Charter - Exotic locations
Totally tropical Post pandemic, and chartering off the beaten track is definitely back on the agenda. Sam Jefferson explores some of the possibilities
PHOTOS ISTOCK/HELM/SUNSAIL
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he Covid 19 pandemic has been a journey for all of us and one that has actually involved travelling a good deal less. Nowhere was this more evident than in the charter industry, where previously popular destinations simply fell off the map. Pacific islands became all but untouchable while Australia and New Zealand were seemingly perpetually out of bounds. Thankfully, there is a sea change and borders and barriers are currently tumbling at a rate of knots. Laura Bowtell, Head of Sales UK at Sunsail and The Moorings, explains the current situation: “Many of our more exotic locations were slow coming out of the pandemic restrictions and it wasn’t until recently that a lot JULY 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
of Covid mandates were lifted. “As an example, Thailand was really tough but in recent weeks things have suddenly become a whole lot easier and most of the barriers have been removed. Just at present, the Seychelles is probably the easiest long haul destination, as there are no restrictions for vaccinated travellers. “One thing that we have noticed that has remained is that travellers are are now being asked to show proof of travel insurance which is no bad thing. Aside from that, we provide information on all the latest travel requirements on each destination page of our website. It’s also worth checking with the airlines aswell as they are the ones delivering you there and nobody will know better than them what is required.” Despite the cost of living crisis,
ABOVE
The dream; powder white beaches and impossibly blue waters
there are some great deals to be had on flights, as Laura explains: “In terms of long haul, there are some great deals on flights now, especially if you are planning ahead. Most countries are also desperate to welcome back tourists, so you can expect an extra warm welcome!”
Where to go?
Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia offer spectacular cruising with magnificent peaks, cliffs and luscious green hillsides, while beautiful lagoon anchorages offer dazzling white beaches for swimming and snorkelling. Although Bali currently has few large charter bases, it has over 13,000 tropical islands to explore with local companies, while Thailand’s 2,000 miles of coastline with its mix of quiet bays, hidden beaches
