Monday, 17 April 2017

A Beginners Guide to Boating Holidays

Boating holidays can be a fun and relaxing way to spend your well earned holiday, but if you've never been on a boating holiday before you may have some questions, we detail the top 5 questions posed by boating novices.
I don't have any experience, can I still hire a boat?
Boat hire companies are used to holiday makers who have never been on a boat before, you won't be expected to take full control of your boat until you're happy with how everything works. You will be shown how to steer your boat, daily boat checks, operating locks, and safety instructions.
How physical is a holiday on a boat?
You don't have to be an Olympic athlete for a holiday afloat, but a small amount of physical activity is involved - specifically when going through locks and mooring your boat. It is recommend that you have at least 2 reasonably fit people in your holiday party.
What am I likely to see during my holiday afloat?
You can choose a boating holiday depending on what type of surroundings you want to see. Some rivers take in the tranquillity of the countryside, whilst other rivers and canals allow you to cruise through towns and cities, and witness a wealth of architectural and industrial history. Whichever waterway you choose to navigate, you'll get a different view of the area you are going.
Can I get off the boat?
There will be plenty of opportunity's for you to get off your boat to explore - wildlife, villages, pubs - whenever you see something which takes your fancy, you can moor up, and have a look round. If you're planning a boating holiday in France, many of the boat-yards allow you to hire a bicycle to take with you, an excellent way of exploring the towns and villages you cruise through.
What about the fuel?
Some boating holidays will include the price of fuel in the hire charge, others will charge a small fee for fuel. Hire boats don't go very fast (about 4-6 mph), so won't use very much fuel. When you book your boat, you will be made aware of any additional charges payable.
For a comprehensive list of Norfolk Broads boats see here. Maybe you fancy boating in Europe, well, that's not a problem either, see boats in France for a list of boating holidays in France.