Sunsail Ripoff?

[Redbeard]

I'm looking for a flotilla holiday next year and have been checking out prices and packages from the main players. I'm not actually a big fan of Brits on holiday and usually go out of my way to places more frequented by our Dutch, German and Scandinavian friends. I never book package trips either.

I had a thought that maybe there were different things on offer to our continental cousins and so checked out sunsail.nl. Surprised by the prices shown so I made a direct like for like comparison:

Got the below for a 7 day Kefalonian flotilla on 10th July next year. Quite a difference. Does anyone know why or is it a simple case we're being ripped off?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Well the first UK one includes flights, would be a start...? The euro comparison looks more or less OK

 

[jimi]

Maybe you should compare the prices with both excluding flights?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

In fact at today's rates the sterling rate is better, equiv to 3417 euro.

 

[DannyB]

I did a holiday with Sunsail in Greece a number of years ago, I was very impressed right from the start. As they were loading the buses to go to the marina, they were handing out bottles of chilled water. An attention to detail that persisted all week.

 

[Kwik Decision]

I did a holiday with Sunsail in Greece a number of years ago, I was very impressed right from the start. As they were loading the buses to go to the marina, they were handing out bottles of chilled water. An attention to detail that persisted all week.

I think that treatment is standard. We've done Nielson and Sailing Holidays charters recently, and were met at arrivals on both occasions by friendly staff handing out bottles of water, as they sorted out which bus we needed to get on.

 

[Sybarite]

I'm looking for a flotilla holiday next year and have been checking out prices and packages from the main players. I'm not actually a big fan of Brits on holiday and usually go out of my way to places more frequented by our Dutch, German and Scandinavian friends. I never book package trips either.

I had a thought that maybe there were different things on offer to our continental cousins and so checked out sunsail.nl. Surprised by the prices shown so I made a direct like for like comparison:

Got the below for a 7 day Kefalonian flotilla on 10th July next year. Quite a difference. Does anyone know why or is it a simple case we're being ripped off?

View attachment 53568View attachment 53567

5% difference?

 

[nauticalnomad]

I recommend these people in Turkey
http://www.eggyachting.com/

Located in Gocek,
The islands are beautiful in that area and the company itself is rated for customer service etc and more europeans than brits renting dodgem boats.

 

[Redbeard]

Aah, didn't notice the flights. It says yacht only in the top right corner :roll eyes:

So while we're on the subject, Ionian or Croatia? Looks like the costs are higher in Croatia but more my cup of tea than Greece I think. I'm afraid I'm not really interested in Turkey, I've been doing business there for too long to go there on holiday.

 

[richardbayle]

If you decide on the Ionian; I had some great holidays with Sailing Holidays.com . Can't comment re Croatia, but Sailing Holidays very relaxed, if they find out you can sail, happy to let you off on your own. Join in the fun (?) of jolly holiday makers or sail on your own. Great team.

 

[KellysEye]

Go to www.latesail.com look at the Sunsail flotilla prices and use the 'Name your price page', it's still a buyer's market because there are too many charter boats available and lots sit around doing nothing.

 

[drakes drum]

You charge what the market will bear and you certainly dont fart arou d changing prices with every exchange rate movement

 

[RupertW]

Ionian versus Croatia?

We kept a boat in Croatia for 3 seasons then last year moved it to the Ionian and have just spent a month in Ionian, Saronic and Sporades.

The Sporades came close to Croatia for anchorages and lovely architecture but Croatia beat ever where else hands down. Croatia a bit cheaper on a cruise too as we found many more destination anchorages ( rather than simply usable ones) in Croatia so had to use fewer quays there.

My favourite place for a week or two sailing so far is Split to Mljet, followed closely Sporades with a lot of other Croatian areas that I would choose before the Ionian. But Lakka, Gaio's, Fiscardo and One House bay are magical.

 

[Blue Sunray]

I would not touch Sunsail with someone else's barge-pole these days. Have used them for many years in the past they are now just another profit centre for tui, the last vestiges of any real interest in their boating customer went with the move of the HQ from Port Solent to Surbiton a couple of years back.

 

[Ravi]

So while we're on the subject, Ionian or Croatia?

The vibe of the flotilla, rather than the location is far more likely to determine whether you have 7 days in paradise or a seeming eternity in hell.

What attracts you to the idea of a flotilla? Is it the sociability? the low stress of having a lead skipper dealing with the planning and the Med Mooring??? Having other kids around to take your waifs off your hands? ????
There are some flotillas targeted at families with kids. Some for people who DON'T want kids around. Some flotillas with minimal sailing (!! Less than 10M per day!!). Some with more intrepid sailing and mooring. Most big flot companies have flotillas targeted at different markets so you can choose. I once went on a small boat flotilla, for grown ups only, exploring the shallower, off-piste parts of the Ionian. A very different experience to the more social family flotillas we enjoyed with our children.
I would pick the flotilla based on what you are looking for and make the cruising ground a secondary factor. Anywhere will be pretty damn gorgeous.

Also, when comparing Ionian vs. Croatia or anywhere else, the time of year is significant. These places change their character in high and low season. Everywhere is busier in the school holidays but some places, (like the Kefalonia holiday dates that you were looking at) can be insanely busy when the flotillas have all their boats out. For example, in high season, you can be expect to be told (at the 10 a.m. briefing) that you need to be at your destination no later than 1400 to ensure that you get a space. So, no leisurely lunchtime swimming at an anchorage. And, in the Ionian, the wind doesn't arrive till mid afternoon, so you may never actually get the sails up, all week! Fine for some people who want a chilled out lazy holiday but a nightmare for anyone who had visions of an Odyssean adventure. Do the same holiday a month later and you can be doing a screaming reach into an empty harbour at sunset, having sailed all day and having had a perfect anchorage, all to yourself, for a lunchtime stop.

Everywhere is beautiful, it is the other people on the flotilla (and the population density) that will make the biggest difference to how much you enjoy your flotilla holiday.

I can second the recommendation for Sailing Holidays. A very good company. If you speak to them on the phone, they will listen to what you want and they may even make you a special deal.