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VELO-TOURING has been Your specialist of bike tours through Hungary since 1991.
This means - since we are native experts and the oldest professional bike travel agency of the country - no one can make out the routes that in a biker's view the most beautiful are better than we do.
Because of missing bike tracks and heavy road traffic, we think that the most important question for Hungary-bikers - the A + O of the tour - the selection of calm ways.
The inquiries about and the choice of the routes are done by us with serious carefulness.
When planning the path, enjoying cycling possibly "car-free" is of great importance.
Emphasized are on one hand the regional beauties of Hungary, on the other hand we would like to show You during these trips the sights of the country.
We don't want to be a "supermarket" for our bike-fans.
The strongly loaded main roads should only be seen from a great distance (if at all).
Our routes lead mostly far from thoroughfares, mainly on poor-traffic side streets, on secluded soil, forest and field paths and on concealed land roads.
You cycle and enjoy - we take care of everything else.
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You needn't be a leading sportsman for our guided bike tours.
Normal condition, a bit of persistence and team-spirit, and You will make it wonderfully.
This kind of sporting should be fun, we let others run for medals.
So, after all, any average skilled cyclist can have the measure of our tours.
Should anyone feel too tired for a moment to ride - no problem, he/she will simply ride in the follower-bus and wave to the others happily.
Topographic features of Hungary are specially biker-friendly. Most of the regions we'll cross are plate-flat - the region of the Puszta as even as the surface of a table lies just 88 - 90 m above sea level. In western Hungary are here and there a few gentle rises with the belonging down-hill rides. Total lengths as well as daily stages (in biking-miles) are given in each tour's description. Because of all these reasons just 2 types of tours, classified by requirements and difficulties are enough. |
 | Level 1.: starting from very easy up to easy: stages approx. 25 - 30 miles on average, no hills! Easy to overcome for untrained and accompanying children over approx. 8 years.
That means well suitable for all ages. How is it always said so nice? "from 8 to 80"!
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 | Level 2.: from easy to medium : stages approx. 30 - 40 miles. Mostly flat, few gentle rises and slopes. Casual cycling is enough as preparation.
However, we only recommend it for kids over 10.
Here is no age limit either. Everyone is as fit as he/she feels him/herself.
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We leave the rush to the racers with the Yellow Shirt and count with a comfortable tempo average of 7-10 miles per hour for our groups.
So there is enough time to regularly fill the inner "water tank", do small sightseeings and of course shooting photographs.
In case sporty bikers need some "speeding" in between, it has to be prearranged with the Tour-leadership in any case. Certainly we would like to appeal to all Participants to show respect of weaker cyclers and of the day's program. Your luggage (suitcase, bag, etc.) is transported by the VELO-TOURING Service-Follower Bus. This way it is accessible at any time, since the bus is always nearby, like a "brooder around its little chicken". |
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Most bike-tours run with 12 - 16 people. It does not only have technical reasons: this way each individual can overlook the Group.
The minimum number of participants for our public bike tours is 6 adult persons and the maximum of participants is limited by 20 persons.
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Everything is perfectly organized and we always support you - with Follower-bus and Tour-leader.
Two skilled companions are at disposal of each of our groups.
Your English (and German)-speaking companion escorts you all the time during the tour.
The Tour-leader is responsible for your good feeling along the way and your connection for all your requests, questions and problems at the same time.
Of course, he can only act if he has been informed about these.
Please consider, our Tour-leaders are people like you and me, are here to let you feel comfortable in Hungary.
Yet, favouring each and everyone is an art, nobody can do.
The Tour-leader cycles with the group. He shows the route and is your guide. He will lead you safely on selected ideal roads to hidden and well-known sights, and tell you about the country and its people. He is the local organizer, always ready to help and exerts himself to keep any nuisance far from you. For even more safety along the way, Tour-leader and Driver are equipped with mobile phones. |
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The driver of the bus, however, is not just a chauffeur!
He complements the Tour-leader, organizes sightseeings in advance, on some days prepares your picnic and upon your arrival to a hotel he takes your luggage to your room if requested.
The Follower-Bus carries your luggage from hotel to hotel and brings the spare-bikes.
