, was welcoming…a friendly and generous host. His crew and the chef were really excellent and the food was varied, imaginative and extremely tasty and lots of it. The route Bruges to Amsterdam is really lovely…beautiful cities, towns and villages. You really feel you can see day to day life…what people are growing in their gardens…whole classes of school children out on their bikes…small holdings with a few sheep and a duck pond. The guide, Rikko, worked hard to find good spots for refreshments and had excellent knowledge…historical, technical, local, which made the trip richer. He did tend to keep the pace a bit swift. He also led a walk each evening so it was not all cycling. Our group of 16 was by far the most mixed we have experienced and we all got on well…people came from France, UK, Germany, Argentina, Australia, USA and The Netherlands…this made for some interesting conversations. This is not a luxury holiday. Be prepared for getting soaked, wind blasted, sunburned, exhausted and in need of some good muscle rub. The bikes are good. We have seen more and more people using ebikes and have some qualms about this. We feel it might put those not on ebikes at something of a disadvantage at times…and sometimes we did struggle with the pace. Three of us therefore decided to ride independently using the maps provided…this was easy and fun….but you did miss out on the guide’s local knowledge and the group experience. Being able to go at a slightly slower pace worked well for us. We love cycling holidays (have been on about 14)..we especially love the boat and bike formula but a word of caution…on almost every trip we have done…with a whole variety of companies… there has been a tendency to play down the daily distances…so practice beforehand and be prepared for some long days in the saddle (sheepskin saddle covers seem very good investment!). We hope to do more bike and boat trips …they are something a bit special.

Last year I went in the Randolf from Bruges to Amsterdam and although the boat was quite basic the experience was memorable. Patria is a better boat. However the crew, specially the captain are very unfriendly, borderline rude. There where 2 crew members, Catherine and a gentlemen that helped serving dinner and at the bar which were quite nice. The captain would not even answer back to “good morning” and NEVER smiled. One cannot put someone uncomfortable with people to be in such position. The crew did not understand that we do not served them, we were the clients. This trip was the opposite of last years; it was unguided (which was not clear to us when we booked) and the “guide” that would distribute the itinerary the day before spoke marginal English. He presented slides written in German with broken English. His instructions on the possible afternoon hikes let us ( and all that attempt) to wonder around the mountain lost. It would be beneficial to actually have maps for the hikes. I would not recommend this trip unless the shortcomings of the staff are address.

We experienced the Southern Tour in Netherlands on the Anna Maria Agnes boat. The team was fantastic- very friendly and helpful. The route for each day was carefully prepaid and discussed prior. The weather was sometimes challenging but it was really fun. The country is so beautiful and peaceful so we`ll come back for sure. I actually like the tour and the boat, only few things to improve the experience: 1. Please provide some fresh fruits during the meal time; 2. It would be better to provide 2-beds cabin in case 2 people will live there. These 3 beds (bunk beds) in a small cabin are quite uncomfortable.

From the time you step on board you feel at home. Friendly, professional staff help to create a relaxed sailing and cycling experience. My wife and I have now enjoyed two trips with Boat Bike Tours and are looking forward to the next time.

This was the perfect way to see The Netherlands at a leisurely pace while still feeling like I was on holiday. I was a single female traveler in my late twenties and felt right at home in our varied group. We had families, couples, and groups of friends ranging from 3-83. Those who needed more assistance were strapped on the back of another bike (the children) or rode and ebike (the well seasoned travelers). The boat fit everyone beautifully and it’s cozy ambiance felt like home. The guided tour was fantastic and everyone involved was very flexible! I was on the first tour of the season and the weather was about uncooperative as it could be. We had to make daily changes of plans…but we never would had know it if we hadn’t been given a detailed itinerary at the beginning of the trip. The rearranged schedule ran as smoothly as if it was planned in the first place. We were all well taken care of and enjoyed delicious meals and excellent service. Well worth the price and I would recommend this tour to anyone!

We came prepared to have another lovely time and, up to a point, we did. This time the food was less appetising and sometimes cold when it should have been hot (soup) Our guide, Tom, was brilliant again but the housekeeping staff were much less welcoming and helpful. Also, if you want us to use our towels twice (which seems eminently sensible to us) make them different colours and give us somewhere to hang them up to dry..and a hand towel would be a useful addition!

You are asking for this review too soon. We have not yet gone on the tour and do not have an opinion at this point. Unless you are asking for a review of the booking process? In which case this should be made clear.

We had a great time cycling from Mantova to Venice. This trip was well worth the price. High points are the location, friendly accommodations, excellent food and great hospitality. Cycling was fairly easy, but not unexpected considering the location along a river. We will consider another trip with Boat Bike Tours in the future.

Our trip from Mantova to Venice on the Ave Maria was fabulous. We met many great people on our adventure. The food was outstanding and our tour guide made the difference from making this from a good holiday to a great holiday. The crew were very friendly and informative. We have recommended this vacation tour to our other friends.

We had a wonderful time. Our two children, ages 9 years and 11 years loved the sites while cycling, especially the stops to swim or visit a museum. The staff on the boat were fantastic. One staff member even took the time to teach the children how to fish! The boat was clean and quiet and the food delicious.