We are thinking of trying VBT after two great trips with International Bike Tours/Elderhostel.....Any feedback on VBT bike tours is appreciated.
Thank you,
Elizabeth

P.S. Has anyone been to the Dalmatian Coast on a bike trip?

Elizabeth, I did the VBT tour of Tuscany in 2005. Hands down, it was the best experience of my life (so far!). If you click on my name, you'll find my trip report (which is rather lengthy and loaded with detail). There's nothing I would change about it at all.

I'm actually looking at either Sicily, Puglia or Dalmatian Coast for later this year or next spring. Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

thanks for the comments. I too am looking at a tour with VBT. Glad to hear you had a great trip.

If anyone else can recommend a better deal / bike tour - Austria / Switzerland area - rated "easy". It does not necessarily have to be a full guided tour.

Thanks.

I haven't done these, but there is a great range of tours listed here for you to choose from.

http://www.biketoursdirect.com/?location=home

DuVine Adventures has a very nice trip in Switzerland, for all level of bikers. It is not hard, and fun. They take trains and chair lifts to ease the hills, but if you want climbs, you go it. www.duvine.com

I've followed bike touring companies for years - i owned one such company for years myself in Europe and VBT is the creme de la creme IME - lots of great comments - they are not the cheapest however by far.

PalenQ, I would agree VBT is not _cheap_, however, when compared to Backroads or Ciclismo Classico, both of which do not include airfare, VBT is a bargain (often VBT's total price is still less than the land-only Backroads price). All VBT trips include airfare (unless you choose land only) and use of a bike and sag wagon. With other companies you have to pay up for those things.