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FAQs - Cycling holidays

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Frequently asked questions about cycle holidays

Answers & information at a glance

We have compiled the most important answers to the most frequently asked questions about our cycle tours for you here. If your question remains unanswered, please feel free to contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

Arrival and departure cycle tours


Arrival

Our cycling tours usually begin once you have made your own way to the tour’s starting point. This means you organise your own journey there (unless you have booked a separate train travel package or one is included). You will receive our recommendations and tips with your travel documents. We only arrange train tickets; bus or flight tickets cannot be booked through us.

Car park
As convenient as travelling by car may be, finding suitable car parking is not always easy in many places. We’ve made sure of that! In Passau and in Nauders on the Etsch Cycle Route, we have rented private plots of land. On circular cycle tours, you can park – often free of charge – at your booked hotel or in the immediate vicinity.
Journey to Salzburg and Mallnitz: car park included (including any extra nights’ stay)

If the car park is not included, you’ll find parking information, including approximate prices, directly on the route (Day 1) in the catalogue or on the homepage for the respective tour.

Train tickets
Our DB rail travel package is available from anywhere in Germany to the destinations of the Danube, the Moselle, Potsdam and Dresden for just an additional €106 per person for a return journey. On some tours, this convenient outward and return journey is already included! The DB rail travel package is valid for travel on long-distance trains (IC, ICE, EC/2nd class) on the specified date and route to the advertised arrival point as per the tour, including a reserved seat and return journey. Journeys from anywhere in Austria to Germany can be booked as an add-on for an additional charge if the rail travel package is already included. A seat reservation is included with all our tickets.

ÖBB tickets cost €95 per person for a return journey in 2nd class and are valid only on the specified arrival and departure days. You may bring your own bicycles, subject to advance booking, for a fee of approx. €7 per bike payable directly to DB/ÖBB. Further details can be found here.

Check In
Standard hotel check-in usually takes place between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm. Please check before you set off when you can arrive at the relevant hotel. If you are due to arrive after 6.00 pm on the day of arrival or during the cycle tour, please inform your (first) accommodation hotel in good time. Depending on the hotel, self-check-in may also be available. You can obtain more detailed information on this directly from the relevant hotel or in your travel documents.

Departure

The return journey by train or bus to the starting point of a long-distance cycle tour is included in most tours. If this is offered as an optional extra, you will find the details in the respective tour descriptions. If you do not require return transport, please let us know at the time of booking so that we can take this into account straight away.

Additional information:

Westbahn offers good connections to Saalfelden, Lindau, Bregenz, Innsbruck, Villach, Salzburg, Linz, Stuttgart and Munich, including transport of your own bike.
You can also travel to many destinations without changing buses using Flixbus (without a bike).

E-bike charging stations

You can get power for your e-bike either from the socket at the hotel you have booked or at one of our replacement bike stations (= contract hotels/partner businesses). We recommend that you always charge your e-bikes overnight at the hotel you have booked. Then, as a rule, no intermediate charging is necessary for your next stage.

Fitness and quality of cycle paths

The fitness levels and the quality of the cycle paths and local signposting are indicated for each tour.

Fitness levels 1 - 5:

1 = Easy to cycle, suitable for everyone
2 = Easy routes, can be mastered with little effort
3 = For "leisure cyclists" with normal fitness, occasional stages with inclines
4 = Slightly more challenging routes, for cyclists with average fitness
5 = For active cyclists with several hilly stages. Basic fitness required!

Quality of cycle paths and signposting 1 - 5:

1 = route often runs on public roads, in short sections also with somewhat heavier traffic
2 = partly on car traffic routes, route is partly hilly
3 = Standard cycle path with good markings, often separated from the road, flat throughout; junctions with many cycle routes to choose from, orientation can be difficult
4 = mostly car-free, beautiful route through great landscapes, very good signposting
5 = excellent, almost completely car-free, excellent signposting, unique landscape experiences

Luggage transfer

On our long-distance tours, we transport up to two pieces of luggage (maximum 20 kg each) per person from hotel to hotel. You will receive luggage tags with your travel documents, which must be attached to your luggage in the same way as for air travel. Our luggage drivers will then transport your luggage from hotel to hotel while you spend a relaxing day on your bike.

