Another season of cruising!

Well, I'm ashamed to see that the last time I posted a blog here was in December! That's not to say that I have nothing to share with you, quite the contrary! Just so much work that time has really been tight this year.
You may like to follow office news on facebook... Simply look for Hotels Afloat and like us...

We have introduced some new luxurious, state-of-the-art self drive boats this year and are already working towards the 2012 season with our bookings now open.
With our early booking discounts to help you save up to 20% off the 2012 rates, now is an ideal time to begin planning your cruise.

Other new additions to Hotels Afloat include a one way route on the Burgundy canal, and a much loved America 50 in the Charente region..

For full information, email me at hotelsafloat@aol.com, skype me at hotelsafloat or call the office on +33 380 39 29 38.

A perfect Christmas gift!

Now that we have completed updating our website
www.hotelsafloat.com
we are already confirming bookings for 2011, and even 2012!
For a really unsual Christmas gift, why not present your loved one with a Cruise confirmation pack this year?
We will be happy to help you plan a wonderful cruise to surprise your loved one and promise confidentiality so that you can offer this as a surprise gift at Christmas. How lovely to have a cruise to look forward to in 2011.

With self drives, half board charters and full board luxury cruises, we are sure to have something to please.

And what's more, by booking in 2010 you can save up to 20% on our published rates.
Email me now at hotelsafloat@aol.com for a professional service second to none.

The season begins with.... RAIN!

The cruising season has now officially opened. If only I could organise the weather as efficiently as I can find my guests a cruise to suit them!

Since last week, the weather has been decided changeable with some great sunshine, ideal for outside cruising, but also some torrential rain. The Burgundy canal was closed to navigation at the beginning of the week due to high water levels.
I was relieved to enjoy two sunny days, but the rain is back with us again today. Sorry Mr Loren!

Still, to cheer us all up, I have some great offers this month should you be looking for a cruise here in France slightly later in the season.
With Le Boat, I can offer these great discounts:

20% off for any April cruise: It won't rain all month!!

In the Alsace, cruising from Hesse, and in Burgundy Franche Comte : 10% off in May and July, and 15% off in June

In the Midi: 10% off in June and July

In the Nivernais: 10% off in October: This is a great month to visit this rural region to see the fantastic autumnal colours

Email us now on hotelsafloat@aol.com
or call me on +33 380 39 29 38 for information.

April cruises

Spring is here! Beautiful sunshine and flowers a-plenty, the Burgundy countryside is waking up after a long, cold winter.
April is a great time to visit this region, and this month we are offering up to 20% off our standard rates for self drive cruises.
Whether you fancy a romanic weekend break for 2, or a full weeks cruise for up to12, we are sure to have something to suit with literally 100' s of boats at our disposal.
So, treat yourself! Give us a call on +33 380 39 29 38 or email us at
hotelsafloat@aol.com

I look forward to hearing from you and helping you to plan your dream holiday.

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!

Discounts to beat the credit crunch!

Spring is here at last and we are enjoying sunny weather at last after the grey months of winter.
With Spring comes are Mad March Specials! We are currently offering discounts of 10% on Burgundy and Midi cruises not to mention an incredible 25% off certain one way cruises in April and 20% in May throughout France. Simply email us for details at
www.hotelsafloat.com
quoting March Specials.
Due to demand, we are contining to offer hotel barge charters at up to 25% off on certain boats and dates, so whether you fancy visiting Burgundy or the south of France, we are sure to have a bargain just waiting to be snapped up!
And don't forget our incredible offer on the Easyvie in the Aquitaine. 6 passengers can now cruise for 6 days for an incredible 7000 euros ( reduced from 10000 euros)

I know that the crunch is hitting you all, BUT now is perhaps the best time to take a cruise as these discounts are very unlikely to be repeated.
Go on, treat yourselves.
Call me on +33 380 39 29 38 to discuss your holiday plans.
Speak soon!!

Spring arrives in Burgundy, if only for a day!

Hello,

yes, on Saturday we had our first day of really spring like weather here in Burgundy! After a long, cold winter, it was such a pleasure to get out into the garden, plant some bulbs and then sit back with a cup of tea, and later a glass of wine while absorbing the sunshine and listening to the birds sing. As you can see, Chataigne is rather french and would like to join us with a beer!

Since I began taking Chataigne to her classes on a Sunday morning in October last year, we have seen snow, rain, sleet and temperatures as low as -10°C! Imagine trying to make your dog sit or even worse, lie down, under such circumstances.

Not an easy task, but yesterday Chataigne was so full of the joys of spring that she seemed to have become temporarily deaf! Assis, couchée and au pied were apparently foreign words to her!LOL It was initially frustrating, but then became so funny that even the dog handler was laughing. At one point instead of sitting up, chataigne slithered round on her belly to face the opposite way. I can only assume that the Saturday's sunshine had melted her brain. Today the gloom has returned. No rain but damp air and none too warm either. She is of course back to her normal self but still laughing at me I think!

Well, it's Monday so I'm back to work, and have some good news for those of you thinking of a self drive cruise in the Spring. With the Le Boat fleet, we are offering up to 25% off some one way cruises in March and April, and then 20% in May. If you can't join us in the spring, we can still save you 15% when cruising aboard a Consort, Caprice, Countess, Valentre or Calypso! To benefit, simply reserve your cruise by 31st march.

Give me a call or email us at hotelsafloat@nordnet.fr or hotelsafloat@aol.com

Internet by Satelite!

This morning I felt like a child on Christmas morning, knowing that a wonderful gift was surely awaiting me. Yesterday, the 21st century finally arrived at Hotels Afloat in the form of internet via Satelite. Normally it would be difficult to leave a warm, cosy bed at 8am when it's snowing outside and nobody actually needs me up just yet, but today I was up like a shot anxious to play with my new toy.
Our office will never be the same again: No more excuse for numerous cups of tea while waiting for the narrow band internet to connect, or the pages of any site to change. Even the chocolate and fruit consumption is likely to drop! But no complaints I assure you. We are just so grateful for this system which will enable us to keep up with the rest of the world, and of course to give an even better service.
You may be laughing, but if you had spent the last three weeks typing on an iphone due to a useless service provider, you would understand how such a thing can make one so blissfully happy!
I can't beleive that it's February already! The last month has just whizzed by with plenty of clients looking for bargains. But don't worry: They are not all over yet. We are currently offering discounts on self drive cruises to be taken in April and May on the Le Boat fleets, and are still offering up to 300 euros discount on the larger Locaboat penichettes for cruises in the south of France, one of the most popular destination.
So, if you are still wondering whether you can afford a boating holiday this year, send us an email at
hotelsafloat@aol.com
outlining your requirements and we will do our best to find you a bargain!

Discounted cruises!

Hi everyone.
In the current economic climate, everyone is looking for a bargain, and today I have just that!
We are currently offering a 40% discount on a hotel barge cruising on the Nivernais canal, a discount which has never been seen before.
If you would prefer a cruise on the Burgundy canal, we have the best value vessel there too and are currently offering a 20% discount.
I know that some of you would love to cruise on a hotel barge again this year, but fear that the prices are beyond your reach. With these discounts, we can help you fulfill your dreams!
Just call or email me for details at
hotelsafloat@aol.com
+33 614 25 02 00

We are cutting the rates, not the standards! Here at Hotels Afloat we are passing on these incredible savings.