Start planning your crewed charter for the upcoming summer in one of the most beautiful and chic destinations of Europe.
The Amalfi Coast not only offers stunning landscapes and refined gastronomy but also an opportunity to discover southern Italian culture. Aboard your Crewed Motor Yacht or Catamaran explore the coastal cities of Salerno, Positano and Sorrento and their middle age villages and churches before cruising through turquoise waters and reaching Ischia. Swim in the hidden bays of the island and enjoy a luxurious lunch of fresh seafood at the refined Giardino Eden, where we highly recommend the homemade Pasta Alla Vongole and Tiramisu. Allow your crew to whisk you away to Capri for an evening of shopping high end boutiques and their limited collections. Settling down at sunset with a chilled Aperol Spritz facing the views of the Bay. Finally, indulge in Italian gastronomy at one of Capri’s refined restaurants selected by our experts.
Faraglioni rocks, Capri, Italy
Booking your dream holiday in advance promises you get a selection of extraordinary yachts and catamarans, allowing you a week of comfort and extravagance in the truly iconic Amalfi Coast. Planning your holiday for May or June, is ideal if you’re looking to avoid crowds of tourists and still want to enjoy all that summer has to offer.
It might seem odd to say – but a sailing charter is not just about sailing. A sailing charter is about fully submerging yourself in culture and being at one with nature! You, as a charterer, are in a unique position where you do not have to stay in the same place for more than one day. Your hotel stays with you wherever you go, meaning you can do more, see more and experience more!
Some of the most incredible countries in the world are surrounded by water. Places like Greece, Croatia, Thailand, Italy, and the Azores just to name a few. These countries are steeped in natural beauty waiting for you to drop anchor and rock up to. Below is a list of activities in some of our favorite destinations to enhance your charter experience.
Italy, a country famed by its food, culture, hospitality and it’s an outstanding natural beauty. Italy is one of Boatbookings favorite destinations for a couple of reasons, yes, we are all foodies, but its the natural, off the beaten itineraries that the Aeolian Islands offers.
Activity 1 – Walk up and admire the views across to the smoldering Vulcano
For the yachts that got into port on time and the wind wasn’t on the nose (haha) you can walk west 3kms from town to this incredible viewpoint on Lipari Island. This famous viewpoint is named “Quattrocchi” which is Italian for ‘four eyes’. For guests arriving a little later in the afternoon, you can catch a 10-minute bus. Watch the neighboring island ‘Vulcano’ as she smokes – you get a real sense that the earth is alive!
Viewpoint.
Activity 2 – Beach day at Cala Junco
Cala Junco
Sometimes a beach day is necessary on a yacht charter. Pack a picnic and head for Cala Junco, a tiny cove with its own sheltered beach. Located on the southern tip of Panarea island, this oasis provides the perfect place to chill out with the family.
Location 2 – Azores, Atlantic.
Panoramic view over the Sete Cidades lake on Sao Miguel Azores
For the adventurous spirit, the Azores offers something different. A small cluster of islands located 1,400 miles of mainland Portugal boasts some of the most impressive scenery the world has to offer. With volcanos, craters, vineyards and hiking in abundance, you will not be short of activities!
A must-see if you find yourselves in the Azores! The Calderia Volcano and Capelinhos Volcano, located on the island of Faial. The Calderia and Capelinhos Volcano is a breathtaking monogenetic volcanic field – monogenetic means that it will only erupt once. Incredibly, its irruption lasted over 13 months!
Calderia Volcano and Capelinhos Volcano on map
Activity 2 – Wine tour on Pico island
Pico island has been producing with since the early 1500s and is the island’s main export. The vineyards are not the traditional neat rows over rolling fields, they have been adapted to Pico’s rich volcanic soils. The stone wall areas called ‘Currais’ litter the landscape, covering just over 2,000 acres of land across Pico island. The gardeners use basalt that exposes the vines to the sun but protects them from the Atlantic breeze.
