Experience Plus!
This is the family-owned “Bed and Breakfast” of the tour group companies, in operation since 1972. The founders each have PhD's, one in Geography and the other in Cultural History. While family-run, this operation provides a wide assortment of tour choices, and they focus on personalized service and a cultural experience.
The food and accommodations are quite good, and the money they save from not having huge slick brochures gets passed on to you. An interesting and unique feature is that they use chalk arrows to mark the route, which allows riders to focus on the scenery, not the route sheets.Companions – Expect good conversation at dinner with an interesting, unpretentious group, but they won't be partying their brains out.
- Operator Type:
Full-Service Operator, Regional Operator - Website:
http://www.experienceplus.com/ - Price Tier:
$$$ - Avg Price Per Day:
$444 - Services:
Bike Provided, Guided, SAG Van - Country:
Argentina, Asia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Slovenia, Spain, United States, Vietnam
92 Reviews
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We’ve taken three tours with Experience Plus (Provence, Portugal, Cuba). Each was great. Food, equipment and accommodations were very good. But their real strength is the quality of the guides. They’ve been superb. We will definitely be using this company again.
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Explorer – Cycling the Algarve
Bottom line: Fantastic! This was a bucket list trip that we didn’t even know it was on our bucket list!
The Experience Plus team went WAY above and beyond to accommodate us on the trip after we had mess up our initial signup. The logistics of the entire trip – the routes, bikes, hotels, meals, etc. – were flawless. The in-country guides were fantastic – you could tell that they truly enjoyed what they were doing.
This was our first bike vacation and my wife and I weren’t sure we could handle the terrain and the pace. But e-bikes are a game changer! We could easily keep up with much younger and more serious riders in our group. I highly recommend a bicycle tour with Experience Plus for anyone who wants a first class active vacation. Again, thank you E-P for all you did for us! We are already talking about next year’s trip! -
I have done two tours with this company. The guides were excellent. Some of the hotels, were perhaps the only 3 to 4 star options available, were a bit odd, but comfortable. The people you meet on these tours are more than half the fun – interesting and open people. But, best of all, was the course navigation system these folks use. One of the guides rides the course early in the morning and marks it with chalk arrows, course notes and sometimes word of encouragement. I plan on riding with Experience Plus again.
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4 Tours with ExperiencePlus. All great! Loved the chalk arrows. Would never go back to maps or gps. Hotel and dinners were all quality. Bike routes were well thought out and very scenic. Guides were all really special. Fifth trip coming up next month, plan on doing at least 10 more over the next 5 years. The company is that good!
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I have taken three trips with ExperiencePlus: Greece (2001), the Camino de Santiago in Spain (2008), and the Czech Republic (2010) (all dates are approximate). All were simply superb. My favorite was Greece: just beautiful, the best guides imaginable, wonderful food, amazing archaeology (and I’m not a big fan of it), loved the Greek people. The Camino was a unique trip, the only bike trip I’ve ever been on that wasn’t just a bike trip, but also a religious and cultural experience (and I’m Jewish!). And the Czech Republic was the only country I’ve ever visited that used to be a communist country, and its history (both very old and 20th Century) is just fascinating. You visit a spectacular castle or palace every other day, it seems. And we spent time in Vienna before the trip and in Prague after it, and I highly recommend that. You stay in three-star hotels, so if you want really fancy hotels choose another company. But then if you want such hotels, your trip will cost you more, probably a lot more. I never had a problem with the quality of the lodging, and the company’s philosophy is to put you in the center of the town you come to, so you don’t have to be driven everywhere in the van. I think that philosophy is great (my wife agreed; she went on the Czech Republic trip with me). You will eat very well, however. And I thought the chalk arrows were an unnecessary gimmick, but when you’re in a foreign country with a difficult language (like Greece and the Czech Republic), you will GREATLY appreciate not having to pull out your map. Perhaps today it is different with GPS, but I guarantee you’ll love the arrows. All the guides on all the trips were superb. I will be taking another ExpP trip again someday.
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This tour company is top notch. we recently completed a tour through Puglia to The Ionian Sea. The itinerary was superb. The amount of biking mixed with cultural and culinary delights was above and beyond my expectations! The guides were amazing. They were knowledgeable of the area, the customs and the history of the area. Do not let a spring tour slip through your fingers. Even with lack of winter biking (due to living in a snow area) we were able to bike the route. And, we were rewarded with beautiful views of the spring flowering landscape. It felt like we were biking through a Monet Painting!
