Portugal Bike Tour Reviews (page 6)
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★★★★★ Joanne Nordeen 2 months agoVariety and views
· Portugal's Atlantic Coast
Wonerful way to experience a vaiety of towns, scenery, coastlines, hills, lodging, food and Portuguese hospitality. Local operator set us with high quality road bikes and all the info and support we needed for a smooth self guided trip. Some steep hills.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Catherine Buckley 1 month agoHoneymoon biking
· Castles and Wines of Portugal
This was such a a great way to see Portugal. Because of the bike trip we stayed in some towns much less travelled - full of culture, wonderful people and astounding views/ old castles.
Would highly recommend- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- First bike tour ever
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Michael Coulson 1 month ago
Terrific time, on and off the bikes!
· Portugal's Atlantic Coast
Great way to see the country, and the people, food, hotels, was all fantastic.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Kat McDonald 1 month ago
Great scenery, great towns, very steep hills
· Portugal's Atlantic Coast
Overall, an excellent vacation. Of the four bike tours I've done, it's #1 for scenery, #1 for food, tied for hotel quality, #1 for quality of bikes, #1 for travel partner service (documents, pickup/drop off, timeliness), and #4 for route finding. There are some times on busy roads but the drivers were exceptionally courteous. Travelers should note how hilly it is -- very difficult on a road bike and still quite challenging on an electric bike. Route finding is a problem. I understand the local partner is adding step by step navigation, but I believe additional steps (such as stickers on signs) will also be necessary.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Sue Collins 1 month agoPrivate tour with Fernando
· Algarve Coastal Route
Such a fantastic day touring around Lagos area. Rose about 40km on mountain bikes through beautiful gravel trails and some roads. Stopped for lunch in Luz. Such a wonderful day!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Robert Anderson 1 month ago
The Algarve didn’t disappoint.
· Algarve Coastal Route
The bike tour was a fantastic experience with great views and fantastic food. Cycling through the small fishing towns and visiting with the locals is a great way to explore the cultural. On our first day we experienced some minor issues with one of our bikes. We were able to continue riding and within a short time had a replacement bicycle delivered to us. The local bike tour company was very helpful. The trails and path’s took us by so many amazing sights it was hard to take it all in. The hotels, with the exception of one, were fantastic and had in great locations. The dining options are plentiful and prices were very reasonable. We used GPS navigation which makes the ride much more enjoyable as you don’t have to constantly be stopping to read instructions. We used the Garmin device from the tour company and they also provided the daily route information for us to load in the Ride With GPS app. The last two days we did experience some hills. My wife appreciated the e-bike.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- Five
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Katherine (Kate) Karlson 4 weeks ago
Memorable and recommended!
· Portugal's Atlantic Coast
Fantastic trip! 197 miles on the hybrid route with e-bikes. Hotels were all top notch and included buffet breakfast was a treat. Recommend wet weather gear if going early season. Skip the gps but bring an external battery pack. Bike tour staff were fantastic and extremely helpful. If you stay in Sintra I recommend you leave as early as possible o avoid the tour buses and other traffic.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Spencer Gold 4 weeks agoIncredible variety and breathtaking views
· Camino de Santiago: From Porto to Santiago de Compostela
This trip follows the Camino trail from Porto to Santiago de Compostella which is a heavily trafficked by pilgrims, most of whom are walking. It was delightful to share the trail with them in May since it wasn't very busy or crowded yet. The trail itself is incredibly varied; it changes every 5 minutes and covers just about every terrain type you can think of including pavement, cobblestones of every size, gravel, packed dirt, single-track dirt, unridable rocks/boulders and tree-stumps (you have to walk your bike on those parts), mud, sand, boardwalks and sidewalks. It's very well marked and almost impossible to get lost, especially with the GPS device they give you (which is fantastic). There is quite a bit of climbing, so be prepared for that. Don't even think about using anything but a mountain bike on this trip. The cities and towns you go through are so beautiful, and the food was fantastic. The trail follows the coast for much of the distance, which is lovely. We got the 5-star hotel package. Only one of the hotels was a true 5-star hotel, but the others were 4-stars, and they were all pretty good. Not every town has a 5-star hotel nearby, of course. We're in our low- to mid-50s and found the trail manageable and fun the entire time, even when it rained.
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★★★★★ Margaret Penner 3 weeks ago
Beyond Expectations
· Algarve Coastal Route
Everything was efficient and effortless. We just had to focus on biking and route. Hotels were all lovely with wonderful breakfasts and welcoming hosts. We had no bike issues and all staff were on time and informative.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Sue Larson 3 weeks ago
Exceptional Way to Experience the Glories of Portugal!
