Photo: mjbeller

However never fear! For every dark cloud, there is a silver lining (in the form of adaptation), what is on offer to truly have a fantastic holiday in 2010? Open your mind and never say no at some of these Vacation Ideas…

1. Travel to places you have already been to (and that you have enjoyed). You know exactly what to expect, how much to spend and where to go, a holiday doesn’t just have to be about going to new places, especially if its somewhere you don’t know (you never know what to expect). We as travelers seek familiarity, rather than expanding our horizons and seeking out new or even unheard of places; you need to know that you are going to get the best value for your vacation.
2. Cheap getaways with the added chic. You want to have it all, the bargain vacation with the luxury thrown in for free (sounds good doesn’t it). We may not all have as money as perhaps we may wish at the moment, but why does that mean we have to compromise on value? Generally you pay for what you get, if you spend thousands of dollars on your holiday – expect to be treated like royalty. But now many holidays are putting emphasis on the average traveler, who may not be extremely rich, but still deserve the best that their money has to offer.
3. B&Bs et voila! Yes you read right – B&Bs are the new Luxury hotels – not a lie. Why pay extortionate prices when you can enjoy just as much in a name other than Hilton? B&Bs are upgrading all of the time – and now you can find motels which have the sophistication and elegance which leaks from many hotels.
4. All inclusive. No, not a new phenomenon, but who would turn down all you can eat and drink on holiday? This year, not many it seems. Money is the biggest factor which has to be taken into consideration before booking a holiday, and taking away the expense of food and drinks means a cheaper and hassle free vacation to enjoy. Everything is in your control.
5. Buisn-acation. Many are now extending their business trips for the extra vacation on top. Also known as ‘Blesuire’ – business mixed with please. This trend began between 2007and 2008, and it still continues; generally opted for the European travellers.
6. Yes – here it is – the ‘Staycation’. Many Americans are opting to remain home-ward bound during the summer, and make the most of what their local surroundings have to offer.

There are many places to visit, whatever your budget, and length of time. Along with the vacation ideas – the way to research and book your holidays have progressed along with technology. The majority of people with access to the net are more likely to research and book their holiday on-line compared to the ‘olden’ days of relying on your nearest travel agents. They used to be our first point of call – who acted as friends and family with the know-all knowledge. Although as many travel agents went on-line, we followed which was quickly followed by advice and vacation-sharing community sites giving you information you need from the likes of Road trip planners to package holiday deals. The Future of Travel is slowly revolutionising – along with the constant change of technology.

Caribbean Yacht Charters – Take The Sailing Vacation Of A Lifetime
By Peter Leigh

When you choose Caribbean yacht charters for your next vacation, it will be almost like having your own exclusive luxury hotel on the water. If you choose the crewed option for your sailing vacation, you won’t have to lift a finger. If you already have experience in sailing, you can charter a yacht on your own to sail the Caribbean, but you won’t have the luxury of having someone attend to your every need. Caribbean yacht charters are not just for the rich and famous. If you can afford to spend a vacation at a tropical resort, you can afford to take a sailing vacation.

Caribbean Yacht Charters

 Photo: lodging4vacations.com

The advantage of booking a Caribbean sailing charter is that you can choose the islands you want to visit. Although the company for Caribbean yacht charters may suggest a sample itinerary for you, you decide where and when you want to stop and for how long. You can also decide what kind of food you want to eat. Of course, if you choose one of the bareboat Caribbean sailing vacations, you will have to cook for yourself. On a crewed sailing vacation, you will have your own chef to prepare exotic delights for every meal.

Take a look at the many options available to you in Caribbean yacht charters. You can leave all the decisions up to the captain, who knows all the best locations among the islands. You can also do your own research to find out what kinds of activities are open to you on the various Caribbean sailing vacations so you can select all your favorites. You can spend your time at sea sunbathing on deck while reading a book. You can also enjoy diving, swimming or snorkelling among the tropical fish. One of the highlights of a Caribbean sailing charter is that you can go ashore on the islands and partake of the culture and shopping that only the Caribbean can provide.

You will have to demonstrate experience in sailing in order to book one of the bareboat Caribbean yacht charters. The yacht charter companies have a responsibility to make sure that all the passengers on the yacht with you will be safe. You don’t necessarily need to have a sailing certificate – experience is valued more than a license. If you choose the crewed option for a Caribbean sailing vacation, you will have an experienced captain at the helm. The crew are knowledgeable about all kinds of watersports and will be able to provide you with instruction if you need it to make the most of the Caribbean sailing charter.

Chartering a yacht for Caribbean sailing vacations is the perfect opportunity for families and groups of friends to get together for a short period of time. It is possible to book Caribbean yacht charters for day trips as short as an hour or two or for week long excursions to the islands of the Caribbean. Choosing to spend a week cruising the Caribbean waters is one of the best ways to experience the best of what this part of the world has to offer. Check out the many options of Caribbean yacht charters and get started on making memories to last a lifetime.

