Hotel boats on the canals
Hotel boating offers all the benefits of a relaxing cruise on Britain’s beautiful inland waterways, with the catering and navigating chores taken out of it.
It’s the perfect antidote to busy jobs and frenetic lives, plus a great opportunity to make new friends.
There are a variety hotel canal boat holidays to choose from, including traditional narrowboat pair Snipe & Taurus, which offer 4-star floating accommodation for up to nine guests at a time.
Narrowboat holidays with Snipe & Taurus vary from four to ten night stays. Prices vary depending on the length of the trip but a single cabin starts from £400 for four nights, and a double en-suite from £425 per person for four nights.
This year, the boats began their season with a seven-night trip from Warwick to Stourport and have since visited Chester, Manchester, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Market Harborough and Burton on Trent.
Next they will head to Warwick, Henley, Banbury, Worcester and Stratford upon Avon, as well as London. Their last trip this season will explore the Warwickshire Ring, departing 6 October for ten days.
Owner Neil Thomsett explains: “Travelling at just four miles per hour, enjoying the wildlife, peaceful countryside and historic pubs and houses along the way, hotel boat passengers can’t help but change gear both mentally and physically. Holidaymakers can just sit back and watch the world go by or get active by helping to work the locks, steer the boat or walk along the towpath.
“All our cruises include transport to and from the nearest mainline railway station and car parking can be arranged at some of our departure/destination points. All meals and snacks are included as part of the cruise, plus soft drinks, teas and coffees.”
For more information on Snipe & Taurus visit www.canalvoyagers.com, email info@canalvoyagers.com or call Corinne and Neil on 079 2121 4414.
Hotel boat Periwinkle, which takes just three passengers, offers mostly seven night cruises at £710 per person per cruise.
Gill and Steve Cookson, the husband and wife team who own and operate the boat, explain: “We are enjoying our eleventh hotel boating season. Our canal boat holidays really are the fastest way to slow down and our customers come from all over the world to enjoy a quieter pace of life on Britain’s beautiful inland waterways. We provide full board, including a four-course dinner each evening, plus comfortable beds and a lovely hot shower!“
For more information about hotel boat Periwinkle visit www.hotelboatperiwinkle.com, email hotelperiwinkle@aol.com or call 07747 017263.
Traditional narrowboat pair Duke & Duchess offer a hotel boat service for up to eight people.
All trips are for seven nights and prices are fixed for the whole season, with £680 per person charged for en-suite cabins and £640 for standard cabins.
Owner/operator David Owen explains: “Hotel boats offer a perfectly relaxed chore-free way to discover the secrets of the canals. Our small moving hotel offers a friendly atmosphere with personal attention, wonderful company and delicious cuisine! The boats are a traditional 70 foot narrowboat pair, with the motor Duke towing the unpowered butty Duchess. Although built in the traditional style, they provide modern hotel comforts, plus the added bonus of ever changing views!”
For more information visit www.hotelboat-holidays.co.uk, email info@hotelboat-holidays.co.uk or call 07711 836441.
Links to all these and other hotel boat websites can be found on the Drifters website www.drifters.co.uk or call the Drifters booking office on 0845 984 0322 for contacts and ideas.
The boats take between two and 22 passengers and are all fully skippered and crewed offering delicious food and comfortable beds
