About Tom Virden

Founder, Boatbookings.com

What are the favorite yachts of our Brokers?

Our Brokers inspect hundreds of luxury yachts yearly, but end up recommending a small percentage of those over and over again. Why? Because they know that the combination of Yacht quality, Captain, Crew and Value are sure to give you a fantastic charter. Every time.

So we’ve created pages for each of our Brokers, so that you can see immediately their favorite yachts. We’ll start with Mimi Andain’s favorites below. She focuses on luxury yacht charter ‘s in the Mediterranean. A few the yachts she loves to put clients on:

Vibe Luxury Charter Yacht VIBE – Sunseeker Predator 74 out of Antibes. Fantastic Captain, perfect yacht for cruising the French Riviera

REHAB – Sunseeker Predator 68. Great value, excellent crew, perfect for day charters and long weekends!

IRAKLIS L – Gulet/Motor Sailor – 6 Cabins. Probably the most luxurious motor sailer currently in the Greek market.

WILD THYME – 120ft Benetti – 5 Cabins. Beautifully Maintained, great crew. If you want to experience all that is classic Benetti, she’s the perfect choice.

CALLISTO – Swan 77 extended – 3 Cabins. A beautiful Swan sailing yacht for cruising the magical Greek Islands.

O MEGA – 83 meter mega yacht – 15 Cabins. Great yacht for Corporate/Entertainment yacht charter – many versatile areas with an attentive crew.

And more! You can see her entire list of favorite luxury yachts here.

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

A Champagne Welcome and Gourmet Treats on board Luxury Motor Yacht O MEGA in Greece.

O MEGA super yacht is an 83m Mitsubishi Mega Yacht designed to deliver the luxury vacation of a lifetime. Last week we visited her in Greece to find out whether she does indeed live up to her reputation as one of the finest and most indulgent luxury event yachts charter in the world, and we certainly were not disappointed with what we found!

After being immediately greeted with a glass of champagne, the attentive crew continued to ensure that the utmost care was taken to guarantee us an unforgettable experience. It soon became clear that this yacht would be ideally suited to parties and corporate events; the flexible layout creates plenty of areas for entertaining and socialising as well as more intimate spaces to relax in privacy. This also makes it perfect for holidays amongst families. While the children can take full advantage of the generous games room and 65 inch home cinema, the adults can get away from it all by enjoying the stunning view from the top deck Jacuzzi, indulging in a treatment in the spa room or hitting the machines in the state of the art gym.

Every feature of this magnificent yacht is designed to create the most idyllic and indulgent surroundings imaginable. Accommodating up to 32 guests in 15 luxury ensuite cabins, the ambience of O MEGA Super Yacht is one of glamour and splendour while simultaneously retaining a very tasteful décor with her gold gilded chairs and elegant marble staircase. After starting with cocktails in the piano bar, we moved on to the lavish dining room (capacity for up to 70 seated guests) where the two fantastic chefs gave us an exclusive taste of their gourmet cuisine with an exquisite seafood risotto. With the deck space and main saloon area there is easily enough room to hold events for up to 250 guests, and with such a warm and accommodating crew on hand to cater to your needs everything is in place for a once in a lifetime experience on board a luxury yacht charter.

Chartering from both Greece and the French Riviera, this yacht would be perfect for an event such as the Monaco Grand Prix or Cannes Film Festival, or for exploring the beautiful spots Greece has to offer by choosing a luxury yacht charter in the Cycladic Islands .

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

Charter a Yacht to Club 55 for the Ultimate St Tropez experience!

May is without a doubt the most glamorous month in the calendar for the Cote d’Azur. With both the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival taking place in the same month, the coast is packed with the world’s elite, drawn there by the atmosphere of luxury that these events are renowned for.

Perhaps the most exclusive and chic of all the Riviera ports, St Tropez is the destination of choice for those who wish to revel in the intimate luxury of Club 55 St Tropez and other attractions. A luxury yacht charter from this famous port is a once in a lifetime experience of the best that the French Riviera has to offer: the golden sands of Pampelonne beach, tranquil waters, Michelin star cuisine and limitless shopping opportunities.

The many perks of choosing a St Tropez boat hire range from the fabulously decadent; such as soaking up the atmosphere at the famous Club 55 restaurant, to the quaint and quirky, for those who prefer to pass their time exploring the celebrated flea market or taking a stroll in the old port town.

Yacht charterers are spoilt for choice with the huge selection of classic and luxury yachts on offer in the port itself. Choose from a variety of sailboats, catamarans and motorboats, available from St Tropez or nearby ports such as Cogolin, and spend the day indulging in the relaxing and extravagant atmosphere of this unique destination!

Luxury cruising in St Tropez! — Luxury cruising in St Tropez

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

Experience a Luxury Yacht Surf Charter on your next Family Holiday in the Maldives!

