29 replies to this topic

[Idle Al]

Do keep looking, and get yourself out on the system. I 1st did this as a raw 19 yr old with a load of friends in 1984 and it was fantastic, and really awakened my interest in all things canal! I've since hired many times, sometimes with a load of mates, and sometimes just me & my wife and it's just as rewarding whichever way I've done it. It costs what it costs, but I've always thought it well worth the money.

[Rebotco]

Again...huge thanks for all of your responses.

To be frank, last year we hired a holiday cottage and the cost was less than £300!! It is only for two of us as well which is why I thought the prices we'd seen were rather expensive.
I'm going to keep looking as it's something we'd really like to do

I used to think like that until I realised that:-


With a cottage you have to spend a lot of time and a fortune on fuel to get anywhere each day. Plus all the hassle of

driving everywhere in a car on congested roads. And every day you have to start and end at the same place.

You have to find and pay for all your entertainment every day and evening. Even more if you've got kids.


But with a boat all your entertainment comes free. And it starts when you wake up and lasts until you go to bed. And no two days are ever the same.

The change of pace on the canals is not only more beneficial, but 1 week seems like a fortnight on canal holidays.

And you will see things and meet people on the waterways that you cannot begin to imagine on land.

In short, it is utterly unique compared to anything else. It will relax you more than anything else. And if you measure

it as "Enjoyment/£" it is far cheaper than anything else.


But BEWARE - it is highly addictive!! Pretty much all those who now own their own boat, started off by hiring a boat for a holiday - and got hooked for life!

Brian

Edited by Rebotco, 16 January 2012 - 12:08 AM.

[churchward]

All good advice above. Always ask on price they can only say no but be polite as I am sure you would be.

Try

http://www.norburyhi.../hire_boats.htm

or Saisons as mentioned in posts above

http://www.saisons.co.uk/

[roggie]

We hired from UKBoathire for the last 2 years - last week in April - approx £8-900 plus diesel. Part paid with Tescos clubpoints which brought the effective price down. We also hire a private club boat at approx £750 - its not for profit and any simple tasks (oil change) are done by members. There is a business plan with monies put towards replacing the boat after 'x' years. A bit cheaper than commercial but we have to clean the boat ourselves. Can't really compare to small cottage - guess it depends on what you want to do during the stay. Think of the overheads of the marina plus one third of the year the boats are not hired.

[sheriff]

Hi All

Please be gentle as this is my first post although I have really enjoyed looking through the site for some time.

My partner and I are looking to book a holiday on a narrow boat (ideally) however to-date, the cost of those I've been looking at is, quite frankly ridiculous. Does anyone have any ideas or recommendations about companies etc that don't charge the earth.

We'd be happy with a long weekend / week and location isn't an issue.

Thanks in anticipation....

sometimes if you can be flexable,you can phone up last minute at busy times and get a otherwise costly holiday,at a reduced rate....also with this Tring summit situation you might get a deal a bit later say march if they cant operate southbound,they might lose some bookings...the trick is,to strike at the right time.also a 40footer ism plenty for two

Edited by sheriff, 22 January 2012 - 11:41 PM.

[Canal Shop Man]

All good advice above. Always ask on price they can only say no but be polite as I am sure you would be.

Try

http://www.norburyhi.../hire_boats.htm

or Saisons as mentioned in posts above

http://www.saisons.co.uk/

Realising that our site wasn't up to date (http://www.saisons.co.uk/), I have now put up our prices for 2012

Hopefully we are still good value for those who want a smaller boat.

[portharb holidays]

sometimes if you can be flexable,you can phone up last minute at busy times and get a otherwise costly holiday,at a reduced rate....also with this Tring summit situation you might get a deal a bit later say march if they cant operate southbound,they might lose some bookings...the trick is,to strike at the right time.also a 40footer ism plenty for two

hi.
hows the hoilday hunt going

[Titan]

Try E bay select holidays then BOATS under accom . last year there were some good offers, august for 450.00 a week for 4berth. or for everyone else who has read this thats wants somethimg diffrent to boats pls pls try homelidays on net. last yr spent a smashing week in belgium in school summer hols for £174.00 in a wonderfull cottage. honestly a week in august £174.00 ohh and the beer wow thats another storey regards Martin

[Canal Shop Man]

Try E bay select holidays then BOATS under accom . last year there were some good offers, august for 450.00 a week for 4berth.

Of course beware the private boats offered on Ebay - if you hire one of these there will be no insurance or valid licence . . .

[grannykins]

We did Mon to Friday last February for under £300 from Willow Wren. Hired a 4 berth 38ft for hubby and me, but ended up with a 68ft 9 berth as our original boat was out of action. It was brilliant, and nice to experience the canals when they werent quite so full of other hire boats.
If you were to hire a static caravan in the summer it can cost anything from £600 to over £1000 for a week, and then you still have the cost of your entertainment every day. Its well worth hiring a boat, its just so different to anything else and much more relaxing. I'd reccommend it to anyone.