Tourism, much like everything else, consists of trends, patterns that the traveller tends to favour and in the past few years, the yacht charter sector has enjoyed a surge, as more holidaymakers see the benefits a floating holiday offers. Of course, renting luxury superyachts is nothing new, millionaires do this on a regular basis, yet chartering a catamaran to cruise the Andaman Sea is very affordable if you are a group of 6 or 8 people, bringing the luxury yacht charter within everyone’s reach.
Day Trips
Many people who spend a week or two in Pattaya, Thailand, would hire a yacht for the day and cruise the area, taking in the best natural sites and observing a diverse range of marine life. A Google search is all it takes to find a luxury yacht charter operator and they have an impressive fleet of luxury vessels and there’s bound to be one that suits your group. Evenings spent dining on fresh seafood while drinking your favourite cocktail overlooking a tropical reef make for a memorable experience, and the tour operator is happy to create a schedule and tailor the experience to your needs. Fortunately, those looking for boat & yacht rental in Pattaya can carry out an Internet search and make a booking, whether short or long-term.
Phuket
The premier tourist resort in the South of Thailand, Phuket is the base for many yacht charter companies, where you can meet up with the vessel of your choice and head off into the sunrise in the amazing Andaman Sea. The ultimate floating holiday would be a 3-week cruise that takes in the famous Phi Phi Islands, Koh Pang Ghan, koh Tao, and Koh Samui and this is very doable with 5 or 6 couples in a medium size yacht that is fully crewed. Alternatively, you could book a weekend yacht trip that leaves Phuket Friday evening, returning late Sunday, which is a great way to spend a long weekend, with Monday as a rest day.
All-Inclusive Holiday
When you charter a yacht, everything is included in the price, with your choice of menus, drinks and provisions, so you have no need for daily living expenses, other than some souvenir shopping at ports of call. If you divide the charter cost between 10 people, it suddenly becomes affordable and you have much more fun when with friends. If you think of your luxury yacht as your floating hotel, you have everything you could possibly need onboard and with a Cordon Bleu chef at your disposal, you can enjoy the best sea food. You choose the snacks, the music and the movies to watch late at night and with a fully-crewed vessel, you are the boss for the duration of your hire contract. Click here for top tips when chartering a yacht, which is a must-read.
Digital Economy
We are most definitely living in the digital age and more and more people are working remotely; leaving them free to decide where they spend their time and an extended holiday on a luxury yacht doesn’t have to affect their business. The number of digital nomads living in South East Asia is always rising, as more people work online and prefer to live in a warm tropical climate. Many of the yacht charter clients are expats living and working in Bangkok and for them, a cruise is a great way to spend a few weeks, which is within easy reach from the city.
Isolated in Paradise
For those who are concerned about getting infected with Covid-19 while on holiday, taking a yacht cruise is the perfect way to isolate from the crowds and with a crew who are all tested, you and your group can travel in your own luxury yacht. You have complete control over your environment when you charter a yacht and a seasoned skipper who really knows the region and can take you to some quiet coves and bays.
Ease of Booking
You can arrange everything from the comfort of your own home; simply find a yacht charter company’s website and browse their impressive fleet of catamarans, yachts and superyachts, which are all for hire, fully crewed and stocked to your request. The yacht charter company handle everything; all you have to do is get you and your group to the port on the agreed date and your fully stocked luxury yacht awaits. If you love marine life, the Andaman Sea offers the chance to swim with Whale Sharks and giant Manta Rays, or observe Bottle-Nose Dolphins playing. Bring your mask and flippers and the skipper can drop anchor at the best reefs, allowing you to immerse yourself in an underwater world.
Floating holidays have never been this popular and you can expect to see this trend continuing, as more tourists realise the benefits of yacht charter.
