BRETTOURS HOG TOURING RIDES IN EUROPE – TESTIMONIALS

Many thanks Ron for an excellent tour. Great riding, good hotels, food really good and company great. Good fun! Even the weather was OK. Still. I’ll come back about next year
Risto Kantolinna (Fulda Friendship Ride, 2011)

Just a few lines to say how much Sheila & I enjoyed the tour. The organisation was superb, as usual & hotels in Spain & Portugal were excellent.
Stuart & Sheila Vousden (Spain & Portugal, 2011)

Just wanted to say thank you to you and Ron for the hard work that obviously went into the Ardennes trip. I had a great time and enjoyed getting to know some of your team and regulars including Julian and that Dutch girl, Mel van Driver. I was especially pleased that Ron took the time to fit in the Menin Gate visit. See you on a future trip
Peter Surrall (Belgian Ardennes, 2011)

Great tour...time out of my life. I am suffering from withdrawal. Already testing to see if I can get another go... thank you both for all of your efforts and care.
James Becker (Champagne Region, 2011)

I only had one shot - the perfect biking holiday - or she'd never go near a bike again! Thanks to you both I now have one enthusiastic Biker Babe! I must add that whilst I may not be an expert, I've now been on four tours - USA Sturgis, South Africa, and two HOG Touring Rides: European Bike Week Faaker See & Spain. They were all bloody good but yours were the BEST! Thanks to you I can now share my love of bikes & trips!
Alan Morton

The Faaker See trip was excellent Ron; now hurry up with publicising all of next year’s tours!
John Bone (Faaker See, 2010)

Swiss Lakes trip over and done with and was yet another great trip. It was all topped off by getting the Champagne home safely. Thanks again Ron and roll on next year.
Colin Notman (Swiss Lakes, 2010)

Thank you for the best tour that we have done to date!!  We did not want to come home!  The hotels were good, the food was good and the tour itself was very interesting.  We had a wonderful time with a great crowd of people and have made some very good friends with whom we will keep in touch.
Thank you both once again for a fabulous holiday.
Keith & Jan Naylor (The Great Escape, 2010)

Many thanks for a great trip...here’s to the next!
Siobhan Branagh (Swiss Lakes, 2010)

Just wanted to say thanks to you for a great tour. Really enjoyed the whole experience! Let me know in time about next year’s tours, please
Risto Kantolinna (Spain & Barcelona, 2010)

Thanks for a brilliant holiday.......again
Douglas and Margaret Campbell (Spain & Barcelona)

Back from the Spanish Tour and yet another triumph for Ron and the team. A good time had by all, especially me!
Colin Notman (Spain & Barcelona, 2010)

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the 2010 trip round Spain and France.  As usual the company was great and the routes were absolutely spectacular. I will be back next year. 
Philip Duncan (Spain & Barcelona, 2010)

Salue from Switzerland! Daniel and I were completely satisfied and thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Despite the occasional spot of bad weather we all carried on in good humour and the joy of a Harley ride. The tour was superbly organized and we will definitely ride with you again. We hope for a new joint adventure with HOG Touring Rides.
Ursula and Daniel Ammon (Spain & Barcelona, 2010)

Thanks very much for yet another great tour. The Hotels were absolutely fantastic and we adored the Mercure Emeraude in Dinard. Great riding as always, and although it was a shame that what should have been the most spectacular day of all was also the wettest however it didn’t spoil it at all!
Steve & Liz Chorlton (Spain & Barcelona, 2010)

A BIG thanks for a great trip!
Martin Paine (4 Nations, 2010)

Thanks for a brilliant tour. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it, from the organisation of the hotels and the spectacular route to the attention getting whistle blows. It was great to meet other bikers and I think everyone felt they were part of the team!
Mike & Lorna Graydon (Swiss lakes 2009)

Thanks to both of you for my latest trip round Normandy, Brittany and the Loire valley. As usual the company was great and we visited parts of France that most tourists don't see. Apart from a few minor problems with my bike I did appreciate winning the Piston Broke award and hope to have identified and cured the squeak on my bike before next year. Even if I don't, I'll still be joining you.
Philip Duncan (Normany, Brittany & Loire, 2009)

Just a short note to say thanks again for a great tour. It was so pleasant in the dry! Good hotels and food, what more could I want. Looking forward now to Spain.
Colin Notman (Normany, Brittany & Loire, 2009)

I just wanted to say thanks again for yet another great trip. All your hard work and planning as usual paid off to make this trip as enjoyable as all the others that I've done over the past TEN YEARS!! Great Paradores and Hotels plus really good choice of routes through passes and gorges together with a really friendly crowd of people made this trip as good as it was. Roll on next year as I certainly will be back!!
Ralph Scevity (Spain & the Pyrenees, 2009)