The driver and the Tour-leader repair the small and serious failures with the bikes - in one word, the are there for you around the clock! Our routes cross again and again the way of the Follower-Bus. During transfers, short excursions or boat-trips it carries our bikes. The bus follows the group without coming in sight or disturbing, yet it's always ready to take you up in case your cycling spirit has abandoned you for a while. In addition, it has the tools, spare parts and a travel pharmacy, additional bike bags on board, and at request drinks and meal in iceboxes (see also: Board - Eating and Drinking Along the Way). The bus transfers inserted occasionally in the trips make it possible to overcome roads with heavy traffic or exhausting short-cuts. At most of the tours these also make it possible to make a closed backtransport of the group to the starting point. For even more safety along the way - Tour-leader and Driver are equipped with mobile phones. |
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Naturally we underline to reserve you comfortable and clean hotels.
We have checked them all and range from simple to excellent mid-class hotels.
The rating of Hungarian hotels is not always comparable to British, German, Swiss or other western states' standards.
Yet our hotels are in no way "inferior".
The basic principle of our travel-philosophy is: experiencing region and people at short range. Therefore during the tour, where it is possible, once we spend the night at Hungarian families in their guest rooms, in snug private quarters. It's natural for the simple, warm-hearted countrymen to humour the guests more than enough. This type of village-tourism is being well pursued nowadays. So no wonder that this one-off possibility of jovial, familiar togetherness to get the "everyday's Hungarian" to know was always chosen keenly by our Clients. A real specialty of some of the VELO-TOURING bike tours! However, as told above, the thing is just about one such night per tour. Otherwise we have everywhere selected nice hotels and well-managed guesthouses for you. For changes caused by organisational reasons (public holidays, etc) we would like to ask for your understanding. In these cases your accommodation will be arranged in hotels of the same or higher category. We will send you a detailed list of hotels of each stage upon receiving the full remittance with the travel-certificate. |
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Half-board is per order (-but at some guided tours by default-) included, this means commonly a breakfast and a three-course (-maybe in some quarters buffet too-) dinner.
Further board are described in the specific tour-descriptions.
The breakfast can be different in each hotel: simple continental, enriched breakfast with fruit juice, medley and/or cheese, more often a breakfastbuffet.
Certainly we try to possibly introduce you the Hungarian cuisine. Are you vegetarian? No problem! Please send us your special requirements already at your application! We recommend to provide yourself between the main meals regularly with fresh fruits and vegetables, bread and cheese, or whatever suits your taste. Especially important is it, principally in warm weather, to take up fluids regularly: drink along the way enough! Upon request the Follower-bus will carry fruit juices, mineral water and other refreshments as well as all the necessary ingredients for a rich picknic full of vitamins. This way besides the regular drink-stops, after arranging it with the Tour-leader, the group can have a various (warm/cold) picknic outdoors at an idyllic place at lunchtime. These services (picknics and drinks along the way), however, are to be paid extra. |
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Since 1st May 2004 Hungary is member of the European Union with full
rights, that is why we would like to bring to the attention of the
EU-citizens, including Great Britain, that they should obtain a European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving their country. The EHIC replaces
Form E111, which still remains valid only until the end of 2005. The EHIC is
available free of charge through most UK post offices or through the UK
Department of Health via their website at: www.dh.gov.uk or by telephoning
in UK 0800 555 7777 and obtaining their leaflet "Health Advice for
Travellers". The E111 form/EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel
insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms
as Hungarian nationals. You will not be covered for medical repatriation,
on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. We strongly
recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before
travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you
for the activities you want to undertake.
Taking into consideration the above-mentioned we recommend for all visitors who are not citizens of the European Union to get a suitable insurance, we think about medical insurance in the first place. Hungary has a well-organized network of pharmacies. These have medicine of both national and international production. Ingredients and agents are predominantly identical. For your security, however, it is advisable to bring your own special medicine. For your Information: by right of current regulations in Hungary, unfortunately we are not allowed to offer non-Hungarian citizens cancellation insurance. The alternative: according to our long experience, you can obtain such a policy showing our official Travel Certificate in your home country. |
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Comfortable Clothing: such as biking-trousers, shorts, leggings, training clothes and
suitable easy upper clothes, T-shirts and of course sporty shoes or closed sandals.
Please think of head and sun protection (and suncream) for sunny weather, and rain protection in case Petrus wants to annoy us... There is no obligation for suits or dresses in the hotels, you can leave them at home. Hence you can enjoy your sport-holiday dressed freely and easily. Attention! For the Varied Tour walking shoes and (telescopic) walking poles are recommended. |
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Hungary lays sheltered in the Carpathian Basin, horseshoe shaped encircled by the distant mountains, while in the north-west the Alps function as a protecting mountain wall.
It is reached by the equalized oceanic as well as by the genial, Mediterranean air currents.
This way Hungary is less exposed to the partly extreme continental weather.
