Disappointing- BEWARE

Having travelled with BackRoads previously (2 yrs ago) we knew we could expect an adventure that was a good value for the money. Unfortunately, the trip we took in 5/2013 was horrible. First, the trip was oversold with 26 quests and 2 guides. There was no history, botanical/geographical information provided because our main guide was the Maine person and the other guide was new. Lunch was cold cuts, candy, power bars etc. The accommodation were terrible/dirty/uncomfortable. I filled out a Trip review and requested someone contact me- no reply. I posted on FB- erased. Posted again on FB and they responded with a letter from Tom Hale offering $200 for our next trip. No interest in what was wrong. I didn't want their money, I will not use it as I will never take a BR trip again. There is so much out there to do that I wouldn't take the chance with BR again.

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Beware Backroads Spain

Beware Backroads is getting cheap. After paying thousands, you are likely to get hot, attic rooms, poor van support and whatever happened to cocktail hours? Having been a happy repeat customer of Trek travel, we decided to give Backroads a try for an upcoming trip to Barcelona since Trek did not have a trip that fit our schedule. We found poor van support, poor maps that were hard to follow and overall cheap treatment for the price. Some guest always seemed to be stuck with a terrible attic room and having paid nine thousand for a five night trip for two, one would expect a reasonably nice hotel room. Think twice before choosing this company and see if you can get them to guarantee they won't stick you in an attic room!

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Reliable

My wife and I go on many bike trips and we find Backroads to be extremely reliable. The tours guides are excellent, and they really know aspects such as wine, food, history, art, and local culture. We have been on tours with multiple companies, and Backroads does the best job on the route maps and daily briefings. It would be nice at the price point if alcohol was included other than the welcome toast, but then again people get carried away, and the riding is better with fewer hungover people.

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Backroads Tuscany

We went through Tuscany with Backroads. The hotels where we stayed were great. All of the meals were good, and there was a fantastic cooking class. I am not a big biker normally and the van was always there when I needed it around the big hills. That reflected how much attention the guides were paying to my needs. They were really great.

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Tuscany Biking Trip - Outstanding

This was our 6th Backroads trip and I can't believe that the company is getting even better. Our leaders were exceptional--a great combination of Italian Nationals plus an American. The three leaders used two vans so there was always plenty of support whenever we needed it. We marked the food a 4 because there was just too much of it! Take it easy on the snacks Backroads!

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Reviewed by Nancy Newton

MY Husband and I took a North Carolina bike tour with Backroads. We absolutely LOVED IT and consider it the best vacation we've ever taken. The instructions for each day trip were spot on. We had many levels of riders in our group and the guides accommodated all of them. The team leaders at Backroads were knowledgeable, friendly and encouraged everyone to ride at their own level. The hotels we stayed at were fantastic. The trip went well beyond our expectations. We will ride with Backroads again.

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Great Provence Tour!

We had a fantastic tour with Backroads in Provence. Food, hotels, guides, and rides were all magnificently curated. Highly recommended.

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The Memory of the Trip Gets Better Every Day

I was on a tour through the Netherlands into Belgium. Besides bragging rights back home, "I biked from Amsterdam to Bruges," it was an unbelievably wonderful experience for me. I had had a slew of setbacks and went on this trip to try and get reacquainted with myself, to do something healthy and to see beauty. I got all of that and then some. I got to know myself as I passed dunes, sea walls, canals, Windmills, fields of flowers, wheat and cattle. We pedalled on an archipelago, we laughed until our sides ached and the sadness that had enveloped me evaporated with the winds of the Netherlands and the sun and chocolate of Belgium. The Tour group couldn't have been more accessible with information, guidance, knowledge and companionship. I did get reacquainted with myself and found satisfaction, courage and confidence. How can any price tag compete with these accomplishments. The bicycle paths were a bonus. I know that on our trip, there were a number of fears and obstacles facing us and I believe we all made remarkable progress in overcoming the fears we arrived with. How can you beat that?

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Backroads Nova Scotia biking trip

We do at least one 7 day bike trip a year, some here and some in Europe, and always used used other companies. This was our first Backroads trip and there will be more. We felt so pampered on this Nova Scotia trip! All 3 guides were fabulous and also a very nice bunch of guests. The route was a perfect mix of coastal sites, valley farms and the Bay of Fundy. Thank you!

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Backroads after the trip

“This was my sixth trip on Backroads, the trips are awesome and only get better. How is that possible? I have been home less than 24 hours and I have already told my friends about Backroads. Thank you for being an awesome travel company. I will be back!”

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Nobody does it Better than Backroads!

Having just completed our 4th cycling trip with Backroads, I really can't imagine ever using another company. All 4 of our trips have been nothing short of spectacular and we are already planning our 5th one. What sets Backroads apart in my opinion, is the quality of the trip leaders and the support. I'm not sure what the screening process is for leaders but it is unfailingly successful. We have left each trip exclaiming over how much we loved not just the cycling, the accommodations, the scenery and the food but most importantly, the trip leaders and other individuals in the group. I really cannot say enough about how wonderful Backroads is throughout the entire planning process as well as the trip. Don't delay - take that Backroads trip now! You will not be disappointed.

