Originally Posted by
jefnvk
Most places in Belgium and the Netherlands were good about having a secured garden or interior area our bikes were allowed, but the hotel we stayed at in Amsterdam the last couple nights refused them in any sort of private area whatsoever. They pointed at the public bike racks outside and told us to lock them up there, and there really was no sneaking them into our fifth floor room. It isn't the easiest doing research about bike parking when you are credit card touring.
Our experience in Paris might help, or not. We spent about 8 days in Paris due to a doctor's appointment and the end of the TDF. We stayed at a friend of a friend's apartment near the center of Paris. The apartment owner told us not to leave our bikes out in the courtyard even when the gate and bikes were locked. She told us to store them in the apartment. We went on a ride with some ex-Oregonians who have lived in Paris for 30 years. When we went over to their house after the ride they locked out bikes in their garage until after dinner. They would not let us leave them in the courtyard.
Point is: bike theft in Paris is also a problem. We are starting a tour there in June, and the owner of the apartment we are renting is going to lock our bikes in his garage while we are playing tourist for a few days.