Fine Chocolate and Wine in France

I have several ideas of heaven, and of heaven on earth! The latter I have found in Burgundy: A hotel barge cruise based on wine and fine chocolates!

Imagine discovering some of the finest wines of the region, and tasting chocolate dessers mde my our on-board chef.

Aboard Elisabeth you can cruise on the Burgundy canal, one of the most famous in the world, among family or friends. Available on a charter basis only, the Elisabeth offers first class accomodation for up to 6, but her friendly owner-crew are equally happy to host honeymoon couples.

What better way to spoil yourselves than with two of the most delicious tastes in the world?

Come and see Elisabeth on our site at

http://www.hotelsafloat.com/

I promise that you will be tempted to join us!

Paris and the annual website update

Hi!
It's that time of year again, when I am stuck to the pc morning, noon and night updating our website at
www.hotelsafloat.com
This year sees some exciting changes! Some new hotel barges, one of which offers a Chocolate and Wine cruise, while another is situated in unspoilt Brittany.
It's been a tough year for us all, but now that the worst of the financial crisis appears to be behind us, it's perhaps time to look forward and plan a much needed holiday to raise your spirits in 2010.
Our new prices reflect the current market. There are some small increases, but in general the rates are actually the same if not lower than for 2009. We are, of course, also offering early booking discounts of up to 20% to our clients.
If you fancy a cruise in France this year, why not drop me a line at
hotelsafloat@aol.com
and I will be happy to find you the ideal cruise, at a price that may well surprise you.

Not all the new rates are published yet, but after a fabulous 4 days in Paris with my daugher, I am now settling down and will not be moving again until the job is done!

technology is a pain!

Burgundy summers are synonymous with fresh fruit and veg, chilled rose wine with lunch on the terrace and electrical storms!
Here at Hotels Afloat, the latter has struck again, for the second time this season.
The first strike, at the beginning of the summer, blew the modem so despite having invested in a satelite system for internet access thus cutting the risk of losing the phone lines as in 2008, we were cut off from cyber space for 5 days. Thank goodness for iphones!
Last week, the phone didnt ring all day. Nor did the fax line, but with so much to do on the email front I didnt take much notice until I tried to make an international call. The noise on the line was rather akin to those first broadcasts from the moon: rather fitting I suppose given the recent anniversary! My partner suggested that perhaps the line was drowned.... after torrential rain the manhole covers were all brimming. 6 days later, it's blazing hot, dry as a desert, and still no line. France Telecom, bless them, can finally send me an engineer tomorrow, just 8 days after I registered the break down.
SO, if you have tried to call us over the last week, I can only offer my sincere apologies and a word of advice. Never, but never, have a breakdown of any nature during the summer holidays in France.
Hotels Afloat is alive and kicking, and will be kicking a technicians' b..t tomorrow if he cant get the line working again.
In the meantime, If you want to take advantage of our early booking discounts for next year, please send me an email at hotelsafloat@aol.com
or call me on +33 614 250 200 and I will call you straight back.
Speak soon!

The Nivernais canal

The Nivernais canal is one of the most beautiful in France. The scenery changes as you cruise gently along from rolling hills, to vineyards to cliffs! For the sporty, there is an excellent cycling path and for those who would rather take it easy, there is the Luciole.

This beautiful hotel barge, originally a working barge transporting goods, was loving converted by it's current owners, John and Penny Lilley, to accomodate up to 14 guests in comfortable, homely surroundings.

When I have been fortunate enough to visit, Penny has made me most welcome, and I have come away with a smile on my face and a full stomach! Yes, Penny and her cook prepare some of the most sumptious meals to be had aboard a boat. Her secret? Fresh ingredients bought daily and prepared with the utmost care. I only wish that I had more free time so that I could arrange an inspection trip each season!

This season has proved difficult for many hotel barges, and indeed a number of the larger barges have disappeared. John and Penny have fared extraordinarily well with many weeks completely sold out. The secret? A fresh approach ie adapting to the current market place with a number of tempting discounts.

We still have a few cabins available, and are currently offering an incredible deal: Just 2000 USD per person! This represents a saving of about 40%. Dates remaining are July 19th, July 26th, and August 9th.

Call me on +33 380 39 29 38 or email me at hotelsafloat@aol.com

for the deal of a lifetime!

The joy of home grown vegatables

Fresh lettuces, radishes, tomatoes, spring onions from the garden, and our first fig! These are the signs that summer is now really here, apart from the heat of course.
This season I decided to grow carrots and turnips, hoping to put some away for the winter months, but a new recipe caught my eye and I now doubt that we will have any veg left for the winter.
Take baby carrots and baby parsnips, wash them thoroughly, trip the green to within 1 inch of the veg itself. Either steam or boil until almost cooked: Do NOT over cook if you wish to preserve the flavour and vitamines. Drain the veg. Heat a nob of butter in a heavy frying pan, add a generous teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt, then the veg. Stir regulary until the veg are glazed, usually 10 minutes. Simply delicious, expecially with lamb.

Of course, it's not easy to find time for gardening as business is good depsite the economic crisis. Hotels Afloat has discounts of up to 40% so if you fancy cruising in France this year, and perhaps tasting some fresh veg bought from a lock-keeper, send us an email at
hotelsafloat@aol.com

You'll be glad you did.

2010 : Holiday planning advice

HI!
Things are certainly warming up here in France, with temperatures in Burgundy reaching 32°C this afternoon. I'm always relieved when the weather smiles on my clients, even if it makes me wish that I was outside too on a sun-drenched boat rather than typing away in the office.
While my guests are beginning their cruises, I am already planning ahead for the 2010 season, and if like me you appreciate a bargain, you might like to consider following suit!
We are currently offering Le Boat, Pavillon Saone and Nicols cruises at the 2009 rates. BUT that's not enough for us: We are now offering Locaboat cruises at the 2009 rates MINUS 7%!
Whether you are looking for a luxury, air-conditioned cruiser or a traditional, canal boat, we have plenty to choose from.
Take a look at our site at
www.hotelsafloat.com
to discover the huge range of boats in our fleets.
For a price check and confirmation of applicable discounts, simply email our team at
hotelsafloat@aol.com

With these special offers you can afford that much needed break, despite the financial crisis.

1001 nights....

Hi!
I cannot believe that I havnt updated my blog since March 24th, but beleive you me, it's not through laziness. I have been working flat out every day and evening, for what seems like 1001 nights but of course isnt really!
So how come I'm so busy? Well, I guess it's all the fantastic discounts that we have been offering here at www.hotelsafloat.com
With emails galore and the phone ringing off the hook, I just simply havn't had the time to blog.
Today it's quite calm, at last!
This month, we are offering discounts of up to 40% on last minute bookings, and between 10 and 15% for cruises in May, June and July. Even our most luxurious boats are discounted, with 20% off the air-conditioned America boats for cruises in southern Burgundy in May and June. Why not treat yourself and your family to the break that you deserve? Crisis or no crisis, we all need a break from time to time, and with our discounts, I am likely to be able to offer you a cruise to suit your budget, while keeping all the family happy.
Give me a call on +33 614 250 200 or email at hotelsafloat@nordnet.fr or hotelsafloat@aol.com