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- Apr 2, 2011
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Hi - not really a trip report but didn't want to hijack Jacques Vert's TR (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....photos/provence-canal-du-midi-more-78421.html ) and there were a few questions about types of boats etc so just posting some info in here on our canal boat experience.
We went with Nicols and had the Confort 1350 Canal boat hire - Confort 1350 | Nicols
It says it can sleep 10 but that means two people have to sleep in the living area so that's not ideal unless you all get on really well and even then it is hard for people to have their own space.
The couple that had the front bedroom found it very claustrophobic and in the end he slept in the living area once everyone else had gone to bed.
Although it says it has four bathrooms (and were described to us as en suite) you had to go out of your bedroom to get to the bathroom and they were really only a toilet you had to pump to flush and a hand basin with a shower attachment so you can imagine it can get a bit messy in there especially if it's wet outside (I've attached some photos of the toilet)
Having said all that, it was really an amazing experience and one I'd repeat again tomorrow.
We went from Rogny to Plagny in 7 days - about 62 locks and we didn't ever have to pay to moor anywhere - we did have trouble paying for water occasionally because you had to put in a credit card and although it was only 1 euro it wouldn't accept any of our cards - luckily we had some friendly Europeans that helped us out.
I've attached the route but Google doesn't give you the option of canal boat just walking, driving, public transport or plane!!
We liked to moor close to a village so we could go and get the fresh croissants each morning and although we self catered most of the time we had a few meals out and they were all excellent.
We stopped several times during the day and would go for a walk around the local village especially if there was a market - the food was just fantastic.
There were 7 of us so we didn't feel as though we were on lock duty too much. The lock keepers were mainly really friendly and used to help a lot - we were told we should provide a gift to each of them and that varied from a beer to an Aussie key ring with koalas or maps of Australia (I was roundly criticised by the others for taking them because they were so tacky but they all loved them)
If you want any more info please let me know and I'll try to help out.
We went with Nicols and had the Confort 1350 Canal boat hire - Confort 1350 | Nicols
It says it can sleep 10 but that means two people have to sleep in the living area so that's not ideal unless you all get on really well and even then it is hard for people to have their own space.
The couple that had the front bedroom found it very claustrophobic and in the end he slept in the living area once everyone else had gone to bed.
Although it says it has four bathrooms (and were described to us as en suite) you had to go out of your bedroom to get to the bathroom and they were really only a toilet you had to pump to flush and a hand basin with a shower attachment so you can imagine it can get a bit messy in there especially if it's wet outside (I've attached some photos of the toilet)
Having said all that, it was really an amazing experience and one I'd repeat again tomorrow.
We went from Rogny to Plagny in 7 days - about 62 locks and we didn't ever have to pay to moor anywhere - we did have trouble paying for water occasionally because you had to put in a credit card and although it was only 1 euro it wouldn't accept any of our cards - luckily we had some friendly Europeans that helped us out.
I've attached the route but Google doesn't give you the option of canal boat just walking, driving, public transport or plane!!
We liked to moor close to a village so we could go and get the fresh croissants each morning and although we self catered most of the time we had a few meals out and they were all excellent.
We stopped several times during the day and would go for a walk around the local village especially if there was a market - the food was just fantastic.
There were 7 of us so we didn't feel as though we were on lock duty too much. The lock keepers were mainly really friendly and used to help a lot - we were told we should provide a gift to each of them and that varied from a beer to an Aussie key ring with koalas or maps of Australia (I was roundly criticised by the others for taking them because they were so tacky but they all loved them)
If you want any more info please let me know and I'll try to help out.
