Turkey Vs Greece Charter Hols. ?

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Paddy_N_Murphy

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Having just got back from a cracking (v Hot) week on a part Bareboat part Flotilla out of Gocek, I am tasked with finding the next Sailing adventure for late August.

Three Men in a boat! - Boys only holiday.
We have our passes stamped by the higher authorities, and looking to book.

I have done Turkey this year and last and reckon it is no longer the bargain to be had once shoreside and for supplies.
We are thinking maybe Greece this year - any stories / yarns to swap about Chartering in Greece at the moment?

Is it busy? a Ghost town?
Pricey or reasonable?

Any suggested areas we should be looking at?
Talking to Nautilus, Top Yacht and Setsail at the mo after using them all before and happy with what I got.

Cheers


Andy
 
Don't go to Greece in August, especially Ionian, it's VERY VERY crowded, also the winds are often non-existant.

Having said that, we've had many enjoyable Greek trips but only May/June or September. Can you not get your pass changed to September? We've used Nautilus several times as well as Neilson's.

We've just returned from an excellent 2 weeks in Croatia, reliable winds and not overcrowded, although avoid marinas, £58 for a 36ft overnight in Korkula, £30 in Lombarda. there's lots of free mooring to tavernas though and we even managed a free buoy in Hvar town! Beware Cavtat though, we had the police called out just because we moored to what appeared to be a visitors buoy but wasn't. Not sure how busy it would be in August though.
 
Nice one - I never even thought of Croatia. I shall give that a lookey on the internet.

Sadly we can't shift dates as it as all about time off work booked etc too !
It would be interesting to see the flight times to Croatia too (from up Norf)
Newcastle to Dalaman is handy timing, but seems flights to Greece may cost us a day on the water for bad timings.
 
Croatia every time for me, maybe would avoid the new Kastela Marina at Split, its bigger than the Airport! Trogir is nicer.
 
Couldn't agree more about the Ionian - very very crowded & the shore infrastructure not really up to coping with the influx.

Also, the prices are getting silly - Greek food, while it has a certain rustic & repetitive charm, isn't that good & to charge London prices for it is outrageous. Despite being a long-standing & very passionate Hellenophile, I think it'll be Croatia for us next time.
 
Not doing Greece ever again but Croatia or BVI are good. BVI probably the best except the food is not too good.Barcelona was good for a blokes trip but the coast line is a bit boring. We used Azul sailing.
 
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Croatia is very crowded in July/August during the Italian holidays. Also, all mooring (village quays or buoys) is charged. But beautiful old towns. In Greece you can moor to most quaysides free of charge, or for €8 or so per day (overnight is two days!)

To escape crowds in Greece, in ascending order of wind strength and excitement, go:
1. E Peloponese (from Porto Heli)
2. Dodecanese (from Samos, Kos, or Rhodes - best start from downwind!)
3. Cyclades (from Naxos, Paros, or Athens coastline)

ps, Cyclades pronounced "Kick-ladthes", or the locals won't know what you're talking about!
 
Whiskey Bravo said:
Don't go to Greece in August, especially Ionian, it's VERY VERY crowded, also the winds are often non-existant.
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Agree there isn't much wind but I'd question the crowded part.

I've been there peak season (August) every year for the last three years. All the crowds congregate around the towns so you don't need too much imagination to have a completely remote anchorage to yourself almost every night. When we've needed water and provisions we just nipped into towns for water around lunchtime before the flots get in to spoil things

It strikes me as being a bit like Bournemouth Beach. The beach is heaving by the pier, but if you walk five minutes either way you've got the place to yourself.
 
thanks for all the comments and suggestions - but looks like I am still confused for which is best / most suitable !
:o

Interesting that 'we' all think the prices everywhere are getting up to the UK price mark sadly.

It may come down to what the best flights for a full week are (first thing out there, last thing back).

I shall start shaking the trees more on the different Charter options.
 
