Late deals on flotilla holidays in the med during school holidays??

[NAJ]

We have just returned from a fantastic learn to sail week in the Ionian ( and had some great pre holiday advice on here on my other threads. )

We are now desperate to go on a week's flotilla holiday in order to experience sailing some greater distances in warmer weather.

Trouble is, we are limited to the school holidays and the cost of flights to all possible flotilla holiday destinations on the med have reached ridiculous heights already.

So....I am wondering if anyone knows what the market is like for last minute flight inclusive flotilla holidays during the holidays. Do Neilson, Sunsail, sailing holidays or any of the other companies have last minute offers usually for peak season?

I realise I can book a flotilla without flights with a smaller company for a reasonable cost, but we are looking at nearly 2k for 4 air fares to Greece, so that rules out a more independent route to booking.

I have found a flotilla in Croatia that is just over 3K for the 4 of us in a small yacht, but that's still a lot for a week's holiday in my book. Am I being unrealistic to think that I might pick up a last minute for under 3K?

 

[neil1967]

Have you spoken to nautilus (www.nautilusyachting.com) - when we used to charter we found them very helpful and since they deal with a whole range of operators they could offer alternatives in different countries.

Neil

 

[NAJ]

Thanks Neil, I'll give them a try.

I should also have pointed out that the Croatian flotilla holiday did include easy jet flights- don't think that was clear. I'm budgeting for under 3k with flights.

 

[cgull]

Thanks Neil, I'll give them a try.

I should also have pointed out that the Croatian flotilla holiday did include easy jet flights- don't think that was clear. I'm budgeting for under 3k with flights.

Try travelling by Rail to Croatia...I did it last year it an easy route, not sure what it would cost now. At Split there is a good Rail/Ferry/Bus combined terminal.

 

[Tranona]

You stand more chance with a bareboat, but you still have the lottery of getting reasonable price flights at short notice. Try Latesail for bareboat.

 

[dylanwinter]

You stand more chance with a bareboat, but you still have the lottery of getting reasonable price flights at short notice. Try Latesail for bareboat.

buy a boat, buy a boat, buy a boat

sailing is not all about sun, crystal clear water and skimpy cossies

it is about mud, cold, hard graft, wet wellies and damp sleeping bags

only then can you really start to appreciate sailing

Dylan

 

[mjcoon]

buy a boat, buy a boat, buy a boat

sailing is not all about sun, crystal clear water and skimpy cossies

it is about mud, cold, hard graft, wet wellies and damp sleeping bags

only then can you really start to appreciate sailing

Dylan

All very well for "you" singular, but what about "you" plural?

Mike.

 

[dylanwinter]

All very well for "you" singular, but what about "you" plural?

Mike.

the family that suffers together stays together

3k will buy you a whole boat

Dylan

 

[mjcoon]

We have just returned from a fantastic learn to sail week in the Ionian ( and had some great pre holiday advice on here on my other threads. )

We are now desperate to go on a week's flotilla holiday in order to experience sailing some greater distances in warmer weather.

Trouble is, we are limited to the school holidays and the cost of flights to all possible flotilla holiday destinations on the med have reached ridiculous heights already.

So....I am wondering if anyone knows what the market is like for last minute flight inclusive flotilla holidays during the holidays. Do Neilson, Sunsail, sailing holidays or any of the other companies have last minute offers usually for peak season?

I realise I can book a flotilla without flights with a smaller company for a reasonable cost, but we are looking at nearly 2k for 4 air fares to Greece, so that rules out a more independent route to booking.

I have found a flotilla in Croatia that is just over 3K for the 4 of us in a small yacht, but that's still a lot for a week's holiday in my book. Am I being unrealistic to think that I might pick up a last minute for under 3K?

I'm happy to say I've never been responsible for booking a family holiday like that, so don't know the social penalty of failing to book a last-minute holiday and having to fall back on pot-luck touring at home, or whatever.

