If the answer to your question is not here, please don't hesitate to email us here!
THERE ARE MANY BIKE TOUR COMPANIES. WHY SHOULD I COME WITH PUNTOTOURS?
The feedback we receive from our guests who have had experience
travelling with other tour companies is that the quality of hotels is
better, the hire bikes are of a higher standard, the Garmin navigation
is superior to typed route notes and the level of service is unparalled.
CAN I SPEAK TO SOMEONE WHO'S DONE A TOUR WITH YOU?
We have many guests who are happy to speak about their experience on tour with us. Just let us know which tour you’re interested in and we’ll endeavour to put you in touch with that person.
DO YOU REWARD REGULAR GUESTS?
We are very fortunate to have a loyal following of “Puntos” and would love to count you as one! Check out our Loyalty offers.
You can! Check out the details of hiring one of our high-end Cipollini road bikes.
Definitely! Some riders feel at one with their machine and it’s great doing a tour on your own bike. Refer to our Bikes page for details.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP GUIDES AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS?
Tips are greatly appreciated by the guides. It is entirely at your discretion but guests usually leave between €100 - €200 per guide, on occasion more if guides have gone above and beyond. Typically tips are given at the end of the trip to thank guides for their exceptional service and expertise. There is no need to tip wait staff in t
HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY SHOULD I BRING?
That’s a very personal decision. On a daily basis you will need enough spending money for coffee, extra snacks and lunch. On longer tours you may have one dinner on your own, and you may choose to join the wine kitty. Depending on your style of travel, expect to spend about €20-€50 per day.
WILL MY MOBILE PHONE WORK IN EUROPE?
Most mobile phones work in Europe. Depending on where you are the quality of coverage will vary, for example the mountains are less reliable than cities or towns. Before traveling, check with your mobile provider that your phone will work overseas, and what the charges will be. Be aware that data roaming is what will hike up the phone bill. Alternatively you can buy a prepaid SIM in the country you’ll be travelling in.
HOW ABOUT INTERNET AND WIFI?
Most hotels have WiFi services. Access speeds and fees vary from hotel to hotel. Connectivity in some locations such as the mountains can be unreliable. And we have a free wifi service in the van.
WHAT KIND OF TRIP INFORMATION DO YOU PROVIDE?
Our website provides an overview and daily itinerary summary. When you book a tour with us, you become a Punto! Your Member login will give you access to your tour booking, detailed information for your tour and helpful info to ensure you are ready for your cycling holiday.
WILL I BE MET AT THE AIRPORT? ARE TRANSFERS INCLUDED?
As guests arrive from different countries, on different flights and at different times, PuntoTours nominates a convenient meeting point. In most cases this will be our start hotel. Airport transfers are generally not included. Once you book a tour, refer to our 'Getting There'N Back Again' guide for all the arrival and departure information you need.
WHAT KIND OF CYCLISTS TAKE YOUR TOURS?
There is no mold! We have had cyclists from 18-72 years of age, some choosing easy, others choosing extremely challenging tours. We firmly believe we have something for almost all cycling abilities. Use our Difficulty Rating to help you select a tour that suits what you want. We're happy to talk it over with you if you're unsure.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT DO YOU OFFER?
Our Tours are fully serviced tours. You will have warm, friendly, expert guide and vehicle support the whole way. The guides on tour are at your service from early morning till late at night. During this time we will fix punctures, transfer your luggage, give you an encouraging word or helpful push, share bike skills and local knowledge, organise a recovery massage, the list goes on …. Ask us and we will always do our best to meet your requirements.
HOW MUCH RIDING DO I HAVE TO DO?
As much or as little as you want. It’s your holiday. You determine how much you want to ride. You can, on any day, choose to cut a ride short, miss a climb, only do the downhills, have a rest day or ask for more! The van is always handy if you choose not to ride, and a guide is always willing to do some extra distance if you wish. You just need to ask.
WHAT KIND OF SHAPE DO I NEED TO BE IN?
Our difficulty rating will give you a fair indication of what fitness level you should be at. We always recommend that you see your doctor about your travel plans and seek their opinion on your state of health. Feel free to talk to us about which trip you have in mind as many tours offer short and long route options. We also have daily van support if you feel you’d like to take a break from riding. With our guidance and support we have never had a guest feel they had bitten off more than they could chew!
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL THERE BE ON A PUNTOTOUR?
It depends on the season but it could be from 6 to 12 people. The reason we keep our group sizes smaller than many other tour companies is to ensure each guest receives the best support we can provide. We can also stay in delightful hotels and dine in restaurants, some of which are small establishments and would struggle to cater for larger groups, but are perfect for us.
CAN YOU BOOK EXTRA HOTEL NIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE TOUR?
Yes, we are happy to book extra nights accommodation for you at our start and finish hotels. We have great relations with our hotels and get good group rates. Note that our rates may not be quite as cheap as you may get using one of the many hotel booking sites, but it certainly saves you time.
MY SCHEDULE IS TIGHT. CAN I JOIN THE TOUR LATE OR LEAVE EARLY?
We understand that life can be busy, and are happy to assist in helping you fit in a well earned holiday. Let us know the tour you are interested in and your proposed dates, and we'll quickly let you know what the best options are for that tour. We do offer a discounted tour fee for shortened tours, which depends on the tour location and group size.
CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE A NON-RIDER?
Non-riders are always welcome, and our Earth tours are especially suitable for non-riding companions. There are activities for non-riders while their partners are out on the morning ride, with the whole group enjoying what's on for the afternoon and evenings. We tend to stay in each location at least two nights so that even on tours not as suited to non-riders, they can explore to their heart's content or follow the group in the support vehicle. Such tours may have a discounted tour fee for non-riders.
WHAT IS THE PRICE FOR A NON-RIDER?
Non-riders are equal members of the group, and enjoy the same hotels, restaurants, activities and guide services as riders, so the price for non-riders is usually the same. Some tours with very little extra activity options for non-riders may have a discounted tour fee.
WHAT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?
All international travel requires a valid passport. Please check with your consulate if you will require a visa for the country you have chosen to do a tour in. You may also need an international motor vehicle license if you intend driving abroad.
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO I NEED TO BOOK?
We recommend booking your trip as early as possible so you can take advantage of airline flight specials. Based on availability and hotel accommodation, last-minute bookings may be taken up to two weeks prior to tour start date.
IF I BOOK A TOUR, CAN I BE GUARANTEED THAT IT WILL RUN?
We usually need a minimum of 6 people to run our tours but have run some tours on less. Tours that have sufficient numbers to go ahead are indicated as 'Confirmed Departure'. If a trip must be canceled due to low numbers or circumstances beyond our control, we will make every effort to do so at least 60 days prior to the trip start date. We will recommend an alternative tour or if this is not acceptable a full refund will be issued.