Charter: where is the best place to rent a yacht?

It is interesting that even experienced yachtsmen sometimes fall into the trap of perception called "searching for the best". "The best" can mean a yacht, a route, and equipment, but one of the most popular requests is the best place for a yacht charter.

In principle, the question of what can be called the "best" in any industry is highly individual. The concept itself differs from person to person, and therefore any advice, even from an experienced skipper or crew, is unlikely to bring the proper degree of satisfaction. The secret is that when we and other professionals are asked about where or how best to rent a yacht, it is not about our preferences, but about what the person would like to hear. Let's try to explain what is meant using simple examples.

This article is an adaptation of the article “Charter: Where are the best places?” by Zuzana Prochazka on the SailMagazine website.

General questions and specific answers about yachting

When it comes to charter yacht trips, yachtsmen literally have almost the entire globe to choose from. The only question left is: "Where is the best place to go on a charter trip?" According to many experienced yachtsmen, this question is not quite correct. It would be correct to approach it from the other side: "Where would I like to go on a yacht?" Now the question has acquired a more tangible character. So, answering this question, it should be noted that for lovers of history and culture, the best option is Europe. 

Among yachtsmen, Greece, Italy, Croatia and Montenegro are especially popular, and deservedly so. In ANY of these options you will find enough interesting places and a competent balance between tourism and yachting. If you want to spend a week or two in "beach style", then the Caribbean islands will be a great starting point. For lovers of solitude and quiet rest, you should pay attention to Tahiti or Tonga.

No one will give you a more precise answer, especially if you do not have the relevant experience of visiting a particular region. Therefore, the best option to decide what the ideal yacht cruise is for you is to go on a charter trip. No one is immune from failures, but otherwise all your dreams of a sailing adventure will remain dreams.

Expectations from a yacht trip

One of the most unpleasant feelings is the destruction of expectations. This feeling accompanies us throughout life and, unfortunately, yachting is no exception. Zuzana, the author of the original article and an experienced charter skipper, gives the following example: “We once had a group of eight boats in French Polynesia. The local nature is stunningly beautiful: the beaches are white, the water is warm. If you know where to go, you can snorkel right next to the manta rays. However, one of the guests did not find anything that she liked during the week. Not the people, not the prices, not the local cuisine. In response to my offer to swim in the crystal clear water, she just said: “This is cologne”, and went in search of white wine.”

Telling story, isn’t it? Another of Zuzana’s stories tells of a visitor to Croatia who had persistent negative feelings about the influx of tourists, calling parts of Split and Dubrovnik “ridiculous Disneyland.” Both Zuzana and the editor of this article agree that the number of tourist shops can be annoying, but Croatia’s history is much deeper and more interesting. 

It is worth deviating just a little from the beaten paths for cities, ports and villages to sparkle with new colors. Tourists are tourists for a reason – they do not always have time to “catch the rhythm” of a city or area. But we, yachtsmen, have such an opportunity.

Another amazing experience for Zuzana happened on the island of Delos in the Cyclades. The entire island is actually an archaeological site with beautifully preserved structures. Zuzana shares: “Basically, all my charter groups held up well for about 10 minutes before they dispersed. Some of the younger ones put on headphones and danced around the ruins to Katy Perry. You can lead horses to water, but you can’t make them drink.”

So how do you organize a yacht charter trip?

The best approach, regardless of the destination, is to plan all activities in advance. If you are going on a quiet romantic sailing trip with your significant other, you will probably find something to do in remote waters. But if you are going with friends, children or relatives, you will have to try to plan an interesting cruise. 

However, as Zuzana says, “there is no best answer.” Even with advance planning and an attempt to squeeze all the most interesting things into a cruise, there will be someone for whom even this will not be enough. And while you will be playing the role of skipper, guide, restaurateur and partner, you risk not getting moments of pleasant rest yourself.

The secret to a successful charter cruise comes down to a sensible balance – between sailing, relaxing and shopping. However, only you can answer the question of what is best for you.

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09.01.2025