Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

I was looking for alternatives, too. We like Backroads, but it is expensive. The other biking company that we have experienced and enjoyed is now defunct. Based on my search last year, here are some ideas: Might I suggest you take a look first at http://gorptravel.gorp.com/ for an overview. Gorp acts as a broker for many different companies. The four-letter code on each trip is the clue to which company (for example, BRBN is Backroads Brittany Normandy). I have never used Gorp to arrange any of our trips, so I can’t make any kind of recommendation. I thought their set-up to compare trips was sort of neat. For individual company addresses: www.randonneetours.com This is a company that provides lodging, an itinerary, your bikes and luggage help. They just don’t go with you. I was tempted to use them for our spring 2002 trip. www.bikingfrance.com I don’t know this company. www.backroads.com Again, we’ve taken three trips with them and will take our fourth this summer. Well run, good reputation, pricey. Has special Family trips. www.vbt.com Friends of mine who do Backroads also like this company. They consider Backroads to be a bit more upscale. www.vangoghtours.com Don’t know this company www.duvine.com Don’t know this company, but one of the posters on this site had used them and liked them. www.andiamoadventours.com I was interested in some of their trips. www.diversedirections.net Cheap versions of some decent trips. We are going to try Bike Vermont Inc. (it's a different company from VBT) this coming summer. The dates worked for us, and it was around 3/5's the price of a similar Backroads trip that we wanted but that wasn't offered during that week.