5 Ratings
★3.7
Overall impression ★4.0
Value for money ★3.8
Treatment and service ★3.6
Accommodation ★3.4
Dining experience ★3.4
Biking experience ★4.0
We really enjoyed this ride. Bike Sweden got us from point A to B but there were some glitches along the way - nothing major but they presented more challenges than other self-guided tours we've done. We're from the U.S. so used the English version of the web site and there was some confusion about the itinerary and payment, perhaps due to translation. A key linkage in the ride is a boat ride across a lake; the boat captain had no record of our reservation so luckily there were open seats. Some of the dinners were of poor quality, or restaurants did not have our reservations; we suggest (similar to other self-supported rides) that riders arrange their own dinners, with the tour company providing restaurant suggestions. The ride itself was great, on well-maintained and well-marked trails.
The bike ride was a highlight of my trip to Sweden. The luggage transport from place to place was excellent and the organizers were very helpful. The only issue was some dinners were challenging due to dietary restrictions so I either had to pay for a different meal since I couldn't eat the one that was included or had to pay extra for changes. If you are taking public transport back to the starting point then just note that it is a bus and three trains and each requires a different means for payment. It's manageable if you know which apps to use.
We had problems with the bicycle seats not fitting so well, pain despite the use of bicycle pants the first 2 days. The arrangement worked well, except for the luggage that was transported to the wrong place in Søderkøping.
The accommodations were very uneven. The inns at the beginning and end were lovely and met our expectations, but the accommodation at the Ljungsbro leisure center was no better than the YMCA. We had to walk over to the athletic facility to use their communal - and I do mean communal - shower. The cycle ride and boat trip were lovely and perfect.
Hi Kym
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the cycling tour and boat trip, and that the accommodations at the beginning and end of your journey met your expectations.
We apologize that the accommodation at Ljungsbro hostel did not meet your expectations.
We will also improve our communication regarding what the accommodation at Ljungsbro entails, so that our guests know what to expect.
Thank you again for sharing your feedback with us. It helps us to improve our services and ensure that future guests have an even better experience.
Best regards
Urban Brånfelt
We truly enjoyed cycling along the actual canal and the final lovely Soderkoping Brunn hotel, but this four-day tour needs improvement. The biggest issue was the very hilly (I'd guess over 1,000 feet elevation), difficult Second Day of cycling, mostly on the south shore of Lake Viken--only a third of the day followed the canal path--some of it on a busy highway. It was over 30 miles (not 35 km as your site says.) The bikes had not been booked at Lake Roxen, causing stress and time. No one was at the first night's lodge, we received no promised detailed guides or info (save for the canal's free brochures), and dinner was a small bowl of ramen noodles with a couple of vegetables--like for a diet camp! We had to ask for bread. There were issues booking and paying for this trip as well.
Hi Linda,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed cycling along the canal and your stay at Söderköpings Brunn. At the same time, we are very sorry to hear about the problems you encountered during your four-day cycling tour.
We would like to start by apologizing for the shortcomings you experienced, particularly regarding the second day of cycling. For your extra night at Pensionat Prästgården, it was unmanned, and all guests are informed that the key to their room is in the key box at the entrance door. We apologize if this was not clearly communicated.
On your first day of arrival, Yvonne Brånfelt went through the cycling with route descriptions and maps. It is unfortunate that you felt you did not receive enough information. We understand that the hilly roads on the southern side of Lake Viken and the busy road were not what you expected, and we will review our routes and descriptions to ensure they are accurate and clear.
It is also very regrettable that you had to wait for the bikes. We are sorry that our bike supplier did not meet our expectations, which caused you stress. We will review our booking procedures to avoid such mistakes in the future.
The fact that no one met you at the first night's accommodation and that you did not receive the promised detailed guides and information is unacceptable, and we will ensure that this does not happen again. Regarding the dinner at the hotel, we have now removed this dinner option and are partnering with another restaurant that meets our standards.
Finally, we are aware of the issues that arose during the booking and payment of the trip and are actively working to improve these processes for a smoother experience for our customers.
We appreciate your feedback and see it as an opportunity to improve our services. We hope you will give us a chance to show that we can do better, and we would be happy to offer you a discount on a future trip as compensation for the inconveniences you experienced.
Best regards,
Urban Brånfelt