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We traveled from Lisbon through to southern Portugal with Experience Plus. This was a fabulous tour. we saw so much of the interior of Portugal – a real undiscovered corner of Europe. The people were friendly, the food delicious and the wines wonderful surprises. Would recommend this trip for anyone who can get on a bike! a bit of training for anyone who isn’t used to riding but in the majority it was an easy 50-70km a day cycle. and there is always the van if it gets too much. Really fun and a great way to see the country with like-minded people and experienced guides.
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We have done 5 rides with experience Plus and are now booking our sixth. A totally professional operation where safety is first and comfort and enjoyment a close second. Excellent bikes, always good hotels, and always genuine cultural experiences. We have found all five groups compatible and have formed several strong ongoing friendships. There is a strong emphasis on cultural exposures so you learn about the country in which you are riding. Highly recommended.
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I have gone on Experience Plus tours twice and cannot sing their praises highly enough. The routes, guides, food and lodging are outstanding. The arrows they put on the road to keep us on the correct route work effortlessly and make it easy for the bikers to ride at their own pace. The lodging and restaurants are chosen with charm and local color as a premium.
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They really do a quality job in all they do whether it be the bikes – the meals – the accommodations – the cultural experiences they provide – the tour leaders – the simple and easy route directions – the day sheets they provide…. I’ve done 7 tours with them and have found each one an enriching and bike worthy experience.
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This was a tour of the Lake District in northern Italy and a part of Switzerland. I enjoyed the company, the rides (and challenging climbs), the beautiful scenery, and the historical sites we encountered. The guides went out of their way to ensure that all went well.
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Experience Plus! does great tours. The company’s signature chalk arrows free you from having to travel at someone else’s pace or spend time trying to decipher route sheets or GPS directions. The guides are encouraging, helpful, and knowledgeable. Experience Plus! lays out great routes and picks amazing places for the group dinners. This was our third trip with Experience Plus! and there will be many more to come.
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The tour was as advertised, and in many cases, even better! The staff was helpful from the first time we asked questions until the final follow-up when the tour ended. The bikes were high quality, the meals and cultural visits excellent. The guides were friendly, supportive, and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
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My husband and I have taken several cycling vacations and have used other companies but ExperiencePlus is the best by far. They are very accommodating to guests, offer cultural and historical information for each day of the tour, have planned meals around the locale of the tour. And, they have chalk arrows!
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The trip (to Costa Rica) included a lot of naturalist activity. Our experienced lead guide picked a really interesting route and good places to stay and eat – some in town, some in eco-lodges. Each day one of the guides marked the route with chalk arrows – no one ever went astray. All 3 staff were “cultural ambassadors” – reaching out to us N Americans, eager to share their country. Excellent service in terms of logistics and readiness to help with bike problems (few; the bikes were very good). Very good value. – S Scott, Arlington, VA My husband and I just got back from our honeymoon to Costa Rica, doing a bike trip with Experience Plus. Yet again, Experience Plus was absolutely wonderful. Our tour guides were incredibly knowledgeable, accommodating, and most of all really nice, down-to-earth people. They helped us plan an extension to the tour to complete our honeymoon and that turned out to be great as well. Our trip could not have been better.
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How long ago did you do this trip?
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After a good experience with the company in Italy in 2006, we did the Athens to Olympia tour in October 2008. Half the hotels were horrible, far below their promised 3-to-4 star rating; no blankets in one, dirty bathrooms, bugs, uncomfortable beds, busted furniture. The food was just ok. The guides were lovely people; the van support, bikes, and rides were fine (though very long, and we could have done without the two days on busy highways) and the scenery fabulous. In all, though, at $4475 per person … plus a demand of $200 per person per guide as “tip,” which came from EP before the trip began, this 12-day outing was … not worth the money, and we will not travel with Experience Plus again.
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I have taken 7 trips with this company, 3 in France, 2 in Italy and 2 in Costa Rica. All top notch. Knowledgable tour leaders, good routes, great food (they seem to know good LOCAL restaurants with excellent food that aren’t filled with tourists), good hotels and accurate descriptions (in other words, you don’t sign up for a level 1 trip and end up in the Swiss Alps!) Their road chalking navigation system (along with maps and day sheets) makes it possible to go at your own pace without having something distracting on your handlebars. I will definitely travel with them again.
