Charter Far Af ield
These three destinations are high on many people’s boating
bucket lists. Here’s what it’s like to go, and how to
plan your own boating trip
LOGISTICS: Fly to Paris, take
the train directly from the airport
to Migenne, where you can provision, pick up the boat, and take
off the same day. On the return,
after turning the boat in by noon,
simply take the afternoon train
back to the Paris airport, and
fly home that night. Of course
a few days spent in Paris are a
delight, but if time or budget is
a concern, there’s no need to
stay over in the city; trains are
plentiful and run regularly.
PLANNING: Le Boat is owned
by TUI Marine. Their fleet of
self-drive barges are in terrific
condition, come in many sizes,
and are simple and fun to operate. There are governors on the
engines that won’t allow them
to travel at more than 5 knots,
and thick integral bumpers all
around the hulls so that you can
kiss the sides of locks without
worry. A three-cabin, three-head
barge on the Canal du Nivernais,
for a week in June, is $3,766.50.
In June, before school vacation began in Europe, the canals
were peaceful and unhurried.
