I want to charter but how do I know I am getting the best value for my vacation?

– By Trina Howes, Senior Luxury Yacht Charter Broker.

You can know that you are getting the best value for your vacation by chatting with your broker and discussing the options that you have.

“As all of the yachts that you see on our site are privately owned, even the owners have different motivations and I do think this is sometimes very important information to know.”

I spend a lot of time inspecting yachts, interviewing crew and generally looking at lots of different yachts for a range of different clients with differing expectations. So when a client comes to me with their ideas of what they want for their vacation I will usually present them with a range of options within their budget and available for their dates. I then pick out two or three that I think will work for them based on what they have told me they want, based on my personal knowledge of the yacht and crew.

Charter Yacht Quantum – France

As all of the yachts that you see on our site are privately owned, even the owners have different motivations and I do think this is sometimes very important information to know. Some want their yacht to charter as much as possible and run it like a business, others only want their yacht to do a few weeks a year to keep their crew busy and recover some of the annual costs for running a yacht. I personally like working with serious charter yachts and I feel these mostly offer the best value for money. As it’s in the owners best interest to have repeat clients and very successful charters they set the yacht up in a way that guarantees a happy outcome.

Numarine 78 – swimming in the Mediterranean

A lot of thought and hard work goes into a successful charter. It’s not just about the yacht. The package has to have great amenities – such as water toys, good quality linen and décor throughout the yacht and of course a very good and charter savvy crew. As a broker, I know which are the best yachts and can make recommendations to my clients and explain why I think it’s the best value for money for them.

Generally speaking though, newer yachts come with a higher price as there tends to be a higher demand for new yachts. Sometimes they might not necessarily be the best value for money, as you are paying extra just for the privilege of chartering a brand new yacht. They might not have as an extensive list of toys as say an older yacht that has been chartering for a few years. Older yachts that have been recently refitted can basically feel like new, and usually come with a lower price tag.

Jettsetter Yacht

I think it’s just a matter of figuring out what the client will value most when it comes to finding them a yacht. Some want a brand new yacht, some want the biggest and best yacht for the best “deal”. Some have a very strict budget and want the absolute best option for that price. Everyone’s perception of “value for money” is different so I just try to listen to my clients and present them with the best possible options to make sure they have a fantastic vacation.

Swim Platform – A Mediterranean Yacht Gran Turisma