Cycling Holidays

Cycle. Discover a new country. Relax. Feel the freedom. Take a holiday with a difference. Cycle far. Take it easy. Self-guided or guided. The very best holiday memories. Your step by step journey to better cycling holidays altogether starts here.

Cycling holidays are for everyone. Our itineraries are designed for all ages, individuals, families and couples, whether you are a first time cyclist or experienced. We offer a range of gentle touring or more active holidays, but on all of our trail holidays we transport your luggage to the next hotel, so all you have to do is enjoy the views.

Our itineraries are designed for anyone who loves cycling, whatever your age or ability, and whether you like to travel as a family, a couple, with a group of friends or on your own. We offer a range of tours for both occasional cyclists who enjoy shorter distances and flat cycle paths away from traffic, as well as tours for more experienced cyclists who relish the challenge of a few hills. Depending on the tour you choose, you could cover anything from 10-35 miles in a day (2-4 hours of cycling), leaving plenty of time to stop off along the way, take photos, enjoy some wonderful sightseeing or just have a leisurely lunch. Wherever you go on an HF Holidays’ cycling break you can be sure to find freedom and relaxation.

Looking for a short break? Click here to find out more about our shorter tours, as well as prices for some of our holidays that we have tailored for you to enjoy over a weekend, or whenever you feel like getting away for a couple of days.

We work with well-established local agents abroad to ensure that you are well looked after on your holiday. Our expertise together with their local knowledge is a combination that you can rely on.

Detailed information

	The price includes
	Cycling grades
	Bicycle information
	Cycle routes and itineraries
	Where you'll stay
	Important information about travelling
	Travel information
	How to book

The price includes

The specific details of what is included in each holiday are shown on the individual holiday pages. Please check these details carefully as different holidays offer different inclusions. For example, although we are able to arrange some transfers by rail for guests booking "with flight" holidays, some transfers can only be arranged locally.

The price does not include

• Insurance - it is a booking requirement that you have travel insurance for your holiday.
• Local taxes - on holidays to Holland and our Lake Balaton tour, a tourist tax is levied by the local councils which is payable by guests locally.
• Meals en route except as provided by airline.
• Local transport excursion costs and entrance fees except where specifically listed on the holiday page as an inclusion.
  

[Back to the top]

Cycling grades

At HF Holidays we appreciate that it can sometimes be difficult to choose between the wide variety of destinations and types of holiday, particularly if you are new to cycling, or want to try something a bit different. It is important to choose a holiday that offers a level of cycling you will be comfortable with, so we have developed a grading system to give our guests an idea of what each holiday offers. As well as this you will notice that we have included a paragraph about each tour explaining the cycling in more detail, and in this way hope to offer as much information as possible.

Very easy Route on all or mostly cycle paths Flat terrain, smooth surfaces Suitable for all, particularly for families

Easy Route on a mixture of cycle paths and quiet roads Terrain mostly flat, but some smaller hills and possibly uneven surfaces Normal, good physical condition sufficient

Moderate Route mainly on quiet roads Some hills, terrain can be uneven For more frequent cyclists

[Back to the top]

Bicycle information

See each holiday location for detailed information regarding bike hire and accessories.

Breakdown
On some tours it is essential to be able to repair a puncture and a repair kit will be provided in this instance. On other tours there are repair stations and bicycle replacement centres where you can exchange your bicycle. In the event of a breakdown which you are unable to repair yourself you can simply phone the contact numbers of the local agent or hotel provided in your tour information pack and they will provide you with advice on the correct course of action.

Using your own bike
Reductions: 7 days £15 and 5 days £10 per person for holidays abroad.

[Back to the top]

Cycle routes and itineraries

We offer a range of tours for both occasional cyclists who enjoy shorter distances and flat cycle paths away from traffic, as well as tours for more experienced cyclists who relish the challenge of a few hills. Depending on the tour you choose, you could cover anything from 10-35 miles in a day (2-4 hours of cycling), leaving plenty of time to stop off along the way, take photos, enjoy some wonderful sightseeing or just have a leisurely lunch. On holidays where you are based in one hotel, there will be a choice of one-day bike excursions in the surrounding area.

Tour itineraries
Tour itineraries are subject to changes from time to time and we will notify you of any amendments as soon as we are given notice of them.

Guided tours
Local guides are English speaking and have proven knowledge and experience.

Luggage transport
On all of our trail holidays, your luggage will be transported for you. Luggage is usually left in the hotel or guesthouse reception each morning and couriers will deliver it to your next destination, allowing you to enjoy a carefree day of cycling. Please ensure that every piece of luggage to be transported is labelled with your details. If there is any limit on the weight of your luggage or the number of suitcases you may take, this is explained in your tour information booklet.

