7 independent reviews for Catalonia self guided cycling holiday, Spain
Reviews for Catalonia self guided cycling holiday, Spain
Hilary Eade review 6 Oct 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We all loved meeting local people when we stopped for coffee and lunch. We biked through small villages, on farm tracks and quiet roads and everyone we met was friendly and liked conversing, which we all had fun doing with spattering's of Spanish and French.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You will spend quite a bit of time biking on farm tracks and gravel trails so be prepared for that.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Certainly we felt our holiday benefited the local people. The accommodations were both small boutique hotels with the proprietor living on the premises. Meeting locals gave us a real feel for this area of Catalonia. We learnt quite a bit about the Catalonia people wanting independence, the locals really wanted us to know about this. Biking is very environmentally friendly and a wonderful way to really see an area4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We were 4 seniors, all but myself over 70. We have all done biking tours before and this one was really good. The choice of routes really helped us explore thoroughly this quite small area in the hinterland of Roses. Steve is a brilliant organizer and communicator. Right from my initial contact with him he was open, upfront and quick with responses. We all felt very happy indeed with everything the trip promised and then delivered. I would highly recommend this trip.Deborah Beauchamp review 19 Sep 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Traveling with our friends.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Leave your expectations at home.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
yes.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I will rate it ok.Beth from Canada review 22 Apr 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Loved the fact that this worked so well for my husband and I - he's a serious recreational cyclist and I'm an avid cyclist but more casual in my approach. We're '50 something's' and found this all very enjoyable. Varied terrain, lots of farm animals and birds, medieval villages, cathedrals, the Brava Coast, differing crops, the Pyrennes. It's all quite something!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't worry too much about stuff that could happen! It's all quite safe and very enjoyable really. Take rain gear - booties and helmet cover even as they don't take up much space and will keep you comfortable if it showers. Be in reasonable shape. It says it's easy, and it is if you're able to manage differing terrains and keep at a good pace so you can stop and enjoy the sights and still have time to relax back at the lovely accommodation. We took our own bike seats and were glad to have them. Maybe the seats on the bikes provided are good but we didn't take a chance on that.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. Stayed at places that used local foods and services. Took trains to and from Figueres and Girona, and rode everywhere all week. We actually felt sorry for tourist using cars as we figured they could only see and experience a fraction of what we were seeing and experiencing on our own steam and up close on double and single tracks/trails and farm roads. This is the way we increasingly like to see new places.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Superb! Both accommodations were comfortable, the breakfasts were great and we actually enjoyed 5 out of the 7 dinners in the dining room of our hosts.Claire Hermolle review 1 Jan 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
What a fantastic holiday! Cycling each day down a new route, through vineyards, small hamlets, to the beach! A holiday quite different to anything we had both been on before. The freedom to explore and see such beautiful scenery made this holiday unforgettable. We travelled in late June so the weather was also lovely!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't forget to bring your camera! With all the beautiful scenery and wildlife you won't want to miss an opportunity. Take lots of food and water. You can be cycling for quite some time before coming across any shops, so take a blanket and find somewhere comfortable to stop and have a picnic.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
How a holiday should be - the chance to experience the local culture, buy local produce and explore the landscape4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent, really relaxing and wouldn't have had this experience booking by ourselves.Jane Coward review 22 Sep 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The quality of the first hotel.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you can cycle off road on very rough ground.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Certainly.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was well organised.Amy Shannon review 16 Dec 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We took a self-guided bike tour through the Empordá region of Spain through Catalan Adventures. There were many memorable moments: views of the Mediterranean from the Cap de Creus Park, hike to San Pere de Rodes, amazing Greek and Roman ruins, Castle at Perelada, delicious food at every turn, nifty Romanesque churches at seemingly every cross-road….I could go on. We also loved the back roads which gave us insights into the local farm economy, irrigation practices, and took us through so many interesting small towns.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This trip is very well-designed and gets to many wonderful places you will not want to skip. That said, if you can add a bit more to your daily rides on one or two days, it is well-worth it to take a day to hike up to the Monastery at San Pere de Rodes and on into Cap de Creus park (if you have the legs for it). The views are stunning and the hike isn't particularly hard. Having your own GPS with maps could be handy if you decide to venture off the (careful and excellent) instruction. We got lost several times when we decided to wing it, but always had a great time.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The trip seemed quite embedded in the local economy as both of the lodgings were small and locally-owned, and both procured food, wine, etc from local cooperatives.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Loved it! It was the perfect 25th wedding trip.Justin Bonetto review 25 Nov 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The small town of Palau Saverdera was beautiful and perfectly quiet. It was a few kilometers from the ocean and a great step off point for all of the daily rides.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring your appetites, the food is absolutely amazing.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Pretty much every purchase was local, so we definitely felt that we contributed economically.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
10 out of 10, it was a great experience, exactly what I was looking for.Holiday Reviews
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