But I see that the few companies I have flotilla'd with over the last few years seem keen to offer deals, even in the school holidays. To cite just one, nearly in budget, from http://www.seafarersailing.co.uk sent 28th March:

Half Term Orhaniye & Gocek Flotilla
25 May Half Term 7 Nights Flight Inclusive Holiday:
Oceanis 323 - 2 share £998, 4 share £689
Bavaria 36 - 3 share £939, 4 share £825, 6 share £675
Oceanis 40 - 3 share £1099, 4 share £945, 6 share £759

But of course this is not yet peak season...

Mike.

 

[Tranona]

buy a boat, buy a boat, buy a boat

sailing is not all about sun, crystal clear water and skimpy cossies

it is about mud, cold, hard graft, wet wellies and damp sleeping bags

only then can you really start to appreciate sailing

Dylan

That is what I thought until I tried the sun and crystal clear waters along with the cheap food and predictability of the weather. Got more use out of my boat in a week in the Med than a year in the UK.

 

[dylanwinter]

That is what I thought until I tried the sun and crystal clear waters along with the cheap food and predictability of the weather. Got more use out of my boat in a week in the Med than a year in the UK.

that is why I am frightened to sail in such a place

I have sailed in warm weather, I have sailed in clear water in scotland but have never sailed through warm clear water

I am frightened that it might ruin the delights of the Humber.....

naaaaah I love Britain

and one week is not enough

 

[BERT T]

Warmer climates.

that is why I am frightened to sail in such a place

I have sailed in warm weather, I have sailed in clear water in scotland but have never sailed through warm clear water

I am frightened that it might ruin the delights of the Humber.....

naaaaah I love Britain

and one week is not enough

Dylan you don't know what you are missing. Green Island, off the coast of Queensland. We spent a month there, much nicer than the Humber.

 

[Tranona]

that is why I am frightened to sail in such a place

I have sailed in warm weather, I have sailed in clear water in scotland but have never sailed through warm clear water

I am frightened that it might ruin the delights of the Humber.....

naaaaah I love Britain

and one week is not enough

Then you have to bite the bullet and buy a boat out there like I did (appreciate that not everybody is as Lucky as I was to be able to do that). So probably best not to tempt fate.

Actually I wish I still had the energy and stamina to do what you do!

 

[explores]

We always booked at the last moment with Sunsail and got some very good deals.You had to be prepared to go where they had a vacant space.We found all of them good.

 

[Caliban]

I realise I can book a flotilla without flights with a smaller company for a reasonable cost, but we are looking at nearly 2k for 4 air fares to Greece, so that rules out a more independent route to booking.

I have found a flotilla in Croatia that is just over 3K for the 4 of us in a small yacht, but that's still a lot for a week's holiday in my book. Am I being unrealistic to think that I might pick up a last minute for under 3K?

I paid slightly more than these prices combined for a boat I can use anytime.
No offence intended here, but I find that a scandalous waste of cash.


DISCLAIMER: Caliban is a notorious tightwad

 

[temptress]

try these folks http://www.latesail.com/

no relationship but I know others that have used them lastminute.

 

[Windy Tonique]

We always booked at the last moment with Sunsail and got some very good deals.You had to be prepared to go where they had a vacant space.We found all of them good.

+1 for Sunsail - got a good deal with them in Croatia last October half term booking last minute. Sailing Holidays do also have special offers throughout the season.

 

[dylanwinter]

now now

View attachment 30631View attachment 30633View attachment 30632

Dylan you don't know what you are missing. Green Island, off the coast of Queensland. We spent a month there, much nicer than the Humber.

I am not frightened of the sea but I always think I am going to die when I go in an aeroplane

I went to new Zealand for a filming job a few years ago

it was lovely

but the 48 hours on the plane involved in getting there and returning home...... aaagh!



and there is nothing half as good as being in charge of your own boat - deciding when and where to drop the hook, when to run it aground to watch the birds or the harbour porpoises working, to chat to the old lady who comes for an evening swim in sluice creek every night, to sail through your own history

 

[mjcoon]

I am not frightened of the sea but I always think I am going to die when I go in an aeroplane

Well, at least you start off closer to heaven...

Mike.

 

[mjcoon]

I am frightened that it might ruin the delights of the Humber.....

## Be it never so Humber, there's no place like home ### ?

Mike.