Accommodation
All hotels (and sleeping berths on overnight trains) are included in the cost of our trips.
Included sleeping berths on night trains are in shared cabins, regardless of room type occupied on the trip. Private cabins are proposed when available, but at an additional cost.
Private “ensuite” bathrooms. Almost all of our hotel rooms include private bathrooms. But 17th century country inns are not standardized affairs, and it can happen that a few rooms share a hall bath (rarely more than 3 rooms to a bath). Proportion varies itinerary to itinerary, and by season, and we cannot guarantee a particular distribution.
If you wish, for 100€ per trip week, or the equivalent in the currency of your statement (50% more for 2 or 3 people sharing a room), we will guarantee a private shower (or bath) and a private WC nightly.
- This guarantee does not apply to nights on overnight trains (if any). On overnight trains, cabins with ensuite shower and WC will be proposed at an additional cost, if available.
- If we are unable to live up to our promise at one stop during a given week, you will receive a full refund of the supplement paid for that week.
- On rare occasions, those selecting this option may be lodged in a different hotel from the rest of the group, never more than a short walk from the “main” group hotel.
We hasten to add that this supplement rarely buys you much, except perhaps in Scandinavia, since almost all of our hotels have private baths, anyway. But if a rare exception would ruin your trip, this is how to protect against it! Even in hotels where you would have had a shower / WC anyway, we do observe that people for whom the private bath is explicitly requested sometimes get marginally better rooms....
“The man who goes alone can start today, but he who travels with another must wait until that other is ready.”
Solo travellers are a majority of our guests.
You are not assigned roommates, but rather share with different people (of approximately the same gender) at different stops. We work for an interesting crowd, and this arrangement will generally be to your advantage.
 Single hotel rooms are available, if you prefer, at the cost of a “private single room supplement,” which varies by trip. Follow this link for trip-by-trip prices.
We make every effort to honor your request for a single. Very rarely (it happens on average less than once a year on all of our trips combined), it may be impossible to arrange in a small hotel. In this case, a pro-rated refund of your supplement will be sent after your trip, corresponding to any night(s) in shared accommodation.
Couples, or friends travelling together, are guaranteed a double or twin room at no additional charge. Triple rooms are also available at no additional charge.
If you are requesting a room for two people, be sure to indicate on your application whether you wish a room with a double bed (a “double” room), or a room with two single beds (a “twin” room).
If you request a triple room, and the hotel’s configuration means that none are available, a single plus a twin will be assigned at no additional cost. We only accept genuine triple rooms, not doubles with a cot stuffed in.
Particularities regarding double rooms: our hotels generally cater to mostly local guests. In many (especially Germanic) countries, genuine double beds are uncommon. “Doubles” more often contain twin beds pushed together, sometimes bizarrely made up with one set of sheets. Amorous intentions, or just a restless night, can land you on the floor between the two beds.
Conversely, in Latin countries, “doubles” can be rooms containing a double (not a “queen” or a “king”) bed. Couples used to larger beds should carefully consider whether intimacy or a sound sleep is of higher value. Generally the beds are wider than the minimum double standard of 140 cm (160 cm is typical), but hotel keepers react with surprise to questions on the topic, and often seem to have no very clear idea of the size of their beds, which may additionally vary room to room.
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“But what are the hotels ‘like?’”
None of the above really tells you. Here are two pages that will: follow this link to a discussion of how we choose our hotels. And our travel philosophy page discusses the relative importance that we accord to the different elements of travel, including the hotels.
Meals
Breakfast (continental) is included during the trip. It is generally taken at the hotel. Snore (except in Austria and Switzerland: Alpine breakfasts can be pretty good. And there is a Basque bar that everyone likes...).
Most dinners are also included. You are on your own for dinner (and its expense) two nights per “trip week.”
“Trip-weeks” are rounded in your favor in increments of half-weeks. For example, “Alpine Lakes,” together for 13 nights, is considered to travel for 1.5 “trip weeks.” Thus three dinners are “independent” – not included in the trip price.