Here are some important tips for luggage transfer:

  • Each piece of luggage to be transported must be labelled with a luggage tag.
  • The number of items of luggage may not be changed during the journey.
  • Do not store liquids (bottles of wine, etc.), important medication, fragile or technically sensitive items in your baggage.
  • Luggage with technical equipment or valuable contents (over € 1,000 per person) must be reported to our hotline immediately on departure. Such items of luggage will be labelled with a sticker.
  • For removal, please ask at the hotel reception where the Donau Touristik collection point is located. Please do not leave your luggage in your room.
  • Your luggage will only be transported to the destination of your cycle tour. Even if you have booked an extra night at your destination after the tour, for example.

Luggage collection: from 09:00.
Latest delivery time: 18:30.

GPS data

For our distance tours, you will receive access to your personalised FRED navigation app with your travel document booklet around 21 days before arrival. We have stored the GPS data in it, customised to your respective itinerary. The app also includes the cycle book in digital form and enables you to navigate to popular sights on your way to the day's destination.

For our star cycle tours, we provide you with GPS data in gpx format. You will receive the data automatically by e-mail approximately 21 days before your journey. We recommend that you download the GPS data to your PC/laptop before travelling and upload it back to the www.komoot.de platform. You will receive step-by-step instructions with the GPS data. Once on site, you can then use the data on your smartphone via the Komoot app (sometimes subject to a charge!) or via another GPS-enabled platform/app.

If GPS data is available for the tour you have booked, this is always listed under the included services per tour.

 

Hotels

We rate our hotel partners using our own sun system. Our categorisation with suns ☼ is based on our experience and the stars of the national hotel classification. If named hotels are fully booked for distance tours, we will make a reservation of equal value if possible and refund € 5 per person per night. If only a lower category or the neighbouring town (maximum 10 km) is possible, we offer a discount of € 10 per person per night. For distance tours, you will receive the digital travel documents including the hotels reserved for you approximately 21 days before arrival.

Rental bikes


Rental bikes

A good bike is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a successful cycle tour. We therefore rely on solid quality with all components. The German and Austrian quality companies Schauff, Kalkhoff, KTM, Focus and Velo de Ville manufacture our 7/8-speed back-pedal and 21/24-speed freewheel bikes as well as electric bikes in various frame sizes according to precise specifications. Please always state your height when booking a hire bike so that we can prepare the right bike for you.

Here you can find more information about all our hire bikes including photos.

Touring bikes

24-speed touring bikes with high running ability from the Schauff brand (Remagen, Germany) and 7-speed touring bikes from Kalkhoff (Germany) or Schauff cost € 95 per week.

Electric bikes

(range at least 70 km, usually 100 km) with 3 or 4 support levels and 6 or 7 gears from Velo de Ville (Altenberge, Germany), Kalkhoff (Germany) and sometimes KTM (Austria) cost € 210/week. For star bike tours, KTM e-bikes with a range of only around 50 km are sometimes also provided for € 125/stay.

Please state your height when booking so that we can provide you with a suitable bike.

Included equipment

Saddlebags on both sides. For families we offer: Child trailer: € 100/stay; child seats: free of charge.

Children's bikes can be booked in sizes 16, 18, 20, 24 inches (26 already adult size). Please state age and height. Trailer (kiddy van) can be booked for 1 to 2 children with a maximum weight of 40 kg. Rent € 100,-.

Dogs weighing up to 40 kg can be accommodated in their own trailer. Rent € 100,- plus cleaning fee € 25,-. We have many dog-friendly businesses along the Lake Constance cycle path. Please enquire with our travel specialists.

Bike hire fee

The hire fee for a hire bike has no longer been included in the package price for Donau Touristik Reisen since 2025; the package price has been reduced accordingly. Therefore, a surcharge of + € 95,- per rental bike and + € 210,- per e-bike usually applies, unless otherwise stated in the offer. See the respective tour page for details.

Safety

We expressly request that you always lock our bikes. For insurance reasons, it is also necessary to secure the bike to a fixed object. Otherwise, the customer may be held liable in the event of theft. If your hire bike is stolen, please inform us immediately by telephone. Please note that not every hotel offers the option of storing a bike under cover.

