Flotilla holidays, anyone taking on private charters?
Discussion
Hi all,
Just hoping for a few reccomendations if poss. I'm looking to take a flotilla holiday with the rents and the other half in summer. Preferably the Ionian islands,but I'm open to suggestions. I have done this about ten yrs ago, with Sunsail, but I hear that since this time, the quality of their holidays has diminished considerably, and IMO they were always a bit too stiffly priced for what they actually were.
Had a look on google, and one company, imaginatively titled sailing holidays Ltd, looks reasonably priced. Has anyone on here used them?
I dont really want to go down the route of Mark Warner, as again I feel they are a bit excessively priced, having said that, I want the gear we use to be of a good standard, and not a tired boat with iffy safety equipment etc.
Ideally I'm looking for a 32-35 footer, both my father and I are proficient sailors, however he is starting to knock on a bit, and isn't as quick on his feet as he used to be....
If anyone has any ideas or positive/negative feedback, could they please let me know. I will also post this on the boats section, as a private charter wouldn't be ruled out either....
Thanks all,
Jono
Just hoping for a few reccomendations if poss. I'm looking to take a flotilla holiday with the rents and the other half in summer. Preferably the Ionian islands,but I'm open to suggestions. I have done this about ten yrs ago, with Sunsail, but I hear that since this time, the quality of their holidays has diminished considerably, and IMO they were always a bit too stiffly priced for what they actually were.
Had a look on google, and one company, imaginatively titled sailing holidays Ltd, looks reasonably priced. Has anyone on here used them?
I dont really want to go down the route of Mark Warner, as again I feel they are a bit excessively priced, having said that, I want the gear we use to be of a good standard, and not a tired boat with iffy safety equipment etc.
Ideally I'm looking for a 32-35 footer, both my father and I are proficient sailors, however he is starting to knock on a bit, and isn't as quick on his feet as he used to be....
If anyone has any ideas or positive/negative feedback, could they please let me know. I will also post this on the boats section, as a private charter wouldn't be ruled out either....
Thanks all,
Jono
Try www.sailionian.com , my dad has his boat on charter management with them. They're family run, really good at what they do, majority of boats are Bavarias no older than 5 years and maintained impeccably. Email Di and discuss what you're after. They're starting doing a flotilla type holiday this year, but also offer bareboat, skippered etc.
From my personal experience of sailing in the area I'd say to avoid Sunsail. I've heard numerous horror stories from both customers and locals out there. Sailing Holidays are good, well organised with really helpful staff. A lot of the boats are starting to look a bit worn, but they do have new ones in the fleet and I guess you get what you pay for.
The worst thing about the area at the moment is the flight costs. With XL going tits up, it's meant only Thomson, Monarch and Thomas Cook (on mainly Monarch flights) are flying into Preveza and prices are quite high at the moment. Try all 3 for flights, as different costs for the same flight are quite commonplace. If you need any more info PM me.
From my personal experience of sailing in the area I'd say to avoid Sunsail. I've heard numerous horror stories from both customers and locals out there. Sailing Holidays are good, well organised with really helpful staff. A lot of the boats are starting to look a bit worn, but they do have new ones in the fleet and I guess you get what you pay for.
The worst thing about the area at the moment is the flight costs. With XL going tits up, it's meant only Thomson, Monarch and Thomas Cook (on mainly Monarch flights) are flying into Preveza and prices are quite high at the moment. Try all 3 for flights, as different costs for the same flight are quite commonplace. If you need any more info PM me.
Did a Sunsail flotilla last year out of Vounaki in the Ionian - couldn't have been more pleased. I've booked again for this year - twice! Going for a week in June with the family and a week in September with a couple of lads from work.
If you're looking for alternatives to Sunsail, Sailing Holidays do seem to have very good reputation.
If you're looking for alternatives to Sunsail, Sailing Holidays do seem to have very good reputation.
telford_mike said:
Did a Sunsail flotilla last year out of Vounaki in the Ionian - couldn't have been more pleased. I've booked again for this year - twice! Going for a week in June with the family and a week in September with a couple of lads from work.
If you're looking for alternatives to Sunsail, Sailing Holidays do seem to have very good reputation.