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Experience Plus has consistently provided a superd product. The bikes are good quality and included in the price. The guides are uniformly superb. The chalk marks reduce the route finding problems and allow for a carefree ride. The food and hotels are great.
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I have to say, this was the best vacation of my life – and I hate physical exercise of any kind, including biking! However, being out in the beautiful Italian countryside, sun shining, biking along with good, old friends and some new great friends was magnificent. This was a wonderful way to see Italy in a way that one never would by visiting cities by oneself, or on a tour of cities. You get to meet people in the villages, farms, prosciutto factories, Parmesan factories, shops, etc. The people were very warm and welcoming, our guides very knowledgeable, professional, yet at the same time lots of fun. The hotels were also fantastic and we saw some very old, medieval castles and towns. I would do this every year if I could – in a heartbeat!
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This was our very first bike trip. We were novice riders, having done spinning classes to prepare. It was challenging but well worth the effort. We will remember it as “a trip of a lifetime”.
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My wife and I have been on bike trips with several different companies. Experience Plus is simply the best! They are the bike company for people who really want to bike. Yet, their trips give you enough time to appreciate the culture and traditions of the local people. And…with the chalk arrows on the road you don’t spend any time looking at maps and hoping you are still on the correct route.
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We have been on eleven bicycle tours, the most recent three have been with Experience Plus. The tour leaders have been first rate. … We also enjoy the area history sessions at each location. The pampering is appreciated–especially the “chalking” of the route.
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Was not pleased with the hotel accomodations from Experience Plus – food was okay but the hotels were not the highest quality and this was in Italy.
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The marked routes were extremely helpful, we didn’t have to stop and consult maps or worry about where we were heading. The scenery on the routes chosen by EP were absolutely stunning and we had the opportunity to see local Italian life and culture. The accommodations were a mix of mom & pop Inns to 5 star hotels, all were different and more than adequate. we’ll most certainly be back for another trip with EP!
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Experience Plus! is a company that prides themselves on terrific customer service, specifically in the quality of their tour guides and their routes. They are best know for the ‘chalk arrows’ feature of tours, which allows a virtually map/cue sheet-free experience and allows riders to soak up the scenery and just follow the directional chalk arrows at each decision point. This also allows a wonderful level of autonomy within the group and all riders can start and end as they wish without relying on guides for directions or rescue!
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We have taken nine tours with Experience Plus! and have found each one to be well-organized with knowledgeable tour leaders at least one of which is from the country we are visiting. We have enjoyed the emphasis on cultural experiences as well as the well-chosen bike routes. Chalk arrows on the road make navigating routes easy. Hotels are usually small, family run establishments in the center of town making sight seeing and getting around easy. Our bikes and equipment from Experience Plus! have been top notch.
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I can’t comment on other companies as i have not used anyone but ExperiencePlus! We have always been extremely satisfied with them and not entertained the thought of another company. The personal leadership of the prices or their family has made all the difference in quality.
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Experience Plus has great guides in Costa Rica. They have used same guides for 14 years , and they are great. Insist upon Mario, Carla and Alvaro.Made the trip for us !
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ExperiencePlus is a classy operation. I had biked with four other companies before discovering ExperiencePlus and have been enjoying their intelligent and authentic, fun and culture filled programs ever since. ExperiencePlus marks the bike routes so there is no fear of getting lost. Their leaders are from the countries we bike in so the foods are always real local specialities and the sites visited are interesting and significant.
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ExperiencePlus provides the bike traveler with a superior experience based on more than 30 years in the business. The chalk directional lines on the road make the route map-free. You travel the safer, scenic byway–not the busy, fast track. You travel at your own pace–it’s not a group ride. The local language guides are very knowledgeable, engaging and helpful. The tour ensures the meals are representative of the local color and culture which enhances the entire “up close” experience that only comes with biking through the countryside…
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Travelling with Experience Plus is always a pleasure, and I have done 4 bike tours with this company. The guides are exceptional in every way, the itinerary is well thought out, and they make it easy to follow. The accommodations are usually very nice and occasionally a bit less than four star, but always comfortable. Every detail is covered, and your every question and concern is taken care of quickly…
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Their emphasis is on great bike routes, knowledgeable and enjoyable guides, and ease of travel. Their unique chalk route arrows make riding a pleasure – no stopping to read directions! – but everyone gets a detailed Michelin map of the area on which to mark the day’s routes. Dinners together are generally very good and include 1/2 bottle of wine per person. There are usually a few special hotels but pampering is not the focus. And when you call the office a person answers and someone who has done the trip will often be there to answer questions.
