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.

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..

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
	Choosing your holiday
	Cycling grades
	Bicycle information
	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.

The price does not include

• Insurance - it is a booking requirement that you have travel insurance for your holiday.
• Flights and transfers to the start of your holiday (unless specified).
• 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.
  

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Choosing your holiday

At HF Holidays, we know you can be spoilt for choice when it comes to destinations and types of holidays. That is why we have grouped our cycling holidays into four types to make your decision simplicity itself!

Bike and Boat Bike and Boat holidays are much more than a cycling holiday. You can enjoy scenic views from both the saddle and the deck. During the day, explore the area by bike. In the evening, return to your comfortable boat accommodation for dinner with fellow guests. Enjoy dinner with a view, relax on the deck and meet new people. On many of our tours, if you decide not to cycle you are welcome to stay on board during the day. (Bike and Boat cycling holidays are sold on a full board basis, to make your holiday totally hassle-free.) Many of our Bike and Boat holidays are guided and include the services of an English-speaking guide who will tell you about all the best sights and organise the daily guided cycling. On the Self-Guided Bike and Boat holidays, there will be a multi-lingual tour guide on board who will provide you with route directions and maps so you have the flexibility to cycle at your own speed during the day. Where can I go Croatia: Dalmatian National Parks & Islands France: Along the Loire Valley and Burgundy Biking & Barging Holland/Belgium: Tulip Tour, Historic Towns of Holland, The Northern Shores & the IJssel Lake, Around the IJssel Lake, IJssel Lake Family Tour, Amsterdam to Bruges and Amsterdam to Brussels Italy: Waterways Towards Venice

Relax and Cycle Relax and Cycle holidays are ideal for cyclists who like to stay in one hotel and enjoy daily cycle routes in the local area. These tours are great for guests who want to immerse themselves in a particular region. They give you maximum time for exploring and enjoyment without the need for daily luggage transfers and packing. HF Holidays provide you with cycle route notes so you can decide which routes you want to follow. If you prefer, why not enjoy a day out of the saddle and explore some of the local sights instead. The choice is yours! (Relax and Cycle holidays are generally available on a half-board or bed and breakfast basis.) Where can I go Holland: The Loosdrecht Lakes Hungary: Explore Lake Balaton Slovenia: Around Lake Bled

Self-Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours are our most popular tours. Perfect for everyone, they allow you to cycle at your own speed in the knowledge that your accommodation and luggage transfers have all been pre-arranged. You will be given route notes, maps and sightseeing suggestions. Stop where you want to, visit whichever sights take your fancy and enjoy the stunning scenery. With Self-Guided Tours, you can explore your chosen country from a different hotel or a different area every night. As you would expect, we work with local agents, so if you have any problems en route, there is always back-up. These tours are usually on a bed and breakfast basis which means you can get to know the local cuisine for lunch and dinner! If you prefer, half-board packages are often available at a supplement. Where can I go Austria/Germany/Switzerland: Austrian Lakes & Mountains, Around Lake Constance, Leisurely Lake Constance, Passau to Vienna, Leisurely Danube, The River Inn Trail, Along the Rhine and The Mosel Valley Denmark: Copenhagen & North Sealand and Fairytale Denmark France: Vineyards of Bordeaux to the Atlantic Coast and Historic Dordogne Holland/Belgium: Holland in a Nutshell, Historic Towns of Holland and Northern Shores & the IJssel Lakes Ireland: The Dingle Peninsula and The Ring of Kerry Italy: Veneto Highlights Slovenia: Slovenian Vineyards & Hot Springs

Guided Tours If you enjoy meeting and cycling with other people and the reassurance of being in a group, then a Guided Tour is definitely for you! Our guided cycling holidays are accompanied by an English speaking leader who will ensure that you get from A to B and also get the most out of the area. Like the Self-Guided Tours, you will be staying in a different hotel most nights. These tours depart on specific dates and are on a half-board or full-board basis depending on the tour. Where can I go Croatia: Dalmatian National Parks & Islands France: Along the Loire Valley and Burgundy Biking & Barging Holland/Belgium: Tulip Tour, Around the IJssel Lake, IJssel Lake Family Tour, Amsterdam to Bruges and Amsterdam to Brussels Hungary: Vienna to Budapest and the Hungarian Spa Tour Italy: Veneto Highlights and Waterways Towards Venice Slovenia: Slovenian Vineyards & Hot Springs

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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.

Very easy Route totally (or mostly) on 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 roads Some hills, terrain can be uneven and can include sections on gravel and grass tracks. For more frequent cyclists Majority follow quiet roads but some tours have sections on busier roads.

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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.

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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.

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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 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.

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Travel information

We can provide a flight booking service, including flights from regional airports, for a small administrative fee of £10 per person. Please call our Cycling Department for more information.

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
We are happy to advise on the suitability of any tour, however a selection of holidays are indicated as great for families. We are able to offer one discounted child price per full paying adult. See individual relevant tours for details of child price.

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.

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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 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 payments 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 £100). 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.

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