This feature was produced in association with Bikecation
Once upon a time, creating your own custom cycling holiday was a chore. It meant hours spent scouring flight comparison websites, scratching your head trying to work out how much extra shipping your bike would cost.
And that’s before you’d even started to consider where you were going to stay or whether the hotel you were looking to book had anywhere safe for you to park your bike.
Well, all that’s now changed thanks to a new platform from cycling holiday specialist Bikecation.
Its website, bikecation.co.uk, is now essentially a one-stop shop for cyclists looking to put together their own DIY cycling trips. It allows users to browse more than 50 European destinations, pick flights, book accommodation and arrange things like car hire.
Where it differs from other sites that do a similar job is that everything on bikecation.co.uk is tailored for cyclists, and all the best deals have been worked out in advance.
So, not only will you get a choice of flights at times that suit you, but you’ll be able to see quickly and easily what the cost of taking your bike is, too.
Similarly, the car-hire and airport transfer options given are all bike box-compatible, while the hotels offered are all vetted and cyclist friendly, meaning you’ll have somewhere secure to leave your bike and, in all likeliness, have access to tools, washing facilities, and a laundry service.
You can even sort out bike hire via the website, too. And once you’ve booked your trip you’ll even receive downloadable cycling routes, gpx files, as well as tips from Bikecation’s staff on what to see, what to do, and where to eat between rides.
Apart from offering a simple-to-use service, what’s really clever about the site is the way it allows you to build your cycling holiday based on what you want to get out of it.
You can, of course, use it to simply book a trip to somewhere you’ve already decided on, but it also serves as a great hunting ground for inspiration.
Fancy a trip that takes in an iconic climb? No problem, the site has a whole menu dedicated to the subject. Always liked the idea of tackling a European sportive but don’t know where to start? There’s a link you can click that will begin that journey for you.
There are even suggestions for more leisurely cycling breaks including ones where you get to watch the pros doing the pedalling, while you stand at roadside with a cold beer and cheer them on.
Booking with Bikecation also comes with free peace of mind – the website may be new but the company has been around for a while.
Not only do they provide 24-hour after-sales assistance, but the company is ATOL and TTA bonded, meaning any holiday you do book is protected should flights or bookings go awry.
Oh, and one last thing – if you sign up for their newsletter you’ll also get 5% off any flight or hotel stay. See bikecation.co.uk to find out more.