When vacation time rolls around, Bob and Lisa Stonhaus, of San Ramon, Calif., can't wait to get away to their favorite rental. The couple says it's perfectly located: near a great swimming spot and scenic hiking trails. The place itself isn't too shabby either, with a state-of-the-art kitchen, a Bose sound system and flat-screen TVs in every room. The Stonhauses' two terriers love having the run of the place, and Bob says he and Lisa like nothing better than ending their lazy days with a nice bottle of Champagne and a soak in the outdoor hot tub. All in all, not a bad getaway -- provided you don't mind that it floats.
In growing numbers, vacationing Americans are unpacking their suitcases and carry-ons not in a hotel or beach house but in a more unexpected spot: on a private boat. Indeed, private ship rental companies, which once catered largely to experienced boaters, are now attempting to broaden their appeal with a host of new landlubber-friendly features. Houseboating outfits like the one the Stonhauses use are tricking out vessels with the comforts of home but also adding a host of concierge services like on-lake meal delivery and helicopter services that will chopper vacationers straight from the airport to the dock. Others are focusing on making the boats easier for newbies to handle; Le Boat, which rents self-drive canal crafts in Europe that start at about $1,900 a week, recently launched a new vessel that can be controlled by a video game style joystick. And if that isn't enough to persuade travelers to take the helm, yacht charter firms are more than happy to send vacationers out with a crew -- including a sommelier and a chef trained at venerable Le Cordon Bleu.
The push to get new travelers aboard can be traced back to the recession, which hit the boat industry harder than many. Yachts are expensive to dock and maintain, and with a relatively niche clientele, rental companies have done whatever they can to retain customers. While the trips themselves can still be pricey -- a catamaran for two, with a crew, starts at about $6,000 a week, while a midrange houseboat goes for anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 -- outfitters have increasingly been willing to offer discounts. Thanks to such incentives (and the new features), the industry tide seems to be turning. Scottsdale, Ariz. based Forever Resorts, one of the biggest players in the houseboat industry, reports a 15 percent increase in bookings this year over last, and some European barge companies say an influx of American travelers is driving up business by more than 30 percent.
Read more at Smart Money
If you're looking to stay on land for a vacation, try a luxury vacation in Lake Tahoe, Florida or California. HSI's high rankings continue as HSI members continue to vacation with HSI.
In growing numbers, vacationing Americans are unpacking their suitcases and carry-ons not in a hotel or beach house but in a more unexpected spot: on a private boat. Indeed, private ship rental companies, which once catered largely to experienced boaters, are now attempting to broaden their appeal with a host of new landlubber-friendly features. Houseboating outfits like the one the Stonhauses use are tricking out vessels with the comforts of home but also adding a host of concierge services like on-lake meal delivery and helicopter services that will chopper vacationers straight from the airport to the dock. Others are focusing on making the boats easier for newbies to handle; Le Boat, which rents self-drive canal crafts in Europe that start at about $1,900 a week, recently launched a new vessel that can be controlled by a video game style joystick. And if that isn't enough to persuade travelers to take the helm, yacht charter firms are more than happy to send vacationers out with a crew -- including a sommelier and a chef trained at venerable Le Cordon Bleu.
The push to get new travelers aboard can be traced back to the recession, which hit the boat industry harder than many. Yachts are expensive to dock and maintain, and with a relatively niche clientele, rental companies have done whatever they can to retain customers. While the trips themselves can still be pricey -- a catamaran for two, with a crew, starts at about $6,000 a week, while a midrange houseboat goes for anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 -- outfitters have increasingly been willing to offer discounts. Thanks to such incentives (and the new features), the industry tide seems to be turning. Scottsdale, Ariz. based Forever Resorts, one of the biggest players in the houseboat industry, reports a 15 percent increase in bookings this year over last, and some European barge companies say an influx of American travelers is driving up business by more than 30 percent.
Read more at Smart Money
If you're looking to stay on land for a vacation, try a luxury vacation in Lake Tahoe, Florida or California. HSI's high rankings continue as HSI members continue to vacation with HSI.
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