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Backroads Bike Tour South Island of New Zealand

We did a family trip (three adults, two in their 60's, one in her 50's, and two daughters in their 20's) to the South Island of New Zealand starting December 26, 1014. It was one of the most fun trips of our lives, and we have traveled a LOT. It was our first bike trip, and our first Backroads trip. Our three guides were GREAT. Biking is a great way to see New Zealand. What made it great? The scenery, the food, the guides, and also the other people on the trip. The bike equipment was absolutely top notch, as was the food, and we stayed in the nicest places that the towns we visited had to offer. Clearly if you do a trip like this the other people on the trip are going to be like minded individuals, which they were--most had brought their adult children in their late teens and early 20's with them on the trip. I highly recommend Backroads, and I highly recommend this Backroads trip. One caveat of traveling to the South Island of New Zealand---expect to be rained on at some point, and expect there to be overcast conditions--but that is out of the hands of Backroads.

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Tuscany Family Biking - Casual Inn

I am considering conversion to Buddhism so I can be reincarnated as a Backroads leader. These are some really special people who clearly love what they do. All three leaders were competent bike mechanics. They were doing everything from fixing my youngest daughter`s helmet straps to using the barrel adjuster to tweak the cable tension. Our trip was truly spectacular.

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We enjoyed the 4 day biking trip in Death Valley. Our 3 leaders were enthusiastic and always there if you needed support. There not many roads here but it was a quiet time of the year so traffic was not a problem. There is limited lodging and restaurants in Death Valley but we enjoyed the Furnace Creek Inn and the grounds for relaxing after the rides. This was our 10th trip with Backroads. We have enjoyed all our trips and the support they give. Everyone pays the same price and you get out of it what you want. We will be going on other Backroads trips.

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Backroads family multisport camping

Gorgeous locale, beautifully selected routes, trails, itinerary. Perfect pace. Time of a lifetime for our family mix of adults and kids. Perfect opportunity for individual , family, group experiences. Working parents can`t bike this way otherwise.”

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Brittany & Normandy September 2015

My wife and I (age 61 and 70 respectively) joined eleven other guests for five nights and 6 days bicycling 156 miles across parts of Brittany (St-Malo, St-Michel) and Normandy (around Bayeux, the D Day sites, and local scenic spots). We connected to/from the trip by Paris trains to St-Malo and from Cains, giving us time in Paris after the Backroads trip. Our two excellent trip leaders and one ride support made the trip efficient, well-briefed, historic, and fun. With chances to go at your own pace (options every day) and "off on our own", we found the riding just right. The bikes, vans, and food are excellent and Backroads brings almost 40 years experience to making each guest feel special. We chose budget lodging, which was just fine. We made several new friends and will do another biking trip with them soon.

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Backroads California Wine Country tour

This company, and especially the three leaders could not have been more professional, caring, and/or ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!! The trip was not cheap, but it was definitely worth every penny! The group was great and the tour was so well organized it was phenomenal! Definitely a "GREAT" recommendation!

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BackRoads - Zion, North Rim Grand Canyon, Bryce

Outstanding in every way!!! From logistics to food to the exploration this trip was expertly managed. Our guides and support staff were incredible!!

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Great family trip to Yellowstone & the Tetons

In June 2014, we took the family camping tour to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. The camping equipment was good and the sites were well chosen and well prepared for us, we had a group of 21, including 10 children ranging in age from 6-16. Our tour had 3 leaders and 2 camp cooks. It was exceptionally well run! The leaders were great, very accommodating to all and wonderful with the kids. My daughter, age 16, was the oldest and a bit dismayed to see no other teens. The leaders always gave her options and by the end of the trip she was very happy--she sometimes biked with the adults and other times hung out with a leader and the younger kids. The food was excellent and all the Backroads employees went out of their ways to ensure we were having a good time. They were flexible and offered choices. For example, one rainy morning our kayaks trip was cancelled. The leaders offered alternatives and we ended up at a lodge watching the World Cup (with games offered for the kids). It was a great way to see these national parks and all on the trip talked of doing another tour. The only drawback was the tipping recommendations. Backroads is not a cheap tour company and the recommended tipping is a bit outrageous ($500 for a family of 4). Though I felt we received excellent service, I would prefer the company offer better compensation from the existing fees for the trip. That being said--it is an excellent tour. This is our second Backroads family trip and both have been great.

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AMAZING trip, amazing guides, fantastic company

We did the Danube River Cruise Bike Tour with Backroads in September of 2016. We had heard that Backroads was the best and had high expectations but we were still blown away by how great this trip was. Easily the best vacation we've ever taken. The ship was sparkling and luxurious and the novelty of having our floating hotel room waiting for us at the end of each day of biking was just too cool. The Backroads guides had everything organized perfectly and we never felt in need of anything at all. We felt lucky to be with Backroads because we saw and did so much more than anyone else we talked to. I can't say enough about the trip - HIGHLY recommended.

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