Friday, March 2, 2012

The High Seas Or The Open Road -- What Family Vacation To Choose?

Được đăng bởi Travel - Leisure
By Amy Norman


Renting a houseboat maybe one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations you have ever had. Houseboats can range from 44 to 75 feet, are available for rent on many lakes and inland waterways from Lake Mead to the Cumberland. You can equip some houseboats with canoes, fishing tackles, scuba diving equipment and other fun add-ons, and with regards to space, most models have berths for another six to eight people. A jet ski or speed boat can even be attached in some occasions. If you are interested in renting a larger houseboat, you will be pleased to know it has almost everything -- HD TV, state of the art surround sound systems, hot tubs, central heating, AC -- and no, the girl standing next to the houseboat does not come with it!

And the aforementioned girl will NOT come with the boat, because houseboats are primarily meant for family adventure and relaxation, as you laze back in your deck chair, and listen to the genial quietude of the waves mingling with your boat, the exact antithesis of bright lights, big city. You need not hire a crew because you will have your family behind you, as everybody cooperates towards the greater goal of family bonding.

Rental rates would largely depend on the season, the location and amenities offered. For instance, on Nevada's spectacular Lake Mead, a seven-day rental of a basic 8O foot houseboat that bunks 8 to 10 people costs about $1,995 in the off-season (October through April); the same model goes for $2,995 per week in summer.

You can assign captaincy to an outsider, of course, if sailing is not your forte; the rental agency will generally be the one in charge of finding you a qualified captain. There are some situations wherein a hired captain would be a de rigueur condition, but this depends on the location and applies generally to large houseboats. If you are not into water sports you can always opt for a Recreational vehicles (RVs), especially motor homes, have seen a increase in sales in recent years, with almost 8 million on the registered. Some of the best RVs in the market are akin to a luxury hotel on wheels, however these do not come with an inexpensive purchase price.

For the newcomer, it would be recommended to start with Renting Motor Homes, which would only cost about $70 upwards from most sources. Be prepared to spend a hefty amount on gasoline, because most motor homes have a miles per gallon figure of about 8 mpg. On the other hand, you can save on lodging: Staying in an RV campground can be around twenty dollars a night to over $100 at high end parks like at Disney Land.

The most obvious benefit of RVs, however, would be taking it to the open road with the spirit of emancipation. A lot of RV aficionados are congenial people by nature, and camping at an RV park might be a great opportunity for you to make new friends.

In any event, whether your family vacation plans involve hitting the road with Willie Nelson on your RV stereo or taking to the seas in a houseboat with the Beach Boys on your sound system, you should make it a point to plan ahead and do your homework; competition for reservation can be quite tough in both areas in the summer months!




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