The E.U. is set to let vaccinated U.S. tourists visit starting this summer.
The head of the European Commission made an announcement on April 25, 2021 about a change in their policy, expected to take effect this summer. Learn more about the announcement and what it means for travel from The New York Times.
Read the full article
The environment does so much for us; it inspires, surprises, delights, and helps us celebrate our own humanity. At Trek Travel, we know how much the planet matters, and it’s why we choose to go green. Part of our commitment to sustainability means working with partners who share our values. Over the past year, we have developed a survey to assess the eco-friendly efforts of our hotel partners.
Here are the top-ranked hotels from our sustainability survey:
Stay Here On: Classic Climbs, The Dolomites
This family-owned hotel is located in the heart of the village of Corvara. Since 2012, sustainability has been a major initiative for the property. Today, they are members of Economy for the Common Good and have a dedicated team working to continuously improve their eco-friendly efforts.
Stay Here On: Crater Lake & Oregon Cascades
Bend’s “eco-chic” boutique hotel is the pinnacle of luxury and sustainability. With a carbon offsetting program, recycling and composting options, locally sourced ingredients in their restaurant, and use of 100% renewable energy, The Oxford genuinely seeks to reduce its impact on the local environment.
Stay Here On: Boulder Self-Guided
In the heart of downtown Boulder, Basecamp is a contemporary boutique hotel focused on going green. From the products they use to the amenities they offer and even the partners they work with (like their bank), Basecamp believes in protecting and preserving our natural resources.
Stay Here On: Piedmont Self-Guided
This 18-century villa is nestled near medieval village of Monforte d’Alba. To reduce energy consumption on the property, they are changing out their lightbulbs to LEDs and offer guests the option of reusing towels and sheets for multiple days during their trip.
Stay Here On: Puglia
Built in 1500 and beautifully renovated to maintain its historic charm, this 5-star hotel is working towards removing single-use items from their property and already utilizes recycling, composting, and renewable energy.
Stay Here On: Ojai to Santa Barbara
Nestled on 220 acres of beautiful property, this impeccable resort is a positive force in protecting our planet. In 2017, they eliminated single-use plastic items from their spa and their golf course has a sophisticated watering system to maximize efficiency and reduce water waste.
Stay Here On: Provence Explorer
Nestled in the tiny town of Mazan, only a short distance from the base of Mont Ventoux, stands Château de Mazan. Amongst other eco-friendly initiatives, the property proudly provides toiletries and cosmetics from the eco-responsible brand “La Compagnie de Provence.”
Stay Here On: Alaska Multisport
The Harbor 360, located in the heart of Seward, Alaska, is a certified “Green Business” through the Adventure Green Alaska Program. To protect their stunning environment, they use biodegradable plates, cutlery, and cups during their breakfast service. They also provide support to local groups working to clean and protect Alaska’s marine ecosystem.
Stay Here On: Costa Brava
This beautiful hotel, overlooking the Sant Pol beach on the Mediterranean Sea, is contributing to going green by replacing small, single-use toiletries with larger, refillable containers and sourcing local ingredients whenever possible for their restaurant.
Stay Here On: Ride Across Italy
Situated in the heart of the Umbrian countryside, Park Hotel ai Cappuccini Park Hotel Ai Capuccini is helping to protect the planet with use of solar panels, composting, and eco-friendly cleaning products. In the past, the owners of the hotel have even donated a tree to each of their employees to plant.
Want to learn more about what Trek Travel is doing to go green?
See our sustainability initiatives
If you look around your home, it wouldn’t be surprising to find a Bosch appliance, but did you know that Bosch is also responsible for engineering the pedal-assist technology that powers our e-bikes? We sat down with some of the e-bike experts at Bosch to learn more about the motors that make our bikes go.
Bosch was founded in 1886 and contributed one of the key technologies that helped make internal combustion possible for use in automobiles – the magneto ignition device. Today, Bosch technology is present in a variety of industries around the world. In fact, it’s difficult to go through a day without Bosch technology touching your life in some way. Bosch sensors are in more than 50 percent of cell phones, Bosch home appliances and power tools are found in homes and worksites globally, Bosch security cameras adorn buildings all around the world, while Bosch hydraulic technology is present in the Panama Canal and Tower Bridge in London. Virtually every vehicle on the road in the world today has Bosch technology on it, and Bosch was the first to bring life-saving safety technologies like anti-lock braking and electronic stability control to market. Known for its quality and dependability, Bosch’s technology and expertise in electric motors, sensor technology, displays, and lithium-ion batteries makes them the leading and most-qualified supplier for electric bike systems.