We are just getting used to normal life again after a superb two weeks in France on your tour. We cannot express enough our praise at your skills in organising and running these tours.
The route was fantastic, seeing parts of France we never knew existed, fabulous roads and great fun to ride through the Gorges of the Tarn. Good choice, location and mixture of Chateaux and hotels, seems you even managed to sort out some fantastic weather for us. Every minute of the trip was enjoyable and we have met again, a great group of people, some whom we knew from out last tour with you and have made some new friends as well.
Your merry team also deserve our thanks especially Steve & Carol who did a sterling job with the van and the luggage.
Can't wait for the next one.
Liz & Stephen Chorlton (Chateaux, Gorges & Mediterranean 2009)

Just a quick note to thank Ron and the crew for a fantastic trip. Being my first outing with you I did not know what to expect but I did not think it would be this good!! Chateau de Fere is an excellent venue and the ride outs in this part of the world were great. The thing that really made it for me was the camaraderie of the other riders, the non-stop mickey taking and the friendly environment. I have not laughed so much in a long time. Hope to see you again on another trip next year.
Martin Paine (Chateau & Gourmet 2009)

We'd just like to say thanks (again) for a great tour, good to meet you and all the gang. Really good laugh (Jan didn't stop laughing & peeing) with a very friendly and interesting bunch of people. See you again next year.
Neil & Jan Harrison (Chateau & Gourmet 2009)

We had a really fantastic weekend and meet very pleasant and friendly people, it was a pleasure to spend time with your company. The chateaux were lovely, the food was good and the ride outs went to some beautiful towns and villages
Thanks!
Patrick & Pascale Plovyt (Chateau & Gourmet 2009)

We just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the Spain & Portugal Tour in September. It had been some 27 years since Stephen last did a European motorcycle trip and that was camping! At this trip was Liz's first ever journey over 40 miles on the back of the recently acquired Road King and more to the point on the back of any motorcycle,a baptism of fire. Each experience for both of us was absolutely fantastic! The best holiday we have had in years and entirely down to yourselves, together with your team. Okay the weather could have been better for the start of the trip, but the guidance from Ron and the company of our fellow tourers did not dampen our spirits and certainly by the time we got to Baiona a real holiday and party atmosphere set in and lasted for the duration. The tour route together with the choice of stops and accommodation were all first class and we appreciate how much effort is put into organising all of this and of course the excellent guidance of the Road captain.
Liz and Stephen Chorlton (Spain and Portugal 2008)

Just wanted to say thank you so much another great tour. Another selection of lovely rides and stunning scenery. A couple of the hotels are worth a mention - Chateau de Salles and the Parador at Vielha - both first-class.
Ann & Kim Cooper (Pyrenees & Spain, 2008)

Just a quick letter to say "FANTASTIC TOUR". Having done several of your tours in the past, this was my personal favourite. The routes chosen were brilliant and interesting, particularly the roads through the Pyrenees and the Gorges - great fun. The accommodation was first class as usual and the Chateau de Salles in France, absolutely magnificent. We also had a very cosmopolitan group this year, with riders from Australia, America, South Africa and Ireland. Everybody got on well with each other which only added to an already fabulous trip. I'll certainly be back again next year.
Ralph Scevity (Pyrenees & Spain, 2008)

Thank you very much for organising a great holiday. So many varied experiences. Hopefully Angus and I will be back next year. I hope all your other tours this year are as successful.
Kate Grandfield (St. Tropez, 2008)

Just a short note to say a big "thank you" to you and all your team for a lovely trip to St. Tropez. A well organized trip all round.
Mike Harding (St. Tropez, 2008)

Just to say a big thank you for a most enjoyable tour, as I said on the last night, you are "a great tour leader and a great guy". Mary and I count it a privilege to ride with you and look forward to doing so again.
Trevor Harvey (Ardennes & Luxembourg, 2008)

Just a short note to thank you guys once again we had a fantastic time. Have some great pics and good memories. Until the next time...
Neville and Jane (Alps & Lakes, 2008)

Many thanks for another great trip. Chris and I had never been to northern Italy before, and we were both really impressed with the scenery, the people and the food (especially the pizzas). Definitely worth another trip to that area.
Andy Bransom (Alps & Lakes, 2008)

I just wanted to thank you once again for the trip now that I am safe and sound back in Dubai.
We had an absolute blast and enjoyed every minute of it. It was so good to be able to see so much beautiful countryside and ride such great roads after the sand and concrete of the Middle East and to do this with a great bunch of people was the icing on the cake.
We have nothing but praise for the organisation which made everything go so smoothly. As a project manager myself, I know that this is a reflection of the amount of effort put in behind the scenes, so our thanks to all involved.
You will definitely be seeing us again in the future.
Andy Hewitt (Alps & Lakes, 2008)

Just a quick email to say thank you for a great trip, Andrea and I really enjoyed ourselves and can't wait to go on another trip with yourselves.
Paula Wood (Arras, 2008)

