In the app group, that standard question comes up as soon as someone shares a hotel: “Can the bikes really go inside?” We've all been there. The hotel says cycle-friendly, The bicycle ends up in an open garden shed or a corridor where the cleaning trolley is also kept. The difference between a label with published criteria and a hotel that advertises itself as “bike friendly” on its website is significant.

We're putting the four labels that matter most for us as Dutch and Belgian cyclists side-by-side, on the points where you book.

Four labels, one comparison

Bett+Bike (Germany, ADFC) · Accueil Vélo (France, France Vélo Tourisme) Cyclists Welcome! (Netherlands, Cycling Platform) · Swiss Bike Hotels (Switzerland, Switzerland Tourism / hotelleriesuisse)

Secure storage

• Bett+Bikeenclosed, covered, lockable space for the night. The Sport variant requires a theft-proof space.
• Accueil VéloSecure bicycle parking; for accommodations, a locked, secure space on the ground floor.
• Cyclists Welcome!Secure bicycle storage at accommodation.
• Swiss Bike HotelsBike garage or lockable bike storage.
• Only “bike friendly” on the hotel websiteNo defined norm. Could be anything.

Repair supplies

• Bett+Bike: basic repair kit plus contact with a bike workshop. Sport adds special tools and a service corner.
• Accueil Vélo: Repair kit (tyre patching supplies, standard wrenches, lubricant, floor pump) or directions to the nearest repair shop.
• Cyclists Welcome!Tyre repair kit, bicycle pump and first-aid kit.
• Swiss Bike HotelsWorkshop or repair service, tools present or nearby.

Washing and drying clothes

• Bett+Bikestorage space for clothing and equipment. Sport also requires a bicycle wash area.
• Accueil Vélowashing machine or washbasin plus dryer or drying room.
• Cyclists Welcome!Drying rack for wet clothes.
• Swiss Bike Hotelslaundry room; some partners also offer laundry service.

Breakfast or food

• Bett+BikeFull breakfast or cooking facilities is a minimum requirement.
• Accueil VéloBreakfast is not compulsory, but if it is offered it must be tailored to the energy needs of cyclists. Restaurants must be open in the afternoon.
• Cyclists Welcome!no breakfast minimum in the criteria.
• Swiss Bike HotelsVitality cuisine, cycle-friendly meals, half or full board (or nearby restaurant).

Route information and local knowledge

• Bett+BikeRegional tourist cycling information is mandatory; Sport adds sport-specific maps, GPS equipment, and daily weather information.
• Accueil Véloroute guidance, knowledge of local cycling routes, and information on the best approach route.
• Cyclists Welcome!No formal requirement in the published criteria, but visibility on route planners and in guides.
• Swiss Bike HotelsOn-site route tips, maps, and GPS routes.

Charging e-bike

• Bett+Bikecharging point is basic criterion (unless regulation prevents it).
• Accueil VéloCharging of e-bike battery and phone/GPS is a core service.
• Cyclists Welcome!e-bike charging point mandatory.
• Swiss Bike Hotelsnot explicitly named in the published criteria.

Control and validity

• Bett+Bikeon-site inspection by trained auditors, certificate valid for 3 years.
• Accueil Vélostrict selection and regular inspection, labelling period of 3 years.
• Cyclists Welcome!annual participation (January–December), managed by Fietsplatform.
• Swiss Bike HotelsQualification via Hotelleriesuisse and Switzerland Tourism, with TrustYou score threshold.

Which label goes with which trip?

Bett+Bike offers the clearest minimum guarantee. Full breakfast, secure bike storage, drying room, repair kit, route knowledge, e-bike charging, all checked with a physical inspection. If you book accommodation at a Bett+Bike establishment in Germany, you don't really need to send a confirmation email (which saves you messaging with reception ;)).

The Sport-variant is extra interesting for road cyclists and gravel riders: special tools, a bike wash area, sport-specific maps, and a daily weather report.

Accueil Vélo is it the broadest label in range. More than 9,000 certified companies in France, and in addition to hotels, also bicycle rental, restaurants, tourist information offices and attractions. For a multi-day trip in France, where the logistics need to be right all day, that ecosystem is useful.

Cyclists Welcome! works as a light, fast filter for overnight stays along LF routes and junction networks in the Netherlands. Around 900 businesses participate. The threshold is lower than with Bett+Bike, but the basics are in place: secure storage, tyre repair kit, pump, and e-bike charging. Exactly what you need for a weekend cycling on the junctions in your own country.

Swiss Bike Hotels are closer to a premium accommodation segment than a simple tick-box scheme. Bicycle storage, workshop, vitality cuisine, route advice. Ideal for a comfort-oriented cycling holiday in Switzerland, less comparable as a pure checklist label.

And what if there isn't a label at all?

Many excellent small hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses do not have an official label. Sometimes due to the costs (participation ranges from €67 per year for Fietsers Welkom! to €200 per three years for Bett+Bike or Accueil Vélo), sometimes because they are not on the radar. This does not necessarily make them less suitable. But without a label, there is no external control, and “bike friendly” on a hotel website means exactly as much as the owner understands it to mean.

Of course, we also have our own cycling destination approved label.

In that case, send a message asking specifically about enclosed storage, washing facilities and breakfast times. According to the ADFC criteria For Bett+Bike, a locked, covered, lockable space is the minimum. That's an excellent benchmark for any hotel, whether it has a label or not.

Do you know of any unbranded hotels that still have the basics perfectly in order? We'd love to hear about it!