Bosch first forayed into e-bikes in 2011, when the Automotive Electronics division launched its first e-bike system and essentially shaped the modern e-bike as we know it today. Once a small startup within Automotive Electronics, e-bike is now its own independent division within Bosch, which truly demonstrates just how far e-bikes have come and how highly valued they are within the company as a pillar of Bosch’s mobility solutions sector.
So, why e-bikes? Broadly speaking, Bosch sees the mobility of the future characterized by three elements: automation, electrification, and connectivity. E-bikes exemplify these traits, and broaden Bosch’s definition of mobility to include more than just automotive transportation. Mobility is a basic human need, in whatever form it takes to get from place to place, and e-bikes unite technology with healthy human-powered mobility, which really stays true to our motto, “Invented for Life.”
The Trek Verve+ 3 sports the Active Line Plus, a well-balanced Class 1 drive unit with a max assist speed of 20 mph or 32 km/h. It has enough torque to succeed on hills while maintaining excellent battery range, bringing simple enjoyment to everyday riding. It’s quiet, reliable, and has barely any noticeable pedal resistance. The power of the Active Line Plus is delivered smoothly to achieve a natural riding sensation.
Purion is our compact, easy-to-read display that’s mounted on the left handlebar with the e-bike assist controls integrated within it. The display provides a clear overview of the charge status, speed, riding mode, range, trip distance, and total distance. All the important details are just a thumb-click away, perfect for riders who want simplified information and controls.
Bosch’s PowerTube lithium ion batteries have the power you need for any ride, and are easily rechargeable from any standard 110v wall outlet. The Verve+ 3 integrates its PowerTube 500 battery within the frame for worry-free riding, and a safety latch prevents the PowerTube from falling out even on challenging terrain.
Our e-bike batteries have their capacity measured in watt hours (Wh) and come in several sizes ranging from 400 Wh to 625 Wh. On average, you’re paying roughly 17 cents for every battery charge, and traversing anywhere from 35 to 100 miles on a single charge, depending on various factors (which you can learn about on our interactive e-bike Range Calculator page). It’s tough to compete with that level of energy efficiency versus a car!
E-bikes are even more fun with friends! Riders on your Trek Travel trip can enjoy the same sights and climb the same hills regardless of differences in riding skill or fitness level, making a tour by e-bike an unforgettable experience for everyone.
Explore e-bike vacations with Trek Travel
Each year, Trek Travel celebrates one of our guides for his or her tremendous season, exceptional hospitality, and downright awesome attitude. We are proud to announce our 2020 Guide of the Year, Zack Jones!
Winning Guide of the Year is a huge honor. To be nominated for this prestigious award, guides have to earn top-notch evaluations from guests, co-guides, and the office team. The top five guides are then voted on by the Trek Travel management team to determine which guide provided best-in-class hospitality and reflected our company values. The winning guide receives a custom merino jersey with “Guide of the Year” embroidered on it as well as a $1,000 travel credit to anywhere in the world.
This year’s winner, Zack, has been guiding with Trek Travel almost as long as the company has been in existence. He is a fantastic photographer, and you’ll see photos from his adventures across our website and social media channels. We talked to him to learn a little bit more about his experience guiding, how he feels about winning Guide of the Year, and where he is headed in 2021.
“Guiding allows me to lead, share knowledge, and expose culture in stunning places with amazing people, incredible food, and luxurious accommodations, all from the seat of a bike. Those are the obvious reasons, and who wouldn’t want a job profile like that? The reality is, there are a lot of aspects to guiding that are not for everyone, and many of those I find incredibly fulfilling. Guiding is a lot of challenging work and long hours. It is not uncommon to be busy with diverse tasks from five am to ten or eleven at night, and most days, I love it! I get to be the co-captain of life-changing experiences for guests, and the spontaneous moments and reactions are always the most epic and rewarding. Guiding is very analog and occurs in the real world. Digital tools assist in being a better guide, but most of what I do as a guide feels like what my mind, body, and hands were created to do. In a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, guiding is uniquely connecting, bringing guests to new cultures, physical accomplishments, sensory experiences, and relating to each other and the world. Perhaps the biggest reason I come back year after year is the connection I get with my colleagues. There is no other way to describe the uniqueness and depth of the relationships that develop over weeks, months, and years than to call them family.”
“There is not enough space to list them all, but some standouts include: Riding up to Crater Lake Rim in Oregon and hearing a loud gasp of genuine awe from my guests every single time. The pleasant surprise of beer being served to our group at a dinner in a Buddhist monastery in Japan. My WNBA-level co-guide and I getting schooled in basketball by two locals half our height in Guatemala. “Kidnapping” our guests after dinner with a Mapuché family in Chile to take them on an unexpected viewing of an erupting volcano at night. Breaking from the day’s plan to get guests and co-guides to jump into the fjord in Norway on a hot day. And persuading 16 guests from Japan to wear goatees, mustaches, and cowboy hats and sing Happy Birthday at a surprise dinner for Gary Fisher in Moab. Just to name a few.”
