Vacationing in a houseboat can be a wonderful way to escape the pressures of everyday life for a few days or an entire week. Houseboats, as the name suggests, provide the comfort of home. Houseboats come with fully equipped kitchens that have a stovetop range, refrigerator, propane grill, pots, dishes, utensils and even dishwashing soap. There will be a bathroom with heater, fresh water and shower or tub. A dinette, comfortable built in bunks, chairs, ice chest, cassette radio, and a gas barbecue will also be provided in most of these houseboats. Most models also include generator and air conditioning. However, the person has to pay for the fuel used during the trip. This could be an average of 90 gallons for the weekend and about 150 gallons is needed for a week. But this also depends on the size of the houseboat being rented. All the other accessories can be rented at the agency itself. Houseboats should be rented for a minimum of three days and two nights. A booking deposit of $300 as well as a security deposit has to be paid in advance before renting the houseboat. Some rental agencies allow pets on the houseboats without any additional cost. However, most of the agencies charge for the same. Also, a refundable deposit needs to be made in the event the agency does not charge for the pets on board. It is suggested to operate the boats only during daylight hours. The vacationers can check with the marina for guidance regarding the approved boating areas and weather forecasts. It is advised to board the houseboat at least one to two hours before departure and receive a complete orientation. Another popular, though expensive, kind of houseboat is the luxury houseboat. They come equipped with 3-4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, along with bathtubs and linens. Luxury houseboats provide full sized kitchen appliances and other kitchen basics. Some of these provide a waterslide on the deck also. Luxury houseboats are usually provided with a TV, A VCR and a stereo. |