We did not manage to say goodbye to Ron in Santander. Would you please pass on our thanks to him for yet another brilliant holiday. He did a great job and we are looking forward to our tours next year.
Keith & Janet Naylor, Eric Lidster (Spain, 2008)

We wanted to write straight away and thank you for a great weekend in France.
The tour was excellent as was the accommodation but as first timers we found the friendship amongst the group really made the trip. To spend time riding with likeminded individuals in a lovely region whilst Ron and the team worry about the fuel and food stops makes the pleasure of riding the bike even better.
We look forward to seeing the 2009 tours and will definitely be back.
Jenny & Simon Turl (Chateau & Gourmet, 2008)

Our trip with you was great. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Hotels good and the organisation superb.
Stuart Vousden (Ardennes & Luxembourg, 2008)

Thanks again for the awesome riding and fabulous organisation. Looking forward to receiving next years brochure.
Kim and Ann Cooper (Spain II, 2007)

Many thanks for the great trip. I look forward to being able to book a few more next year.
Colin Notman (5 Nations & Faaker See, 2007)

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed the recent Italian tour. I thought the hotels and the route was just great, and it was good to see everyone again. Roll on next year! I only wish I had more time to do more trips!
Ralph Scevity (Italian Lakes, 2007)

A great tour. Your Road Captain leadership and support team provided excellent service, not forgetting the office staff. It was great having a good cross section of riders and I'm looking forward to the 2008 tour details.
Roger Sherlow, Brugges 2007

Many, many thanks for another great tour. Some more great riding roads and some great weather - with the exception of the bit of precipitation we had in Geneva! The hotels were also great especially the one in Montreux. Very much looking forward to the Spain tour in September - we're counting the weeks already.
Kim and Ann Cooper (Italian Lakes 2007)

Hi everyone at Brettours,
Just returned from your trip to Fuengirola and had to write to say it was nothing like i expected. It was absolutely brilliant.
Steve and Carol were absolute stars and deserve a medal, so well organized we want to go again. Words cannot express how good it was. Made a few new friends, found great roads and scenery....Brilliant. Many thanks to everyone involved in making this first trip so special.
John Nicholls and Mick Cannon (European Rally, Fuengirola 2007)

Just a quick line to say how much I enjoyed my first Official Harley trip. Steve and Carol were lovely hosts and looked after us all very well. Everything was organised beautifully. Many thanks.
Martin Waghorn (European Rally, Fuengirola 2007)

We also wanted to mention that we really had a fantastic time on the tour. We were very impressed with the organisation and everything ran really smoothly, with nothing for us to worry about except enjoying the ride! Ron certainly chooses some great biking roads and we're sure we'll be back on another tour sometime soon. The company was also great and we had some good laughs.
Cathy Navin (le Touquet, 2006)

What can I say, both Susan and myself had a wonderful time with you on the recent 5 nations trip.This is certainly something we will, and have been promoting for others to take the ride. I have never returned from a holiday so relaxed. So many people at work remarked how well I looked. Naturally we were helped with the excellent weather during the trip, but the roads you selected, and the outstanding views were the best anybody could imagine. Susan took in excess of 800 photo's which have been whittled down to 600. Thank you for organising and planning a wonderful experience, we felt safe and secure the whole trip. Being part of the whole team, your management skills ensured that nobody was left out. (I did notice).
The hotels with their safe/secure parking were appreciated as was the excellent food being offered.
Alan Wise (5 Nations & Faaker See 2005)

We just wanted to say "Thank you" for a wonderful vacation. You guys are truly great. Our tour with you was one of the best vacations that we have ever had. As we indicated earlier, we plan to join you again for the Spain tour in 2006. Please send us the itinerary when it is available.
Cal and Ann Ollerhead, Canada (5 Nations & Faaker See 2005)

I just wanted to write you a quick note to thank you whilst the last few days are still fresh in my mind.
I was a little apprehensive when I booked myself onto the trip a few months ago, as I'm not used to travelling with an unknown bunch of people, particularly those of the "Harley" variety and also knowing that I would probably be one of the youngest participants!! The gale and the grey sky on Saturday morning didn't do much to help but as soon as the others started to arrive and the welcome packs handed out it was clear that you had put a lot of work into making the trip go as smoothly as possible and everyone was really very friendly. By the time we arrived back yesterday evening I must say I really didn't want to part company as I'd honestly had a fantastic time over the last few days. Despite the dodgy weather I can't say there was ever a moment that I regretted going on the trip and it is an experience that I will definitely repeat over the years to come (you never know I might even be able to persuade the wife to come next time!)
Again, many thanks for your extremely professional service and the warm and friendly atmosphere; please also thank Julian and Sonya for me. I'll be sure to tell everyone that I can about the "Rolling Thunder" in Normandy tour! Looking forward to joining you again in the near future - please be sure to keep me on your mailing list!
Richard Adler (Normandy Tour 2005)

