Reviews

visit to wine cave on day 5 Mikulov

Day 5 Mikulov viste to a wine cave . I was so shocked after paying for this visit to be treated to a misogynists account of the role of women in the production of wine given buy the owner of the wine caves ,it was so appalling added to which this man claimed that the pate he was serving was made of song birds . This mans wife made us all a great supper but was not even mentioned until some of us insisted she was thanked . Exodus makes many ethical statements but on this occasion Exadus was a contributor to the degradation of women by allowing an out and out misogynists an arena to peddle so called folklore ,truly horrid Exodus should be ashamed .

Most Inspirational Moment

Budapest

Thoughts on Group Leader

very good ,

Advice for Potential Travellers

avoid the trip to the wine cave in Mikulov

Reply from Exodus

We were very concerned that Marianne found this wine tasting to be a troubling experience. Whilst we have not received feedback of this nature in the past we sincerely appreciate Marianne bringing her experience to our attention. A number of people mention the wine tasting in Mikulov as one of their highlights and so we are confident that this was a one-off occurrence, however we have asked our local manager to share this with the owner of the wine caves, and our tour leaders will keep a close eye as to whether any similar situations arise, and report back to Exodus.

Claire Ouditt – Product Manager

Fantastic Scenery and Historic Sites

An amazing tour led by an amazing guide (Dana); saw gorgeous scenery and beautiful, historic towns/villages/cities; great food and company all the way. Only improvement would be more time to spend in each place!!!

Cycle Trip - Prague to Budapest

A very good trip for our small group of 7. We averaged about 60km of cycling per day and that was ok, except when it got windy and we had a couple of wet days, which slowed progress. The group got on very well and we did experience different levels of cycling capability, so there was some waiting periods for some, but no-one worried about this.
Day planning was excellent with the guide co-ordinating things well.

Another great trip with Exodus!

To start, I would have given an excellent review but for the fact (1) that it’s not very well vehicle supported because of where we were riding. No one had any issues, but for those who would like or are used to significant vehicle support, this is not. It is less than posted in the website; and ((2) the bikes were not very good. (We did the Vietnam bike ride and that was fully supported and had much better bikes). But, the bikes were serviceable.

That being said, the trip was wonderful as the route was beautiful, the places were interesting, the guides were nice, and Peter had a wealth of knowledge about the places. And, to boot, our fellow riders were a great group.

The weather varied, so be prepare for heat and rain. And, the small towns frequently did not take credit cards so be sure to bring lots of cash (or get it from ATM).

The hotels were fine but I think some US travelers would find it significantly different from what they’re used to if, for example, they went with Backroads. For example, a couple of the places had no hair dryers, and one only provided soap. But, we wouldn’t trade this trip for one with the US companies. You ride more with exodus and you get more days. And, who needs a hair dryer when you’re going to have helmet hair anyway? But, I know some people care.

I wished the trip was longer so you could have spent, for example, another night in Vienna. We arrived early and spent time in Prague before the trip started and stayed an extra day in Budapest at the end. We highly recommend that, if you can swing the time. (I guess we’ll have to come back on our own and do Vienna again!)

Overall, great trip. Our second with exodus. Our first was through Vietnam-that was an awesome trip!!! We’ll be back!

Prague to Budapest Cycle

The riding and scenery, including all towns/cities we stopped at were off-the-dial fabulous.

Prague to Budapest via Bratislava and Vienna

A collage of cycling and walking tours, learning local histories and enjoying old cities, castles and rivers, mixed with meeting and making friends with the touring group. And don’t forget the food.

A Great Ride!

The best way to see the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary is by bike and taking this fabulously guided tour. These countries are well versed in cycling and have bike paths that go for miles and miles and are in good condition. There is some cycling that happens on main roads but cars are very accommodating of cyclists. The most difficult terrain is in the first couple of days with a lot of undulating hills. For this it is best if you have some cycling experience. Strangely enough the terrain turns flat about half way through the trip which is good for a while but believe it or not as scenic as the countryside is, you’ll find yourself wishing for the odd hill or two just for variety and believe me that’s not something I thought I ever would have said.
Transfers on the bus are minimal compared to other trips which is good because the bus is small and we had an excellent driver so safety was never an issue.
The accommodation included a mix of hotels and pensions. You can expect twin beds which is noteworthy if travelling as a couple. This is the European way and in most cases the beds could be pushed together if you wanted. On only one occasion did we have beds with the springs being not far below the surface and in another there was no hot water which was disappointing after a long days cycle but on the whole they were very satisfactory and everything was well organised upon our arrival. They were also centrally located which was a bonus in the bigger cities.
The spread at breakfast was excellent at every stop. However, I should mention that if you’re gluten free like myself, it is more of a challenge. I picked up some supplies in Prague and carried them with me. Also, the restaurants and cafes we stopped at also don’t cater to gluten free and throw in vegetarian and it can get tricky. Our guide was really helpful in trying to ensure I at least got something at lunch and dinner. There are regular stops near shops to pick up supplies.
You will find the bikes themselves to be heavier than what you’re used to but you soon adapt. They were safely locked away each night and spares are carried in case there are any problems along the way.
Our starts in the morning were at reasonable times which is great if like myself you’re not a morning person. At the end of each day, the following days information would be shared.
There are plenty of breaks throughout the day starting with morning coffee, followed by lunch and an afternoon break on longer ride days. There were a few occasions were it would have been better to push on especially when it was pouring rain and you were soaked as stopping for a lengthy time only allowed you to get cold. My suggestion would be to poll the group and possibly do shorter stops especially when the weather is bad.
Our group spent almost the entire trip together including at night and free time. Dinners were often followed by nightcaps in the hotel bar. A great way to end the day!
It was extremely helpful in the bigger cities that our guide gave us an overview as it really helped us get our bearings for our free time. Our morning tours of some of the smaller towns were a great start to the day and the scenery was spectacular.

Stunning, fantastic holiday

Gorgeous architecture, scenic and peaceful cycling route and (mostly) fabulous weather.

Prague to Budapest bicycle

It was a good trip. We rode about 30 miles/day, sometimes with hills (northern Czech Republic), but later fairly flat. The riders were in good shape. There were opportunities to rest throughout the day, having beverage/snack/lunch breaks. The lodgings were fine and clean. The breakfasts provided at the lodgings were very good & varied to suit most traveler’s desires. There was good information provided as we traveled about the culture & history of the area. The other travelers were very friendly throughout the trip. It is a very good value for the dollar (or pound or Euro).

Four Countries in 10 days !

This was my 12th holiday with Exodus (my 9th cycle tour) and one of the best, so it is not often I feel that I wish to write a review, so here goes !
This tour is a great way to see four countries and four capital cities of central Europe, all in just 10 days. Our group comprised a friendly bunch – a mix of English, Australian & Americans and with me, the token Scot of the group !We were lead by a very professional team of Dana along with Hynek and driver Lubos.