“Anywhere! Travel has been closed for so long that it would be a gift to guide in any destination. Having said that, my wife and I just welcomed a new tiny human into our lives in March, Astoria Lucille Jones. Now that I have achieved “Guide of the Year,” the bar is high, and the only way to top it is to work to be “Dad of the Year.” So it looks like my schedule and my skills will focus on guiding our little girl through the journey of learning to be a human. And who knows, perhaps there will be a trip or two in the fall in Europe that I can join.”
“Wait… WHO??? Another “Zack” is guiding for Trek Travel? WAIT… that’s ME!” I was utterly blown away by the honor as it was so unexpected. The year 2020 has been incredibly challenging for me beyond just the pandemic. There were many moments that I felt I was working hard to be my best self and yet falling short. So when it came time to announce the winner of the Guide of the Year, I found myself mentally scanning the faces and personalities of all of my deserving colleagues/friends and picturing who it would be without ever considering it would be me. I am immensely grateful and proud to carry the torch for 2020. ”
“I am really looking forward to how we rediscover connecting to each other and the world. I hope this unique time has helped us reflect on what is most important in life and filter out the noise that holds us back from a life of meaning and connection. I am looking forward to in-person conversations, noisy restaurants, group rides, hugs, high-fives, travel with my wife, going home, and introducing my little girl to family and friends.”
Zack was also featured in the 2021 Trek Summer Quarterly
With our A La Carte experiences, you can book your own lodging and still have our team provide routes, bikes, guides, and more. If you are looking to arrange a private vacation rental to share with your travel companions, we’ve got a list of recommendations in some of our favorite destinations. Once you’ve settled on a place, our team can put together routes directly from your doorstep.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 2-6 Guests
This is a great space to share with one or two other couples as there is a main house that sleeps four guests and a guest house available to sleep an additional two guests. The space is traditional and clean, with lovely southwestern touches. There is a green space in the yard with a hot tub and mountain views. It is one and a half miles from the plaza and one mile from El Monte Sagrado.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 1-2 Guests
This cozy little studio features light, breezy décor and a spacious floorplan. While a bit further out of town, it offers a secluded and peaceful retreat for a couple looking to enjoy some time away.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 2-3 Guests
The unique décor in this clean and spacious vacation rental blends southwestern flair with mid-century modern elements. There is parking for two vehicles, and the home is just one mile from downtown, making it an easy bike ride to the Plaza.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: Up to 10 Guests
This upscale, luxurious vacation home is a great to split amongst groups of up to 10 people. With a stunning pool and outdoor space for entertaining or relaxing, there is no shortage of space to spread out. There are even two beautiful kitchens. This private property is located west of Santa Fe with views of Santa Fe National Forest.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 2-4 Guests
This bright and modern space is cozy yet spacious enough for close friends or family to share. It is ideally located right in the village and in the heart of everything Stowe has to offer.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 4-6 Guests
Just outside of Stowe Village and within walking distance to lots of shops and restaurants, this clean, modern, and spacious unit is ideal for a small group to enjoy together. Guests love the upstairs patio space with grill to cook after a day in the saddle.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 1-2 Guests
This cozy lakeside apartment is situated above the garage of French country home with lovely views of Lake Champlain. It includes access to a private beach that is shared with the main residence. Just a 12-minute drive from your stay, you’ll find quaint, downtown Vergennes.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 2-4 Guests
This quaint little home is situated perfectly in the city, close to all Burlington amenities. It is fully furnished and offers a charming yard space to enjoy in the evenings after your days out riding.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 2-6 Guests
This bright and airy home is perfect to share with friends or family for a trip to Bend. It is situated just a block from the cafes, shops, and breweries on Century Boulevard. If you’re looking to bike Mt. Bachelor during your stay, this property has an ideal location to start from.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 4-8 Guests
This riverfront property offers beautiful views of the Deschutes River and a convenient location just a 10-minute walk from downtown. If you’re traveling with a group, this property offers something for everyone from a sauna, to stand up paddle boards, and more.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 6-16 Guests
This modern, architectural home is spacious enough to sleep a large group of friends or family for your own cycling private adventure. You can enjoy the rooftop hot tub or walk to some nearby restaurants and Archetype Brewery.
