May Special

Bonjour from Port Chalmers.

Winter has definitely arrived in the South Island and it is looking rather soggy up north too, so why not escape to France?  

Le Boat has just announced a FLASH SALE, starting on Friday 24 May, with 25%-30% off most of its rental boat fleet for all destinations except Italy.  Sale ends on 3 June, so get in touch now if you fancy a self-drive boating holiday in France.

European Waterways also has some discounts on selected barge cruises.  Mainly for July and August, but the 8 passenger Rosa has 10% off its Aquitaine/Bordeaux cruise starting on 1 September.  So does La Bella Vita for its 15 September cruise around the Venice Lagoon. For solo travellers La Bella Vita is dropping its single supplement for that 15 September cruise,  and so are several barges in Burgundy and Alsace for some July cruises.  Contact us for details.

The charming 4 passenger charter barge Randle (above), still has availability from the last week of August to mid October, cruising the peaceful Nivernais Canal in Burgundy.  Included are transfers from Paris (or Dijon, or Lyon), meals and excursions and it is the only barge offering 13 night as well as 6 night cruises.  Being a charter barge the itinerary can be adjusted to suit your interests, be that walking, or cycling, or wine, or golf ……  Prices are in US dollars and vary between the different cruise options, but the standard 6 night charter price for four guests is US$17,790 - say NZ$7400 per person.  They are also taking bookings for 2025 at the 2024 prices and three weeks are already booked.

James of the Walking Party has just returned from Slovenia where he was leading a private group through the beautiful Karst region (north-east of Trieste).  For private groups (8 to 14 people) he is open to leading one-off walks to regions that he knows.  His popular Transhumance walk from Aubrac starts this weekend and is fully booked, but some cancellations mean he has vacancies for his two St James Way walks in September.  From Le Puy to Conques starting on 31 August and from Conques to Cahors from 7 September.  They can be combined into a 13 day walk with a 5% discount for bookings confirm this month - before 1 June.  The back up minibus carries lunch and refreshments and ensures that weary walkers can leap-frog ahead if their legs, or the weather, are giving out.

Talk to you soon.

Robert & Barbara