Because of its protected situation the temperate, continental climate of Hungary is determined by its central placement in Europe.
The amount of sunny hours is much higher than in other countries in the same climate zone, and is around 2.000 hours per year.
In some environs even more.
Hungary is in the Central European Time Zone like Germany and other western countries, and uses Daylight Saving Time in the summer.
For your information - National holidays in Hungary: 15th March, 20th August and 23rd October. Other Christian and common holidays are the same as in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc. |
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You'll get discounts off the published price of the booked cycling or walking
holiday as follows: From the 2nd Tour 5%, from the 3rd Tour 6%. You'll get another 1% reduction for each additional Tour, so at your 4th Tour 7%, at the 5th Tour 8% and so forth. The benefits for our dear regular guests described above can only be assured in case of a direct booking by VELO-TOURING. Other benefits or free services are no more available. Further reservations and additional services are not included in the calculation of your discount.
Only 1 discount can be used at one time. Merging the different types of discounts is not possible. You will be always granted the best discount available. |
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Our offer for groups of friends, clubs, societies, minigroups, etc.: upon booking one of our published tours from the Catalogue for at least 6 persons, we'll give a discount of 5% for all participants and from 10 persons a discount of 7%, deducted from the rack rate tour price. Special groups (custom tours), requesting special schedules, can use suchlike option only from 10 persons. Custom tours (special groups) can only be started with at least 4 participants. When there are 19 paying (adult) persons travels the 20th free of charge. Group discount is only available in case the whole booking process (booking, receipt and payment) is handled by one representative of the group. Upon request: to ease your arrival and departure in Hungary we can arrange for close groups over 10 persons a coach transfer in Budapest (Hungary) from the airport, railway or bus station, or anchorage to the hotel and also a back transfer after the tour. Please tell us at least 10 days before your arrival if you want to make the best of this reasonable option. This option is to use in only case, if the arrival or/and the departure will be happen together. The above detailed options are only available in case of a direct booking at us. (Conditions for partner agencies and tour operators are available upon an ascertained request) Only 1 discount can be used at one time. Merging the different types of discounts is not possible. You will be always granted the best discount available!
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Most of our tours are brilliantly suitable and recommendable for families with children.
Children under the age of 5 participate free of charge.
We place children's seats (TÜV- checked) at your disposal gratis.
From approx. 8 years can your sporty kids roll with the group.
We offer a discount of 30% of the lump sum for accompanying children between 6 and 14 years of age providing they sleep in additional bed(s) the double room of two adults.
Children and young people between 5 and 18 receive a reduction of 15% of the lump sum of a double/single room.
Children's bicycles with gear lever are available.
Attention! Upon booking a child or teenager the date of birth of the concerned needs to be given as well. Only 1 discount can be used at one time. Merging the different types of discounts is not possible. You will be always granted the best discount available. |
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However, Hungary joined the EU on 1. May 2004 and the Schengen-Zone on 1. January 2008, till joining the monetary union (ca. 2012), the currency of Hungary remains the Forint (HUF).
There are coins in denomination of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Forints,
and notes of 200, 500, 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000 and 20.000 Forints in the circulation.
In Hungary money can be changed in banks, change booths and in many Hotels.
Change booths often have a better daily exchange rate.
There has been no obligatory change on the border for decades! Foreign currencies and HUF can be carried unlimited.
The exchange rate is flexible, right now (approximately) 1 Euro = 300,- Forint, 1 GBP = 350,- Forint, 1 USD = 260,- Forint, 1 AUD = 190,- 1 CAD = 205,- Forint (State of March 2019) Forint=Ft=HUF. Eurocheques and travellers' cheques are generally accepted in big banks. Credit cards e.g. American Express, EuroCard, MasterCard, Visa, etc. are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and bigger shops. The acceptance of cards is shown by symbols at the entrance. Bank automates are to be found in bigger communities and at fuel stations. Yet we recommend to bring sufficient cash with you, since this is easier to changed in the banks and change booths. Your tour includes without exception a half pension. Please calculate costs for drinks, picnics, tips, souvenirs and for your individual programs/excursions/sightseeings along the way. Tip is rarely included in the bill, accordingly one can be made happy by appreciating a good service by a reasonable (10-15% of the bill) tip. |
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Several cycling tours can ideally be combined for a longer cycle-adventure.
It is almost impossible to list all our diverse proposals and extra services if you intend to book one of the possible combinations (2 or more tours in a series).
We will be happy to send you our specific proposals upon your request regarding the "Combination-Tours".
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