The Charter Connection Blog

We’ve tempted you with the last six posts describing our recent travels around the beautiful Mediterranean, but here’s the best news! With the value of the EURO dropping to just 1.23 US dollars, there has never been a better time to take a charter in Europe.

Turkey, The Greek Islands (Ionian, Saronic, Cyclades, Dodecanese), Croatia, Italy, France - take a look back through the previous posts and pick an area. For many more photographs, check out our Facebook page. We would love to tell you more.

Email us your questions or ask us to recommend a selection of charter yachts that fit your plans. There’s also more information on the Ed Hamilton & Co website. Bareboat charters, crewed yachts, sail, power, traditional gulets, modern multihulls - there’s something for everyone. If you’ve ever dreamed of discovering something new, now is the time!

The Ionian Islands, on the western side of Greece, are our last charter destination on this trip and not only have we run out of time, the fine weather that has followed us the last 12 days changed dramatically just after we arrived. I managed to take a few photographs, but once the rain came there was little point in taking more!

While private crewed motor yachts and sailboats operate all the way down this coast, the Ionian Islands are best known as a bareboat cruising ground, as the sailing is relatively easy and there are many small harbors to visit. There are several flights from Athens into Aktion airport and from there it is a short ride to Levkas, at the north end of the island with the same name. The cruising ground is around Levkas and along the inside coast of Kefallinia.

The western coast of Greece enjoys a different climate and as you can see from these photographs, these islands have far more trees and vegetation compared to say the Cyclades. Many first time bareboaters automatically consider the better known Greek islands to the east, but chartering in the Ionian makes a lot of sense. We can tell you the pros and cons of each area.

We hope you have enjoyed these posts and photographs from our ‘Eastern Mediterranean Charter Destinations’ trip. The islands are as beautiful as ever and most of the boats we saw were well up to standard. When it comes time to consider a charter, do please contact us (phone 800 621 7855, email or request boat suggestions). It costs no more to book through Ed Hamilton & Co and our local knowledge of the area and the fleets can make all the difference to your holiday.

We are heading back to the Cyclades Islands of Greece. Compared to Turkey and the Saronic Gulf, this area involves much more open sailing and winds can be particularly strong later in the summer. As the photographs show however, the weather we are having for this trip is just beautiful, with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s. May and September are excellent months to visit these islands. The two most famous are Mykonos, which is everyone’s idea of what a Greek island should look like (small white box shaped houses with blue doors and curved edges) and Santorini, which is nothing like anything you have ever seen.

We have always said that if you like wild (expensive) nightlife and don’t mind all the trimmings and prices that come with the jet set,  then you will love Mykonos.  Be warned that we found some stores selling jewelry at twice and even three times the prices back in the US.  By local law, all residential buildings have to be the same design and while this keeps the traditional character, the sheer number of mostly holiday houses that have now been built on the island can make one wish for more variety. Having said that, the island is a photographer or artist’s dream and the narrow streets in the main town of Mykonos are very pretty. We just feel it is all a bit commercial.

Santorini is very different, but while it is on everyone’s list, it is actually quite hard to visit on charter. The islands are all that still shows of the rim of a sunken volcano, so the water in the center is extremely deep and there are few places to anchor. When the wind gets up, there are strong downdrafts and little protection, so some bareboat charter companies ask that you keep a crew member on the boat at all times, which can take away from the enjoyment. This is not as much of a problem for a private crewed charter, and we have sometimes used Santorini or Mykonos as a finishing port, allowing guests to spend a few days on the island after their charter.

Fira, the main town of Santorini, sits on the ridge. To say the view is spectacular is of course an understatement. The town is lively, with many narrow streets filled with stores, restaurants and nightclubs, but the atmosphere is more relaxed. Unlike many other islands, the town and even tourism, are relatively recent. Remember this is an active volcano (the last eruption was in 1950), but visitors should not be concerned as today these things are accurately forecast. There is an excellent ferry service from Athens and several nearby islands (and even a small airport), so you can visit Santorini before or after your holiday.

Santorini is the name given to the whole group of islands formed by this sunken volcano, but if you have trouble finding it in the atlas, look for Thira, which is the name of the main island and is sometimes more prominently marked.

Much of the Mediterranean can get crowded in July and August but the weather can also become unpredictable in the Cyclades during these months, with strong Meltemi winds, which is an additional reason to try to sail here in May and June, or September and early October, rather than at the height of the season. When chartering in the summer, your itinerary might well depend on the weather and in extreme conditions, boats can be ordered by the port authority to stay in the harbor. Keeping things flexible is therefore important. Ed Hamilton & Co can give you first hand advice when chartering in the Cyclades or any of the Greek Islands.