Courtesy of TownsProperty.com
Sleeps: 2-6 Guests (per unit)
This beautiful, recently constructed building houses two gorgeous rental units, located on the grounds of the historic Patton Parker House. The space was built to match the style of the historic home. There are great views of downtown Asheville and the mountain skyline from the front porch of each unit. The location is great for riding in and out and walkable to the Charlotte Street Business District.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 6-16 Guests
Tucked away from the bustle of downtown, this cozy home has an amazing location for riding just off Elk Mt. Scenic Highway, which gives easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The spacious home has a pool and hot tub with epic views.
Courtesy of AirBnB
Sleeps: 1-2 Guests (per cabin)
This listing is one of three cozy, modern cabins all located on the same property off Shope Creek Road in east Asheville. The Scandinavian inspired getaways offer access to good riding and are located along a quiet paved road that leads to the Shope Creek hiking trails.
Found your perfect vacation home? Now our team can help you with gear, guides, routes, and more to create your own cycling vacation!
Let’s start planning!
People across the globe are itching to get out and explore the world. But what will travel look like in 2021? Our founder and president, Tania Burke, shares what she’s expecting to see in the travel industry this year and talks about how our team is preparing to show you the world by bike in 2021.
As I reflect on 2020, I want to thank our entire Trek Travel family of guests, guides, and team for their amazing support during challenging times. We were able to provide experiences of a lifetime to many of our guests. I want to thank you for traveling with us as we adapted and ran different but exceptional, safe trips. Looking forward to 2021, there are many reasons to be hopeful and plenty to get excited about. I thought I would share a few of my thoughts on what travel might look like in 2021.
With the vaccine rollout, I am hopeful that more people will have the opportunity to travel again soon. As things improve, we will see a travel boom because of pent up demand. While I don’t know exactly when that is going to happen, I do know Trek Travel will be ready to welcome you when the time is right. We have been carefully following the news and studying industry trends to get a sense of what travel is going to look like in 2021. Here’s what I am anticipating:
Domestic travel will continue to be hugely popular. North American bookings are the best we have ever seen them as many travelers in 2021 feel most comfortable with a trip closer to home. That may mean driving distance for some or a short domestic flight for others. We saw this trend pick up in 2020, and it is continuing through 2021. As a result, we have added new dates and destinations to our North American trips, and have a few more in the works!
International travel is on the horizon. I am optimistic for travel in Europe starting late spring or early summer, depending on vaccinations and the regulations and requirements from each destination. Our guests are really excited to join us on our European trips, so we anticipate they will sell-out quickly, especially in late August through early October. I recommend that guests booking international trips stay flexible to changing their dates or destination if needed. Our cancellation policy offers the ultimate flexibility, so we can take care of our guests no matter how plans change.
Active travel and bike tours will be one of the most popular ways to travel. You may have heard that there is a “bike boom” happening. One of the unexpected results of the pandemic has been more people rediscovering the joy of outdoor adventures, including biking. I believe we’ll see an influx of new guests who are interested in a cycling vacation for the first time. I am excited to show people new to biking how much fun it is to see the world by bike. To accommodate the wide range of rider levels of these new guests, we have trips designed for every type of rider and offer e-bikes on almost all trips for those who want an extra boost. Wide open spaces, fresh air, and destinations off the beaten path will make active travel a hugely popular choice for 2021.
Travel in small groups or on private trips will surge. We saw an uptick in interest for our Private, Semi-Private, and Custom trips starting in 2020, and as more people start to travel in 2021, we have seen growth in small groups interested in private and semi-private trips. Other guests, who still want to enjoy the commraderie of our group trips, have appreciated that we limit the number of guests on our trips to 20 or fewer, and take an average group of 10 people on a typical trip. In 2021, we’re also seeing an interest in private accommodations and trips that stay at just one hotel. Guests have been particularly excited about our glamping trips, which feature private safari-style tents.
When borders open again and travelers can move safely around the globe, we expect a travel boom. The pandemic has really shown us all the value of human connection and social interaction, so we know people are eager to get back out and connect with one another. We also expect the bike boom will turn into bike travel boom, too.
How Trek Travel is Preparing to Show You the World by Bike
Our team has been working diligently over the last year to monitor the latest recommendations on travel safety, so that we can run trips responsibly.
Tips for Travel in 2021
Thanks for reading! I hope to see you out there this year! And if you’re not ready to travel yet with us in 2021, contact our trip consultants to join our exclusive, early-access list for 2022 dates by emailing sales@trektravel.com.
Best,
Tania Burke
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Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.
Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.
These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.
On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of Explorer and Luxury hotels. Rest assured, no matter which hotel level you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.
Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.
Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.
Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.
Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.
See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.
Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.
Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself
