Frequently Asked Questions

 

THIS LOOKS SWEET! WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

We are located just outside of Scottsdale, AZ, USA.

what are you doing about covid-19?

August 11, 2021 - At the time of this writing, it’s hard to say what the travel and tourism landscape will look like in the future. The guidelines that we follow today may be completely different at time of your vacation. However, we will do our best to ensure you have a safe, fun and relaxing vacation.

Any of our trips can be turned into “private” trips. Do you have a “quaranteam” that you want spend your vacation with? We can turn it into a private trip just for your group. If you don’t see a date that fits your schedule, let us know, we’ll do our best to make it happen.

We will also suspend our current Terms and Conditions around Deposits and Cancellations. Put simply - book with confidence to reserve your spot. If the world is falling apart as we approach your trip date, you can cancel your trip up to 60 days before the trip and receive a FULL refund. Within 60 days of your trip, we’ll apply your funds to first dibs on a future trip.

There are some aspects to our trips that already meet current guidelines:

  • Social distancing on the trails is easy (and already encouraged!)

  • Our property is spacious! There is plenty of room for relaxing without violating current social distancing

Here are some of the other ways we can adjust:

  • Masks can be used anytime social distancing can’t be maintained

  • Eliminating meals out; taking advantage of the large kitchen, patio, dining and living room for all meals

  • Eliminating double-occupancy for guests that aren’t together

  • Keeping common areas sanitized

  • Rapid testing is becoming more available - we’ll consider this if feasible

We’ll keep this question updated as things change, so be sure to come back and check it out for the latest information.


what is the riding like at Bike Paradise?

One of the most wonderful things about our trails is their ability to accommodate a wide range of skill levels.  The trails are generally smooth and non-technical with gradual ascents and descents.  However, if your tastes lean more towards challenging climbs and descents, we have that too.  Varying rider pace can be accommodated with different ride groups.  However, since you are booking a mountain bike riding vacation, it is assumed that you are generally fit, able to ride about 20 miles at a time, with an average 1000 ft elevation change per ride.  We want to do our very best to accommodate your riding needs, so if you have any concerns, questions or specific needs, please don't hesitate to contact us.

 

I'm not into huge crowds.  How many other people are going to be in the vacation?

The house assigned for your Vacation will dictate the maximum group size, but our current property sleeps 8.

 

I'm already getting excited!  What is included in my Vacation?

  • Accommodations

  • meals (specific diets can be accommodated)

  • Rental bike logistics

  • Fuel and water for riding

  • Ground transportation for shuttle rides or off-site activities/meals

  • Professional guides

  • optional MTB skills clinics

  • beer and wine at the house

  • Custom souvenirs

  • Sunshine, smiles, vitamin D, hugs and high fives

 

I know you guys can't provide everything.  What is not included? 

  • Airfare to / from Bike Paradise

  • Guaranteed transportation to / from the airport to / from Bike Paradise (though we’ll do our best, see “How Do We Get To…” below)

  • Bike rentals*

  • Additional activities outside the itinerary

  • Meals not covered on the itinerary

  • "hard" alcohol or spirits

  • If you are bringing your own bike: assembly, disassembly and shipping to / from Bike Paradise*

  • Purchases of a personal nature

  • Guide gratuities

    *these can be arranged for additional fees, see below for more details

 

sounds good so far!  What should I bring?

  • All your own riding gear (socks, shoes, shorts, pants, pads, jackets, jerseys, gloves, helmet, sunglasses, hydration pack, etc)

  • Riding layers - sometimes the mornings can be brisk, and the afternoons warm

  • If you’re renting a bike: your pedals, and maybe your saddle if you so choose

  • Camera(s)

  • Sunscreen

 

my bike is setup perfectly for me, and I love riding it.  Can I bring it?

Absolutely!  We understand if you want to ride your own steed.  We’ll also have a work stand, common tools and pumps (shock and tire) for guest use.

If you'd rather not travel with your bike, consider shipping your bike ahead of time.  We have partnered with Bike Flights and McDowell Mountain Cycles (MMC) to provide you the most streamlined, economical and hassle free bike shipping experience around. Send the bike ahead of your vacation to MMC and it will be assembled and waiting the day you arrive.  Reverse the process and it will be shipped home ASAP.

 

my bike is a bit outdated, or I don't care to deal with transporting my own bike.  can I rent something while I'm there?

Our partner McDowell Mountain Cycles (MMC) has a fleet of the latest and greatest TREK and SCOTT bikes.  Bike Paradise guests enjoy a 25% discount on MMC’s rental rates. We’ll arrange for it to be ready when you arrive.

 

the ITINERARY sounds great, but I'm looking for something a little bit different.

We strive to put together Vacations that we think will suit most riders, but sometimes our guests have unique needs or plans.  No problem!  We'd be happy to put together a custom vacation that suits your desires.  Don't be shy, the sky's the limit!  Just drop us a line and let us know what you have in mind.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

  • a Family Vacation - Maybe not everybody rides, but with all the different nearby activities, we can put together a Vacation that will have everyone smiling.

  • a Beginner's Vacation - We can tailor a Vacation with an emphasis on skills clinics, then go on rides to build those skills.

  • a Bachelor or Bachelorette Retreat - Why blow your money in Vegas? Come celebrate with your closest friends on a riding trip they'll remember for years.

  • a Friends Reunion - Has life got in the way of seeing your childhood pals? Have everybody meet at Bike Paradise and catch up on the trails.

  • an “Expert Group” Vacation - Our main focus is on rides for most all skill levels, but if you want to take it up a notch with bigger climbs and technical descents, we can accommodate!

  • a Birthday Celebration - Is the big one coming up? What better way to get everyone together than to turn some cranks and blow out some candles. The cake is on us!

 

My friend/spouse/partner doesn’t ride a mountain bike, but would still like to enjoy my vacation with me.  can they come?  what else can they do at Bike Paradise?

Absolutely!  Our accommodations are perfect for relaxing at, and the surrounding area is a treasure trove of events and activities.  It would be easier to list the activities you couldn't do than the things you can, but here's a short list of ideas:

  • golf

  • shopping

  • hiking

  • road bike riding

  • kayaking

  • fishing

  • tennis

  • spas

  • museums

  • wildlife parks

  • NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB games

  • horseback riding

We can help recommend and plan off-site activities, and non-riders will enjoy a discount on the Bike Paradise rate, but any additional expenses (transportation, tickets, etc) would not be included.

 

What airport will I fly into?  

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is your best bet.  There are smaller regional airports in the area though, so if you have unique travel plans, let us know if you need help.


I’ve starting planning my travel ARRANGEMENTS. What time should I plan on arriving and departing?  

We’ll meet at the property at 4PM on the beginning day of your trip, and will need to be checked out by 11AM on the last day of your trip.  If early check-in or late check-out becomes available, we’ll communicate that to you ASAP, but generally we won’t know that until a few days before the beginning of your trip.


How do we get to Bike Paradise from the Airport?

We want your experience to be as seamless and trouble-free as possible, so we’ll do our best to provide transportation to and from the airport. However, with up to 8 guests coming and going, the logistics can be challenging. If for some reason the logistics don’t work out, SuperShuttle is a great option, and of course Uber and Lyft.  If you'd like to try and share a shuttle with other guests, let us know and we'll do our best to hook you up!

 

Can I get my own rental car?

Absolutely, if you want the freedom of having a car of your own that is fine with us, though you'll likely not need it if you're sticking with the Vacation itinerary.  All the major rental companies service the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport.  Please visit Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for more details.

 

oh no!  Something came up!  I have to cancel.  What are my options?

Please visit our Terms and Conditions page for details on refunds or transfers.