[Back to the top]

Where you'll stay

All hotels have been chosen on the basis of suitability for our guests, and their continued use is only on the basis of their being well received by our guests. As we do not own the hotels we cannot of course directly control standards. It is important to remember that things will be different abroad and life often revolves at a slower pace than we are used to. Star ratings are those of the country concerned and do not necessarily compare to the same rating in the UK (there is not a standard European system). If you do have any problems at the hotel, it is essential that you raise these with the hotel owner at the time, as they are in the best position to try to resolve the situation, and if you have not done this at the time it is not normally possible to take any action after the holiday.

Hotel facilities
Facilities available can vary considerably at different times of the year, and closing and opening dates will often be varied without prior notice. If a particular facility is important to you, please contact us and we will try to obtain information on the latest situation.

Bedrooms
In some European hotels (especially in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary) be aware that a twin-bedded room may not have two separate beds as they do in England. They use a large double bed frame with 2 separate mattresses and separate bedding, this is sold as a twin room. It is not possible for us to guarantee that a twin room will have separate beds as our partner agents use many different hotels in order to provide as much availability as possible. If separate beds are important to you then you should consider booking two single rooms and pay a single supplement.

Meals
Breakfast may be a simple continental fare of bread rolls or a larger buffet-style meal. Dinner may be in either your hotel or a nearby restaurant and some hotels offer a daily choice of menu; others offer a set meal with limited choices. Requests for vegetarian food or special diets should be detailed on your booking form and will be passed on to the hotel and airline concerned, but some hotels are much better able to cope with this than others. Vegetarianism as a concept is still not well understood in France for example.

[Back to the top]

Important information about travelling

Your health
Health regulations can change and you should check requirements for specific areas with your doctor at least two months before travelling. We recommend that you read the Department for Health leaflet: Health Advice for Travellers, which can be obtained from your local Post Office. We also recommend that you obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment that becomes necessary while you're in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. Further details are also available from the Department for Health on 0800 555 777 or visit: www.dh.gov.uk. Apply for your EHIC now on-line or at you local post office.

In particular guests travelling on holidays to Austria, Germany, Hungary, Sweden and Switzerland should be aware of Tick Bourne Encephalitis, which has become more prevalent in recent years. You can find out more information about TBE from www.masta.org or for a vaccination you should contact your doctor at least 3 months before travelling.

Passport and visas
For British citizens with right of residence a 10-year passport is required for entry to all countries. Holders of passports issued outside the UK should check entry requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate or tourist office.

Public holidays and tourist information
As is common practice in most countries, shops, museums, other public services and amenities are often closed during public holidays or local festivals. Some of the information given to describe the local areas and things to do is supplied by the relevant tourist offices, and is meant to be a guide only and could be subject to change.

Web information accuracy and local conditions
Every care has been taken in compiling our web information to ensure that the facts are correct. HF Holidays has specialist knowledge of cycling holidays and senior members of our staff check most of the tours personally. However, please bear in mind, as stated previously, circumstances beyond our control can sometimes alter the tour, facilities and schedules. We would always endeavour to notify you of any changes we know about before your departure.

[Back to the top]

Travel information

Prices and method of travel
When you book your holiday you have a choice of methods of travel and on each holiday page we provide you with the best options for travelling to that chosen destination, for example, flight and rail or a specific ferry route. For each method of travel a price is listed to show you how much you will pay for your holiday. In all cases we also give you an "own travel" price, which allows you to find your own way to the start of the holiday. In this way we hope to allow you the flexibility of being able to take advantage of special offers from airlines and ferry companies that we would not be able to purchase for you. When travelling by car ferry we presume a minimum of 2 adults per car and where there are additional adults travelling in the same car you should take the "own travel" price as the price for an extra adult. Ferry prices are set on a fixed number of passengers in each car and there are additional costs if you have more or less than the set number. Check each route as listed for these set numbers and additional costs.

Booking flights
We offer flights on a request basis only and the flights listed in the brochure suggest purely provisional departure times and prices. After your booking has been confirmed, we will ask you to confirm your flight requirements and details in writing. We will then put in a request with our flight department, and then contact you with the flights we have available and the price at the time you make the request. It is usually necessary to ticket the flights immediately in order to hold them, and if this is the case then you will need to pay for your flight at the same time you pay your deposit. Flights are non-changeable and non-refundable. An administration fee of £10 is applied to all flights booked through us.

Travelling with your bicycle
By ferry - there is a charge on most ferries. On a bicycle rack at the back of the car it is free.