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We have just completed our fifth European tour with Experience Plus! and can’t wait to start planning the next one! … From the high standards by which the Tour leaders and corporate staff operate, the great combination of “tourist highlights” and “off the beaten path” adventures to the focus on great food and wine – we know when we book a trip with Experience Plus! we will get more than we expected.
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I just finished my third trip with ExP to Argentina and Chile and I wasn’t disappointed in fact I was delightfully surprised. The countryside is stunning, the accomadation, food and wine were as well and the tour leaders couldn’t do enough to make our trip enjoyable. I know I can always rely on the office to help me with any question, and with a little cultural and educational information thrown into the package they are my favorite way to travel. The incentive of having the 5th trip at half price and the 10th one free gives me a reason to be a serial tripper.
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I just returned from a bike tour in Patagonia … The route was an excellent choice through the Lake District. I have rated this company 5 stars but I’d add another 5. The guides were down to earth, fun, remarkably well educated on all aspects of nature to history to politics. They provided daily maps, kept track of you through the day watching for bike repairs, etc., and let everyone go at their own pace.
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Great trip, really saw the country up-close and personal. The outside adventures, such as the thermal hot springs and the boat ride were very fun. The guides were very knowledgable about the culture and history of the country. This was my first bike trip, and can’t wait to plan another.
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Most folks fail to mention that Experience Plus routes are so incredibly well chosen for their beauty and historical relevance. If you want to experience great cycling while becoming emerged in history … aside from enchanting accommodations, outstanding food and incredible personalized hand-holding (they were always on top of fixing flats and keeping tabs on us). Far superior to more expensive outfits.
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I just completed the tour of South America Coast to Coast, Chile to Argentina and I had an outstanding time. The gravel roads were a new challenge, but the only option available in Chile. The tail winds in Argentina were a new experience. I didn’t know the the wind could blow that hardand still be a tailwind.
ExperiencePlus does a great job in creating a family/group environment for their cycling trips. The guides are local, extremely knowledgeable. and truly love sharing their home country with the clients. The road marking system of arrows, eliminates the need to read a map, or travel in a pack. The freedom of the cycling with ExperiencePlus can’t be matched as well as the commraderie of the group dinners makes for a fantastic bicycle travel experience.
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St. Petersburg to Istanbul was a thrill of a lifetime. Only someone with Rick’s exceptional background could organize this masterpiece and have it come off so well. From hotels, to food, to guides, to scenery, to the cultural exchanges with people of 10 different countries it was outstanding!
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Just finished the Camino de Santiago tour from Roncesvalles to Santiago . Truly a great adventure with every day an exciting ride with the Pilgrims. This is our tenth and best tour with this company.
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This tour company offers great value, and the chalked marked routes are the best-you don’t have to stop at every turn and look at a map.
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It was our first bike tour and we were novices. We had a GREAT time. Route was perfect (including alternates for one high hill; one of us went up, one took train … worked well!) Support staff was excellent. Highly recommended by a couple of old (50’s) farts!
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The attention to detail was five Star*****. The wine being included was a great treat .. The only constructive feedback we would have is that the bikes could have been fitted a bit better as some people changed bikes at some part of the trip. Overall it was an amazing trip, we will be back.
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The meals that they provided (5 out of 7 dinners) were wonderful! Plenty of wine (which was provided), too.
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We’ve biked with many other groups. Last year was our first EP trip, and we loved it, for knowledge of the region, personal attention, and CHALKING THE ROUTE! An unforeseen extra was special services and care for our friend who had an accident.
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You won’t get luxurous accommodations or haute cuisine but there’s great biking, and more days for the dollar. The people you ride with are also among the most diverse and interesting I’ve found — not just doctors and lawyers.
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Good at getting the bikers to see more of the “real people, how the locals live.” The equipment has not always been kept in top notch condition. Support is not extensive, so if you aren’t adept at changing a flat or need help up the hills, this isn’t the trip for you. Wine is included at all meals – a nice plus. Meals are usually terrific, although you don’t get to choose off of the menu, that is already done for you.
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Experience Plus has a terrific “arrow” system to help with the bike routing, great guides and great food! The accomodations were adequate (3 star, sometimes 4 star hotels).