Flat tyre

Hire bikes (including e-bikes) can also break down.
On our distance tours, there are stations along the route at intervals of around 10-15 km where we have replacement bikes (only 7-speed bikes, 28‘’ - no e-bikes!) for emergencies. You hand in your defective bike there and simply ‘change saddles’. Our bikes are generally equipped with thick-walled tyres and, if necessary, you can ‘pedal’ a kilometre or two to the nearest exchange station. You will find the spare tyre stations in your travel documents.

For star bike tours outside a distance tour destination, it is possible to change to an intact bike at the same hotel, subject to availability (small wheel bearing available).

Please note that we are therefore unable to accept any workshop invoices, etc.
If you get stuck, please contact our service hotline, which is available seven days a week. You will find the telephone number in your travel documents!

Travel insurance

For cycle tours, we recommend that you take out the BusBahnAuto-KomplettSchutz cover from Europäische Reiseversicherung.

The following benefits (excerpt) are covered by the insurance:

  • Trip cancellation: Cancellation costs in the event of non-commencement of the trip. If the insurance is taken out later than 3 days after booking the trip, only events that occur from the 10th day after taking out the insurance are insured (excluding accidents, death or natural disasters).
  • Trip cancellation: Additional return travel costs. Compensation for booked, unused travel services.
  • Delay cover: Compensation for necessary overnight accommodation and meals incl. subsequent travel costs.
  • Luggage: replacement value cover. Individual up to € 3,500, family up to € 7,000.
  • Cash replacement: up to € 150.
  • Delayed baggage: replacement purchases:
    up to 72 hours: Individual up to € 350,-, family up to € 700,-;
    over 72 hours: Individual up to € 750, family up to € 1,500.
  • Travelling accident: Search and rescue up to € 80,000.
  • Medical benefits abroad: Inpatient treatment: up to € 1,000,000. Outpatient treatment, transport home (including ambulance jet), transfer transport, hospital visits and much more.
  • Travel personal liability: up to € 500,000

BusBahn Auto-KomplettSchutz is valid for bus, train and car journeys (including ferries and motorbike trips) in Europe up to a maximum of 31 days - not for air or sea travel. You can obtain complete information directly from our travel advisors.

For boat journeys, we recommend that you take out comprehensive cover from Europäische Reiseversicherung. The benefits covered are the same as for BusTrainCar-CompleteCover.

CompleteCover is valid for a flight or boat trip in Europe or worldwide up to a maximum of 31 days. You can obtain complete information directly from our travel advisors.

The EUROPÄISCHE Travel Insurance Conditions ERV-RVB 2023 apply.

Travel documents

For long-distance tours, you will receive the travel documents booklet approximately 21 days before arrival, which contains a list of the hotels booked and the services included as well as access to our FRED app with digital cycle book. The booklet does not need to be printed out and is primarily used for your personal travel preparation. On arrival, you will receive a printed copy of the travel documents booklet for each booking and an information pack per room with a bike book, original tickets (if required), luggage loops and (if booked) bike return loops for the return transport of your own bike.

For star bike tours, you will receive the important travel information and (if available) GPS data for the daily stages approx. 21 days before arrival. The important travel information does not need to be printed out and is primarily intended for your personal travel preparation. On arrival you will receive a service list for each booking, which contains a list of the services included, as well as an information pack per room with a route description, important travel information and a cycle map.

You no longer need a hotel voucher for all hotel overnight stays. Simply mention your name on arrival at the hotel.

Return transfer and night jump

For long-distance tours, we offer a return transfer back to the starting point of the tour in all destinations. Depending on the destination, this takes place by bus or train. A transfer for your own bikes to the start of the tour is also possible on certain days of the week. Please also note that you can take advantage of a return transfer at the start of the tour. This allows you to travel home directly at the end of the trip.

By coach

For the return transfer by bus, you will be picked up in the morning from your last overnight hotel or a meeting point. Please arrive at the meeting point approximately 10 minutes BEFORE departure and hand in your voucher to the bus driver. Depending on the traffic situation, the bus may be delayed. You will find the details (departure time, meeting point and other information) in your travel documents.