Cooperativa Vine Yards
Location 3 – The Bahamas
The Bahamas. One of the most visited placed by sailors from all over the world. A playground made up of sandbanks, island hopping and crystal clear turquoise water. An area so natural, that more than half the islands in the Exumas are not inhabited.
Activity 1 – Anything in the water
The best activities to do in the Bahamas revolves around getting in the water, I mean who wouldn’t want to go swimming in that turquoise water?! Some of our favourite additions to a yacht charter in the Bahamas are: driving with nurse sharks, snorkelling in Thunderball Grotto, swimming with the pigs and visiting the Iguanas!
Activity 2 – Eating at the yacht club, Staniel Cay.
Who said eating isn’t an activity? Boatbookings certainly thinks it is! In a place so sparsely populated sometimes you need a bit of human interaction and what perfect place than the Yacht Club in Staniel Cay. Sit on the balcony and admire the views across the bay and eat some of the island’s most delectable dishes.
This Italian word known all over the world is an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage that is generally consumed between 5pm and 8pm. Nowadays people do not associate the Aperitivo to a beverage, but the word is used to describe the action of gathering with friends before dinner to have a drink and some snacks.
Drinks and cocktails are what generally characterizes an Aperitivo.
Elisa
The Aperitivo was born in Turin, Italy more than 200 years ago. The official drink of the region is the Vermut, an aromatized white wine that became the symbol of Turin. Initially, people who were affected by lack of appetite used to drink it before dinner because it helped to stimulate the appetite. Over the coming years, this became a tradition and people started gathering in the early evening to have a drink. The Vermut can be drunk straight or is now used as a base for many cocktails.
The most typical and popular Italian drinks that are consumed during an aperitivo are Spritz, Negroni, Bellini, wine, and beer.
But let’s go more in the specific of the regions…
FOOD AND DRINKS
The Aperitivo is generally accompanied by food. It is not a proper meal as it is consumed before dinner, but besides drinking, every bar will offer you some snacks! Chips and nuts are the basic food you can have, but you can also decide to have some more sophisticated snacks.
If you go sailing in one of the most popular destinations in Italy, you must stop in one of the bars on the cost and have an Aperitivo like a good Italian!
In Sardinia the bars will probably propose you to taste different cheeses, the most popular is the Pecorino, accompanied by the bread Carasau. These are all typical delicious products produced on the island. Some fresh fruit during a hot day would also be the perfect combination. The white wine Vermentino or the Ichnusa beer are the typical beverages of the island, so it would be worth tasting them. If you are a liquor lover you must try the Mirto, it is a Sardinian liquor obtained from the myrtle plant through the alcoholic maceration of the berries.
In Sicily, traditional food is not known as the lightest, but every dish is unique and absolutely delicious! The passion and the attention on details that it is used to prepare the dishes are fascinating. One of the best-loved Sicilian snacks are the Arancini: fried rice balls stuffed with sauce, peas, cheese or other ingredients. It is a must if you want a traditional Sicilian treat. The Etnabitter is the typical liquor of the region. It is produced with red-orange peel, white wine, honey, almond, and natural herbs. It is used to create many cocktails, so you will be able to taste it in different ways.
In theAmalfi Coast you will be able to taste a mix of different snacks, some of the more elaborated and others more simple, but with an original taste. A typical snack is the small fried mozzarelle, salty cakes stuffed with potatoes and cheese, Chiacchere – fried pizza dough, but you can also find some places that offer you a simple selection of different types of cold cuts, all accompanied by bread or some white focaccia. Limoncello is a lemon liquor typical of the region. From this liquor, it is possible to create different cocktails and one of the most portals in the Amalfi Coast is the Amalfi Breeze which combines the limoncello with the tang of citrus vodka and the sweetness of cranberries.