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Their on the road support is excellent, especially the chalked-arrow route markers. The accommodations are good, usually located in the heart of town … wine is included and unlimited at dinner. They ususally have three guides, including a native speaker on every tour who go out of their way to be helpful and informative. They provide excellent value for their moderate price.
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We had three excellent guides, one marking the route, one riding with the group and one driving the support van. Lodging was in a variety of 3 to 4 star hotels, and the meals they arranged for us were excellent to include their selection of wine. Best of all is the rides are down to earth, low impact giving the participants an excellent opportunity to see the country and meet the people.
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ExperiencePlus’ system of using chark to mark the route at the start of the day is fabulous. It frees the rider to enjoy the scenery instead of checking a map and a route sheet all the time. The food was excellent and wine is included; and the accommodations were fine.
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… The tours are designed & led by a couple, one who has a phd in Geography and the other is a history professor, with a dual cultural background and multilingual.
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… took a tour labeled “challenging”, but we had trained with Experience Plus’ recommended training plan, so there was nothing we couldn’t handle. We are in good shape, but not fitness nuts. I will say though, we could not have done this tour without the training we did.
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Excellent value and wonderful tours with great accomodations and meals. Roads selected are paved country lanes with very few busy highways. Mileage is 25-50 per day with extra credit options available for the avid cyclyst and wonderful route notes so you can go at your own pace.
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My husband and I recently participated in the bike tour of Austria, Italy, and Slovenia. We had beautiful weather, wonderful, knowledgeable guides, and a great group of bikers. We usually biked on small walking/biking trails except when we entered cities. The leaders were always well prepared, provided plenty of information, and there were many extras. They were flexible and tried to accommodate everyone’s needs and desires. The bikes were outstanding and I always looked forward to being on it! The trip exceeded expectations.
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Experience Plus! is first rate. The guides are knowledgeable and professional. And I feel that I am on a treasure hunt each day looking for white arrows as I get good exercise and enjoy the scenery.
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Two weeks later, I’m still feeling the effects from a great Experience Plus Bicycle Tour of Catalonia. It was amazing. The usual parts of the Experience Plus cycling experience were there: wonderful routes, great meals, knowledgeable and caring guides, top of the line bikes. But the scenery, friendly people, accommodations, and meals on this trip were outstanding. It was my first trip to Spain, and now I plan to go back.
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My trip with Experience Plus to Provence France was beyond my expectations! The route, the guides, the accommodations could not have been better. We were provided with bikes that were perfect for the ride. All my questions prior to the ride were answered promptly and completely by the Experience Plus staff. Nothing was left to chance. It was a wonderful trip and i will definitely ride with them again!
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I recently did the Experience Plus 10 day Costa Brava/Catalonia tour. It was fabulous in every respect. The routes were very scenic and well marked with chalk arrows, the hotels were fabulous and quaint, the guides were very knowledgeable and excellent. This is my 4th Experience Plus tour and every one exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend them!
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I recently did the Experience Plus 10 day Costa Brava/Catalonia tour. It was fabulous in every respect. The routes were very scenic and well marked with chalk arrows, the hotels were fabulous and quaint, the guides were very knowledgeable and excellent. This is my 4th Experience Plus tour and every one exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend them!
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A wonderful company. They choose small interesting hotels and lovely local restaurants that you could never find yourself. Riding is excellent and at your own pace with some optional distances and some side trips for siteseeing. The best part is that the guides are smart, funny, informed and very hardworking. Everything is taken care of for you and the entire process is a complete pleasure. I couldn’t recommend them any more strongly.
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Italy tour (Piedmont region) June 2014 – First trip with Experience Plus (local company which we wanted to support) and the trip exceeded expectations in every way. Great routes, great gear, great food, and great support. All the hotels were first class. The tour leaders were terrific – very organized, friendly, super helpful, and so much fun to hang out with! We love the tour and the company and definitely will be repeat customers.
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Excellent organization – Maria Elena and Jami are superb! Highly Recommended tour company. Great staff in Spain- Joan, Jago and Rick- as well.
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Our bike tour of the Czech Republic provided by Experience Plus was great. There were only 7 of us (5 at the end) but Experience Plus did not skimp on anything for us. The guides were quite good and the hotels and group dinners were also carefully chosen and enjoyable.
