Cycling Portugal - Porto to Lisbon

It was a great holiday with first class leader, an excellent itinerary, beautiful scenery, great cycling & a splendid group of fellow cyclists.

The trip was interesting but unfortunately my experience is bound up with the fact that I was one of two single people who joined this tour. I paid £450 extra as a single supplement while the other customer did not. The other customer asked for a single room, expected to pay extra but was told by Explore that it was not necessary. I have complained to Explore about the unfairness of this but so far they have not been helpful. The cycling itself was fun, some of the restaurants were very much cheese toastie and chips variety. The hotels were very good. The last day of cycling was too long.

some of the things on the schedule didn't happen nor was there time for them. The leader/guide was excellent but didn't represent Explore who appeared as a distant entity who took our booking. Hotels were first class. We got good weather in October - couldn't have been better. Plans for lunch could have been explained and paid for at booking rather than leaving it to the guide to manage.

We had a fabulous trip. It’s what we have come to expect with Explore to be honest but all the same it needs to be said. Tour leader Alex was brilliant all week as was Paulo the van driver and lunchtime caterer supreme! The trip was run at a really good pace that kept everyone together - no mean feat in a group of 16. In the interests of openness and for feedback I would suggest that the hotel in Porto was rather basic. We paid for an extra night here before the event and do not consider the rate we paid was value for money for such a basic hotel room. It was of a lesser standard than a UK travelodge. Other hotels along the route were all of a good quality with Monday and Thursday being especially so.