Thinking of going on a boating holiday?

Question

any ideas........ where, what time of year, boating companies,the do s and the donts

Answer 1

Personally, I'd go on an Antarctica cruise.  Ah yes, the fresh air, sun, ice, and penguins sipping margaritas.  Nothing more pleasurable than a good ol' freezer holiday.  :)

Answer 2

Inland waterway holidays are excellent for slowing down. After a bit of tuition from the boat yard you will soon be good enough. Do not worry and enjoy. Go slightly out of season to miss the great rush and start on an easy holiday such as the Thames (manned locks) or the Broads (few locks) then progress to canals where the locks add to the fun and enjoyment.

Good luck

Answer 3

The Norfolk Broads!

Brilliant time!

Hoseasons or Blakes do boat hire!

Answer 4

The Cotswolds is just great for those people looking for something a little different. Boating holidays offer a unique experience for those who hate being stuck in the same place. These waterways offer a relaxing antidote to mainstream accommodation.

Answer 5

Depends what type of boating holiday you mean. I went on holiday on a narrow boat for a week. Work hard in the day opening the locks but inbetween you can sunbathe on top of the boat - 5 miles an hour everywhere, beautiful, peaceful countryside. An if you're old enough theres more or less a pub where ever you moor up.  Dont know the name of any companies, best off google-ing companies in your area.

Answer 6

A.  Norfolk Broads, (few locks).

B.  Summertime.

C.  Hoseasons and many others

1.  Don't expect not to be smitten with the world of boats and boating.  If the bug bites, it bites hard.  If so, unless you are a lottery winner:

2.  Do expect to be penniless forever after, when you take the plunge and buy your own boat.  Flash car? not after a boat purchase,  Designer clothes? oh nooo,  dining out in posh restaurants regularly?  in future that'll be be the medium burger meal with cola then.

3.  Do expect your vocabulary to change.  it'll be for ever more about skegs, UJ bellows, stainless props, outdrives, cleats, Quicksilver oils, shift cables, anodes and pulpits.  Or maybe about going down the "grand union",  windlass's, paddles and sanitary stations if that's your particular bag.

4.  Do expect it to be life changing, maybe you won't like it and get it out of your system forever and carry on with a mundane life, or you could finally have something that makes 40 hours a week of enforced slavery seem worthwhile.

5.  Do expect non boating friends to be bored with your tales of nautical derring do and your many boating friends to dismay you with tales of how many cunning ways your boat has of breaking your heart.

Now about that badly pitted anode you failed to change at the beginning of the season when you finally found a permanent sea water mooring......drive, blah, , gear housing, prop, seized, rotted, How much?  good grief, anyone got any smelling salts, I've come over a bit peculiar.

Answer 7

If your thinking of a narrowboat holiday just search the web for dozens of hire companies up and down the country.

Very relaxing and you will meet like minded people.

The hire company will give you a short handling and health and safety course before setting you free onto the open water.

Be prepared to be totally relaxed within hours of casting off.

Weather wise it`s obviously better to go during the summer months(although not this year), but most boats have central heating or at least a log burner, so they are always cosy, and even in the busy times you will enjoy the camaraderie amongst the other boaters.

Enjoy yourself.

Answer 8

I have only been on the Thames, done it 3 times, 2 long weekends and a 2 week holiday. Loved it.

Between Windsor and Oxford there's plenty to do and to see, including pubs, food, a zoo, a castle, the original mint, and some houses with water frontage you'd kill to own. Some pretty english villages too.

The advantage of the Thames over the canals is that there are less locks and usually a lock keeper to do the work. I'll let somebody who knows the Norfolk Broads comment on what it's like to have no locks.

It can get quite damp on cold on water and I'd recommend try for the warmer weather, and I'd also recommend a long weekend rather than a longer period if you are not sure if the river life is for you.

Besides the UK you can hire boats for France and The Netherlands, more expensive but may suit you more.

As somebody has already said, it's Blakes or Hoseasons - both easy to find on the net. I hired from Bridge Boats in Reading which was part of Hoseasons and the link is below, should you be interested.

Answer 9

On the Shannon in Ireland / Spring / Summer. Google it.

Answer 10

As in boating, do you mean a cruise or just on a boat of yours? if a cruise, go on a cruise to Alaska those are fun, my grandparents tell me its a fun trip!