Extending our holiday- ideas?

[Chocofluff]

Hi,

We've booked for 22nd August for a week at Richardsons. Now decided we would like a few days longer eg to go on the Monday(18th) instead of the Friday. Richardsons can't offer us the same boat for that period and the prices have rocketed since we booked it. For an extra 4 days they want over twice as much as what we paid!

Are there any other boat yards cheaper where we might be able to hire from the Monday to Friday? We've looked at Brinks and Woods, but no luck!

Thanks

Chocofluff

[JawsOrca]

If Mr Richardsons can't do you a NBN discount then I suggest you try the independents; 

 

Marthams (proper woodern boats!).. http://www.marthamboats.com

Maffetts http://www.maffett-cruisers.com,

Pacific http://www.pacificcruisers.co.uk 

Freedom boats  http://www.freedomboatingholidays.co.uk

 

Obviously though this is peak season though so places maybe booked out.. We used to camp (in a tent) for an extra weekend although hiring although even camping is expensive these days!

 

Good luck

[Chocofluff]

If Mr Richardsons can't do you a NBN discount then I suggest you try the independents; 

 

Marthams (proper woodern boats!).. http://www.marthamboats.com

Maffetts http://www.maffett-cruisers.com,

Pacific http://www.pacificcruisers.co.uk 

Freedom boats  http://www.freedomboatingholidays.co.uk

 

Obviously though this is peak season though so places maybe booked out.. We used to camp (in a tent) for an extra weekend although hiring although even camping is expensive these days!

 

Good luck

Didn't know about the NBN discount! How does that work then? I will have alook at the sites you put on.

Thanks

Choco x

[JawsOrca]

Hopefully Clive Richardson reads this post and can help you out he's a member and sponsor of the forum  Although as I say that's peak season and I guess demand will far outweight supply but don't ask don't find out

[Chocofluff]

Hopefully Clive Richardson reads this post and can help you out he's a member and sponsor of the forum  Although as I say that's peak season and I guess demand will far outweight supply but don't ask don't find out

I can but try! Fingers crossed, we hired from Richardsons last year via Hoseasons but they told us to book direct with them this time.

We booked an extra couple of days with them last year, when we got there and their service was excellent! So looking forward to our break.

Chocofluff

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

Hi Fluff,

 

you don`t say how many of you are goping.

 

I can definitely vouch for Maffetts, having been with them most years since 79, and they are a fantastic small indipendent family run yard. They have a new (to their fleet) boat this year which is not on their website, but is available from Saturdays, though if you only want it for 4 nights, and it`s available, they might be happy to do a deal. 

 

Allan (JawsO) has given their website address, but all their bookings and availability is done over the phone, so give them a call on 01508 520344, and ask for Lynda.

 

If they can`t help, try Freedom boating from Thorpe,  Andy (the owner) often posts on here, and has openly said they can be extremely flexible with no of nights and start/finish days, 

 

Also consider Pacific Cruisers, which alo at Loddon (next door to Maffetts) They may just have a boat available, even if it`s bigger than you need, they may be interrested in doing a deal.

 

All three of them are small indipendently run family yards, so you`ll be garunteed a friendly and personal service

 

It`s worth considering a slightly bigger boat than you need, providing you can get a decent deal, as at least they`re getting something, whereas a boat in base is costing them and not you.

 

 

I hope this helps.

 

Regards and best wishes ........................ Neil.

 

PS,  i forgot to add, all three yards are on the Southern rivers, which mean you can do the south mon-fri, then stay north from Ricco`s.

[Chocofluff]

Just me and the hubby going! Tried ringing or looking at a few sites but no luck, they are full for August or won't do an extra 4 or 5 days. from Monday . Will keep looking and hoping.

Thanks

Chocofluff x

[JennyMorgan]

Chocofluff, perhaps a spot of camping? Waveney River Centre at Burgh is a pretty good site and it's a smashing part of the Broads.

[NorfolkNog]

Problem is pretty much everything will be out in August. If you are prepared to take a chance and take a tent as back up, you may be lucky and get a last minute cancellation.

