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H I
P T R I P S
PEDALING
AROUND
EUROPE
...what's new in 2010
Cycling
the
byways outside Florence
Thinking of
postponing that Europe trip as too expensive? Here's a change in plans.
Spend some time toning up your muscles. Then do the
continent on a bicycle
tour. This is a great opportunity to meet the people, absorb the
culture,
get some exercise and keep from putting a serious strain on your
budget....and Bike Tours Direct is the company to get you motivated.
2010 EUROPE CYCLE TRIPS
…more than 100 tours under $1,000 per week
Danube Bike Path follows well-signed, nearly flat dedicated
bike paths through vineyards and medieval towns from Passau, Germany,
to Vienna.
Mosel Bike Path starts in the 2,000 year old city of Trier through Germany’s best-known wine growing region with visits
to castles and medieval towns. Self-guided, 6 nights, less than $600.
In Tuscany, cyclists experience the “Italian jewel” of
landscape and culture riding amid castles and hilltop villages,
vineyards and olive groves. Add to that the incredible food!
Loire Valley by Bike meanders through France's peaceful Loire
Valley with its vineyards, chateaux, quiet villages and medieval towns.
Inn and Ziller Valleys supply the comfort of returning to just one
hotel base after
each day’s tour through the Tyrol's flat roads. Beautiful little towns along the river Inn
are like pearls on a chain, and always the majestic mountains as
background. Self-guided, 7 days for under $600.
The
company's roster includes more than 200 tours from
Tuscany to Transylvania. Highlights
in the week-long category are "Castles of Transylvania" for
$700; the island of Cypress at $850; and a bike-and-boat tour from
Venice to Mantua, Italy, for $1,050 per person. Probably one of the
best values is "Wine and Bike" in Hungary's Balaton Uplands. Included
are seven nights lodging, two ride-along guides, support van, all meals
and unlimited wine at dinner for under $1,000.
Few
regions in Europe offer as much
for cyclists as the Balaton Uplands National Park: quiet countryside, a
picturesque
lake, traditional villages, medieval towns, ripening vineyards.
Along the way, stop for wine tastings in ancient cellars, meet the
winemakers in family vineyards, be ewntertained by folk dancers and
experience local
culture and traditions. Self-guided tours of this area start daily,
including lodging, luggage transfers,
most meals and many optional wine tastings.
Self-guided
one-week
tours to this and other European destinations are the most economic.
Rates are per person, based on double
occupancy in 3-star hotels. They include
bicycle rental, lodging, daily
breakfasts, luggage transfers, very specific route information and a
service
hotline.
Bike Tours Direct is a one-stop resource for all types of cycling
jaunts detailing destination preferences, duration and degree of
difficulty. The website lists offerings from 38 of Europe's major cycle
tour companies, and helps you find the one best suited to your
expectations. Many are appropriate for families and novice cyclists.
You will also find helpful advice and travel tips, from how to choose a
tour to what type of clothes and gear to pack. www.biketoursdirect.com
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