Everything is planned for your well-being. You're so close to nature, yet the boats are roomy, with showers and running hot and cold water. There's storage space to satisfy the most demanding. It's easy to fill the water tanks every day at locks and villages. Sheets and bedding are provided.

There are many different types of locks. How they work is explained in the Locaboat manual sent with your confirmation, and will be explained to you again at the base. Going through locks is a major feature of your cruise. You can chat to the keeper and often buy fresh produce, or simply enjoy the very different view which you get as you change levels. Locks make for a varied and enjoyable cruise.

In France, the locks are generally open from 9am to 7pm from the end of March to mid November. There are some days when the locks are closed such as 1st May, 14th July (open on the Canal du Midi, Lot et Garonne, in Alsace, Lorraine, Ardennes and the Saone between Soing and Corre) 1st November (open on the Canal du Midi and Lot et Garonne). There aren’t any closures on the Somme, the Baise, Anjou, Brittany, the Canal de Roanne a Digoin in Southern Burgundy, the Camargue, and the Seille.

In Ireland, Germany and Poland the locks are open every day.

In Holland the locks and bridges are in full service between the 15/4 and the 15/10. The Vecht is open every day. In Friesland the canals and rivers are opened every day.

In Italy navigation is possible every day on the lagoons. On the Sile and the Brenta, there are certain closures. These are detailed in the Locaboat manual.

You like the spot? Just moor up. You can go for a walk or a bicycle ride, visit a church or a chateau, go for a bathe or try your hand at fishing. At the base we will tell you how to get a fishing permit and what you might catch. The log book that is on the boat will give you many good addresses to make your waterway holiday a success.

The deck is one of the most acclaimed features of the Pénichette. Spacious, flat and right under the captain's eye, it can act as reading room, sunlounger or picnic table. Moving around the boat is easy and safe. Indoors, the saloon is the place for board games, family discussions or intimate dinners.

Driving your boat is straightforward and enjoyable once you've received some simple guidance at the base. You'll soon get used to going through locks and start to enjoy handling your boat. Detailed navigation guides show where you can moor, shop, take on water or go sightseeing.

The mini bikes for children or classic bicycles are an indispensable addition to your cruise. The paths along canals make ideal bicycle tracks. You can hire them on arrival. You pay at the base.

On a Pénichette you can seek out local specialities - home grown produce or regional dishes. Shop for them in markets and cook on board in your fully-equipped galley, or alternatively try them in the many restaurants along your route. You'll find a list of recommendations on board.

On board you'll find everything you need for cooking and eating. Prepare your meal in open countryside or at the quayside. Villages are never far away, and you can use bicycles to fetch fresh bread or warm croissants for breakfast.

Many waterways have "stoppages" when they are closed for maintenance. Mostly these are scheduled for the winter months but occasionally they occur during the hire season. Dates are announced in early March. Please check with our reservation staff. VNF or Voies Navigable de France is the French Waterways Authority.

On rivers (but not canals) there can be floods in springtime or occasionally in autumn. In this case we may have to restrict your cruise to canals only, or possibly to switch departure base, but it should not be necessary to cancel your cruise. The Rivers Lot and Baise are the most prone to flooding. You should check on river levels before starting out for your holiday.

The Bassin de Thau in Southern France as well as the Muritzsee and the Plauertzee in Germany and the lakes in Ireland as well as the Venice Lagoon should not be attempted in winds stronger than Force 4. Our staff at the base will tell you the position and give instructions.

You will find in our base access notes full details about methods for getting back to your car. We must draw your attention to the fact that one-way cruising is an optional feature which can never be totally guaranteed owing to the possibility of cancellations or other difficulties. You must therefore recheck 48 to 72 hours before departure whether the one way cruise is available and in which direction it will be.

In France, Locaboat Holidays has been authorised to offer boat hire WITHOUT need for a captain's permit. After you have been given instruction in handling your craft and navigation rules you will be given a permit for the duration of your cruise. In Holland, in Ireland and in Italy, no licence is required.