Poland Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 1 to 28 of 28
Sunita M.
3 months ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Boat and Crew was absolutely Fantastic. Lia our Bike Guide was Amazing.
Israel A.
1 year ago
Verified Reviewer
Princess Berlin to Stralsund
Germany, Poland
It was a perfect tour in perfect weather conditions. It includes nice landscapes, and some historical interesting sites (Peenemunde) and technical (ship elevator). The crew was very pleasant, and the tour operator was great. Thank you!
Ruth B.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Riding the trails through the beautiful forests!
Patricia D.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Our guide Lia was super energetic, friendly, knowledgeable and catered to the group's "wants". The first day fell into the moderate category - challenging surfaces (cobblestones, tank tracks, grassy sandy trails) and a long grunt up a hill in a field. Each day got easier with the last being an easy flat paved surface. Lia provided lots of information about the area's history, especially around WWII and its impact preunification. We visited churches, a castle, an artist's studio, and a Read More concentration camp (briefly).
Tips: brush up on WWII era history before trip, reserve ebike early (6 onboard), ok to pack light as laundry is provided (for a fee).
I've been spoiled by their outstanding quality and don't want to book anywhere else. I'm looking forward to my next trip on Merlijn next summer!
Diane P.
2 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Going to Poland. This trip was too rural and remote. Very few stops and few points of interest. Mainly dirt paths or cobblestone paths that were very difficult to ride a bike on. The farm fields we drove our bikes through were awful, some were full of holes and quite dangerous. I do not recommend this trip for those who have back and neck problems or those who never have rode a mountain bike.
Patsy V.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Classic Lady Poland’s Lake District
Poland
The Lake District of Poland is an undiscovered region of outstanding beauty in Poland and Europe - full of forests, farms, WWII history, fabulous food and welcoming Poles! Add a day or 2 in Warsaw with interesting free guided walking tours and you get a good sense of urban and rural Poland.
The itinerary for riding is a spiderweb of forest dirt roads, very challenging sandy farm roads, traffic for short distances on some paved roads, and lovely low traffic paved roads. This trip reqiires diverse biking skills but with an adventurous spirit, lots of rewards.
Jean H.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Poland’s Lake District
Poland
The trip was much harder than I expected. The rating was easy to moderate but I felt it was moderate to difficult. Going through the sand and gravel paths was challenging even though I had an e-bike. My first trip was from Bruges to the Amsterdam and I had wonderful experiences on a regular bike. But if this Mazuria lakes district was my first trip, I would not have signed up for a second. The Magnifique 2 was much more comfortable and there was free coffee, tea, and even hot chocolate all day long. On the classic lady, there wasn't even free water. The state rooms were comparable on both trips. But the magnifique had a sitting area where we could gather and talk. On the classic lady, we had to sit at the dining room tables to socialize. The food was good
Ruth B.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Loved the buffet meal in Poland-delicious food, great sitting outside by the water, great band & fun dancing!
Kathy D.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
The hosts and tour guides were wonderful. The cabins were superb. The air beds were a treat. Everything was clean.
Cindy K.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
This trip gave insight into East Berlin; life during communism and now. I have spent a lot of time visiting Western Germany - small quaint towns; beautiful hillsides, etc. This trip was more farmland and very rural. The bike path was varied terrain. Many times our lunch was in a small park or church with no town nearby. The Merlijn is a fabulous small boat (22 passengers) with exceptional owners. This was our second trip with the Merlijn.
Patsy V.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Classic Lady Poland’s Lake District
Poland
Seeing Warsaw and the Poland Lake District, places that few Americans go, was on my list to see. Warsaw was a pleasant surprise with free walking tours in English of the old city restoration. The lakes are scenic and the forests around them lovely. Historically they have been a significant element of Poland's past. The biking was challenging for traditional road bikers but offered a new experience in off-road trails.
Edward R.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
The trip was great! The food was prepared by the wife of the captain and it was delicious. The tours were well planned and excellent. We rode 170 miles in 6-days and this is the first time I actually lost weight on a vacation trip. They preferred the tips for the crew to be paid in cash (Euros). Would definitely do another bike and barge again. The attitude, experience and knowledge of the captain and crew of the bike and barge definitely makes or breaks a vacation like this one, but the captain and crew of the Merlin were excellent!
jean h.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Classic Lady Poland’s Lake District
Poland
The sandy and gravelly trails that we rode through the forests...I felt that the rating of easy to moderate was not quite accurate. I had such a good experience on my first bike trip from Bruges to Amsterdam on a regular bike. But I wouldn't have been able to do this one if I didn't have an e-bike. I even stayed on the boat the 4th and
6th days. Also, on the Bruges trip, coffee, tea, water, and even hot chocolate we're always available. But on this trip, you even had to buy your water at dinner. The breakfasts and dinners were both good everyday and the salads were especially delicious. If this was my first trip, there wouldn't have been a second. Maybe if I didn't have the Bruges trip to compare it to, I would have been more satisfied with this one.
Cynthia M.
