Here in Saint Tropez, chartering yachts is as common as renting a car. Since the coastal city is perched right by some of the most beautiful and calmest waters in the world, it's become a popular place for the rich and famous to relax, hold parties, or simply dock their yachts. But don't think this sort of thing is exclusive to the world's high society. If you can afford it, you can charter your own yacht too! How do you do it? Here's everything you need to know, from the legalities to the best way to impress your guests.
Plan Your Trip Properly
Firstly, you ought to plan your trip properly. By this, we mean that you need to be wary that the weather in Saint Tropez isn't always agreeable. Though it may seem impossible that this famous coastal city won't get sunny weather, it happens! And if it does on the day you planned to charter a yacht, it'll ruin your plans. At the same time, depending on your condition and those of your guests aboard, you wouldn't want to sail out to the sea when it's scoring outside either. Make sure to look at the weather forecast beforehand, and ensure you have taken enough safety precautions just in case.
Getting The Right License
In some ways, chartering a yacht is just like public transport. And in
Saint Tropez's public transport, when you rent a car, you'll need the proper license to do it. The same goes for renting a yacht. If you don't own one and you plan to rent instead, make sure you have the proper license to do so. You're safest if you have the one from the
International Certificate of Competence (ICC). Even if your boating license comes from abroad, you can still apply for an ICC one and send it over to the licensing body from the said country.
Know The Different Types of Yachts
Since chartering yachts is a
popular activity in Saint Tropez, you'll face a lot of options. The first of which is choosing which type of yacht you want to rent/charter. There are different types of yachts to choose from and are available in Saint Tropez. There's the dayboat, one you can rent for just a day. Another short-term yacht, the motorboat, is more for sailing and zooming through the Mediterranean sea. On the other hand, if you have guests, you're better off going for either a monohull sailboat, catamarans, or a superyacht.
Marine Insight laid out and explained all the different types for your convenience!
Bareboat vs. Crewed?
When renting out a yacht to charter in Saint Tropez, you get the option of either getting one that's bareboat or one that has its own crew. Now, there are various benefits to choosing one over the other. Going bareboat—usually for motorboats and smaller yachts—allows you to navigate that yacht yourself. If you want complete control of your boat, this is your best bet. Meanwhile, renting a crewed yacht allows you to take the load off as others will take care of chartering the yacht for you. In this case, you won't need to get your own boating license as most members of the crew will already have one.
How Much Will It Cost?
When it comes to the costs of chartering yachts, they will expectedly vary. Firstly, when it comes to renting,
See Saint Tropez explained that the common prices range from a minimum of €200.00 to a whopping maximum of €30,000.00 a week. Of course, this also depends on the kind of yacht you went with. Renting a motorboat for a day will cost a few hundreds of Euros, but renting a superyacht for a week is when you'll need to shell out hundreds of thousands or possibly even millions of Euros. And there's still the VAT which, according to
France's tax system, is 20%.
Know Where To Port
It's not far-fetched to say that Saint Tropez is practically made up of scenic harbors and beautiful ports. So much so that there's a lot to choose from! While you think this may seem like an easy decision, at times, it's far from it. You have to know which port to dock your yacht to ensure that you and your guests aboard will have a good time. For instance, if you think you'll need to go on land frequently for a number of errands, docking at Saint Tropez harbor is the smarter option. If you want to relax and swim out in the sea from your yacht, sailing by Pampelonne beach is better!
Chartering a yacht is par for the course here in Saint Tropez. If you want to partake in this luxurious yet common leisure activity, you'll need to know the rules and the basics to enjoy your time and avoid getting into all sorts of trouble!