By train

For return transfers by train, a ticket number with a description of the process or the return ticket itself is enclosed with your documents. The journey from the last overnight hotel to the railway station and from the railway station to the car is not included. You will also find the details in your travel documents.

Return transfer of your own bikes

With the bus return transfer, we transport your own bikes back to the starting point of the tour at a reasonable price using a bike trailer. With the return rail transfer, the transfer takes place overnight by dropping off your bikes at the hotel by around 5 pm on the day before your return journey. Your bike will be waiting for you the following day from around 11 am at your destination. The ticket for the bike transport is the bike return transfer loop, which you will receive with your travel documents and which must be attached to your bike BEFORE the transfer. The return transfer of customer-owned e-bikes/tandems/kiddy vans/fat bikes/bikes with tyres wider than 5 cm etc. is only possible on request.

If you have not booked a return transfer for your own bikes, you must transport your own bike back by train on your own.

Cancellation protection / assumption of liability

Donau Touristik offers liability coverage/cancellation protection. This includes the following services: Assumption of cancellation fees before the start of the trip as compensation for Donau Touristik cancellation costs if the trip is not taken up to the booked travel price without deductible. Cancellations can be made up to 30 days before departure at the latest and are only possible per room. An application can only be made less than 30 days before arrival together with your booking.

Cancellation cover for distance tours

Reimbursement of cancellation costs in the event of non-commencement of a long-distance tour:

  • € 35 per person: with reasons* OR
  • € 55,- per person: without giving reasons (= also valid as trip interruption liability)
Cancellation protection star bike tours

Reimbursement of cancellation costs in the event of non-commencement of a star bike tour or the above-mentioned bike cruises with reasons given*:

  • € 75,- per person up to a travel price of € 1.500,-
  • € 85,- per person for a travel price of € 1.501,- to € 1.999,-
  • € 105,- per person from a travel price of € 2.000,- (= also applies as travel cancellation liability)

* Reasons: due to illness with presentation of a medical certificate, in the event of death of relatives in the direct line and second degree; benefit up to a maximum of the booked travel price.

Cancellation cover cannot be booked for trips with the MS-Primadonna, Islandhopping Croatia and partner tours.
We recommend that you take out travel insurance for these types of trip. Information on this can be found under "Travel insurance".

Transport and service flat rate

Donau Touristik distance tours with transport flat rate

For all distance tours in the current Donau Touristik catalogue, this includes the luggage service from hotel to hotel with pick-up from 9 am (in some places also 10 am) and delivery by 6:30 pm by our local employee, including liability for the usual contents (up to € 1,000 per person) and the piece of luggage handed over; wear and tear similar to air travel is to be expected. This and any damage to handles on particularly heavy suitcases is not covered by compensation. It is possible to travel in our transport bus or minibus, provided this has been notified in writing at the time of booking and confirmed by us.

Donau Touristik star bike tours with service package

This includes the information pack with a route description for each day, detailed cycle maps and a ride in our transport bus if this was ordered at the time of booking and our driver is on site or we have noted this on the booking confirmation. For cycle cruises, the next day's cycle tour will be presented in person the evening before in addition to detailed documents.

Additional nights

You are welcome to book one or more additional nights at the beginning, end or during your trip. Please let us know at the time of booking whether you would like to use your hire bike on the additional days. It is possible that the longer stay may incur additional costs for the use of the bike, as the bike transports are usually unscheduled bike transports to the start or end hotel.

Fred-App

The FRED app is the digital companion to the printed travel documents for Donaureisen’s cycling tours. It acts as your personal cycling guide on your smartphone, showing you your bespoke route with stages, destinations and all the important details. With the app, you can navigate effortlessly whilst on the move, discover interesting sights or places to stop for refreshments, and stay well informed thanks to handy reminders – such as when to return your bike.

The FRED app is available as an optional extra and costs €10 per booking in addition to the standard travel documents. This digital version also allows you to keep track of all your booked services, such as accommodation and meals, directly within the app, and to have your digital cycling guide to hand at all times – ideal for a relaxed and well-organised cycling tour.

Further information can be found here

Click here for the system requirements.