5 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Classic Lady Poland’s Lake District
Poland
The Classic Lady was a nice barge. It was clean, adequate cabin space, food delicious and staff very nice. This was all good if you just want to go on a barge tour of the Lake District in Poland.
If you want a tour that highlights bicycling, this is not the tour for you. We went to both Cycle and see the area. The routes we were taken on were unsafe and basically unrideable. The course is approximately 80% in the woods on deep sandy, moderately rolling hills. The sand was so deep (4 inches and more) everyone was off their bikes walking. When you did get some cycling going it was a slow go with hands tightly on the handlebars, praying that you didn't fall. Everyone, including our guide, fell at least one maybe 2-4 times. Many get road rash and some hurt shoulders, hips and knees. Several folks only road 2-3 days out of 6 because of the course conditions or because they were hurt.
This is an unfit tour for anyone.
Nancy B.
6 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
The most memorable part of our bike and barge trip from Malchin to Berlin was the day we biked on the Isle of Usedom. The landscape was beautiful, the beach front area was full of interesting shops and restaurants where we ate spaghetti ice, a childhood favorite treat of my husband. He has waited years to share this moment with our kids. We topped off the day with a swim in the Baltic Sea which was full of big waves and surrounded by soft, white sand.
sandy • 6 years ago
Nancy
Thank you for your review. I went on a tour from Amsterdam to Brugges.
It was rated EASY and was NOT because some days the biking was
40 miles on fat tire bikes. I cannot get an explanation as to why this trip has an easy/moderate rating? Are there long hills??
I'm debating if I should go and if I do rent and e-bike.
I do hope to hear from you
Sandy
Kathryn H.
6 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
One of my favorite parts of the trip was jumping off the boat into the canal. It was the end of a long, fun day of bike riding. The canal was clear and perfect for jumping. Everyone jumped off and everyone did fun tricks. The funniest was when Paul fell off and I never could keep a straight face around him again (Paul didn't get hurt except his pride btw). Captain Henk even put down a ladder to make climbing to the dock easier.
Kerry C.
7 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
The entire trip was memorable. We had dinner at a restaurant on the dock one night and celebrated a birthday. The live band was excellent and it was a great opportunity to get to know our fellow travelers.
We booked the trip as we knew that East Germany and Poland was somewhere we would probably not travel to. We were amazed at how vast, undeveloped and beautiful the countryside is. The biking and barging was great!
Richard C.
7 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Really enjoyed the quality of the bike paths in Germany.
Patrick C.
7 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Have done a number of trips with Tripsite and this ranks among the best. The Merlijn was a first class barge run by a first class staff! The biking through the forests and countryside of East Germany and Poland was magnificent and very ably guided. Would recommend this trip to anyone. Looking forward to next years adventure with Tripsite!!!
Emilee B.
7 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Great Crew! Very friendly! Food was amazing. Never mind trying to pack a small suitcase, pack a big one there's plenty of room under the bed.
Pat C.
7 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
This is a trip that we probably would not have done on our own. It was well organized with a great crew, about (the Majestic) and guides that were most informative and will to do anything for the group. We had a great diversity in biking ability but all were handled with respect and in a light and friendly manner. The trip through the forests and lands of East Germany and Poland was magnificent and would recommend this trip to anyone. As repeat customers of Tripsite I can think of no reason to book with anyone else! Looking forward to next year already!
Judith A.
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
I feel our guide could have been a little more organised with our daily route but I also have to remember that the biking from Berlin to Malchin is a route that has not been done very often.
I am unable to pick one outstanding moment. Just being able to bike in eastern Germany & Poland was so outstanding & while biking to think of all the history of the area. It is also wonderful to think that efforts are being made to make a vast ecological area over the next few years in some of the region along canals where we were biking.
Ann R.
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
The owners of the barge are on board and are involved in daily running of the ship. They made me feel like a guest in their home!
Rita D.
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
EVERYTHING stands out! From the greeting & service by the staff, (Lydia/Denisa) the guide Jack, the Captain & Jontein who ran the whole enterprise, Merlijn. The food. Lovely ever-changing table settings, The ample, fresh cabins, fresh flowers, excellent bikes and super maintenance & care, knowledgeable, friendly guiding thru the towns, memorials, history of the area. Capable, expert, amazing,skill of the Captain thru the narrow canals & rivers. The homegrown entertainment. We are putting a deposit on '18. ('17 is BOOKED!)
Christopher P.
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
The Merlijn is a terrific vessel and the owners, Jantien & Henk and their staff are first rate.
Highly recommended.
Lisa W.
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
Everything was great but it was our crew that made it so special.
Joyce Thompson
9 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Merlijn Berlin to Malchin
Germany, Poland
We had a great time; the bike guide (Tom) did a super job. Hope we have this same great experience on our next trip.
Virginia Cullen
9 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Princess Berlin to Stralsund
Germany, Poland
Have taken several trips with Tripsite......not one of my favorites. Biking wasn't as interesting as many of the other trips you represent.
Bike + Boat Tour Reviews by Country
Boat/Barge Reviews
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- Magnifique III
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