To find out more about Sailing Vacations visit Peter’s Website Your Sailing Vacation and find out about Caribbean Yacht Charters and more, including LuxuryYacht Charters, Crewed Yacht Charters, Bareboat Charters and Florida Charters.

How About Your Adventure Sailing Trip? When?
By Jimmy Woodall

Adventure Sailing is a niche sport that pits ones technical sailing, navigation, and wilderness camping skills against the wiles of Mother Nature. Adventure sailing is as much about sailing as about getting to know new cultures and countries.

Adventure Sailing

Photo: australiatravelmarket.com

While at the same time giving you a totally new experience. Going on these adventure vacation cruises will help you to see new places and have new experiences as well as see and experience different cultures. You will really enjoy nature-endowed scenery in both the sea and land around you

The most important thing to bring with you when you go adventure sailing is the old camera, most boats will supply some fresh linen and others even supply fresh towels along the way. Whether you are looking to charter a luxury yacht, corporate yacht charter or doing a memorable scuba diving vacation on the Great Barrier Reef, most of the adventure sailing can give you just about what you will need on the trip.

Most of these are quite possibly the most fun and exciting means of getting a whole new look at what the other side of the world looks like. Why? because it allows you to see splendid things that quite possibly you would have never seen except for your sailing vacation.

To enhance your experience, and space, usually are supplied a skipper for the vacation who will assist and encourage you to participate in sailing the yacht, taking the wheel, hoisting and trimming the sails etc. Whichever sailing experience you decide is best, it will be rewarding and pleasantly unforgettable. Apart from giving you a new experience.

Taking adventure vacation cruises will also open up an opportunity for you to see and appreciate different cultures too. If you really would like to explore a bunch of hidden treasures around the world. Now is the time to plan the details for your adventure vacation cruise.

Do not be talked into putting it off, if you do that it just might not happen. You should be careful if this is your first one. These adventure vacation cruises can quickly get to where they are so complicated so easily.

To save you from having a big hassle, some of the things that you need to consider when getting ready for your ultimate vacation cruise, try to get you departure date set as soon as possible. Is always a good idea to try and book quite a bit early. How about the length of the trip?

How much time can you take, of course the ultimate is at least 30 days or more, depending on how much the cruiser will want to charge you. If need be you could cut it down to 6 days or so. You should be able to cover most everything you want to do. With this time you will get all things covered.

Now is time to decide who all is going to accompany you on this expedition? Will it be with your girlfriend, or your family? Wife and kids and the whole crew, maybe would be good to leave the dog or cat at home, unless is time for them to go.

Maybe 3 or 4 friends, it is best to take time and talk about the trip and plan the places you want to visit and see. Just make sure the ones going are going to be compatible as well as have similar preferences, that way you will have less problems after you are on the way.

Then you should all get together and decide which ship or cruise line you will use. This way you will get a very close idea of the expenses you will have for the trip. At the same time you will need to determine the size of the yacht or ship, big, small or what? If every one who is going is a first time cruiser, it will be better to choose a bigger boat. Have a nice enjoyable trip.

Jim Woodall is into Internet Mktg. Visit his Adventure Sailing Website. lots video and news feeds for you there at: http://jwoodl.com/adventure-sailing also get your 3 free mktg Ebooks No Obligation At: http://freegiveaways.jwoodl.com/index.html

The Best  Plans – Dreaming Of The Ideal Sailing Vacation
By Helen MacKenzie

If you thought that the build-up to Christmas seemed to last for months, then you won’t be pleased to hear that the build-up to the Summer Holidays has already begun.

Sailing Vacation

Photo: catchartering.com

Thick, glossy holiday brochures are thudding through the door so frequently that I hide whenever I hear the postman. Every time I pass the computer I see yet another blue-sky, blue-sea holiday website plastered on the screen and even the children I meet on the way to school are competing over who has the best holiday planned.

But while I daydream of holidays abroad, in a villa, with a pool, the Sailing Fanatic has something much more closer to home in mind.

‘How about a holiday on the boat?’ he suggested cheerily, about a week ago. ‘We could go through the Crinan Canal and island hop along the west coast!’

There was silence round the dinner table.

‘For two weeks? But I want to doooo something!’

‘Come on, Dad! It’s cold in Scotland!’

I let the kids do the talking for me; I knew there would be further battles ahead. I was right.

A few days later the Sailing Fanatic cornered us in the lounge.

‘Well, how about this then,’ he said, scattering a huge pile of paper onto the floor. ‘Sailing in the Med. It’s hot, it’s not in Scotland, the scenery’s beautiful and we could drift from beach to beach, island to island…’

He pulled a piece of paper from the pile. It was a print out of a website. ‘Sunsail!’ Another – ‘Sailing Holidays’. Another – ‘The Moorings.’

