Another great trip with Exodus! To start, I would have given an excellent review but for the fact (1) that it's not very well vehicle supported because of where we were riding. No one had any issues, but for those who would like or are used to significant vehicle support, this is not. It is less than posted in the website; and ((2) the bikes were not very good. (We did the Vietnam bike ride and that was fully supported and had much better bikes). But, the bikes were serviceable. That being said, the trip was wonderful as the route was beautiful, the places were interesting, the guides were nice, and Peter had a wealth of knowledge about the places. And, to boot, our fellow riders were a great group. The weather varied, so be prepare for heat and rain. And, the small towns frequently did not take credit cards so be sure to bring lots of cash (or get it from ATM). The hotels were fine but I think some US travelers would find it significantly different from what they're used to if, for example, they went with Backroads. For example, a couple of the places had no hair dryers, and one only provided soap. But, we wouldn't trade this trip for one with the US companies. You ride more with this tour operator and you get more days. And, who needs a hair dryer when you're going to have helmet hair anyway But, I know some people care. I wished the trip was longer so you could have spent, for example, another night in Vienna. We arrived early and spent time in Prague before the trip started and stayed an extra day in Budapest at the end. We highly recommend that, if you can swing the time. (I guess we'll have to come back on our own and do Vienna again!) Overall, great trip. Our second with this tour operator. Our first was through Vietnam-that was an awesome trip!!! We'll be back!
If you like historical buildings/towns this is a brilliant trip The cities, towns etc we visited were amazing. We started in Prague which is a popular resort, so popular I was glad to get away. But then on the first day we arrived at Cesky Krumlov, (didn't he use to play for Chelsea?) which is an amazing Gothic town and a UNESCO site, I'd never previously heard of , but could easily return to and spend a long w/end there imbibing some of the excellent Czech beer. There is an optional walking tour of the town which is well worth going on.
The next town we reached , Trebon, was also very interesting, and well worth a walk around.
And then came another UNESCO , Telc with yet another fantastic cobbled town square.
A couple of days later we arrived in Vienna which just shouts opulence. Do go on the optional bike tour of the city as it gives you a good idea of where to head to when you get free time. A couple of us went to a classical concert (not usually my kind of thing) in one of the large churches where they played classical music's greatest hits (Vivaldi etc) and where the acoustics are simply amazing. Oh, and don't forget the cakes to die for or of !
We then got to Bratislava, another interesting place where the leader takes you on another optional walking tour; worth taking again.
Eventually we arrived in Budapest and by this time I was beginning to suffer from cultural overload but managed to squeeze in a visit to the parliament building and the basillica before retiring to the bar.
Oh , I nearly forgot the cycling bit of the trip; it's graded as 3 but could easily be a 2 as there were very few hills ; a considerable amount of the time is on cycle-only tracks which is great if you want to natter to your fellow cyclists but does mean there is only a limited amount of vehicle support. The trip notes say there is only 10% without vehicle support but it was considerably more than that .
Fortunately, the vehicle war around when we rode through an almighty thunderstorm when the hairs on your head stand up , then curl, and possibly smolder, even for the'follickly challenged' like myself .
Also, there was the fact that there was no "tail gunner" mechanic, which meant that if there was a mechanical, the whole group had to stop whilst running repairs took place. The bikes themselves, were more "upright" than I am used to but proved to be very good for my back ; unfortunately they seemed to be prone to the chain coming off and jamming ; couldn't possibly be anything to do with the ability of the cyclists themselves !
The best way to see the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary is by bike and taking this fabulously guided tour. These countries are well versed in cycling and have bike paths that go for miles and miles and are in good condition. There is some cycling that happens on main roads but cars are very accommodating of cyclists. The most difficult terrain is in the first couple of days with a lot of undulating hills. For this it is best if you have some cycling experience. Strangely enough the terrain turns flat about half way through the trip which is good for a while but believe it or not as scenic as the countryside is, you'll find yourself wishing for the odd hill or two just for variety and believe me that's not something I thought I ever would have said. Transfers on the bus are minimal compared to other trips which is good because the bus is small and we had an excellent driver so safety was never an issue. The accommodation included a mix of hotels and pensions. You can expect twin beds which is noteworthy if travelling as a couple. This is the European way and in most cases the beds could be pushed together if you wanted. On only one occasion did we have beds with the springs being not far below the surface and in another there was no hot water which was disappointing after a long days cycle but on the whole they were very satisfactory and everything was well organised upon our arrival. They were also centrally located which was a bonus in the bigger cities. The spread at breakfast was excellent at every stop. However, I should mention that if you're gluten free like myself, it is more of a challenge. I picked up some supplies in Prague and carried them with me. Also, the restaurants and cafes we stopped at also don't cater to gluten free and throw in vegetarian and it can get tricky. Our guide was really helpful in trying to ensure I at least got something at lunch and dinner. There are regular stops near shops to pick up supplies. You will find the bikes themselves to be heavier than what you're used to but you soon adapt. They were safely locked away each night and spares are carried in case there are any problems along the way. Our starts in the morning were at reasonable times which is great if like myself you're not a morning person. At the end of each day, the following days information would be shared. There are plenty of breaks throughout the day starting with morning coffee, followed by lunch and an afternoon break on longer ride days. There were a few occasions were it would have been better to push on especially when it was pouring rain and you were soaked as stopping for a lengthy time only allowed you to get cold. My suggestion would be to poll the group and possibly do shorter stops especially when the weather is bad. Our group spent almost the entire trip together including at night and free time. Dinners were often followed by nightcaps in the hotel bar. A great way to end the day! It was extremely helpful in the bigger cities that our guide gave us an overview as it really helped us get our bearings for our free time. Our morning tours of some of the smaller towns were a great start to the day and the scenery was spectacular.