· Castles and Wines of Portugal
Our week spent on bikes in Portugal was a dream come true! Every detail was taken care off. The bikes were superlative, the accommodations were great, the food and beverages were yummy, and most especially, our guide Manuel and his assistant Joana, did a magnificent job of leading our small group, and introducing us to various aspects of the region’s culture. Their upbeat personalities, joyful spirits, and skillful knowledge made us feel so welcomed, informed, and valued. The rides were fabulous and this week will live in our memories and hearts for the rest of our days. Two thumbs way, way up!!
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ A. Anderson 5 days agoFantastic service for a glorious holiday!
· Custom and Private Bike Tours in Portugal
Biketours.com crafted our ideal cycling holiday in Portugal flawlessly. The route, dinners, and hotels surpassed our expectations, making for an unforgettable experience. We wholeheartedly endorse their services and eagerly anticipate our next adventure with them.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Deb S 4 days ago
Great way to see the real Portugal
· Castles and Wines of Portugal
This was a wonderful trip. We rented hybrid bikes and they were of great quality-only suggestion is it would have been nice to have a second water bottle holder for the hot days. There was a rear rack with pannier to hold a modest amount of stuff-pretty much what you need for the day (having your luggage transferred of course. The route was so picturesque. We averaged over 40km a day with 2 days close to 60km. Two days were hilly. You need to be in reasonable shape to do this tour-not expert but a regular exerciser. It was well planned out. The accommodations were very lovely-old convents, farm, small inn-really got the feel of Portugal. All of the breakfasts were very good and fueled us for the day ahead. I would highly recommend this tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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★★★★★ Llewellyn Fernandes 1 day ago
Fabulous Trip
· Algarve Coastal Route
One of the best cycling trips we've done! The weather as perfect, the route was great, the bikes were very good for the varied terrain and the hotels were lovely.
Perfect time of year to go... end May, early June. Warmed up quickly in the mornings, so we headed out early as the afternoons would be much hotter to cycle. Arrived at hotels around noon and enjoyed the hotels and towns were would stay at.
Only a couple of challenging hills (walked a bit), but that was just fine as we were there to enjoy our time....it was not a race. We relied heavily on the GPS as there were lots of twists and turns, and the written instructions were only so accurate. As other reviews mentioned, it did take us down a couple of one way streets the wrong way. Overall not many pure bike paths, but lots of quiet roads and highways with broad shoulders so felt very safe and comfortable. The route sometimes followed a posted EU bike route or the blue line on the road, but this tour doesn't always follow them, so always check GPS for this tour.
Leaving the hotel early like 8 or 8:30 meant not much traffic in the towns at that time. Always stopped for a refreshment along the way...lots of cafes, beaches, etc. Just need to plan ahead so you don't arrive at the hotel too early. Lots of dirt/gravel/cobblestone roads so a good workout on the arms. Make sure you have lots of water as it gets dusty and dry. There was never a long stretch of the same terrain. Each day the views were spectacular!
We brought a change of clothes/bathing suit in our panier bags, since we knew we would arrive at the hotel before our rooms were ready. Most hotels were resort hotels with spas, pools, restaurants. Very, very nice hotels. And located by the beach and/or close to everything you need. The hotels were very accommodating when we would arrive. We just stored out bikes, changed, left our panier bags with reception and went by the pool to cool off and have some refreshments and relax. Some would call us when our rooms were ready and luggage had arrived.
The bikes were really good, built for the varied terrain. Not heavy. Many gears...and needed. And we were given lots of repair equipment ... that we NEVER had to use!!!! (we were three so only took a few things with us...the rest we kept in our luggage)
The towns we stayed in were all different and lovely in their own way. There were always well-reviewed restaurants to go to, and easy to make reservations online. Most restaurants only opened at 7pm for dinner, which suited us fine, as they would get busy later. It was easy to get a reservation, time for a pre-dinner drink somewhere, they weren't crowded, allowed us to enjoy the rest of the evening and then up early for the next day.
This was my sixth cycling tour, and it was the best so far. All aspects from weather, cycling route, hotels, restaurants and towns, were all just fabulous! SHOW MORE
Hope you try this one out...
SHOW LESS- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Portugal
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jan June 8, 2024
Thanks for the fantastic review, Llewellyn. I have done many of the tours we sell but not this one...yet anyway. Appreciate the business and hope you have a great summer.
