The pros of flotilla sailing and yacht charter holidays
If you dream of going on a luxury holiday where you can enjoy endless days of sun, sea and sightseeing on stunning islands, look no further than a sailing break. There are two main types to choose from, flotilla sailing and yacht charter holidays.
Which one you choose will all depend what you want to get out of the holiday and if there is any destination you had in mind to explore by boat. To find out more about the advantages of both flotilla sailing and yacht charter getaways, read on.
Yacht charter holidays: the benefits
The first and foremost benefit to choosing a yacht charter break for your luxury holiday is that it provides you with as much freedom as possible. You can glide between the different islands on your itinerary, stopping for a swim and a snorkel and enjoying the company of your family and friends on deck. If you find a secluded beach, you can all pile on to it and enjoy a picnic lunch as you soak up the sun.
Secondly, yacht charters can be participated in across a variety of destinations. Sailing around the Caribbean or Mediterranean is the perfect antidote to miserable weather back home as you traipse into work every day. Palermo and Procida in Italy, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands are just some of the spectacular places where you can book to go on a yacht charter. Should you wish to set sail around St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, you will have more than 30 islands to discover. This really brings variety to your break, rather than lying on the same beach day after day, and you will feel as though you have packed a lot into your holiday - but without getting exhausted from doing so.
A yacht charter break affords you and your loved ones the ultimate privacy, as you can eat and sunbathe together on deck and moor up at secluded spots. If you do not normally get much quality time together, this type of sailing holiday will be perfect for you.
Flotilla sailing breaks: the advantages
The second type of sailing holiday is travelling within a flotilla. This is where your yacht will sail around with a few others and you will all be guided by a lead boat manned by an experienced crew. It is the ideal balance between you and your travelling companions having time alone together and being able to follow some sort of itinerary. This will take the hassle out of being solely responsible for your party, as the lead boat will set the sailing agenda and you will follow where they go. However, this does not mean you are completely tied to their schedule. So long as you tell the lead crew where you are going and how long for, there is nothing to stop you from docking somewhere for a couple of hours so you and your friends and family can see a sight you are all interested in, or perhaps simply sunbathe and snorkel.
Flotilla sailing can also be enjoyed in many corners of the world. The Mediterranean and Caribbean are perhaps the most popular destinations for this kind of holiday due to their perfect sailing conditions, stunning scenery and variety of culturally interesting stop-offs. You can take your pick from countries including Croatia, Turkey, Greece, the British Virgin Islands and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Whether you are not fully confident of your sailing abilities yet and like the thought of an experienced crew nearby to help, or you simply do not want to have to fully think about which direction you are heading in, a flotilla break can enable you to see amazing corners of the world as conveniently and hassle-free as possible.
Finally, flotillas are great if you would like to make as many friends as possible, especially if you have kids and want them to play with other youngsters to keep them occupied. When you are moored up during the evenings, going for a meal or enjoying a few cocktails with your fellow sailors is a lovely way to round off the day and flotillas provide you with a ready-made group of friends.
