Spending the summer in the Mediterranean is always special, and it doesn’t get much better than St Tropez. At the heart of the French Riviera, St Tropez oozes traditional Provencal charm. The town also has the best beach clubs, restaurants and nightlife in the South of France. Check out our St Tropez Beach Club Guide for full inspiration.
Club 55 St Tropez
Made famous by the iconic French actress Brigitte Bardot whilst filming ‘And God Created Women’ on Pampelonne Beach, Club 55 has been synonymous with the St Tropez Beach scene since then. It never disappoints! You are guaranteed a joyful atmosphere and excellent food designed around the finest produce. For all those celebrating a summer birthday, the famous Strawberry Tarte is a must. Furthermore, a day boat charter from Cannes to St Tropez is the perfect present!
Nikki Beach St Tropez
The St Tropez edition of the Nikki Beach empire is one of our favourites! With a collection of sunbeds lying next to an open-air swimming pool and tables leading down towards the beach, Nikki Beach is quintessential summer fun. Offering a global repertoire of dishes, you will be able to sample everything from Provencal Rotisserie Chicken to Sushi and Ceviche.
Bagatelle Beach St Tropez
At the heart of Pampelonne Beach next to Les Palmiers, Chef Nicolas Cantrel is famous for his Poulet Fermier Entier du Sud-Ouest à la Truffe, a Whole organic truffle roasted chicken served with country potatoes. Get ready for your tastebuds to be dazzled! The Bagatelle Team deliver energetic events, so book in for the second sitting for a proper party afternoon!
As your spending time at home with your family, get your heads together to think about how you plan on spending your next vacations. St Tropez is perfect for families of all ages. The Boatbookings Team look forward to working with you on your next yacht charter vacation.
What is the world’s favourite cuisine? Suitable for all ages, tastes and dietary requirements, Italian gets our vote. When chartering a yacht along the Amalfi Coast, you will sample the unique cuisine of Campania. The area is world-famous for lemons and San Marzano tomatoes, as well as fresh octopus, sea bream and shrimps. An Amalfi Coast yacht charter delivers excellent restaurants in each town, but which ones should you visit for summer 2020?
C/O Quattro Passi Nerano
Quattro Passi, Nerano
Quattro Passi in Nerano overlooks the stunning Marina del Cantone in Nerano. Nerano is the first village you will explore on your Amalfi Coast motor yacht charter. First impressions are everything and Nerano will not disappoint!
C/O Quattro Passi Nerano
Chef Antonio Mellino holds 2 Michelin stars for his gourmet cuisine at Quattro Passi. His cuisine focuses on local produce, most prominently lemons and tomatoes. The Michelin guide praises Mellino for his “ability to extract maximum aromas from lemons and tomatoes is unique, lending extraordinary flavour to his dishes.” We know you will be dazzled so book your table for summer 2020 now!
La Sponda at Le Sirenuse Hotel, Positano
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. A favourite for engagements, honeymoons and anniversaries, you will definitely impress your better half. La Sponda at Le Sirenuse Hotel in Positano is famous for being one of the most romantic restaurants on the Amalfi Coast. Whether you choose to dine on the terrace or under four hundred candles inside, the views are spectacular.
Chef Gennaro Russo’s menu is based on fresh local ingredients and inspired by the great culinary traditions of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. His motto is “respect for the territory, for local traditions and local ingredients”. His risotto is to die for!
The Boatbookings Brokers know the best restaurants on the Amalfi Coast for every taste. The best yachts and restaurants are booked well in advance so speak to the team today to plan your Amalfi Coast adventure for summer 2020.
Baglietto announced plans at the 60th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show to launch a Bahamas inspired superyacht. Designed by Santa Maria Magnolfi, the Abaco concept is a tribute to those affected by the recent Hurricane Dorian. Baglietto claim that they will donate a percentage of the first sale towards relief efforts in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas are known for the great outdoors and Baglietto’s concept is no different. The Abaco concept will feature over 120m2 of outdoor space on the main aft deck. This vast area will provide guests with unparalleled sunbathing, socialising and al fresco dining spaces. Imagine embarking in Nassau and taking in the spectacular views of the Exumas on your Bahamas Yacht Charter.
The interior design will use natural materials such as tropical woods, teak and linen to create refined surroundings. The continuity between the external and internal social areas will give a greater sense of space. Accommodation will be provided for 10 guests in 5 cabins, comprising the main deck master suite and 4 supplementary staterooms below deck. Get your family together for a fun-filled summer yacht charter.
The Bahamas continue to be the must-visit winter destination and you should support the local people by visiting. The Exumas islands are in pristine condition and Nassau was unaffected, so get your group together for this winters Bahamas crewed motor yacht charter.
Watch this space for further updates on the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts and the latest superyacht news.
Our Charter Broker team have just returned from 5 days sailing Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands to find the best tables for your 2020 summer sailing adventure. Get ready for mouthwatering cuisine, sensational seafood and luscious lamb dishes!
