Thinking about planning a yacht charter and wondering how you can score the best deal?
You came to the right place! I’m Erin, your yacht charter guide, and this article is all about how to get the best deals on a private yacht charter. I’m not talking about a few hundred dollars – I’m talking thousands in savings, without sacrificing the experience.
🗓️ 1. Understand the Seasons
Across Europe and the Mediterranean, July and August are high season, which means top-tier pricing due to the high demand. But the good news is that June and September are considered mid-season with slightly better rates, followed by May and October, which are low season, where you’ll often find the best rates.
For the Caribbean, pricing is steady year-round, except for Christmas and New Year’s, when the rates jump 10–20% higher.
📍 2. Be Flexible
One of the best ways to save money is simply by being flexible with dates. If you’re open by just a few days, I can often help fill a gap in a yacht’s calendar, and that sometimes comes with a discount, because owners want to keep the boat calendar full!
🌍 3. Compare Destinations for VAT Savings
A lot of people don’t take this into consideration, but VAT tax varies from country to country. In Greece and Croatia, VAT is 5.2% to 13%, while in France and Italy it’s 20–22%. That’s a 10% savings just by choosing a different destination. To put that into perspective, on a $100,000 charter, that’s $10,000 saved just by exploring a different part of the world.
⛵ 4. Consider a Catamaran Instead of a Power Yacht
Another huge cost factor? Fuel. Power yachts are beautiful and luxurious, but they guzzle fuel, which increases the APA. In case you’re not familiar with the term APA, that’s the budget set aside for things like food, alcohol, fuel, and docking fees. On a power yacht, APA can be 35–40% of the charter rate. On a catamaran? only 20–25%.
👩💼 5. Work with a Charter Broker who knows their stuff (Like Me!)
I’m like a real estate agent for yachts. That means:
✔️ I negotiate on your behalf
✔️ I vet the yachts in person (yes, I’ve toured almost all of them!)
✔️ And I can guarantee that the boat you book actually looks as good in person as it does online
💬 Bonus Tip: Ask About Specials & Promotions
Not all deals are advertised. Just remember if you dont ask, the answer is always NO.
If you have any questions, reach out and if you found this video helpful, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more insider yachting tips.