 

Otherwise as Peter says Waveney River Centre is a lovely spot with all the facilities you need on site. If you are prepared to rough it a bit more the Dog Inn at Ludham have a camping field. Less facilities but a brilliant pub    

[donnygeoff]

And the WRC do day boats, so you could do oulton and beccles/geldeston on it

 

[NorfolkNog]

Good thinking Geoff

[Matt]

A two centre holiday with the first four nights not on the broads?

Perhaps http://www.pottersholidays.com

[ranworthbreeze]

Here is a link to the Broadland Holiday Village on Oulton Broad & the Waveney River Centre:-

http://www.broadlandvillage.co.uk/

http://www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/

As the other posters have said I would come down to the Broads but have a back up plan if you can not get any cancellations.

 

Regards

Alan

[Chocofluff]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm afraid camping is out for many reasons. One being we've not camped for about 30 years,Mr. Choco has a medical problem, so a tent would not be suitable. The mini breaks look great, but rather expensive for us and one big problem with those for me is they are full of KIDS!

Nothing against them but I work in high school and like to escape from them on my holidays and need the peace and quiet.

We are having a look again online tonight, Waterways of Wroxham might have a boat for us!

Thanks

Choco x

[donnygeoff]

Nothing against them but I work in high school and like to escape from them on my holidays and need the peace and quiet.

Thanks

Choco x

I bet you find that hard, having the same weeks for holidays...

 

Good luck with Waterways

 

 

[littlesprite]

You could try Seacroft Holiday Village at Hemsby, adults only half board £238 for 2 on 18th august for 4 nights.

 

 

 

 

[Chocofluff]

You could try Seacroft Holiday Village at Hemsby, adults only half board £238 for 2 on 18th august for 4 nights.

Hi,

Just had a look on that site and it's coming up as £99 per person per night!

Choco x

[loribear]

hi fluff, there is another company on the north side who do any night to any night , called george smith of wroxham , & they are quite nice boats, & you could even hire for one night if you wanted, lori 

[Oddfellow]

Yep, Freedom Boating Holidays means just that - Freedom to book whatever days you want - it really is any day to any day. It's the way we have always worked. 

 

We have some limited availability for that week if you want to take a look at the web site: www.FreedomBoatingHolidays.co.uk

 

Andy

[Broads01]

Just need to put the record straight about Richardsons Chocco. You said the price had doubled since you booked. In fact Richardsons are very consistent in their pricing between one year and the next and tend to be amongst the best value you can get. There was some reorganizing of price bands for 2014 which was swings and roundabouts between some boats cheaper at certain times and others going in the other direction. Don't forget short breaks on a per day basis are always more expensive than full weeks. My guess is you won't find an equivalent boat cheaper than what Richardsons are offering for the same period but I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

Having said that, if I was in your position I'd look to hire on the South side then stay north when you're on your Richardsons boat. That way you get to see all the Broads but save time and fuel crossing North to South.

[kadensa]

We've actually just changed the boat we had booked for our holiday, as one of my sons and his wife are now spending a week with us and we decided we needed two dedicated double cabins and two bathrooms.  We managed to get Gold Gem for an extra £100 for two weeks (we were originally booked on San Bernardo, which was ideal for the two of us), but then we're not going until the middle of September. I would imagine all the cheaper boats will have been booked up well in advance for the school holiday weeks, and as Broads01 says, short breaks are always more expensive pro rata.

[Chocofluff]

We are sorted at last! We managed to book From Richardsons at Acle (southern Horizon) for the Monday 18th til the 22nd , where we then pick up our 2nd boat( crown gem) for a week.

Happy now !

Thanks again,

June / Choco x

[kadensa]

Glad you got fixed up. Have a great time.

[Broads01]

Good news June. I thought you might end up with Richardsons in the end! You have two contrasting boat styles there each with their own pros and cons. I've hired Crown Gem and it was great except didn't like it in the rain when the cockpit felt cramped and enclosed. It would be good to hear how you get on.

[Chocofluff]

Good news June. I thought you might end up with Richardsons in the end! You have two contrasting boat styles there each with their own pros and cons. I've hired Crown Gem and it was great except didn't like it in the rain when the cockpit felt cramped and enclosed. It would be good to hear how you get on.

I will let you know!

Been looking at the specs of both boats, Southern Horizon being 10 ft longer and 3 feet wider than Crown Gem, should be interesting!

June x