Konoba Vala, Bobovišca
The island of Brac is just 10 nautical miles away from the historical city of Split, but feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Croatia’s favourite yachting city. The main town of Milna provides the perfect first setting for your summer yacht charter, but if you’re looking for a smaller hamlet, try the quaint fishing village of Bobovišca. Konoba Vala is a rustic restaurant looking out onto lush vegetation and those magical Croatian cobbled boardwalks. You must try the locally Grilled Calamari, served with spiced Mangold (part of the Chard family) Delicious!
Konoba Bako, Vis
Just under 30 nautical miles further south of Bobovišca lies the popular island of Vis. Vis has to be one of your stops on your Croatia crewed motor yacht itinerary, well known for it’s military history and bunkers. You must also visit the ever popular Biševo Blue Cave, and the magical Green Grotto. Spend your days anchored in your own private bays, enjoying water sports and ultimate tranquility, When you’re ready to head into port, Komiza is the perfect town to spend the evening, sampling Croatia’s best fish dishes. Konoba Bako is the must-visit restaurant for dinner; request a table on the water and indulge in the best octopus you’ve ever had. We really recommend the braised octopus in red wine, as well as the house grilled lamb chops. Sample the house wine and take in those spectacular sea views.
BOKERIA, Split
Your itinerary will unfortunately have to come to and end at some point and there is no better place to disembark that the ancient city of Split. Home to the enchanting Diocletian’s Palace, built for Emperor Diocletian at the turn of the 4th Century, Split perfectly blends history with modernity. BOKERIA will blow you away with their service, selection of wines and gourmet treats. Some of our favourites include the Sous-Vide Octopus which is finished on the grill, as well as the Lemon and Cuttlefish Black pasta. This could be the best pasta dish you’ve ever had.
Croatia will deliver your every wish and surpass your expectations. From medieval cities to buzzing beach clubs, spectacular scenery by day to stargazing by night, we know you will have the best Mediterranean yacht charter to date. Contact the Boatbookings broker team today to make this reality!
An in depth sailing itinerary by someone who lived the route.
Day 1 – Lefkas
Arrive at Lefkas marina for 5 pm ready to board your own private yacht! The first evening will be spent in the marina where you will receive a handover of the yacht and some local information. Preavasia airport is a convenient 40-minute journey to the Marina which is roughly 25-30 euros.
Once you arrive at Lefkas Marina, you will then be taken to your yacht and the handover will start. There is a supermarket located in the marina where you can find basic necessities – look out for their figs, the owner of the supermarket grows them! The supermarket will also deliver the provisions to your yacht for free if you wish.
There’s also a Lidl located about a 20-minute walk (or 5-minute car journey) from the marina which offers a broader range of provisions which inevitably is cheaper. Collect a token from the harbor office (10 euro cash deposit) to enjoy onshore showers – really good, clean facilities. One shower costs around 80 cents, even for ladies!
Lefkas is a vibrant, busy town located a five-minute walk from Lefkas Marina. Here you are engulfed by various restaurants, bars and don’t forget the incredible ice cream shops! The ice cream parlous even have sugar free options along with a range of vegan options. In the square, central to the town is home to some of the best Pizza you can get!
Day 2 – Lefkas to Kalamos
Start early and get out of the Marina! The first day of your holiday! Head south, bear in mind it takes about 40 minutes to get out of the channel. Keep a look out for the larger yachts, they have a tendency to motor up in the middle of the channel, don’t let them bully you! Stay within the buoyage areas as the channel is dredged and it shelves off to under a meter in some places. Once you are out of the channel it’s time to get some sails up! It’s a wide-open span of water so perfect to get the feel of your yacht. The winds normally around force 1-2 in the morning and reaching F3-4 in the afternoons. This makes for relaxing mornings to your first lunch spot.
Over your port side as you head SW you will go past Greek mainland, various sheltered anchorages with good holding. As you travel down to the stunning Island of Kalamos get ready to anchor stern to or raft bow to stern. George, the unofficial harbormaster will come out and greet you on his white motorboat! He’s a really great chap who owns George’s Restaurant at the back of the town quay, great fresh food, locally caught fish. Can get fairly busy in high season, so best to call ahead or get in early and make a reservation.
This town quay does get fairly busy, flotillas come into the quay as well. It’s also possible to free swing near the entrance, which provides good holding. However, best to check the winds as the wind can funnel down through the bay. Limited provisioning here in this small town. You have a small bakery which is on top of the hill with the most incredible bread! Send someone fit and healthy as it’s a 15-minute walk with a very steep incline! Great views over the Ionian and across to Kastos (Kalamos’ sister island).
Wake up fresh and rejuvenated! Grab some fresh bread from the bakery and set the yacht for another incredible Ionian sailing day. Travelling NW, you will come across a beautiful little anchorage called Port Leoni, there are no tavernas only a small church in the hill which locals look after. Port Leoni was hit by an earthquake in ’53 and was deserted. As a result, it has left a quiet, stunning lunch spot with some of the clearest water. Really great holding here, very sheltered and can even be used as an overnight stop.
