Weigh the pros and cons of a self-directed bicycle tour versus a guided one. Consider your budget, travel companions, desired tourist destinations and travel lifestyle. You may prefer to travel only with family and friends or enjoy meeting new people. A structured itinerary may be too restrictive, or it may offer freedom from making travel arrangements. Older people can ride in the tour bus when they tire of riding a bicycle. On the other hand, a self-directed tour often costs less.
Choose a self-directed tour if you want a flexible schedule and have a limited budget. A self-directed tour offers some of the benefits of a guided tour, such as pre-planned lodging, meals and luggage transportation, but allows you to select the hotel from a number of options or modify the schedule. These tours often cost half the price of a guided tour. Also, cycling routes often stick to back routes where cyclists can interact with the locals.
Book a self-directed tour through a reputable organization or agency, such as Discover France at Discoverfrance.com. Add-on services, such as a single room, are usually available. The organization will provide you with a packing list, and depending on the tour, you may be able to bring your own bicycle. Most of the hotels have a restaurant on site, or if not, close to it. Price listings are in Euros. Discover France takes most American credit cards.
Select a guided tour if you want more structure and a bilingual tour guide. These tours usually include luxury accommodations, provide for local rail and airport transfers, and offer other amenities that self-guided tours do not have. Participants must have the stamina to keep up with daily distance requirements, however, most tours are not that strenuous. Some companies ask for information about the cyclist's fitness level and then match it with appropriate tours.
Book a guided tour well in advance. French Cycling Holidays, based in the United Kingdom, offers a number of guided tours that you can learn more about on their website at Frenchcyclingholidays.com. French Pedals, another company out of the United Kingdom, has four-day and seven-day tours of the countryside in Normandy that you can learn more about on their website at Frenchpedals.co.uk. Other options include renting a bicycle for a day trip as a part of a vacation to France.
