Overview

General Details

Reservations

To reserve a place on a Bike Vermont tour, call us at 800-257-2226 or look for the button on each tour's page. Your reservation will be confirmed upon our receipt of your deposit (subject to availability).

Deposits

Tour deposits (per person) are as follows:
3-Day/2-Night tours: $150.00
4-Day/3-Night tours: $200.00
All other tours: $300.00

Method of Payment

All deposits and final payments can be made in cash, by check, or Visa or MasterCard.

Final Payments, Cancellation & Refund Policies

Final payment is due 60 days prior to the starting day of your tour. All payments can be made by check, VISA, or MasterCard and can be made online at www.bikevt.com/payments or by calling us at 800-257-2226. If your final payment is not received at that time, we will automatically consider your reservation cancelled and your deposit will be non-refundable.

If you must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the following:

Vermont Tours: Number of days prior to trip starting day Cancellation fee per person
61 or more days- no fee
31-60 days- your deposit
0-30 days- all tour payments

Maine, Ireland, Italy, and Scotland Tours: Number of days prior to trip starting day
Cancellation fee per person
61 or more days- no fee
0-60 days- all tour payments

Changing Your Choice of Tours

You may switch your choice of tour, or 2009 tour date, without charge (subject to availability) at any time up to 60 days prior to your tour.

Travel Insurance

Please purchase Trip Cancellation Insurance since we are unable to make any exceptions to our cancellation policy even for personal emergencies. Trip Cancellation Insurance covers the cost of your Bike Vermont tour and other travel expenses in case you cancel for any number of reasons. Compare prices and policies at www.insuremytrip.com or apply directly with CSA Travel at 800-348-9505 or at www.csatravelprotection.com. Canadian citizens will find Trip Cancellation Insurance at www.travelguard.ca

Single Travelers

A limited number of guaranteed private rooms are available on most tours at an additional cost. This cost is indicated on each tour page.

Single travelers willing to share a room will be charged an amount no greater than 50 percent of the guaranteed private room rate and this will be fully refunded if you end up sharing a room with another traveler. This cost is also indicated on each tour page.

The reason for these additional charges is that most of our inns charge Bike Vermont by the room regardless of the number of occupants, but our per person tour rates are based on double occupancy. Therefore it costs Bike Vermont substantially more to have only one occupant in a room. We do want to encourage single travelers and therefore absorb half of the additional cost to us when you end up in a private room without requesting it. You will note that on some tours there is no additional charge for singles "willing to share" and this is because the inns on those tours are not charging Bike Vermont.

The First Day

Except where noted, the first day of each tour is an arrival day only. Cycling begins on the following morning. In Ireland and Scotland we provide transportation to your starting inn from Shannon and Glasgow airports, respectively. In Italy we provide you with a private coach from Florence's Santa Maria Novella Train Station to Siena.

Final Day Details

Our inns provide ample parking for all our tours. On all Maine and Vermont multi-inn tours, your cycling route will bring you back to the starting inn at the end of your tour. Most tours end between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on the final day (depending on the pace you ride). In Ireland and Scotland we provide transportation from the final inn to Shannon Airport and Glasgow Airport, respectively, in time for flights leaving after 1 p.m. In Italy we provide transportation to Foligno and assist you in taking the appropriate train from there to Rome, Florence or Milan.

Pets

Some of our inns have family pets. Let us know if you have any relevant allergies.

Children

Children are very welcome if they are at least 10 years old, are physically capable of participating in the tour, and are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Renting a Bike From Bike Vermont

You can rent an excellent 21 or 24 gear Cannondale or Trek hybrid bicycle from us. We offer dropped and upright handlebars on both diamond (“men’s”) and mixte (“women’s”) frames. Expertly maintained, they come equipped with a front handlebar bag, rear carrier, water bottle, mirror, and warning flag. Toe straps and soft gel seat covers are available (at no charge) on request. Tandems are available on a limited basis (Vermont only - call us for rental prices) for experienced tandem riders. Bike rental prices are as follows:

3-Day/2-Night tour: $40
4-Day/3-Night tour: $60
5-Day/4-Night tour: $80
6-Day/5-Night tour: $100
7-Day/6-Night tour: $110

Bringing Your Own Bike

Your bicycle should have a minimum of 21 gears. Please have your bike thoroughly checked by a professional bike mechanic before you arrive. It is time and money well spent to ensure a pleasant and safe trip. Bikes are stored under cover at the inns each evening.

Kayaking

We offer a kayaking option on a number of our tours. There is an extra charge of $60 per person for the kayaking which includes professional instruction and equipment.

Helmets

Helmets are required. Quality helmets are made available to you at no charge, although we encourage you to bring your own.

Referrals

We would be pleased to provide you with names of people in your area who have been on a Bike Vermont tour.

Confirmation Packet

We will send you a Confirmation Packet with information about your trip as soon as we receive your deposit. Included in this packet are:
Travel Insurance application form
Directions for traveling to your starting inn and public transportation suggestions
Literature about the inns at which you will be staying
Recommended clothing and bicycling equipment
Suggestions for preparing yourself and your bike for the riding
Bicycle safety sheet
Special Dietary Requirements form

Tour Cancellations by Bike Vermont

Although it rarely happens, should we have to cancel your tour, your options are to take a different tour with us, or receive a 100% refund of all your tour payments.