Torn between a land-based holiday and a superyacht charter? Then why not combine the two and choose a hotel that has its own yacht. Whether you’re after day charters, water sports, or overnight stays, several luxurious properties have yacht-based offerings for those who want to spend their precious time out on the waves. Discover BOAT International's selection of luxury hotels with their own yachts for a hotel-charter hybrid...
Bequia Beach Hotel, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Nestled in the heart of one of the most picturesque cruising grounds of the Caribbean, guests at the Bequia Beach Hotel can enjoy a stay on board the 34.5-metre Star of the Sea. The classic Benetti yacht offers a true superyacht experience with seven crew on board to ensure the finest service. Her expansive deck spaces, which include a Jacuzzi and multiple al fresco dining areas, are perfect for enjoying the Caribbean sunshine while her stylish interior can accommodate up to 12 guests, and can she can be booked on a per cabin basis on request.
With Bequia as her home port all of St Vincent and the Grenadines are available to explore. Opt for a three-day trip to take in Mustique, home to millionaires including Celine Dion and Mick Jagger, the Tobago Cays National Park and Union Island. During your time on board, you can swim with green turtles, experience world-class snorkelling and enjoy a fresh lobster BBQ on the beach.
Naladhu Private Island, the Maldives
The white sands of Naladhu Private Island spring from a turquoise lagoon in a remote expanse of the Indian Ocean with only two neighboring islands in sight. With just 20 villas, it is one of the Maldives’ most private retreats. As you touch down at Velana International Airport, you’ll be whisked directly from the terminal to the island on the resort’s own Sunseeker. This luxurious vessel, however, isn’t just a mode of transferring guests from the airport – it’s on hand for day charters and trips so that guests can gain the very best marine experiences in the Maldives.
D-Maris Bay, Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Perched on a rocky outcrop opposite the Dodecanese Islands, D-Maris Bay Hotel overlooks the scenic point where the waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean meet. Topping the leagues as one of the most luxurious hotels in Turkey, it’s not surprising that D-Maris Bay is also a superyacht haven, with its own private marina, and specialised yacht guests programme.
There are three luxury yachts available for charter and day tours at the group, including 16-metre motor yacht Alia Opensea. The hotel has plenty of custom itineraries to hand that cover nearby islands and towns on a private tour with your own crew. Guests can choose to charter by the day, or make a trip of it and embark on an overnight adventure.
Thanda Private Island, Tanzania
Cast off the Tanzanian coast, Thanda appears as a perfect teardrop shape, encircled by immaculate white sands and coral reefs. The immaculate private island lies within the Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve and is surrounded by nothing by the shimmering turquoise waters off the African coastline. With no other land in sight, Thanda Island is a thalassophile’s dream and the perfect place to frolic in the ocean, perhaps catching a glimpse of a tiger shark, which reside in these waters.
Few places on earth could offer such a tranquil place to hit the waves and the island has its very own stock of boats that tick every box. For those after a more traditional sailing experience, guests can ride the trade winds on a traditional Arab dhow or opt to charter Thanda’s 34-metre classic motor yacht, Over the Rainbow. If it’s water sports or marine biology you’re after then, the island has several motor yachts that cover all the bases.
Nobu Hotel, Santorini
Composed of charming whitewashed monolithic villas arranged around a spectacular infinity pool that seemingly falls away to the ocean 200 metres below, Nobu is a quiet sanctuary of Santorini on the northeast coast of Imerovigli. The property blends Cycladic style with Nobu’s famed Japanese minimalism, softened with warming accents of ochre, rattan rugs and linen pendant lighting. While the hotel may be far from the water, the property has its own motor yacht that can whisk guests onto the waves for a private sunset excursion away from the masses. To make the experience extra special, guests will set sail with a hamper of classic Nobu dishes, think black cod, rock shrimp tempura and sushi on the waves.
Hotel Union Øye, 62 Nord, Norway
Sitting at the mouth of the sequestered fjord hamlet of Øye on Norway’s west coast, the hotel Union Øye is surrounded by nothing but gargantuan, green-carpeted peaks and plunging waterfalls that echo through the valley as they tumble to the earth. Having first opened its doors in 1891, it’s no wonder that famous writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes considered Union Øye a greatly inspiring place to reside.
With well-trodden original flagstones, ornate panelled walls and a library stocked with the owner’s personal collection of exploration first editions, Union Øye is an elegant monocular into the past. And with such an affiliation with exploration, it’s only fitting that the hotel group, 62 Nord would have several yachts to entertain guests on the water. Those staying at the hotel can choose to meander the vertiginous fjords on board the Fjord Explorer, with a capacity for 30 guests. From the hotel, guests will spend the day basking in the glory of Hjørundfjord, one of the most extraordinary fjords in all of Norway, deep within the Sunnmøre Alps. But for those after something more adventurous, 62 Nord also offers a bespoke sea safari on board one of its speed boats.
Elounda Peninsula, Crete
With no other hotels in sight, Elounda Peninsula is a quiet sanctuary on the busy island of Crete. Set at the foot of the sun-drenched hills of Agios Nikolaos, the property feels like the only resort on the island, clutched on its own quiet corner of Mirabello Bay. With uninterrupted vistas of the glittering sea, the hotel features striped lawns, ancient carob trees and plumes of bougainvillaea that cling to the Elounda’s craggy walls.
For those who want to explore more of the Cretan shore, Elounda’s 26-metre classic sailing yacht, Eliana KIV, is on hand to whisk guests along the glittering coast and enjoy a lunch anchored in a quiet cove with no one else around. Named after the owner of the hotel the picture-perfect sailing yacht is a Bermuda Yawl, a fast ocean racer and the same model that was owned by Gianni Agnelli. Perfect for gentle sails too, Eliana KIV is available for day charters or lunches and sundowners on board.
Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
Located at the southern end of the picturesque Raa Atoll, the Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is up there with the very best Maldivian getaways. While it’s part of the global hospitality brand, the property is from the other resorts around the world and feels like a luxurious independent hotel, with minimal branding, personal touches and sensational service. Hidden along the immaculate white beach is a lagoon and over-water villas, all a gentle stroll from the property’s six waterside restaurants and bars.
The resort's lagoon is a known juvenile manta ray aggregation point, and with the partnership with the resort-based Manta Trust. Diving here in the UNESCO World Heritage Site is among the best in the Maldives, particularly for those who want to swim with manta rays. For other excursions on the water, guests will have the option to step aboard the resort’s Princess motor yacht and cruise out of the lagoon for sundowners in front of the island’s lighthouse.