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Boating holidays on the River Thames

UK Summer holidays – why not try boating holidays on the River Thames for your summer holiday 2014

Despite the winter rain and weather, January always gives us the promise of better things to come and we all start thinking about what to do, where to go in our summer holidays. Having just arrived back from our annual holiday which we took abroad this year (hoping to catch some winter sun) we have decided to stay in the UK next year. We had forgotten about the long check in queues at the airport and our family holiday this year didn’t get off to a brilliant start as we spent the first 4 hours on the taxi way at Gatwick Airport, eventually arriving at our destination 8 hours late. There is alot to be said about holidays in the UK.

More and more people are looking for unusual places to stay in the UK, something a bit different to do for their family summer holidays. We ourselves are not content to sit on a beach for more than 24 hours (Ok, maybe a bit longer) but we soon get a bit bored and the kids start to get bored and so on. Having paid a small fortune on all the holiday extras, such as trips, car hire, excursions etc to provide something to do whilst on holiday, it made us reflect on the boating holidays we offer and especially value for money.

There is nothing quite like setting sail and doing your own narrowboat holiday on the Thames. Many of our guests are first timers, never having driven a boat before. Our narrowboat holidays on the River Thames always start with a 1 – 2 hour tuition where a qualified instructor goes out with you, going through a lock and general boat handling skills until you are happy to go off on your own and enjoy your boating holiday. We train not just the driver (helmsman) but also the rest of your party, especially any children in the crew. It’s a great way to get the whole family involved and children especially take their crew duties very seriously! For more information on Boat Gina narrow boat holidays on the Thames click here.

Many guests don’t actually want to drive the boat but normally look at holiday cottages in UK as a holiday inspiration, stumbling eventually across our Boat Geanna, which is essentially a 4 star luxury cottage on water. This year we are promoting events in Henley-On-Thames which is a popular destination and mooring place. There is so much to do in Henley that guests never get bored and London is only a 40-minute train journey away. Windsor and Legland are also nearby and extremely popular places to visit whilst staying on Boat Geanna. For more information on boating holidays on Boat Geanna click here

winner of 4 in a bed wide beam canal boat geanna

boat holidays River Thames UK – Four In A Bed Channel Four episodes shown Boat Geanna

Boating Holidays UK- Channel 4 Four-In-A-Bed Boat Geanna Episodes Shown (repeat)

On Sunday 10th March, ‘Four In A Bed’ Channel Four, featuring our hotel boat Geanna was shown. It is hard to believe that this was filmed nearly 3 years ago and the series has now been repeated at least twice in the UK and shown around the world!

It is hard to believe how far we’ve come since starting the business. The guests on the Channel Four TV programme ‘Four In A Bed’ were our very first guests which was filmed and initially shown on TV 3 years ago. It was incredibly nerve wracking to have our very first guests examine the cabins and scrutinise every detail. Needless to say, we had tremendous fun filming the programme and all the contestants were great people. Would we do it all again? Yes!!

Many people would never have considered a boating holiday on the River Thames and so we were delighted to welcome so many first time boaters. We are even more delighted in subsequent years to welcome back guests for a boating holiday on the Thames.

Right now we are extremely busy getting the boats ready for the spring and summer season. Narrow boat Gina has had a complete ‘makeover’ with brand new panelling. beams and a complete fresh look. Boat geanna has had a thorough spring clean and is now sparkling, ready for her guests.

Boating-Holidays-In-UK

We have had many bookings this year for boat Geanna and for Boat Gina and we still have availability. Boating holidays in the UK and canal boat holidays in the UK are an ideal way to perhaps celebrate a 40th birthday party, or a 60th birthday party. This year, several rowing teams have booked Boat Geanna and Boat Gina to accommodate the rowing teams competing in the Royal Henley Regatta this year.

We are thrilled to be working in conjunction with HRA Henley Rowing Association and hope many of our guests will take up the opportuinty of enjoying a day’s rowing experience on the River Thames.

Olympic Torch passes by Boat Geanna River Thames Henley-On-Thames

Our guests on board Hotel boat Geanna were treated to an unexpected close up of the Olympic torch as it was carried by Steve Redgrave on a rowing boat, right past boat Geanna. The crowds came out in force along the bank of the Thames. The best vantage point was Geanna’s stern deck as Steve Redgrave’s boat stopped right outside to turn around. We were definitely in the right place at the right time!