By air - bicycles are generally carried free on the plane as part of your luggage allowance, although, there may be a small excess baggage charge. Bikes should be boxed in order to prevent damage; some bike shops will box your bike for you for a small fee. Check direct with your airline carrier for more information.

Own travel
If you decide to arrange your own travel it is essential that you contact us before making any unalterable travel arrangements so that we can confirm availability of the tour and accommodation. Tour availability is only confirmed once all booking details have been provided along with a credit card number to pay the deposit. If this information has not been provided we cannot guarantee tour availability.
If you are making your own travel arrangements then you must ensure that you arrive in time for the start of the tour, in order to pick up bicycles or information packs. We are not able to offer any discounts for any part of the holiday (including meals) that you may miss due to late arrival.

Travelling with children
The recommended minimum age for children on all European holidays is 10 years old. If travelling with younger children please contact us before making your booking for advice on the suitability of the tour that you are interested in. Discounts for children apply to sharing the parents' room - 1 child per room only. See individual relevant tours for details of child prices.

Children's bicycles
Although it is possible to hire bicycles for children, we strongly recommend that you bring your own child bicycles to ensure peace of mind regarding fit and suitability for your child. The child bicycles in Holland have NO handbrakes or gears, just fixed wheel brakes operated by pedaling backwards, which can be difficult for children to adjust to.

Car parking facilities
On most of our cycling holidays you can park your car in the car park of your first hotel for the duration of your holiday. At some locations there is a charge for car parking facilities, of which you will be informed. Where parking charges are very high we recommend a flight option rather than taking your car by ferry.

[Back to the top]

How to book

To improve our service, some calls may be monitored or recorded.

Either phone us direct:
Local Rate: 0845 458 0120 (from outside the UK +44 20-8732 1280)
Monday - Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Or enquire on-line click here.

Or in writing by post, Fax 020-8732 1240 or e-mail cycling@hfholidays.co.uk

Deposit payment
Once you have made a booking and all the details (accommodation and transport arrangements) have been confirmed you can pay the deposit for your holiday by credit card, debit card or cheque (UK pounds only). Cheques should be made payable to HF Holidays Ltd.

If paying your deposit (£100) by cheque, send it with your completed booking form and insurance premium (if applicable) within 7 days, otherwise the booking will be cancelled. If you pay your deposit by credit / debit card over the phone we will automatically take the final balance when it is due, unless you send a cheque 2 weeks before payment is due. It is essential that you read the conditions of booking before making any payment. A 1% charge is made for final payements paid by credit card.

Please note you must be a member or an Associate to book an HF Holidays' break.
To become an Associate, £1 is added when booking your first holiday in any year. This covers you for subsequent holidays within one year. Or become a full member by investing in share capital (minimum £25). The money invested remains yours and may attract interest. Further details available on request.

Confimation invoice
Once we have received your booking and deposit, we will send a confirmation invoice with a booking reference to the lead name only. Please do check this very carefully. The final balance will be due six weeks before your holiday starts, this will be highlighted on the invoice. If you pay your deposit by credit or debit card, we will automatically take the balance when it is due, unless you tell us not to. If the booking is made within eight weeks of departure full payment will be required at the time of booking.

Tickets and holiday information
You will be sent your travel documents and other useful information approximately 10 days before your departure date, providing we have received the full payment.
Please carefully check all timings and information on your travel documents when you first receive them.

Late booking fee
As bookings are finalised with hotels and airlines five weeks prior to departure, requests after this date must be accompanied by full payment prior to our applying for extra rooms and seats. A late booking fee of £10 per person will apply.

Paying the balance for your holiday
You are welcome to pay for your holiday by credit or debit cards. We accept Visa, Mastercard and Switch. Payments can be made over the phone at time of booking. A 1% charge is made for final payements paid by credit card.

Where payments are made by credit or debit card, any refund will be made through the cardholder's account and not by cheque.

Cheques should be made payable to HF Holidays Ltd with your holiday booking reference written on the back of the cheque.

Please note we do NOT accept foreign currency by personal cheque.

Payments from outside the UK
We accept payments by certain credit and debit cards or by international money transfer. We do NOT accept foreign currency by personal cheque.

To pay by International Money Transfer in STERLING direct to our bank account.
Our Bank: Lloyds TSB Bank, 105 Station Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7LF
Account Number: 01951033; Sort Code: 30-98-07; Swift Code: LOYDGB2L.
IBAN NUMBERS: GB33LOYD 3098 0701 951033
BIC: LOYDGB 21068

If, for any reason, a refund is given, this will be paid by sterling cheque.

[Back to the top]