We could go on a flotilla holiday, he said, and team up with other boats to sail the Greek islands. It would be a wonderful adventure! Or we could simply charter a yacht by ourselves and head off into the wide, blue yonder. We could…

We couldn’t. We’re not. I simply can’t face spending two weeks cooped up on a boat with two active children, no matter how many beaches and islands we stop at. I said so.

The Sailing Fanatic smiled craftily.

‘Well, what about this instead,’ he said, whipping out yet another print out from the paper mountain. It had ‘Mark Werner’ emblazoned across the top. ‘A sailing activity holiday. Abroad. On the beach. Living on land, with lots of facilities and things for the kids to do.’

I had to admit it had the edge over being stuck on a yacht for two weeks. But I had been doing some research of my own.

‘If you want a sailing holiday, then take a look at this!’ I flourished my own website print out, complete with a picture of a ship – a rather large ship from Royal Caribbean called ‘The Adventure of the Seas.’

‘It’s got an ice-skating rink, a climbing wall, kids club, swimming pools, talent show, restaurants…’

The Sailing Fanatic was not impressed.

‘I rather think you’re missing the point,’ he said, loftily.

But then the kids grabbed the print out.

‘Cool!’ they exclaimed. ‘Can we go sailing on that boat?’

Helen MacKenzie is a freelance writer. She contributes to the web site at http://www.sea-dreamer.com. The Sea Dreamer web site has articles, guides and news on sailing and cruising on the West Coast of Scotland.

What are your Sailing Vacation Options?
By Alexander Vournas

Today, there are several options for someone who would like to enjoy a sailing holiday. The “sea dog” or the complete novice, can both find a holiday which will satisfy their needs. Singles, pairs or a group of people, can all enjoy the pleasures of sailing holidays, thanks to the wide variety of options offered. Price also, can significantly vary to match all budgets and desired luxury levels.

Sailing Vacation

Photo: http://www.visailing.com

 
I will attempt to analyze for you all the given options and leave to you the decision, as to which one of the sailing vacations suits you the most.

BAREBOATS

What is it: Bareboating is the chartering vacation, where you charter the whole boat for a certain time period -usually from one to three weeks- and you are fully responsible for the condition of your vessel, until the moment you will return her to the charter company/owner. You may skipper the boat by yourself (you must have the necessary skills for that), or appoint a member of your crew to be the skipper, or even hire a professional skipper. You will always need to leave a refundable security deposit with your company/owner, to cover possible damages to the yacht. Provisions, breakfasts, etc. are never included in the price. The boat is “bare”

Most bare boats are from 30 to 50 feet in length and you can charter a conventional single hulled yacht (mono-hull), a catamaran or a powerboat. Sailing yachts are far more popular, and common, than powerboats. Bareboats come equipped with everything needed to operate them from kitchen utensils to towels, sheets and bedding. Almost all bareboat companies provide you with a dinghy, when the outboard can be at no charge or charged as an “extra”.

Advantages: In one word freedom. To sail anywhere you like at any time you desire (within your sailing area and charter period limitations of course). Another advantage is your privacy, the luxury to be with your family or close friends only.

Disadvantages: The nature of bareboat requires the yachts to be as simple as possible for “ease of use”, as well as to minimize the chances of a problem occurring. So, forget fancy electronic equipment -a VHF, an echo sounder and a GPS- are the basic instruments you will find on all bareboat vessels. I don’t mention speed logs, as they usually do not function. Also, chances for something to go “wrong” are rather high, therefore a good and effective owner/agent is a must.

Costs: The price for a charter/week may vary due to the different yacht size, but per person the price is approx. euros 50 per day (a 44 feet -at euros 3.000 per week- for 8 persons will cost (per person) the same, like a 32 feet -at euros 1.500 per week- for 4 persons). You may reduce the cost if you choose a budget boat, an one-way trip or to sail out of the high peak season.

Other bareboat categories

Skippered bareboats: Like the simple bareboat, but you hire a skipper. You “lose” your privacy but you gain “luxury”, as there is somebody else to worry in the nights if the anchor is holding. Notice that the need for the security deposit applies, as when you hire a captain for a bareboat it is similar to hiring a driver for your rental car. You are still responsible for the operation of the yacht and the captain is treated as your employee. Skippered bareboats are also more expensive, as well as the skipper’s fees (approx. euros 130 per day), he is usually required to have a private cabin. This means you’ll need a larger yacht than would otherwise be necessary.

Flotilla sailing: Although by many is considered as a different type of yachting holidays, flotilla sailing is a bareboat, with the addition of a leading boat and crew. You still charter the whole boat and you are fully responsible for the condition of your vessel. You also need to leave a refundable security deposit.

