There’s nothing quite like a holiday by the water to help you relax from the stress of the daily routine. So imagine what a holiday that is actually on the water could do to recharge the batteries. Pick one of the best self-drive boating holidays in France and you have the freedom to explore canals and rivers at your own gentle pace, surrounded by beautiful countryside and stopping wherever the mood takes you.
Enjoy a boating holiday in France and you can moor up beside villages and vineyards; stop at waterside restaurants and markets; and walk or cycle along shady towpaths. Watch the wildlife from water level too and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow boat enthusiasts. Tempted? Then take a look at the wide range of self-drive options offered by Nicols Boats.
Self-drive boating holidays in France
Nicols operate 15 boat-hire bases spread throughout the country’s most popular waterways: four in Brittany and Anjou in the west; five in Northern France and Burgundy; and six in south-west France, including the legendary Canal du Midi.
Nicols has designed and built 27 models divided into four different ranges, so there’s a vessel to suit every customer, whether you are floating through France in a couple or a party of 12. Cruises are available between adjacent bases or for a round trip back to your starting base. And with boats available for hire between late-March and mid-November, you can enjoy the vibrant colours of spring, the sunny skies of summer, or the dramatic shades of autumn, whether for a weekend, a short break or longer stay.
If you have already taken a boating holiday in France, you are probably already hooked. But if this is your first time, you’ll obviously be wondering how much experience you need to pilot your own cruiser along French rivers and canals. The answer is easy. None at all. No licence is necessary, nor do you need any previous experience. Complete novices can learn how to control their boat safely in a very short time and English-speaking staff will provide all the instruction you need on departure day. Nicols’ website is packed with information to help you choose the right destination and cruise vessel for your perfect holiday, but if you still have questions, just call the expert advice line.
What’s it like to do a self-drive boating holiday?
Boating holidays with Nicols are suitable for all ages from families with young children to senior sailors. All boats are equipped with a double railing and a handrail, and most models also have a bathing ladder for those who can’t resist a spot of wild swimming. Nicols can even provide a floating fun pool annexe that can be towed behind smaller boats – the perfect accessory for families with children in tow, as well as for older travellers who can’t resist dangling their feet in the pool as they watch the riverbanks go by!
Guests who can travel outside peak holiday periods benefit from particularly attractive rates, with the added bonus of additional discounts for the over 65s. And with easy access on board, a terrace at the same level as the living room, and a safe staircase to the roof deck, Nicols boats are perfectly adapted to older crew members, whether travelling as a couple or with family and friends.
Choose your cruiser from the Sedan, Confort and Estivale and Fly ranges. Models vary from 8m to 15m in length and most have a large living area with a 360° panoramic view; a fitted kitchen with 200-litre fridge; a hob, mini oven and, on some boats also a microwave. With the exception of the Riviera range, all boats in Nicols fleet feature sliding French windows with access onto the aft terrace, whilst larger models are also equipped with a second steering position.
And whilst no French language skills are needed to enjoy yourself on a Nicols boat, you could well find you broaden your French vocabulary as you tune in to the rhythm of the river. Not sure what the poupe is? Don’t worry, that’s the stern. Flummoxed by parre-battage? No need to stress. Those are the fenders. And if somebody mentions the sassement, that’s simply the lock cycle, or the time that a boat remains in a lock – usually about 15 minutes. Just go to the Nicols website for a full glossary of nautical terms in French. A handy tool to enhance your floating holiday in France.
The best places for a boating holiday in France
So where to choose for your boating holiday in France? If you want to combine a special interest with your break on the water, consider the suggestions for themed cruises on the Nicols website. Bit of a foodie? How about the salt marshes of the Camargue or the oyster beds of Charente? History and heritage your thing? Sail to Strasbourg to see the UNESCO-listed Grande Ile or try the river Erdre in Brittany to cruise pas 17 castles in just 15km.
Maybe leave your floating home on the Canal du Midi for a few hours to enjoy a Mediterranean beach. Play a round of golf at Sarrebourg in the Moselle or the Sablé Solesmes course in Anjou. Or discover the vineyards of Chablis along the Burgundy Canal and the Yonne. From fishing to nature watching, cycling to swimming, a Nicols holiday in France will really float your boat!
Discover destinations for boating holidays and loads of helpful info: boat-renting-nicols.co.uk