Nowadays the Aperitivo is a way of gathering with the family or friends, meeting new people, communicating and discovering new places. It is a tradition and is a great way of making good memories.
Fancy enjoying the above? Why not enquire on one of our crewed motor yachts with an exceptional crew who all live and breath the Italian traditions! Get in contact now with one of our Italian experts to understand how you too, can enjoy the best Lemoncello about!
If you haven’t visited the Italian coastline by boat, you probably have missed some unique destinations. A sailing holiday can offer you an exciting new experience to discover what this versatile country has to offer.
Have a look at 3 top destinations where to go sailing in this magnificent peninsula.
Sardinia
Sardinia is one of the best sailing destinations in Italy. The food, blue sea, beaches, sun, restaurants, and the local people are just so authentic. By visiting the Emerald Coast by boat you will reach unique beaches and secluded islands on assessable by yacht.
Aerial view of the famous Cala Luna Beach in Sardinia, Italy. Location: Gulf of Orosei, Province of Nuoro, East Sardinia.
The Emerald Coast is one of the most beautiful and famous coasts in the world, you will be able to visit bays, coves, and white sandy beaches. The perfectly clear turquoise waters seem to come straight out of a Caribbean dream!
You absolutely cannot miss visiting La Maddalena Archipelago! A National Park which consists of seven islands that could be compared to paradise on earth! We have a large selection of day yachts that are available for exploration through the park.
Mistral winds from the North West can set in for a few days during summer, which brings a pleasant breeze in the evenings. Exposed beaches on the North coast are the main areas affected by this wind, especially towards the straits of Bonifacio. This is why Porto Pollo is known as one of the best windsurfing beaches in the Mediterranean.
If this wasn’t enough very close to north Sardinia, there lays a beautiful island. Corsica. You are able to reach this island by sailing in just 2 and a half hours! You must visit the small island called Cavallo and the Bonifacio town.
Amalfi Coast
One of Italy’s most picturesque regions, the Amalfi Coast. This exclusive coast offers bays, coves, and unique landscapes. The houses almost look like they’re tumbling into the sea.
Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano, Capri, and Ischia are breathtakingly and beautiful spots where you can stop and try traditional Italian cuisine! Pizza with fresh mozzarella, pasta with clams, tiramisu and why not a good wine, all of this in one of the many restaurants with the sea view.
Not too far from the coast there
is the wonderful island of Capri, classified in 2018 as one of the 20 most
beautiful islands in the world. Surrounded
by clear turquoise waters, rocky coves, emerald green grottos, beach clubs and
stunning restaurants where you can spend your time.
In a one-week charter, you can also visit the Island of Procida and Ischia, two tiny islands off the coast of Naples, both rich in uncontaminated nature and history.
Sicily
With perfect winds, unique landscapes and a sunny season that starts in mid-April and lasts until mid-October, Sicily turns out to be a perfect sailing destination, but these are only some of the reasons why you should visit this amazing island. This island is abundant in both history and culture. Sicily also possesses a coastline with pristine warm waters and a cuisine to die for.
The most popular destination is the Aeolian Islands, a Unesco World Heritage site due to their outstanding natural beauty. It is a volcanic archipelago composed of seven enchanting islands: Stromboli, Vulcano, Panarea, Salina, Lipari, Alicudi and Filicudi.
The islands are extremely diverse, all with spectacular views and black rock formations, quiet picturesque villages and exclusive ports all within hours of each other.
On visiting the Amalfi Coast, you can avoid clinging to the cliffs along the narrow wind roads by chartering a yacht and instead fall in love with the stunning cliff faces dropping away into the sparkling Mediterranean, the quaint century-old fishing towns that climb precariously up the hillsides and of course the many tastes and scents of the exquisite food grown and cooked on this vibrant coastline.
Discover one of the world’s most prestigious culinary landscapes, from Naples and its pizza to magnificent seafood dishes served on this coast, there is a flavor for everyone and it is always fresh and tangy.
