In short, everything you would expect from a hotel offering you personal attention. The hotel boats are the epitome of waterway travel - some of the best kept boats on the waterways, with shining brasses, scrubbed ropework and gleaming paint. Some boats are purpose built, others have been lovingly converted from original working boats, but all offer modern comforts. Some are wider than usual, others may travel in pairs with one boat towing the other. The boats all carry fewer than twelve guests at a time, but can accept whole boat charters.
Most cruises start near rail or coach stations.
Only casual clothes are required - you can travel very light on this holiday. Stout shoes or wellingtons will be useful if you wish to walk the towpath. The holiday is excellent value for money, costing no more than full board in a hotel, but with the bonus of having the history and wonderful changing countryside brought to you. Prices per person are in the 400 to 500 per week range during the peak summer months. Holidays in the UK are booking agents for many of the companies specialising in Hotel Boat Holidays.