MarkieMarkMark said:
All the crowds congregate around the towns so you don't need too much imagination to have a completely remote anchorage to yourself almost every night.
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True, but it didn't sound as though the OP was looking for romantic hideaways! Also we found that you kinda need to know where you're going - a couple of peaceful spots recommended both by the charter company & the pilot book turned out to be wasp & flotilla-infested hellholes.
 
Your right !
No Romantic Hideaways required !!!!

A mix of Town Quays, Restaurants at the end of private pontoons and Anchorages would probably be fine if we can fill the tanks a couple of times.

I guess I am not really helping as it is supposedly the busy time of the Hols !

Maybe I just have some courage and hold out until the very last minute and plump for something in the deals ?
I am sure we will have a good time in Greece, Turkey or Croatia...... but my OCD says it must all be prepped and planned ! !
:D
 
cgull said:
Croatia every time for me, maybe would avoid the new Kastela Marina at Split, its bigger than the Airport! Trogir is nicer.
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Went 2 years ago and learnt that the Solent Marinas are pussies compared to the robbers(marina charges) in Croatia.

Nice place spoilt by high winds (2 weeks in August 5 days F6 and above and 3 of those days were above F8), nice friendly people, food as expensive as France and marinas very expensive.

Take RYA qualifications as a number of our flotilla boats were stopped and inspected.

Could be a gamble in Greece though as many tourists stranded by strikes today!!
 
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Sailfree said:
Went 2 years ago and learnt that the Solent Marinas are pussies compared to the robbers(marina charges) in Croatia.

Nice place spoilt by high winds (2 weeks in August 5 days F6 and above and 3 of those days were above F8), nice friendly people, food as expensive as France and marinas very expensive.

Take RYA qualifications as a number of our flotilla boats were stopped and inspected.

Could be a gamble in Greece though as many tourists stranded by strikes today!!
Click to expand...


Mmmm, not selling it to me !! :)
but all good knowledge thanks.


(back to Turkey perhaps ?)
 
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Mmmm, not selling it to me !! :)
but all good knowledge thanks.


(back to Turkey perhaps ?)
Click to expand...

Sorry memory failing - we went near end of July (so it was July weather!) and were warned by Flotilla skipper that in August all the Italian boats come over and there are then approx 6x the number of boats to the available marinas berths. The Flotilla skipper had to always prebook and get in early to keep the prebooked/reserved berths free of illegal berthed boats.

Its the high demand that set the berthing prices!

In July we witnessed boats circling round for a couple of hours waiting for boats to vacate berths and many had to anchor. Not always easy as depths can be excessive even if close to shore. Lovely place though - we enjoyed it but were really surprised by the strong winds that we were later advised were not unusual and really surprised by the prices.
 
Apologies to all and sundry because I've posted this link several times before, but The Sporades are very nice and you can even use Setsail :)

Went two or three years ago so my knowledge isn't up to the minute but it wasn't that pricey or crowded, even at the height of the Boom, and in August. You need to know where/when the flotillas are in Town, mind you.
 
jhr said:
The Sporades are very nice ... you need to know where/when the flotillas are in Town, mind you.
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Agreed - Sporades are fab. All the charter companies in the area have a pretty good handle on where each other flotillas will be each night, so if you're bareboating and want to avoid them your charter company should be able to give you at least an outline timetable.
 
Bump.....
:D

The Dodecanese are starting to look like a good balance of exciting sailing, pricing, flights times and such.

Only thing is I am not finding so much 'Cruising' info and spots to stop as I have previously found for Turkey.

Am I missing a trick here ?
 
I came back from Greece just over 3 weeks ago now, (my 17th time!), and found it less crowded than inprevious years. I came into Fiscardo after lunch and found loads of free spaces - I wondered if my navigation was wonky for a moment!!
There are not as many germans booking (I wonder why!), and the economic situation has obviously had an effect.

Whatever you do, don't go in August, too hot, too crowded and too full of arrogant Italians.

I would highly recommend it though - try September, less crowded, cooler evenings....I'd be off like a shot if I could!

Have Fun
 
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