Bike Tours including Bike About Tours in Paris and Versailles Comments and Suggestions Please :)

Kelly, I see that you read my other post on this subject. Looking at the Bike About website I think the Blue Bike might be a better route because they hit many of the major attractions but that is just my opinion. Blue Bike and Fat Bike are two very popular and highly rated tours. Obviously my only experience was with Blue Bike and I can't recommend them enough. I'd wear shorts (OMG people on this forum abhor shorts!) if the weather is hot. Even if it is supposed to rain just go as they provide ponchos and you'll still have a good time. It was just a great way to see a lot of the major sights and a bunch of minor ones we would have never known about otherwise. Some of the best sightseeing dollars we spent.

I've done the Fat Tire Bike Tour and really enjoyed it.

Richard and Miranda,

Thanks for your replies! We are trying to decide on which tour to go on. We are interested in the major attractions but also the minor places that the locals like to go and eat and shop, etc.

We will be on a tour one of the days we are there that includes the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame.

We will also be on a drive by tour to all the major stops with Viking Cruise line.

I'm so glad to hear that you both enjoyed your tours. Did either of you do very much research on Blue Bike, Fat Tire, and Bike About?

It sounds like Blue Bike has a smaller group - that would be nice.

I'm just trying to figure out the best fit for us. We wanted to try and go early on a Saturday morning so we would have time for shopping in the afternoon.

I'm also glad we can wear shorts or capris! I would die without them! Haha!

I'm also planning on wearing sandals every day when possible!

Thanks!

Kelly

Let me recommend a bike tour that takes in some of the villages and byways near Paris; this gives a chance to get off the beaten track and go to some charming places tourists mostly don't get to go. Bruce is an American ex pat married to a French woman who has lived in the Paris area for years and does individually designed tours for small groups of people who want to explore the area. Really great experience. http://www.frenchmystiquetours.com

Thank you so much for your comments.

We are also thinking of a bike tour at Versailles. Any recommendations for a bike tour there?

Great info Janet, thanks!

Mike's Bikes does a bike trip to Versailles that I've heard is very good. We did their Paris tour and enjoyed it although you don't spend much time at any sight.

You can rent bikes at Versailles in the garden by the Grand Canal which we always do. We love to ride all over the massive grounds and stop where we want and spend as much time as we want where we stop. Rates are very reasonable.

Thanks Janet,
I emailed French Mystique Bike Tours for more info. Did he take you as a private group?

Thanks Susan,
I have lots of questions for you.

I can't find a tour for Mike's Bikes bike trip to Versailles or Paris.

How did you like Mike's Paris tour? We are looking for a mix of tourist attractions and off the beaten path.

Do you have to reserve the bikes at the Grand Canal ahead of time and can you tour Marie Antoinette's village area on your own? Do you need a ticket for it? The bike tours offer a picnic lunch (you actually buy the food ahead of time), is there anywhere to buy food and go on our own picnic?

Do you tour Versailles on your own or with a tour group?

We thought it would be good to go early to the Palace on our own (or get an early tour) and then bike on our own although the end of July might be hot in the afternoon.

The tours do the opposite of this and bike first and then tour the palace when I'm sure it would be very busy.

Thanks!