The last few days we have been visiting Turkey. The cruising ground is between Bodrum and Gocek, on the southwest coast. Several major bareboat charter companies have bases here. The popular crewed boats are the local gulets, although there are some more conventional yachts available.

Your money goes further in Turkey than in any of the popular Mediterranean cruising grounds. The people are incredibly friendly, the crime rate is the lowest in Europe and the scenery is spectacular. There are some wonderful archaeological sites in this cruising area, including the Roman city at Caunos, but many people combine a charter with a visit to the magnificent Roman ruins at Ephesus, a short ride north by private coach/taxi.

Almost all routes home involve flying through Istanbul and if you have time, it’s well worth spending a night or two in this unique city. Straddling Europe and Asia either side of the Bosphorus, its people, its architecture, religion, everything, is a fascinating mixture of east and west.

We hope that when you decide to plan your charter, you will contact Ed Hamilton & Co. It costs no more to use our services and our knowledge of both boats and cruising grounds can make all the difference to your holiday. Incidentally, we take our own photographs and all pictures on this Med trip were taken by Ed.

We have headed east to Greece and the Saronic Gulf. Most people will fly into Athens and many will spend at least a night in the city. There are certainly plenty of sights to see, including the Acropolis, but the city cannot expand because of the surrounding hills and is very crowded. It can also be very hot in the summer. If you are passionate about history you will love it but others might be ready to get out to the islands. Piraeus, which is the closest port and where the bareboat and crewed charters often start from, is very commercial and not an ideal place to start a charter. We would suggest taking one of the excellent fast ferries from Piraeus to the Saronic or Cyclades Islands and begin the charter in a more central and beautiful area.

The Saronic Gulf offers easy sailing, more protection and some beautiful islands. Because it is close to Athens, many boat owners from the city visit these islands, particularly on summer weekends.

The charter agents at Ed Hamilton & Co can help plan your vacation, from the best time to charter to the best islands to see.

We are now on the other side of the Adriatic, in northern Croatia. We looked at many different charter yachts based in Split. Two were getting ready to receive our clients!

Split is an interesting mixture of modern marinas and ancient history. There is a Roman palace in the center of town, right on the waterfront. This was built by one of the Caesars in 293 AD, for his retirement. The original outside walls are still standing, though much of what is inside is more recent.

Further up the coast, Trogir is a pretty port and can be a better choice for starting a crewed charter. It’s closer to the airport and less commercial, though the docks can get crowded in the summer, particularly when several megayachts moor along the waterfront.

The many off-islands along the coast from north of Split, all the way to Dubrovnik in the south, are what make this area such a great cruising ground. They vary from barren but spectacular uninhabited rocks, to large islands with several villages, farms and a thriving community. Split and (magnificent) Dubrovnik are the two charter centers. You can start and finish in either one, or do a one way between them. Both have small airports with plenty of connecting flights to larger cities. For crewed boats that cannot start and finish in Croatia (which is normally the case), consider starting in Montenegro, just to the south.

Ed Hamilton & Co can advise you on starting/finishing ports and itineraries, for your particular group.

We are taking 16 days to re-visit some of the popular charter destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean, starting in N.E. Italy. Venice is like no other city in the world and is well worth a visit. There are some bareboat companies based here and you can start your crewed charter from the city, but any attractions outside the lagoon are a long sail away. We would therefore generally suggest visiting Venice before or after your charter, unless you are chartering a large motor yacht or taking a particularly long vacation, or the boat you wish to charter cannot start and finish in Croatia (many can’t).

The original Venetian settlers built their city on swampy islands off the Italian Coast, to avoid being attacked by the ‘Barbarians’ on the mainland. There are no cars beyond the bus terminal at the end of the bridge connecting the city to the shore, so all transportation is by water taxis or larger water buses. A 24 hour pass on the water buses for all routes is about 15 Euros. Smaller ferries take you to your hotel, or to get around in style, you can rent a gondola or a private water taxi (around 80 Euros for most routes in a taxi. A gondola costs about the same for a 40 minute ride). Art is everywhere, but for those people looking for more, you can buy a single pass for many different museums and galleries. The more expensive shops and restaurants are around Piazza San Marco, but as you head toward Rialto Bridge and beyond, prices get more reasonable.

From Venice, you can fly or take a ferry to Croatia (our next stop), for your charter. Ed Hamilton & Co can help you plan an itinerary to fit your specific requirements.