Come the afternoon the wind picks up so time to shake out the sails and get going! Head up to Meganisi, to the town of Vathi, nicknamed Little Vathi, as not to be confused with Big Vathi on the island of Ithica. Great provisioning in the town, with some of the best Gyros in Greece, only 2 euros! Restaurants and bars line the harbor wall with a great vegan restaurant. On the port side as you enter Vathi a sunken airplane is just below the water level which is great to snorkel around. Water and electric available on the town quay.
Day 4 – Meganisi to Kioni
Slip the lines and head SW to the most beautiful island in the whole Ionian! Ithica, a beautiful lush green island that sits next to the famous Kefalonia. Head straight onto the town quay, or long line to the port side of the bay for a quieter evening. Kioni is a tiny little village littered with fishing boats and stunning restaurants. Kioni provides great holding, there can be some deeper patches on the sea bed, so our advice is to motor in and find a good depth to anchor.
Kioni does have the tendency to get windy from 6 pm but dies off towards 8 pm. Do make sure that if you’re long lining that you have both port and starboard tied off and anchor are set properly. The wind is caused by the NW prevailing wind that funnels between the hills around the village. The water around Kioni is some of the best around this island for several reasons.
It’s really clean and clear, so great for snorkeling and discovering shoals of fish, come the evening you can expect to see phosphorescences! As you disturb the water on your midnight swim underneath the stars you will notice sparkles, this is the Algae, they emit a glow whenever they are jostled!
As you leave the stunning bay of Kioni, why not pop round to the island of Kefalonia. The famous Fiskhardo town filled with high-end shops and upmarket restaurants. There’s a bay just south of the town called Foki bay. A stunning inlet where tall green ferns grew, we named it Little Canada when we visited! Once you’ve moored up you can either go to the small beach or explore the disused limestone mine which is home to a labyrinth of tunnels. Takes shoes and a torch, no flipflops as your feet will slide everywhere! You can access the caves by dinghy, or you can swim. Foki Bay can be used as an overnight stop but is exposed to easterlies.
Head North to Vassiliki, a popular destination for windsurfers due to the anabatic winds. It is our advice that you get onto the quay before 2 pm or after 3:30 pm. The prevailing winds travel from west to east and can affect your mooring on the quay. It has been known to reach F6. within 10 minutes. If you are wanting to explore the land, we can recommend going to Porto Katsiki by car, or day charter from the harbor.
Poto katsiki provides blue warm waters with bright white cliffs offering dramatic landscapes for miles. This side of the island is very exposed to the prevailing winds, so our advice is to not sail around there but to go by car or ferry instead.
Day 6 – Vassiliki to Sivota
Why not start the day off with a walk along the sandy beach of Vassiliki? Don’t forget your swimming costume! The water is so warm on this coastline due to a large sandbank that retains its heat. Stop off on the way through town and pick up a freddo cappuccino at one of the many town quay coffee shops.
Crossing anchors in this harbor can sometimes happen, keep a look out on any unusual vibrations or strain on the windlass. Head out and travel NW. There are some lovely anchorages on the east side of Lefkada island, all providing great shelter and supremum swimming opportunities, head past Sivota to the next bay around – Poros for a swim and a spot of lunch. Head back around to Sivota, a hidden town up in the hills. Sivota is a small town with a row of restaurants, be sure to pop into the Pirates and 12 Gods, one of our favorite restaurants with great service. They also have a quay which has water and electric for free if you eat there. They also have onshore showers for free! Phone beforehand because they do get busy! There’s also the opportunity to free swing in the bay, but it does get busy.
Leave Sivota and head across back to the western side of Meganisi to explore the incredible Papanikolis Cave! It’s too deep to anchor here, so someone will have to say on the yacht. Go in by paddleboard or dingy, watch out for the bats! Do not sail into the cave, although it looks big enough it isn’t!
As you come further north you will come across the island of Skorpios, keep well away from this island! It is privately owned, and there are armed guards that patrol the grounds and the surrounding waters. The channel between Skoripos and Sparti is blocked off and is also out of bounds. Up along the coast, you have various points of anchoring, one of which is the town of Nydri.
Nydri is prone to being busy during the high season which can affect anchoring space. Inland Nydri is host to a collection of natural waterfalls that can be accessed by car or tour bus. Surprisingly Nydri has a brilliant Chinese restaurant that is well priced on the quay wall! This town is great for trinkets and gifts for those at home.
Keep traveling North up the channel and you are back where you are started! The channel can get busy with Sunsail yachts, as their base is in Lefkas harbour. The flotillas and bareboats are normally filled up with diesel at Lefkas fuel quay by 5 pm. Once you are in the harbor, head over to Portos Cafe for a refreshing drink and talk about the holiday! Lefkas also has a fantastic laundry department which iron, clean and fold 1 load for 15 euros. Head into town for the last dinner and enjoy the last moments of your Ionian holiday!
Check out our Lefkas bareboats if you would like to experience all of the above!
