Has anyone done a trip on the French Canals? What was it like? How pricey? Where can I get info? <BR>

We have plans to do such a trip in October. We are using Locaboat Plaisance (www.locaboat.com). We're looking forward to it.

Roger- Our bill came today for remainder of barge trip! After much research I choose SPRINGER'S CRUISES. Betty Springer is in Seattle, I am in NY but with phone + fax it is no problem. Betty is not a big company like the many I spoke to. I picked her for her personnel experiences and the fact that she lives a few months out of year with her French-born husband in France. She gave me excellent information on all my varied barge questions where no other person I spoke to could do. Betty knows barge owner, route, boat layout . . . everything! All prices in barge industry are completely competitive and no one gives discounso then I chose by service. Right now she is in France seeing which direction my barge will take (down or up Burgundy Canal) and who will be on barge i.e. from which countries. She just faxed me great tips for my trip in August that have nothing to do w/ barge- general travel tips. <BR> <BR>Call her office, staff will send lovely brochure out: <BR>T= 800-822-8594 or 425-646-9516 <BR>Fax: 425-646-0574 <BR> <BR>Fax her in France untill May 28th at: <BR>011 33 3 86 29 13 23 <BR> <BR>Yes, barge trips are very expensive but I am sure a memorable thrill of a lifetime. I can't wait until our snail paced barge crawls through Burgundy and I bicycle along it! Any questions, kindly e-mail me directly. Hope this helps.

I urge you to do a search on this forum since useful info has been posted several times! (by me and others). If you can't find it, email me and I'll send it to you. I loved my trip down the canal du midi.

Took a self-barge trip with another couple 2 years ago with Crown Blue (on the web). Researched the trip about a year and decided on Crown Blue. Went one way on the Canal du Midi. Boat is very easy to steer, rented bikes and us girls biked and shopped while the fellas steered and met us at the next lock. Everything is very clearly explained by the crew at the pickup point and the manual you receive. We went with Crown Blue as we wanted a one way trip and a boat with a bed and bath in front separated by the kitchen area and a bed and bath in back. We just shopped enough for that day and mostly past lunch the next day (this depends on where the lock is and whether the lockkeeper takes lunch.) We took so many photos of our lunch and dinner tables with the fabulous bottles of wine (even the bottle was fabulous), cheeses, flowers, etc. <BR> <BR>Just yesterday I e-mailed them requesting a brochure as we are planning another canal trip with them. The choices are where to go, you just want to do every canal. <BR> <BR>Prices--depends on whether your trip is a week or 10 days, RT or one way, and the size of the boat. <BR> <BR>We've travelled extensively over the past few years, and this is our first repeat trip. It is fabulous. Meandering canals, wineries on the way to stop at, trees overhanging the canal like a canopy, goatherders pushing their sheep on the side of the canals, its just a great trip. <BR> <BR>

You didn't specify if you want a self-drive barge or a hotel barge. If the latter, I had a great experience with French Country Waterways and will be glad to answer any questions. Dick