Early Bird

8 reasons why Early Bird deals are the best way to rent a boat
What is the best way to charter a yacht? What exactly are Early Bird boat deals, how long do they last and what can you expect to save on when booking your sailing holiday early?

The season for Early Bird discounts is about to begin. If you’ve never taken advantage of booking early before, you should check it out. Over the last few years, the sailboat, catamaran and powerboat rental markets have changed a lot, making Early Bird deals even more beneficial than ever. So, what are the main advantages of not waiting but booking your dream rental boat well in advance? Read on to find out more. But, of course, the decision is yours.
What exactly are Early Bird deals for boat charter?
In the yacht charter industry, Early Bird is the period when all boats are still available on the market. This means there is a lot of choice, as well as charter companies offering various bonuses for booking in advance in the form of discounts or free extras (such as an additional motor). These deals usually last until the end of the year for bookings made for the following summer. Exceptionally, the Early Bird period is extended until the end of January, but by then there is less choice of boats and fewer extras for clients.
And what about Last Minute boat holiday deals?
So, you’re probably wondering about Last Minute? Didn’t it use to offer even better deals? Yes, it used to. However, since COVID-19, we have seen the almost complete demise of Last Minute deals. Today it’s practically non-existent. And the reason is simple. Although the actual number of sailors has been on the rise, in the last three years there simply hasn’t been as many new boats as before to meet this demand. For two years in a row now, there has been no decent boat available in popular sailing locations, such as Croatia or Greece right before the season (and we have more than 13,000 of them on offer!).

Why you should consider an Early Bird charter deal
1. Choose from a larger variety and secure the most popular boats or new arrivals
Would you like a new, well-kept boat with good handling characteristics and amenities such as air conditioning, a grill, swim platform or teak deck? And at an affordable price, of course. The truth is, this is exactly the kind of boat every sailor wants. As we said, the choice of boats is fantastic in autumn but drops off steeply in spring. And by June, you can hardly find a decent boat at all, with the best ones long gone. Just before the season, it tends to be only older charter boats in poorer condition or expensive luxury superyachts that remain.

2. Book any date, even in high season
If you want to set sail during the summer holidays, the busiest time of year, then booking your boat early is a must. July and August are the peak seasons and are quickly snapped up by families with school-age children. Every year, unfortunately, some of our clients are forced to sail in the autumn instead of their planned holiday in July because there were simply no other dates available.

3. Lower down payments
With Early Bird deals, you have to put down less money as a deposit — with some charter companies, it’s just 10% of the charter price. This definitely comes in handy before Christmas, when there is less disposable income in the household.
4. Pay less, get bargain boat prices
Early Bird is all about lower prices. The discounts are exclusive and if you don’t take advantage of them, you’ll be paying 20% more for the same boat later on. You just can’t get lower prices than with Early Bird deals.
5. Book a boat for longer than normal
A week on board a boat literally sails by and when you’ve reached your peak, it’s already time to set course for home. But we have the perfect solution! Next time, try it as an experienced sailor and set sail for 14 days. You’ll better relieve stress, enjoy some serious sailing and get to discover places that are both beautiful and deserted. And all at a bargain price! Find out more in our article — 10 reasons to go on a 14-day charter. Other benefits include the fact that for the two weeks at sea you only be paying for transport to the location and the transit log once.

Unfortunately, the closer it gets to the main sailing season, the harder it is to find a two-week slot where a boat is available. However, with Early Bird deals, you are not only guaranteed to find a good boat for 14 days straight, but even be offered a discount.