Excel Travel

Self Guided: Individual Tours: Many people enjoy travelling on their own while simultaneously engaging in a well-planned biking vacation. Almost all tours in this Cycletours International program are self guided on individual base, this means that the accommodations and the transportation of the luggage are arranged by us. With the route descriptions you'll cycle from hotel to hotel at your own pace.

Guided Group Tours for 50+: At some tours (along the Danube and Remagen) we offer you the possibility to join a group tour out of our Dutch program which has been specially designed for active senior citizens older than 50 years. These tours are distinguished not only by the atmosphere of travelling within a group, but also by the presence of an expert tourleader. He can show you the most interesting places on the way and he will take care of the condition of your bike in case you'll encounter any problems.

Degree of Difficulty: How difficult are the various tours offered by Cycletours? The number of asterisks indicates the degree of difficulty: 1 X Easy: these are the easiest tours in which most stretches consist of flat terrain with distances averaging 45 km per day. 2 X Moderate: slopping landscapes alternating with flat terrain mark this route with distances averaging 45 km per day. 3 X Heavy: slopping landscapes dotted with steeper inclines, but not overwhelmingly so, encompass these 35 to 70 km per day tours. The above route descriptions are general, with every cycle route being measured according to the factors that may play a role, such as the degree of difficulty, type of terrain, climate, etc. In general, the selected tours are intended for recreational cyclists and are thus quite manageable. Although only a minimal amount of cycling experience is necessary, it is advised that you be in reasonably good shape before partaking on one of these tours. The distances relayed are in kilometers since most of the countries where our tours take place utilize this unit of measurement. (1 kilometer = 0.6 miles)þ

The Bicycle: Cycletours offers a large supply of hybrid bicycles available in all sizes for your use during the tours. Comfort, easy usage and safety are a priority to ensure that you can fully enjoy your cycling vacation. Some bicycles may come from a local bicycle rental shop but they meet the specifications of our hybrid, Gazelle Medeo, offers as closely as possible. We request that you relay your body length to us at the time of your booking so that we can customize your bicycle accordingly before your arrival.

Accommodations: Your nights will be spent in a hotel or inn. The overnights generally consist of a double room shared with a roommate. We can reserve a single or triple room when available upon request, although single rooms almost always result in a price increase.

Food and Beverages: The cycle trips generally include breakfasts and dinners but for exceptions, please refer to the section ÒincludedÓ in your cycle tour itinerary. The dinners will either take place in the hotel or in a specially chosen restaurant.

Route Information: You will receive an extensive step-by-step description of your specific cycling route. (Bringing a bike odometer can be a resourceful aid to have in following the route). All the routes have been thoroughly surveyed and outlined beforehand. The routes travel, as much as possible, over lightly trafficked roads. Occasionally however, the busier stretches are unavoidable. Along with the route descriptions, you'll also receive information on the main attractions of the town or region you'll be visiting as well as a map to guide you along the way. However, do not expect a complete traveling guide. Naturally, you can deviate from the routes at your own will.

Luggage Transport: A van will transfer your luggage from one destination to the next. A maximum of 20 kg of luggage for transfer is allowed. During the day, you will only need to bring along items such as a lunch package, sunglasses, sunscreen, rain jacket, pocket change, passport, camera, etc. On a regular day, you can expect your luggage to be at that day's hotel at approximately 4 p.m.

Arrival and Departure: Each tour begins and ends in or near a town accessible by plane, train or bus. Please contact our reservation department for detailed information.

Clothing: Comfortable cycling attire, especially cycling pants (shorts), is as important as a good saddle. Please be reminded of the temperature differences in cycling through the mountains and we advise that you carry a windbreaker with you for the descents. Of course bringing along protective headgear is also recommended.

Insurance: We advise you to take out a good travel- and cancellation insurance, this can be arranged through us if stated upon booking. Since you are held liable for the rental bicycle, we highly recommend that your travel insurance covers theft and damage to the bicycle. Obtaining bicycle insurance for $25 per bicycle is possible only with the use of Cycletours' hybrid bicycle and must be arranged with the booking of your tour. In this way, the risk of theft or damage is covered under the stipulated conditions.

Guarantee: The bicycle is at your disposal as of 12 p.m. on the day of arrival at the vacation destination until the last phase of the tour has been completed. You will be required to make a deposit of $100 either cash or check, per bicycle upon arrival at the vacation destination. The deposit will be returned to you at the end of the trip when you return the bicycle, amount pending on any damages incurred during the cycle tours. Should the damage cost more than the deposit, then you will be required to pay the difference at that time. Regular wear-and-tear of the bicycle will naturally not be brought into expense.

Changes and Modifications: Should you wish to change or modify your booking once it has been made, keep in mind that modification or rebooking charges may apply ($27,50). Thereupon, you will receive a new confirmation/invoice from us.

Tour Information: Approximately 3 weeks before trip departure, information about the trip will be sent. In case you will be departing earlier, please mention this at time of booking, so that we can take this into consideration in sending your traveling materials. With some trips, you'll receive the route descriptions and other tourist information from the agent at your destination place. In that case, you'll receive the accommodations list and other relevant information by e-mail in order to avoid problems with postal mail.

				About Our Hotel Tours: You'll cycle from hotel to hotel by way of a previously outlined route. At the end of the afternoon, you'll find your luggage in the next hotel, where a room for you will be reserved. Usually with these trips, breakfasts and dinners are included. On occasion, you'll be able to choose the evening meal selection yourself. Naturally, the quality of each hotel varies. Therefore, some may be quite luxurious and others rather simple. Round Trip: Reservations have been made for a room in a hotel or a small inn for a nice end to your physically exhausting and exciting day. As you cycle from one hotel to the next, your luggage will be transported for you. The hotels in this package range from 2- to 4-stars. The rooms come with their own shower/bath and toilet. Most round trips include breakfasts and dinners within the price (check details per route). Based Tours: These trips allow you to extensively explore an area without having to shuffle from hotel to hotel. Another major advantage is that you are free to determine the order of the tours yourself or to change their variety at will. A stay of 3 nights onwards is already one of the options. The accommodations vary a great deal: ranging from a very luxurious hotel to a simple chambre d'hotel and from a family hotel to a former cognac estate.