- 1. select areas with favourable travel alternatives
- 2. use early and late season
- 3. book early
- 4. select a favourable area
- 5. compare additional costs
- 6. sail longer instead of chartering twice
- 7. head for municipal harbours
- 8. check deposit insurance
- 9. rent older yachts
- 10. anchor more often
- 11. choose a flexible port of departure
- 12. optimise flights
- Properly insured on charter holidays - important tips in the video
Inflation is rising, energy costs are exploding - and this is also having an impact on the charter market. Agencies are unanimously reporting price increases. Flights to charter destinations are becoming more expensive, and last-minute bargains are few and far between.
However, the charter trip is the highlight of the year for many. Nobody wants to do without it. And in most cases, it's probably not necessary. Fortunately, there are a few, sometimes even surprisingly simple ways to save money on sailing holidays. Here are the best tips on how to reduce costs when booking and en route without compromising the quality of the sailing holiday.
This article is part of a charter special. The contents:
1. select areas with favourable travel alternatives
The mega boom that Croatia has experienced as a charter destination is mainly due to the possibility of travelling by car, train or even extremely cheaply by long-distance coach. Carpooling in particular has the potential to save a few hundred euros. However, it is important to clarify where the car can be parked on site during the trip. Parking fees are often charged, sometimes around 100 euros or more per week. The German Baltic Sea is also one of the areas that scores highly in terms of accessibility. However, there are also other regions that do not require travelling by plane. For crews from southern Germany, for example, the ferry from the Italian mainland to Sardinia is usually cheaper than travelling by plane.
2. use early and late season
If you are not tied to the school holidays, you should take advantage of price jumps from high to low season. They can be found in the offer lists of most fleet operators. If the search is too tedious, ask an agency, they know the exact times that are available. In some cases, travelling just one week earlier or later can make a difference of a few hundred euros. So when booking, don't choose the first available date, but check carefully with price lists - and fellow sailors.
3. book early
Early booking discounts are common in the charter market. They are usually granted until the end of the year or until boot in Düsseldorf. Fleet operators often grant "early birds" discounts of 10 per cent, sometimes even up to 20 per cent.
4. select a favourable area
The price differences vary greatly both in terms of the yacht and the country you are travelling to. Mooring fees are high in the high season in countries such as Italy or Croatia and can quickly add up to around 100 euros per night for a boat over 40 feet. For large yachts over 46 feet, they can be well in excess of 120 euros. Buoy fields are also a cost driver. There have been more and more of them in Croatia for years. A night at a buoy often costs two to three euros per metre of boat. On the other hand, Croatia is the most favourable area in the Mediterranean in terms of boat prices due to the fierce competition between charter companies. Greece, on the other hand, is unbeatable when it comes to harbour fees and restaurant prices, which are often around a third lower than in Croatia or Italy. If you like to eat out and are moored in the harbour, you should be aware of these differences.
5. compare additional costs
The lowest offer is not always the most favourable at the end of the day. This is due to additional costs. In addition to the actual charter fee, there is often an expensive final cleaning as well as extra charges for bed linen, towels, SUP boards, outboard motors etc.. This quickly adds up to a few hundred or even 1,000 euros. These days, additional costs are often summarised in so-called starter packages, but not always. Also not to be underestimated: Depending on the area, there are sometimes additional fees for the tourist tax as well as travel fees, such as the permit in Croatia or the transit log in Turkey. National park fees also have to be paid, for example in the Kornati Islands, off Dugi Otok or Sardinia. These can also cost 100 euros or more.
6. sail longer instead of chartering twice
Sounds like a real luxury problem, but there are many crews who charter twice a year. So it can make sense to go on a longer holiday. Especially as it has been proven that longer holidays are more relaxing than shorter ones. What's more, you not only save the entire travel and ancillary costs - and CO2 emissions - once, but also benefit from substantial discounts with quite a few providers for the second week! On the Baltic Sea, for example, this is often around ten per cent, in some cases even up to 20 per cent. Longer cruises are also rewarded in the Mediterranean. In some regions, such as the Greek Aegean, some providers also waive one-way surcharges for two-week trips if such a trip is planned. This can quickly add up to a few hundred euros in savings, as the return journey against the Meltemi is unpopular and therefore the surcharges for oneways are high. The same is sometimes possible in Croatia if the charter company has several bases in the area.
7. head for municipal harbours
In many areas, yacht marinas are significantly more expensive than municipal harbours. This applies almost universally in Croatia, Italy, the Balearic Islands and Greece. The reason for this is simple: marina operators often have to finance high lease fees, initial investments or expensive technical facilities such as travel lifts and workshops. This is often not the case in municipal harbours. They have usually been in existence for many years and sometimes only have a simple pier with mooring lines. It is true that the standard of sanitary facilities, marinero support and service may be lower in municipal harbours. However, the proximity of these harbours to the town usually compensates for this shortcoming. Some municipal harbours are even more pleasant than the marina next door. So check the area guide to see where there are good alternatives.
8. check deposit insurance
More and more fleet operators are offering to replace deposit insurance, which is usually offered by external insurers and which the customer has to take care of themselves, with their own products. Some operators then argue that their product has the advantage that no or only a greatly reduced deposit is required. With traditional insurance, on the other hand, the deposit must be paid in full to the charter company and is then reimbursed by the insurer in the event of a claim. This may be more complicated, but the offers from fleet operators are often much more expensive. A price comparison can be worthwhile; a difference of 100 to 200 euros is not uncommon.
9. rent older yachts
Agencies have known this for years: To be on the safe side, many customers only charter new boats that are one or two, but no more than three years old. This is understandable; after all, everyone wants a clean boat with as few defects as possible. However, there are also providers with whom older yachts do not automatically mutate into caves of spunk and bunk, but are in excellent condition. So if you don't always need the latest model, you can easily save a few hundred euros. The important thing is to book through an agency whose judgement you trust. Identifying fleet operators with good old boats requires a lot of experience, regular communication and expertise. Ask your agency which providers they recommend for your planned destination and why. You will often be recommended smaller family businesses that have boats in their fleet that are still highly recommended even after eight years thanks to regular care and maintenance.
10. anchor more often
It's so simple, so relaxing - and it cuts costs immensely. However, many crews don't really trust their anchoring skills. How much chain, how to bring in the anchor, when to deploy shore lines? Answers can be found in tutorials such as YACHT TV and here at YACHT online. And then make a note of a few well-protected bays for your own sailing area in sailing guides before the trip.
11. choose a flexible port of departure
There are areas with particularly popular starting harbours. Split in Croatia, for example, is such a case. The flights there and the boats on site are sometimes more expensive than elsewhere in the same region. The charter agency at home can help you find a cheaper starting harbour close to your original destination.
12. optimise flights
Flights should be booked at least seven months before the cruise. Here, too, it is now important to keep an eye on additional costs. Many airlines initially show very favourable prices on the Internet. Only later in the booking process is it revealed that there is often a hefty surcharge of 50 euros or more per leg for baggage. The preferred seat also costs extra. And finally, pay attention to the costs for the transfer from the airport to the charter base. Taxi prices are currently exploding in almost all of Europe. Longer journeys in countries such as Italy can be extremely expensive, often costing over 100 euros. It can be worth booking a minibus transfer in advance with your fellow sailors. Even if this means having to wait at the airport for friends travelling from other cities.
