If you’d like a change from hotels or villas for your holiday this year and are wondering where to take the family, yachts guarantee privacy, safety and the freedom to choose between sightseeing and relaxing as you please. There are many wonderful charter destinations, but which are the best spots for family yacht charters?
Still deciding where to take the family? Yachts provide the opportunity to explore in luxury – here’s how
Imagine taking a private family yacht charter, where your very own chef whips up culinary delights to everyone’s exact preferences, and a professional and friendly crew organises endless games and activities to keep little ones entertained. Bustling coastlines or archipelagos make a great choice for family yacht holidays, avoiding lengthy cruising times between destinations. For these reasons, Croatia, Spain and the Florida Keys make some of the best family yacht destinations.
Croatia – Land of 1000 islands
With its stunning coastline packed with Medieval walled cities and ancient ruins, Croatia has all the ingredients for a fantastic family yacht charter. It’s also where much of the hit series Game of Thrones was filmed – so if your children are fans, it’s one of the best family yacht adventures you could imagine.
Start at the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, which doubled as the fictional King’s Landing, and visit the key filming locations of Lovrijenac Fortress, St Dominika Street and Mineeta Tower. At Split, head to the Diocletian’s Palace and enormous Klis fortress, which also featured in the series.
Fantastic island-hopping and calm sailing conditions also make Croatia one of the best family yachts destinations you could think of.
Spain – Sunshine guaranteed
Spain is a well-established family yacht charter favourite, and starting in cosmopolitan Barcelona offers an opportunity to take in Gaudi’s extravagant architecture at the Parc Guell and the Sagrada Família cathedral, too. If you have time, head south to PortAventura World, Spain’s biggest and most popular theme park, for some slightly less high-brow entertainment.
Then cruise overnight to one of the beautiful Balearic Islands. Mallorca is a paradise for children, offering no end of activities, from tree-climbing adventures at Forestal Park to horse-riding at Rancho Grande Park.
You may think of the stunning ‘White Island’ of Ibiza as centred around nightclubs, but it is also a great place to shop – pick up gifts, jewellery and accessories at the famous hippy markets in Es Cana or San Carlos. Ibiza’s little sister Formentera is often compared to the Caribbean for its crystal clear waters and white sand beaches, of which Playa Illetes was recently voted Europe’s best. With few visitors, it offers the ultimate in peace and privacy.
Florida Keys – Underwater extravaganza
For incredible island-hopping and aquatic adventures, take your family yachts to the Florida Keys, a tropical paradise that offers endless fun.
Highlights include Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, home to the USA’s only living coral barrier reef system, and the family-owned Marine Park at Islamorada. Children will love meeting and swimming with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center near Marathon.
Don’t forget that yachts often come equipped with all kinds of water sports gear, so by choosing a superyacht charter, your children are guaranteed endless fun. If you’re still undecided as to where to take the family, yachts really do offer the best of all worlds, offering the opportunity to move between destinations with ease.