Maldives Yacht Charter - Maldives Luxury surf charter — Maldives Yacht Charter – Maldives Luxury surf charter

‘Luxury’ and ‘surfing’ are two words which, until now, have never gone hand in hand. My own memories of summers spent surfing in North Cornwall as a child involve sub zero temperatures, hours spent waiting for a decent wave, and the dreaded barefoot journey back from beach to home often in torrential rain. However, the typical image of surfing holidays could be about to undergo a complete transformation with the recent introduction of ‘Sultans of the Seas” brand new luxury Maldives Surf Charter Yacht.

This top of the range Azimut 103; Yacht charter Maldives is the most luxurious surf charter yacht currently based in the Maldives and has been custom built to provide the height of quality in Maldives surfing holidays.

The huge storage capacity provides ample space for surf boards below deck, while the 2 jetskis and motor tender allow surfers to get to the ideal spot for catching a wave; no need for hours of waiting around freezing on your board with this once in a lifetime surf charter experience!

This luxury yacht travels overnight between all the prime surfing locations of the Maldives ; specifically the North and South Male Atoll, home to some of the top surf spots in the Indian Ocean. During a typical 5 night charter you could visit up to 5 superb locations, while those keen for a bit of creative input into the itinerary will be pleased to learn that they also offer a custom option allowing you to access Maldives surf spots slightly further afield.

Whether you’re a hardcore surf addict or a budding enthusiast, the appeal of this luxury surf charter boat is that it offers a chance to indulge in your passion for the sport from the immeasurable comfort of a superyacht equipped with every possible luxury. She accommodates up to 10 guests in her four cabins, each one equipped with en suite facilities and TV screens, and for those who want a break from surfing there is snorkeling, fishing and diving equipment available on board.

So if you’re thinking of planning your next holiday and looking for that perfect balance between sport and relaxation- look no further than this Maldives luxury surf charter and please feel free to contact us through our online form.

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Tom Virden

The amazing testimonials for SOULS CALLING – Lagoon 500 in the BVI

We get a lot of great reviews of charter yachts, which is one of the most rewarding parts of the being in the Charter business. We publish them directly on the site so that all charterers can refer to them when chartering.

But we keep getting such consistently superb feedback on SOULS CALLING that we felt we needed to single it out for special mention. SOULS CALLING is captained by Alex Mulder, who is a very skilled skipper, knows the BVI like the back of his hand, and basically doesn’t know the word “No”. He loves his job, always goes the extra mile, and wants his guests to have the best holiday of their lives. And he always seems to deliver. Carla is a superb cook and takes great care that the guests are happy. The two together work magic.

SOULS calling is a 2007 Lagoon 500 catamaran, with 3 spacious cabins and large common areas. Lagoons are famous for their great panoramic windows in the salon, giving beautiful views and lightness to the galley and salon. The boat is immaculately clean and all details are cared for lovingly.

We think, however, it’s best to hear testimonials from the charter guests themselves – here are just a few!

Cathy Said:

“This trip was so amazing I truly believe words cannot describe, the beauty, relaxation, delicious food, comfortable living space, cleanliness, and dedication to details. Alex was not only a phenomenal , competent captain but he made you feel like there wasn`t anything he wouldn`t do to make you feel at home on this gorgeous vessel. Carla was a superb cook and her humility created such an endearing quality we all wanted to take her home. I loved this trip so much I actually wrote a poem about my time away with friends entitled: A Collective Sigh.

A COLLECTIVE SIGH Nowhere to be, nothing to do…but float in Paradise Ah…no words Blissful silence of surrender Laughter…Dancing Ah…good food, wine, blue skies Ah…friends saying more through looks and smiles; No need for words True companionship, celebration of life Non-judgment, no pretenses Just being you Ah………. My heart and soul breathes in gratitude and breathes out gratitude All ONE COLLECTIVE BLISSFUL SIGH.”

Cathy’s Rating:

Denise Said:

“We had a magical time! We all loved the boat and the whole experience. We had the most relaxing, family bonding time. We laughed, ate, drank and slept a lot!! Needless to say, Alex and Carla were fabulous! They treated us with such care. We all came home a few pounds heavier thanks to Carla but it was worth every bite! Alex was a perfect host and made sure our daughters were always happy with water sports and the parents were always with a drink in our hands….it was an awesome experience!!!”

Denise’s Rating:

Jordan Said:

“WOW!!!! What a trip!!! We had a fantastic time. She was an excellent recommendation. And Alex and Carla are wonderful!!! And the sailboat was PERFECT!!!! We really enjoyed the trip and would do it again in a heartbeat with Alex and Carla. Thanks for your help in getting this worked out. Sailing is such a great way to see the many islands of BVI and I would HIGHLY recommend Soul’s Calling to anyone.”

Patti Said:

“Just want to let you know we had the most amazing time on Souls Calling. We cannot wait to go again. Thanks for your help with the booking. If you need recommendations for them let me know, the crew was by far amazing and very attentive. The food was gourmet. What a wonderful experience, by far one of our best vacations we ever took. Thanks Patti”

See all about SOULS CALLING and additional testimonials on the Boatbookings website.

See all of our 5 Star Rated Charter Yachts!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