Having just completed the Belgium Ardennes trip we had to write to say a BIG THANK YOU for another wonderful tour. Once again everything was really well organised and the riding was fantastic. We didn't realise that Belgium had such wonderful scenery. Thanks also go to Carol and Steve and Barry and Marian for 'looking out for us'. We can't wait for our next tour, which will be the 'Five Nations'. Enjoy your tours throughout the summer. See you in September.
Ann and Kim Cooper (Belgian Ardennes 2005)

Just a short note to say many, many thanks for a truly wonderful riding experience in the Ardennes this week. I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms as my mind keeps flashing back to Dinant and those great roads we rode on.
I telephoned HOG News UK today and spoke to Kylie, she asked me to do a 1000 word article with some photos and I said I would be pleased to oblige. I also told her what a great time Alex and I had on the tour and so the article will have nothing but the highest praise for you, your team and Brettours.
If I had to score the tour out of 100, I'd give it 110!
I have definitely been bitten by the touring bug, I've got the bike, the photos have been developed, I've watched the video, hell, I've even got the T shirt and so the bad news for you is that you will be seeing me again, so to quote the words of a famous terminator, ' I'LL BE BACK'!
Jon Hudson (Belgian Ardennes 2005)

Sitting in the small Czech restaurant, sipping strong coffee and watching the monger carts clattering down the ancient cobblestone street, I remember talking with my newly made friend Richard, an Englishman, whom I'd met on our H.O.G. Tour, about coming back to visit with him and his family. What a fantastic benefit of the tour I thought, making such wonderful new friends from other parts of the world.
Thanks to the spectacular scenery and fantastic motorcycling roads, we had many things to talk about each night over dinners made for us by country chefs. I suppose the conversation came more easily and friendship grew more quickly because of the common appreciation for Harleys, but the great selections of wine each night probably didn't hurt either.
Ron and Caroline, tour hosts, never missed a step in seeing to it that our hotels, meals and routes were fully attended to and in excellent order each day. Riding in the small group with Ron was always a joy. His roads, certainly ones I could never have found on my own, took us into the hearts of the most spectacular parts of each country we road through.
I thought to myself as I signed my wife Linda and me up for our next H.O.G. European Tour in Spain, that I it was all but certain to be memory-maker just like the two tours we'd completed with Ron and Caroline. The biggest problem we've encountered with HOG Tours, is waiting for the tour start date to get here!
Randy and Linda Prange, USA (Germany & Czech Republic 2005)

I would just like to reiterate my appreciation of a very well organised tour. The routes were obviously well planned and extremely enjoyable to ride along, and as a novice, at a pace that felt comfortable. (With the exception of a little dampness at times!) Having only ever done a few Sunday rideouts before the whole trip was something of an experience, and something I won't forget. I would certainly go on another one and recommend it to anyone. Thanks again to you, Caroline and all the support team.
Philip Stanton (St. Tropez 2005)

Thanks for a brilliant four days with the 2004 HOG Battlefields Tour. It's nice when you had been looking forward to something SO MUCH when it turns out to be as good as you had hoped. I have come home with a stack of good memories, and some things I hadn't expected, like the Menin Gate ceremony - not a dry eye in the house!! Well done to you and Dave and your 'blocker', whose name I never learnt!
Michael Howers (WWI Battlefields 2004)

A BIG, BIG thank you for guiding us on your Loire & Champagne Tour, we had the time of our lives. I won't forget the beautiful Chateau we stayed in and our final night Champagne tasting and the delicious dinner. As a new rider it has given me so much more confidence, it really felt great to be able to jump on my bike and just rider everyday along those long, empty, sweeping roads. We all survived the changing weather; even the rain furthered my experience in wet weather riding, following your guidance as Road Captain. I have come home from the tour a much better rider, made some good friends who we hope to meet up with next year on the Spanish Tour, so make sure you put us on the booking list.
Marie Ward (Loire Valley 2004)

WE HAD A FANTASTIC TIME! WE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER WITH OUR EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE!
Jeff Dean & Donna Keily, Texas USA (5 Nations 2004)

Just a quick note to say thanks again for a brilliant trip, even better than last year's, and that's saying something!
I'm not too happy about Chris getting the 'Harley Babe' award, I've now found I'm married to a 'diva' - only joking, I think she deserves a medal for sitting for so long on the back of my Sporty!!
Been out today, done about 250 miles on some great roads, but it's not the same as Spain, never mind, it's better than nothing. Anyway, we're definitely up for another trip next year, not sure which one yet, so please make sure you send me details as soon as there're available. Take care and ride safe, see you both before too long.
Andy and Chris Bransom (Spain 2003)