Usually the flotilla boats are from 27 to 36 feet and they are sailing in a group of 6 to 12 yachts. You enjoy privacy but you lose the freedom (to a degree), as you have to follow a pre-scheduled program. You also gain the comfort of a leading crew to guide you and provide you assistance whenever needed. This assistance and the large number of people in a flotilla group, has made this type of sailing holiday popular for families. As expected, is more expensive (approx. 20%) than simple bareboat…

SAILING CRUISES (cabin charters)

What is it: A sailing cruise (you may find the term as cabin charter, berth charter or skippered share boating) is the type of sailing vacation, where you will reserve a berth (or a cabin if you are a couple) on a yacht on a pre-scheduled trip. Is very similar to an ordinary cruise, only instead of a big cruise liner you sail with a yacht. As there is always crew on-board, you are not responsible for the condition of the vessel and there is no need to leave a security deposit.

The vessels in sailing cruises are usually yachts from 45 to 55 feet, although in some countries you may find other sorts of vessels (in Turkey you will find the “gullets”, which are 60 to 90 feet motorsailers, when in Holland they use traditional 30 meters boats). Sometimes breakfast is included, when in others it is not. Notice that, although this holiday is similar to a cruise, by no means you should expect the luxury and comforts a large cruise liner can offer you. It is always an “adventure holiday”.

Advantages: You can book a single berth, or as many as you want and there is no need of sailing experience on your side. You may choose to be as active or passive as you like. Since these yachts are operated continuously by professional crew, chances for major breakdowns are less than in bareboat.

Disadvantages: You have no choice as to where to sail to and which places to visit, as the trips are pre-scheduled. Yet, as the groups on-board are small, a decision to extend the stay in a nice place or vary the itinerary is a common practise. Neither will you enjoy privacy, as you will probably need to share your cabin with someone you just met.

Costs: The average cost is approx. euros 100 per day and although this might look a lot more expensive than bareboat, it isn’t, as this price includes expenses which on bareboat are “extras” -on top of the basic yacht price. The skipper’s fees, the diesel, harbour fees during sailing, are only some of them..

Booking a “berth” on a flotilla: Recently it has been common practice from the flotilla operators to accept “passengers” -for a fee, of course- on their lead yachts, in order to “cut” down their expenses and create some extra income. Nothing wrong with that, but you are entitled to know upon your booking (and they should make sure that they inform you) what that means exactly for you. For example, if a sudden storm occurs and all yachts will seek shelter, your boat will probably go “out” to the open sea to provide assistance to one of the other flotilla boats which has difficulties, or, in a perfect morning, when all other yachts will leave the harbour, you will probably need to stay there because one of the flotilla yachts had engine problems and the lead boat cannot leave the harbour until a mechanic comes and the problem is sorted out. In my opinion, when you book your sailing cruise on a flotilla leading boat, you should pay a “heavily” discounted charter fee.

LUXURY BOATS (crewed charters)

What is it: You can charter a “Gin Palace” motorboat, a motorsailer or a sailing yacht. Just like in bareboat, you book the whole boat (including the crew) for as many days you like. Since the vessel will have her own crew (usually from 3 to 10 people) you are not responsible for the “well being” of your vessel, thus you don’t need to leave a security deposit. Unlike bareboat, where the charters are usually based on a weekly turn-round base, these yachts are so expensive that you can book them for as many days you like – even for one day only. The price-list usually includes breakfast -sometimes half board- and the diesel for certain hours of motoring every day (usually 2 – 4 hrs). Several extra costs are involved in a crewed boat charter (from the diesel to tipping the crew). A good rule of thumb is to estimate 25% on top of the daily price-list rate.

Although a “crewed charter” might look the same like a “skippered bareboat” on a vessel of the same size, they are not

Advantages: You enjoy the freedom of sailing wherever you like (time and weather permitting, of course). Your boat will be fully equipped, offering facilities like satellite communication -or plasma TV. For some people, the prestige of being on such a boat also “counts”. The luxury offered can be beyond your dreams. A helicopter, jacuzzi, speed boat(s), jet skis, etc. are only some of the inventory and facilities you will find on these boats.

Disadvantages: You don’t enjoy the bareboat’s privacy, since there always will be crew on-board, but the truth is that, in most cases, this crew are fully trained professionals and they will make their presence felt only where -and “if”- it’s necessary.

Costs: The charter of a luxury crewed boat is the most expensive way to enjoy sailing vacations. The cost per person/per day will start from € 300 (for a 60 feet sailing yacht capable of carrying 6 guests), to infinity (some Mega Yachts exceed $300.000 PER DAY). If you are looking for something more expensive and prestigious, you should consider booking to NASA for a trip to the stratosphere

Alexander Vournas is the owner and SEO of almiyachts.com, an informative intermediary in the yacht charter industry.