Included dinners may be taken in a group, or you may dine on your own, or in smaller “sub-groups,” with suggestions offered by the Trip Coordinator. On nights when you prefer one of these latter options, funds will be distributed sufficient to permit a wide selection of  restaurants. Beverages at dinner are not included.
Our meals are special events, and a focus of our trips, especially in the Latin countries. Choice is never lacking (except in Norway, where isolation often dictates a table d’hôte menu). But we pride ourselves on our ability to showcase local cuisines, often different from anglo tradition.
“Picky” eaters, or those with diets which exclude food types or groups, may find this focus tiresome. And since special diets are rare in Latin Europe, our hosts are surprised by them. Complex dishes may contain some food you wish to avoid, hidden as a seasoning. Chefs who take pride in their creations are not only unwilling (or unable) to remove the offending ingredient, but can be unwilling to even discuss the recipe! Fortunately, the unusual flexibility of our meal program allows you to retreat to a pizza place if the cultural experience becomes oppressive.
Trains, Boats, Bikes, Yaks...
All transport required by the trip’s itinerary, for you (and for our cycles, if appropriate), is included. We don’t use tour buses or coaches. Blue Marble abhors the tour bus.
We pride ourselves on using the fastest and most comfortable trains. This means something in Europe, where all-stops locals can hit 160 kph / 100 mph without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, you get to rub elbows with the people who live where you travel, one of the most interesting aspects of travel. 20 minutes on a country bus can be more than interesting....
Transport for your own cycle, should you choose to bring it on one of our cycle trips, is generally included. On trips of 2 or more weeks there are rare exceptions, which can result in an additional cost. They are detailed behind this link (read the discussion of “exceptional shipments”).
The Bike
Included in the $ trip prices of our cycle trips, or available at additional charge if you are signing up for a cycle trip in €, is the use of one of our quality road touring bikes, and the cost of shipping it to and from your trip.
If you prefer, you are welcome to bring your own cycle. North American riders receive a discount on the $ price of the trip in that case. We also offer help with shipping your cycle within continental Europe, and with shipping and / or storage of your cycle case, if you have one. There is, of course, no obligation to use our services in these domains.
Details
• Cycle Home Page. Discusses our bikes, styles, equipment, and related issues.
• Equipping your cyle
• Trips including our Norway itinerary as part of a longer (2 or more week) trip, include the use of a mountain bike while there, regardless of the currency of your account.
These pages specifically discuss the issues surrounding bringing your own bike:
• The Pros and Cons of Bringing Your Own Bike
• How To Bring Your Own Bike (includes a table showing the trip-by-trip discount North American riders receive)
A Friendly Trip Coordinator
A coordinator accompanies each trip, and has a broad administrative role: shipping bikes & bags; confirming, reserving, and paying for trains and hotels; verifying sightseeing information; banking; helping with bike maintenance; offering route information; scouting for restaurants.... In sum, coping with the lines, hassles and arguments that are the buzz-kill of travel.
Further, our bilingual coordinators know more than a bit about the cultures and countries through which we travel. The advice and counsel they provide can help you get the most out of your vacation.
What’s Not Included
- Travel to and from the trip
Air / rail fares to and from the trip are not included in the trip cost.
If you are coming from North America, we can help you find a reasonably-priced air ticket from your departure city, and back to it at the end. We even offer air fare price guarantees to riders on our trips. See our air ticket page for details on what we propose.
If you are coming from Britain, we can help you book discount Eurostar tickets from and back to London, along with connecting trains on the continent. Our Eurostar tickets for British riders are generally the lowest cost available for any given flexibility / class of service.
Travel between the trip and different airport cities (or Paris, for connections to and from London) is also available through us (“Access Packages”). We offer inclusive and economical travel packages via the route (or routes) and on the schedule(s) that most of our guests follow (though many variants are available, including extra hotel nights, first class train upgrades, and so forth). You may subscribe to our package to reach your trip, to leave it, or to do both (pre- and post-trip “Access Packages” may be subscribed separately).
- Lunch (some in Norway are included)
- Private sightseeing
- Beverages at dinner
- Items of a personal nature
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Services