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Experience Plus! is a company like no other – they provide the best-trained, most gracious guides on the planet who are a combination of locals and U.S. citizens. Their routes are simply amazing and the biggest feature of all time is the arrow system – one guide leaves early in the AM and lays down plaster chalk arrows to guide navigation for the day’s route. Other guides drive the van and ride with the clients. No need to ride in a group or feel any pressure from the group at all. Itineraries are well-thought out and gorgeous. Can’t say enough good things!
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A veteran of ten Experience Plus! tours, I find them getting better each year. Tour leaders are interesting people who are happy to share their considerable knowledge. Routes are carefully chosen to take full advantage of the area toured. The chalk arrows are a favorite feature. Bicycles are always well maintained and in good working order. Hotels and food have improved considerably since the our early tours in the mid-90’s and are now top-notch. Highly recommended tour company.
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The guides were terrific! They made the trip so enjoyable, even though it was a more difficult ride than I expected. Thanks to them, it was made easy.
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We cycled through the Dordogne in SW France for 11 days with Experience Plus! this September. The routes, the scenery, the level of support, the off-bike experiences organized for us, the generous breakfasts and dinners, and most of all, our three guides were superb. We’ve compared notes with friends who’ve gone with other groups and learned that with Experience Plus! the number of days riding, miles ridden each day, and number of meals planned for the entire group exceed the norm. Highest marks from us. We would travel with Experience Plus! again, any day.
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I can’t say enough about Experience. We just returned from a 8 day tour of Tuscany. The tour guides were fantastic. Definitely going the extra mile to make sure we had the best experience possible. The bikes are top of the line, routes easy to follow. Love the chalking system and the ability to really go at your own pace,takes all the stress of keeping up away. The accommodations are top of the line and food couldn’t be better. This was our second tour with experience plus . They do not disappoint. Excellent company from start to finish.
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Really great tours, fun people, they mark the roads (superhelpful) no icky maps!
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We have done 10 tours with Experience Plus and the Austria/Slovenia was one of the best. Great riding & scenery, excellent hotels & food and great tour guides.
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Just finished my third trip with this fantastic company. The guides are in-the-know, the itinerary takes you through the heart of the country, and the hotels and restaurants are authentic and intriguing. The chalk arrows that point the way each day are wonderful — you can take as much time as you want to explore along the way, then meet up with the group at the end of a satisfying day. A thumbs up!
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We’ve traveled with ExperiencePlus! on eight fabulous bicycle tours over the past 12 years – 2 in Italy, 2 in France, 1 in Chile, 1 in Croatia, 1 along the Danube River, and 1 from Krakow to Budapest. We can’t wait to do our next tour with EPlus! One of the things we like best about EPlus! is their chalk arrow navigation system. This allows us to spend our cycling time enjoying the ride and the beautiful scenery instead of trying to read a map and worrying about getting lost. If you like bicycle touring and you haven’t toured with EPlus!, you definitely should!
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I’ve toured twice with Experience Plus! Last fall in the Dordogne Valley of France and this year in Sicily. Both tours were well guided. The hotels and restaurants selected were very good. The routes, as much as possible, were on lightly traveled backroads, usually through very scenic areas. The guides mark the turns, obviating the need to use the a cue sheet or even a map. Riders are encouraged to ride at their own pace, rather than being bunched together as a group, tethered to the slowest rider. All in all, I’ve found Experience Plus! provides a wonderful way to visit Europe.
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I have now gone on 4 different ExperiencePlus! trips and all have been phenomenal, from service, to biking and tour guiding expertise, to knowledge of the local culture and history. The bikes are excellent, very high quality and well fit. Each night they service the bikes so they are ready to go in the morning. The restaurants they choose are excellent, and the side trips such as wine and olive oil tastings, agriturismo lunches and stays on farms are all incredibly well thought out. PLUS!! the arrows make biking easy and carefree- no maps or odometers to consult- just bike and see the sights. I am already planning my next trip! The choices are vast.
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My wife and I had our first experience in Italy through Experience Plus biking from Venice to Florence. The bike route was awesome, the hotel accommodations were top notch, the pre arranged meals were superb, and the cultural experiences were excellent. We plan to use Experience Plus again for our next International Bike Experience.
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Cycling & vacation merged together seamlessly. Experience Plus delivered the best of both worlds. Their use of chalk arrows for navigation make it impossible not to enjoy your journey. No worries about maps or directions. Their guides were exceptional. I would recommend them if you were considering a trip of this nature. A+ all the way!
