Table of Contents
Chartering a yacht is like being given the keys to a floating kingdom. Step aboard and the sea is yours as you drop anchor to dive into the cool, clear waters or discover a hidden cove and perfect taverna in a tiny harbour with no road access. No wonder celebrities and the ultra-rich love to take to the water in yachts.
But don’t tell them – renting a boat doesn’t have to cost a fortune anymore. These days, there are plenty of websites and apps that allow boat owners to rent out their yachts and speedboats – just like you would book an Airbnb – eliminating the need for charter companies, which can cost thousands of pounds for each booking.
You can rent them by the hour or by the day. If you want to make it a real holiday, you can also rent a yacht with cabins, with which you can sail along the coast for a week or more.
In the Mediterranean, this freedom costs a lot less than a luxury villa, even during school holidays. Moreover, the facilities on some yachts, especially catamarans, are spacious and glamorous, with private bathrooms and lounges.
Here’s our ultimate guide to chartering a yacht on a budget – from just £17pp per day.
A view of the harbour of Korcula town, on the east coast of the island of Korcula in Croatia
SKIPPER, CHEF AND SERVICE OPTIONS
To get the best deals, you need to think ahead a bit. First, you need to decide whether or not you want a skipper. Boats without a skipper are often called bareboat rentals and are always cheaper. If you don’t want to pay for a skipper, one of you will need a license before you can rent a boat. In a few countries, including France and Australia, you can rent smaller boats (usually up to 5m) without a license.
‘A five-day course costs around £1,000 and you can charter a catamaran for around £500,000, so it can be a worthwhile investment,’ says Adi Tognarelli of plainsailing.com. He got his in Scotland, ‘but it would have been warmer in the Canaries and it’s about the same price.’
If you don’t have a boating license, you can opt for a skippered boat. In Europe, this costs between £80 and £200 extra per day. They will arrange moorings and ensure there is enough fuel, and usually eat with the guests.
Vacationers can choose to add crew members, including skippers or even a private chef
‘Having a skipper means that a guest can sit back, relax and enjoy their yachting holiday,’ says Adrian Walker of Boataffair. ‘Plus, you always have your captain at your disposal to show you all those secluded beaches and wonderful little restaurants that make a sailing trip so perfect.’
Bring an extra crew member – from around £80 to £200 a day – and they’ll do the cooking and washing up. And if you want to go for the full superyacht experience, you can keep adding crew, including private chefs, as long as your charter has room.
EXTRA COST
Keep an eye on the costs. As well as the crew, mooring fees at the port where you anchor for the night also vary wildly. Head to Capri in Italy and mooring a 35ft (10m) boat will set you back a hefty £110 a night, but just £16 in equally chic Cannes. Also check where water toys are included and where they cost extra. A good quote should include everything included (charter fee, VAT, other charges, water toys, crew tips). As any Below Deck fan will know, tipping is a huge part of the crewed yacht experience.
CHOOSE A DESTINATION
Greece is good value for money, despite Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sanchez taking their yacht to Mykonos last week. So is Croatia. Both offer gentle waves and great snorkeling and swimming. Prices drop in September but the water is still warm. Scandinavia offers lots of peace and quiet. France is generally good value for money
And one last tip: download the MarineTraffic app before you set sail. It will show you how many other yachts are sharing the same stretch of sea or ocean and – best of all – how much they are asking for a week’s charter, giving you that priceless feeling of smugness about how much you’ve saved.
A look at Hvar, Croatia, an ideal spot in September as prices drop but the water remains warm – perfect for snorkelling and swimming
FIND THE RIGHT COMPANY
Click&Boot
This started in France in 2013 and is the largest platform for the UK and European market, although it covers over 160 countries with over 50,000 boats, including e-boats and jet skis. The search engine is one of the best: you can filter by location and year of the boat.
Sample package: A Dufour 460 sleeping 10, moored in Mandalina Marina, Croatia. Prices start from £170 per day (or £17pp), excluding skipper.
The interior of a boat from Click&Boat rental, furnished with sofas and modern kitchen facilities
Borrow a boat
This website started in 2017 in the UK and has over 50,000 boats in 65 different countries. The website is indeed very well maintained, with many filters and the add-ons it can provide, including airport transfers and optional concierge services. These can increase the cost, but give that superyacht feeling for much less than the ultra-rich are used to paying.
Sample package: Catamaran Lagoon 42 based in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, sleeping ten, from £5,435 per week.
Samboat
This French owners website lets you search for boats that don’t require a license – and the countries where it applies. If you’re flexible, this site often has good last-minute deals.
Sample package: A Lagoon 42, moored in Fethiye, Turkey, sleeping 10, starts from £423 per day, excluding skipper.
A comfortable bedroom on board the 13m Lagoon 42 boat, which can be rented for a few days or weeks
GetMyBoat
The funny name is a clue that this company is American. You’ll find everything from jet skis and hoverboards to slow-moving water pontoons and non-motorized watercraft including kayaks, all from owners who don’t want expensive equipment collecting dust. Especially good for day cruises.
Sample package: A day cruise in Mykonos on a Bahia Fountaine Pajot catamaran costs from £1,482 for up to 20 people, including skipper.
Getmyboat offers everything from jet skis and hoverboards to slow moving water pontoons and non-motorized watercraft including kayaks
Uber boat
If you want a way to book a boat and skipper that’s literally as easy as ordering an Uber, the company is expanding its boat offering. In Greece, Athens, Corfu and Santorini will all have Uber boats to whisk people to beach clubs, coves and beaches. A limousine boat will operate to over 200 pick-up and drop-off points across the Venetian Lagoon. Seating six, it will cost between €120-150/£100-£121 per trip. Meanwhile, Ibiza will have a Sunseeker yacht for €1,600/£1,353 per day, including limousine pick-ups, a skipper, food and drink hampers and Uber goodie bags, for up to eight people.
Boat Affair
Founded in 2017 by British-Swiss couple Adrian and Natalya Philips, this company focuses solely on skippered and crewed boats, but you’ll still likely pay a lot less than if you were to use one of the fancy yacht brokers.
Sample package: A Lagoon 50 catamaran with two crew and space for 10 guests from Athens in September costs £12,000.
