Chartering a private yacht for a vacation may sound like something only the rich and famous can do, but the truth is that it can be quite affordable, in fact even less expensive than staying in a hotel for a week.
Here are 8 ways that can help you save a bit of money and still have that perfect vacation:
1. Travel with friends. Getting a bunch of people together to share the costs is always a great strategy for keeping expenses down, whether you rent a villa or charter a yacht. I recently found a luxury catamaran (bareboat) in the Seychelles that sleeps 12 for $4,825/week - that’s $402/person!
2. Take advantage of the weak economy. Many boat owners and charter companies are faced with fewer bookings and are consequently cutting rates and running specials. One way to stay up to date with the latest offerings is to sign up for newsletters from charter companies, magazines and other publications from the part of the world you are interested in.
3. Negotiate the price. Again, thanks to the less than stellar economic climate, prices are not set in stone, even if you charter through a company. Also ask about the hidden or extra costs - can they be included in the listing price?
4. Save on airfare. Many charter companies have special deals with airlines flying to their charter base - make sure to ask before booking anything.
5. Last minute charters. If your schedule is flexible, you can save quite a bit by booking a charter last minute. You may hear about them in the newsletters mentioned above, or set up a few Google alerts to make sure you get the latest offers to your inbox in a timely manner.
6. Travel during shoulder season (in between high and off season). This is the best time to travel: the weather will still be nice, but the crowds are gone, and prices on everything will have gone down. If you’re going to the Mediterranean, consider traveling in September or early October. For the Caribbean, late April to mid-June is the best time.
7. Early boarding. Typically, you arrive at the charter base the night before the charter start date and have to spend the first night in a hotel. Ask if you can get “early boarding” or “evening boarding”. There might be a small fee for it, but it’ll be less than a hotel room, plus you save yourself the inconvenience of having to unpack and pack things twice.
8. Exchange boats. Swapping homes has been a popular way to vacation for decades now, and this great, affordable way to vacation has caught on in the boating communities around the world. If you don’t own a boat yourself, but if you’re an experienced boater (you’ll need documentation to prove it of course), see if you can do a home/boat swap: your home for someone’s boat for a week (or longer).
Stop by at: www.makeendsmeetonline.com and collect a FREE Ebook called “15 Top Ways To Save Money” written by Alexandra Vrugt.