Friday, November 1, 2013

A France Barge Trip Might Be A Life Changing Event

By Allyson Burke


Lovely trees swaying, the sound of children playing, and the smell of delicious French cuisine is all possible with a France barge trip. As you float down the interior water passages of France, a vacation like no other awaits.

Those that abhor the huge cruise ships with lots of people and too much of everything will find that a cruise down the inland waterways of Europe is just the ticket for them. The quaint towns and countryside that you will float through is nothing like a regular cruise. Plus the barge cruise is to focus on your experience which is about quality, and not quantity.

Most of the barges once carried items like grain, coal, or other necessities to the local people living along the riverbank. They have been renovated to now carry a few people through these same waterways, allowing comfort and intimacy to be the focus. Because these boats have to fit down very small lochs, they are not huge in size, but grand in details.

Food and local culture are the focus of the itinerary. Visiting inland regions of the Upper Loire, Champagne, and Burgundy you see not only the beauty but the local economies that these people have created. The proximity to the shore will allow you to get off and on easily which means a walk for pleasure or exercise is available anytime. With all inclusively you don't have to worry about opening your wallet the entire trip.

French food and wine is an integral part of a vacation here. The meals on board focus on the cuisine of the region and using local fare. Whether you are enjoying a wine pairing with a perfect roasted chicken for dinner or the buttery crunch of a croissant, the food will be one of the highlights of your trip. Not only will you eat well on board, but there are daily excursions to taste regional foods, wine, and even the chance to wander through a castle.

The barges are brightly painted and bring to mind a child's play toy. But on board the rooms and appointments are beautifully furnished and designed to keep a tone to French country or antiques. The rooms are a bit larger and more luxurious as there are not as many cabins on each barge, and this is adds to the quaintness of your trip. Fewer guests mean much more attention paid to each individual.

The water that you are moving on is narrow and there are many lochs along the way. The barges are built to maneuver these rivers. But the wonderful aspect of being so close to the shore is you are able to get off to enjoy the local landscape and towns with a brisk walk. Or perhaps you can decide to simply be a voyeur as you settle into a deck chair with a glass of wine. Either way, you experience the local flair with the many trips planned by the crew to local wine growers, artisans, and even castles.

There is so much a France barge trip can bring to your vacation plans. Besides discovering a love of cruising, you will also have a relaxing vacation where you will learn something of a culture while being pampered. This is a trip of perfection.




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