Whilst sailing holidays might not be the obvious choice for students, with many heading out for the stereotypical backpack around Europe by train or other shoestring pursuits, if you’re looking for something a bit different, which doesn’t involve sharing a bedroom with 11 other sweaty, coughing, sunburnt travellers, it could be the one for you, and doesn’t cost as much as you think.
PlainSailing.com have been helping University groups get away this summer, and the average boat price has been just €2500 across these flotilla – when that is shared between all 8 students, sharing 4 cabins, it works out at just over €300 each for the week, which is less than €50 a day!
The Ionian Islands provide the ideal setting for a sailing vacation, and you’ll make memories that carry with you for the rest of your life. It will be very much inexpensive (you can self-cater, and just buy cheap wine for evenings on board, or head out to the bars around each marina, according to your budget).
Why a Yacht Charter in the Ionian?
The Ionian Islands are well-known for the stunning natural beauty that they possess. Both Kefalonia and the Paxi Islands may be found just off the coast in the Ionian Sea. One of their biggest selling points is how accessible they are from both land and sea – the islands are serviced by a significant number of ferry companies from both Greece and Italy, and are train station hubs. Additionally, Corfu and Lefkas are extremely accessible by air, which makes it one of the best places for organising a fantastic sailing holiday, with students able to fly in from all over the UK. As a result, people from all over the globe come here to practice their passion.
The infrastructure has been built up to provide for sailors in and around the islands in the Ionian Sea is of a very high standard – with plentiful marinas and tavernas, as well as huge competition amongst professional yacht charter companies, which helps to keep the price of the holiday down.
As a result, the week itself is very easy – with line-of-sight navigation in the hot sunshine, and a myriad of options on where to pitch up for the night, from fancy marinas to budget village harbours, or even just dropping the anchor in a secluded bay for your own private beach party.
Pick the Right Boat
When you’ve decided that this sounds like a nice holiday, make sure you spend some time researching the right boat – it can be either a ‘monohull’ yacht, or a catamaran, which is twice as wide and has two hulls. Both offer a different sailing experience, with yachts better at sailing and cheaper but catamarans offering much more space (they are twice as wide) and a more luxurious experience. You’re obviously also free to pick from a diverse range of routes and islands to visit – from resort towns to private bays, to exclusive resorts. You’re the boss!