Cool! I wasn't saying all who book with Sunsail will have a sIf you're looking for alternatives to Sunsail, Sailing Holidays do seem to have very good reputation.
t time. They are by far the biggest operator in the area, so for each person that does give a bad report, I'm sure there will be hundreds who have no probs at all.Where did you get to when you went out? We're out for a week in Sept too and did June last year (far less crowded than July/August), thinking of heading up to Parga, Paxos, then back down to Sivota, Fiskardho etc this time. I love it out there, can't wait to go back.
Rum Runner, just had a look at your site, very
. How ae you finding business this year? Have you noticed a slow down at all?dienamic said:
Where did you get to when you went out? We're out for a week in Sept too and did June last year (far less crowded than July/August), thinking of heading up to Parga, Paxos, then back down to Sivota, Fiskardho etc this time. I love it out there, can't wait to go back.
We did Little Vathi (Meganissi), then Vassiliki, 2 nights in Fiskardho (really loved that place) then a night anchored in Abelike Bay on Meganissi. I was a bit bored at the anchorage in Abelike Bay - nothing happening and I could have done with going to the pub - I was really pissed-off next morning when I looked at the chart - Vathi would only have been 10 minutes walk over the hill! As you say, great place.
Edited by telford_mike on Thursday 30th April 23:47
If you liked Fiskardho you might want to try Kioni on Ithaca, really nice little village. Sivota on Lefkas is also a fav. of mine - just something about the place! Porto Spiglia on meganissi is lovely, but you must walk to the village at the top for the views! A trip up the canal for a night in Lefkas town is also a good idea. Don't be put off Nidri either, it's very busy but has a real charm about it, and the best Italian restaurant in Greece at Il Sapore!
dienamic said:
telford_mike said:
Did a Sunsail flotilla last year out of Vounaki in the Ionian - couldn't have been more pleased. I've booked again for this year - twice! Going for a week in June with the family and a week in September with a couple of lads from work.
If you're looking for alternatives to Sunsail, Sailing Holidays do seem to have very good reputation.
Cool! I wasn't saying all who book with Sunsail will have a sIf you're looking for alternatives to Sunsail, Sailing Holidays do seem to have very good reputation.
t time. They are by far the biggest operator in the area, so for each person that does give a bad report, I'm sure there will be hundreds who have no probs at all.Where did you get to when you went out? We're out for a week in Sept too and did June last year (far less crowded than July/August), thinking of heading up to Parga, Paxos, then back down to Sivota, Fiskardho etc this time. I love it out there, can't wait to go back.
Rum Runner, just had a look at your site, very
. How ae you finding business this year? Have you noticed a slow down at all?Though the charters are quiet boats sales are very busy (used) here in the U.K at least, as the £ is making it very attractive to folks with Euro's.(Agent for Boatshed North Wales)
Caribbean is relatively quiet as i have just been in St.Lucia for 4 months i can tell you first hand.
Everything is turned upside down with exchange rates.
Edited by Rum Runner on Friday 1st May 13:45
dienamic said:
If you liked Fiskardho you might want to try Kioni on Ithaca, really nice little village. Sivota on Lefkas is also a fav. of mine - just something about the place! Porto Spiglia on meganissi is lovely, but you must walk to the village at the top for the views! A trip up the canal for a night in Lefkas town is also a good idea. Don't be put off Nidri either, it's very busy but has a real charm about it, and the best Italian restaurant in Greece at Il Sapore!
Nice one, thanks for the heads-up - I've been trying to decide what to do on the 'free sailing' day/night.If you go to Fiskardho again try the Lord Falcon Thai restaurant. It's the last thing you'd expect to find in the Ionian, but the food was sensational!
Wish I had gone to the Lord Falcon now. I saw it and tho0ught "Thai, in Greece" and went on to have another uninspiring kleftico on the harbour front.
If you liked Fiskardo, I also recommend Parga, Sivota and Paxos (Gaios, Loggos and Lakka are great anchorages)- some amazing boat hardware on display in August, but hellish busy, Antipaxos, a smaller island to the south has a great couple of beaches to spend the day at.
If you liked Fiskardo, I also recommend Parga, Sivota and Paxos (Gaios, Loggos and Lakka are great anchorages)- some amazing boat hardware on display in August, but hellish busy, Antipaxos, a smaller island to the south has a great couple of beaches to spend the day at.
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