Reviews

My husband and I signed up for the BoatBike ride from Amsterdam to Bruges for April 20-27, 2019. We had never been to the Netherlands or Belgium, we like recreational biking at home (in the US) and after reading several reviews decided it would be a great adventure. We tried to explain to our friends that there was no safety van riding along side us if we got tired, not it was not a cruise but a converted barge, yes would sleep and eat on the barge etc. Yes we would ride rain or shine! It was all that. We booked the smaller, standard room and it was plenty comfortable, air and heat worked great and the cot style bed with lovely bedding was super comfy. The fixed window was nice and big and the room was spacious enough. We ate breakfast and dinner on the barge, and packed a bag lunch for the day. Hans and Hester were our lovely bike leaders, unflappable and informed. I rode 175 miles (skipping the last day) and was quite comfortable and proud. Many used electric bikes and they were also happy. We rode many hours at a leisurely pace, in 2 groups, mainly with no cars nearby, breaking for coffee, beer, bathroom breaks and lunch. The group was very nice, mainly from Canada and mainly large groups traveling together.. We were just 2 but not a problem. Suggestion: I would have liked a tour every evening or morning in the towns were were stopped in. I loved the biking but wanted a peak at more culture. We did have a lovely evening walk one night in Dortrecht guided by Hester-very informative. We also had a few hours in Ghent and in Antwerp but without a tour, even an informal one, we didn’t feel as enlightened.. We often didn’t return to the barge until 530 and had to rush to a 630 dinner. another suggestion: later dinner at 7 or 730 as this was our evening activity. Also when we returned we were offered a brownie, cake etc. as a post riding snack. A healthy alternative, fresh cut up fruit, nuts etc would have been quite welcomed. Or even a happy hour late afternoon, fruit and cheese and crackers party? The food was quite tasty with several courses at dinner, but the actual dinner entree portions were very skimpy, with the desserts, also delicious being as large as the entree. They were out of decaf coffee for many nights; when they served coffee after dinner we were never offered a second cup; kind of rushed to the “orientation program” for the next day’s riding. The drinkable water had an awful taste the first day which seemed to have improved after that day. We had lovely entertainment 2 nights on the ship but perhaps local musicians would have liked to come on board the other nights? Hester gave us a beautiful oboe concert. another suggestion is a communal photo drop place so we could all share photos which we managed to do individually at the end. The literature says to board the boat in Amsterdam on the starting Saturday, between 1 and 130 with a 2:00 departure but when we rushed to arrived at the dock at 1 we were told to leave our bags and take a walk on the pier and come back at 2. Some of the other communication could have also been improved. All in all, it was a really fun experience, the Captain and dining crew were friendly and tried hard to help us enjoy. Again, my main criticism is not enough time to actually visit and guided tour the many beautiful cities we rode through. Another thought, if it is a bike trip why are we paying extra for the bikes? We are offered the option of bringing our own bikes, but discouraged. The cost of the bike should be included and maybe a supplemental cost for the ebikes is another thought. I will consider another boatbike trip in the future. Thanks to all of you for your hard work and positive energy on this trip!

Highly recommend. Excellent modern clean boat, excellent food, pleasant staff. Bike guides knowledgeable and provided history of various places we stopped. Bar prices were reasonable and the decor was really lovely.

My wife and I were very satisfied with our experience on The Magnifique III. Our expectations were exceeded in every regard. The staff were wonderful, meals excellent and the accommodations first rate. We traveled from Amsterdam to Bruges 10/13-20 and were lucky enough to have very good weather for mid October. Each day we were given the option of taking a “long ride” or a “short ride”. This worked out well for everyone on the trip. There were plenty of breaks for coffee, lunch and picture taking. Each evening, after dinner, there was a planned event like a walk in the village or city we happened to be docked in. One evening there was a beer tasting on board. We met wonderful people on the and it was nice to be the only Americans on the trip. Our tour guides Corrie, Hans and Peter were excellent. They were all concerned that everyone was safe and enjoying themselves. They provided information on points of interest as we rode along giving us insight into what we were seeing. Great experience all around!

It was a great trip. Well organised and with amazingly friendly and helpful staff

Excellent accommodation and food on barge; staff go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. Bikes very efficient and as comfortable as bikes can be; interesting itinerary and very knowledgeable, fun guide. Plenty of stops during bike rides for refreshments and sight-seeing.

A wonderful trip! Great ship with excellent meals and accommodations – you must consider Boat Bike Tours for your holiday.

We joined a bike and barge trip with Boat Bike Tours in October 2018 from Amsterdam to Brugge. Everything about the trip was ideal: the ship, the room, the food, the crew, the infomation, the planning, and of of course the biking. We had only one issue, and that was with a few people on the tour who were not physically able to participate well, and they often became a burden for the group. My advice to you, if you plan to join a tour: please make sure you can bike 30 miles into a mild wind and can climb short hills. If you are not sure, simply reserve an e-bike. These bikes give you a nice power boost while peddling and can double your distance capability.

Great experience….over the top. Accommodations, service ,and food excellent.

I took this tour with my husband and two friends and we all had a great time. We met some wonderful people from around the world, of various ages and abilities. The crew and guides were friendly and accomodating. The food was delicious and varied with 4 courses each evening and the beds were very, very comfortable after a day of cycling. We took interesting walking tours most evenings of the various villages where we were docked. My only complaints were that the shorter routes were not always offered and we had to take the longer option. The second was that my bike frame seemed large for me (I’m just 5 ft tall) and it was difficult for me to mount and dismount and the handlebars were quite high. I managed but did not have the control I would have liked. Overall we had a wonderful time and I recommend it.

What a fabulous holiday. Cycling through beautiful villages and countryside. Lots of fun, lovely people, perfect weather and fantastic food