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10 days of riding through Patagonia staying at local inns and dining at local restaurants. The dinner at El Gato in Peurto Varas was some of the best fish I’ve ever had. Lots of hills but the 10 mile grade over the Andes was a steady 3% and the other hills were almost all under a half mile. The ride attracts a more interesting and adventurous riding companions; they were great company. Juan Pablo and Pablito with Experience Plus made everything very easy for us despite a 24 car accident that messed up the schedule and other surprises that they could not have foreseen. Beautiful scenery, penguins, and good pavement. This is trip that is well worth the time and money.
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As my first cycling holiday I did not have any idea what to expect but what I experienced was more than I could ask for. The organisation,day briefs, hotels, meals and company form other riders and the tour staff was exceptional.
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They describe and rate their rides accurately and provide a lot of solid pre-tour information that is practical and helpful. The tour leaders are experienced, knowledgable, fun, accommodating, and culturally astute. Tour routes are very easy to follow based on the unique arrow system they have developed. The hotels, meals they provide, and cultural experiences they present are exemplary.
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I have been cycling with experience plus for ten years now. Every tour has been fabulous. The routes, the guides, the local experiences, the food and wines all make for memorable trips. The point of difference with explus is that they mark the route with chalk arrows. Easy to follow and no chance of getting lost. Gives me more time to enjoy the scenery rather than a map. I would recommend experience plus as a top notch bike tour company for people who really want to enjoy a place by bicycle.
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Hotels and meals were fantastic! We truly got a feel for culture by visiting small villages. The tour guides got to know each participant, and they were very inclusive of everyone. The tour guides were knowledgeable of the areas we traveled and provided great suggestions for sightseeing and dining options. We had a great experience!
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A fabulous trip, not a single detail unattended. I did a trip with another company last fall and they couldn’t hold a candle to Experience Plus.
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Terrific bikes. Terrific guides. Terrific daily briefings, including handouts. Terrific hotels. Well organized. Strong support when needed, including van rides up steep hills for those who needed them.
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The “chalk arrow” method of marking the route eliminates the need to ride in a group and to constantly consult maps. Each morning, a guide goes out early and marks the route with chalk arrows on the road. The arrows survive everything except torrential downpours, but wash away several days later — hence no defacing the roads. Guides are great. The restaurants and hotels are always small and locally-owned.
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We did the Dordogne Plus trip. The tour leaders were exceptional. They were a hoot and very professional at the same time. The bikes were high end titanium frames and tuned well. The routes were well chosen to be almost car free. There is a lot of freedom to ride at your own pace. The meals were excellent. We truly enjoyed every minute of this tour and would highly recommend Experience Plus and this tour.
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ExperiencePlus! consistently provides top notch tours. The rides, bikes, routes, hotels, guides, and food are always outstanding. THey are unique in their chalk arrow guided rides which allow cyclists to enjoy each day free from reading cue sheets. We have done multiple tours with them and all have been great.
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ExperiencePlus is the best bike tour company out there. The guides are fantastic, the bikes are first rate, the accommodations are not too fancy or too basic, and the costs are competitive. Most importantly the routes are amazing, as car free as you can get in Italy, and full of interesting sights, meals, and people. The chalk arrows on the ground are a unique aid that allows every cyclist complete autonomy. I never feel like I am on a tour, except if I have a problem, and then a guide is right there in a flash. Why would anyone go with another company?
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The daily routes and the entire tours are carefully researched. Their tour leaders are all friendly, caring, and helpful, and they know about bikes. The food and accommodations are fantastic, and extras such as visits to special places, such as guided tours to “how the trulli were built”, an afternoon conoe ride on the Dordogne River, and Grouffre de Racamadour. This company is also generous, no expense spared comes to dinners together. After 6 tours with them and after trying to take trips with other companies, they are still the best.
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Fantastic company. The tour guides were excellent! I really love the arrow system for the bike routes–this enables you to ride on your own or with the group however you choose. The route, hotels and food were all fantastic. I will definitely go on more trips with Experience Plus!
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This tour company is top notch. We recently completed a tour through Puglia to The Ionian Sea. The itinerary was superb. The amount of biking mixed with cultural and culinary delights was above and beyond my expectations! The guides were amazing. They were knowledgeable of the area, the customs and the history of the area. Even with lack of winter biking(due to living in a snow area) we were able to bike the route. And, we were rewarded with beautiful views of the spring flowering landscape. It felt like we were biking through a Monet Painting!
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