February 26, 2003 -- Lake Powell is one of the most popular vacations spots in the American West, primarily because it delivers a much-needed cooling respite from the seering desert in which it lies. A lake in a desert, you say? Yes, indeed, and that's an indication of the unique juxtapositions you can expect here--from the stark contrast of the cerulean waters against the red rock walls that make its shores to the speedboats zipping by ancient petroglyphs. The lake's amazing environments and 2,000 miles of interior shoreline make it an equally popular choice for commercial, video and film directors; it was one of the main settings for Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes, and more recently, the upcoming Incredible Hulk and Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle were shot here.
Right now, you can make your own plans to enjoy the country's second largest manmade lake by reserving a houseboat. If you book by March 31, you can enjoy a three- to seven-day leisurely cruise from March through June 29 for most bookings at 50% off the usual rates. Depending on the logistics of your trip, you can get one of these babies for as little as $23 a day per person.
Here's how the deal breaks down. Aramark, the management company for Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, is offering this discount on new bookings at any of the lake's four marinas: Wahweap in Arizona and Bullfrog, Hite or Hall's Crossing in Utah. Depending on the marina, you can choose from a variety of lengths (from 36' to 59') and classes (from the lower-end standard class up to the chock-full-o' amenities admiral class) for your houseboat. The smaller boats sleep 6 people comfortable (and up to 8), the larger boats sleep between 10-12 persons. Of course, the more people you have, the cheaper your per person cost will be. Some things to consider: smaller boats cost less, larger boats cost more, and longer rental periods average out to a lower cost-per-day as well. Costs also vary, depending upon your travel dates.
As an example, we selected a three-day rental on a standard 36' boat out of Wahweap for May 15-18. The base price was a mere $537, plus $36.25 for taxes and a refundable $500 damage deposit. Upon the return of your deposit, the total cost for the boat is $573.25. If eight people go along for the ride, each person's bill comes to $71.66 (for that $23 a day mentioned earlier. There is an optional $23-a day waiver of liability as well for this particular boat.
At the other end of the scale, we also looked at a three-day rental on an admiral-class 59' boat out of the same Marina for the same dates. The base price was $1,628, plus $109.89 in taxes and a refundable $700 damage deposit (the liability waiver is $26 a day on this one). The total cost, post refund, is $1,737.89. If you fill the boat to capacity with 12 people, each person's per-day cost runs to $48.27 or $144.82. Not too shabby.
Since these are floating houses, you'll have a kitchen on board. Food is not included in the price, so you'll have to provision yourself. Boats are made available at 8am on the first day of rental and are due back by 2pm on the last day. If you are unfamiliar with operating one of these craft, someone will train you. It's fairly straight forward boating, and novices can learn the ropes in half an hour or so.
It is important to point out again that the prices listed in this article are specific to the particular boat, marina and dates. Prices can and will vary. Since these rentals are intended for groups of people, we suggest having a few target dates for when you want to cruise Lake Powell before call. Your first choice may not be available.
For more information, you can go online to www.lakepowell.com to look at the individual crafts, their schematics and price ranges. And while they have online booking capabilities, with all the possible variants, it will be easier in this case to talk to a booking representative at 888/486-4659.