How much does it cost to rent a catamaran for a week? — featuring Lena Filippova | From Siberia to Italy

0:00 Today, I'll show [music] you a Greece that's impossible to see from the shore. Seven days, seven islands, and [music] our floating home for the week, a comfortable catamaran. We'll sail the [music] Ionian Sea from Lefkada to Kefalonia. Explore the secret homeland [music] of Odysseus and find wild coves where it'll

0:22 be just us and the turquoise [music] water. I'll tell you how much it costs, what life on the water is like, and [music] why after a trip like this, you'll never want to stay in a regular hotel again. Well, let's set sail, starting our dream route. Our journey began in Lefkada. It's

0:46 probably the most convenient [music] island to start from in the Ionian Sea. Its main feature is a floating bridge that connects the [music] island to mainland Greece. So, you don't have [music] to wait for a ferry, just cross the street and you're there. We drove from [music] Athens, where we

1:08 had flown in from Rome. We've been living in Italy for 16 years and [music] are used to long road trips, but for those who don't want to spend half a day driving, [music] there's a life hack. Preveza Airport is very close to the island. We just couldn't make the flight dates work, [music] but I highly recommend

1:27 checking out this option. Lefkada Marina is something incredible, a huge port [music] with hundreds, if not thousands, of yachts and catamarans. Life is really buzzing here. But, keep in [music] mind an important detail. In Greece, as in the rest of Europe, boats are rented strictly from Saturday

1:51 to Saturday, and you can only check in after [music] lunch, usually around 5:00 in the afternoon. The crew needs this time to prepare the boat after the previous tourists. [music] So, on Saturday, you take over your floating [music] home and buy groceries. And on Sunday morning, you're already

2:10 heading out for adventure. [music] We went on this trip as a whole family. Me, Lena, [music] my husband Kostya, and our kids Vanya, Danya, and Aurora. For us, [music] this was the first experience of this kind. Just recently, Kostya got his boating license and dreamed [music] of renting a

2:35 catamaran. And now, the dream has come true. We chose a catamaran over a regular [music] sailing yacht. And if you're traveling with kids, believe me, it's the best option. First, the space. Our catamaran is a real floating house.

3:00 Upstairs, under the canopy, is a large dining [music] area where we spent almost all our time. Inside [music] is a bright salon with a full kitchen, stove, sink, and even a coffee machine. >> [music] >> Morning coffee with a sea view is a special kind of pleasure. Second, [music] stability. Unlike a

3:25 yacht, a catamaran barely heals. This means the kids can safely [music] move around the deck, and your glass of wine on the table will be completely safe. The living area is mirrored. Two cabins [music] in each hull and a bathroom. Kostya, Aurora, and I took one [music]

3:51 large cabin. And the boys took the second. We had two smaller cabins left [music] over. We invited our skipper into one of them. Usually they sleep in special compartments at the very bow, but we decided he'd be much more comfortable in a proper room. And [music] we turned the second free

4:12 cabin into a walk-in closet, putting all our luggage there. And of course, [music] the main feature of the catamaran is the nets at the bow. It's the perfect place to sunbathe [music] and just watch the water rushing right beneath you. A view you can never get tired of. Initially, Kostya wanted to skipper the

4:38 boat himself, [music] but in the end we decided to hire a professional skipper. And it was the best decision of our vacation. Handling such a beast alone is practically impossible. You need at least [music] two people for docking. So, one is at the helm and the other works the lines. [music]

4:58 By the way, our skipper came to us specifically from Romania. We thought the charter company [music] would just give us a local. But it turned out things [music] worked differently. There are special aggregator sites where boat owners post jobs. And skippers from all over Europe choose

5:17 the routes they're interested in. So, our Romanian captain [music] became a full member of our family for the week. Our first crossing was short. We set course for the neighboring island of Meganisi, heading to Porto Spilia

5:42 Bay. And it was the perfect start. You know, there are places that seem made specifically for people traveling by boat. In Port O Spilia, it feels [music] like land tourists simply don't exist. There are no big hotels, just a cozy beach with incredibly clear water and a restaurant right on the shore.

6:06 We moored at the pontoon of a local restaurant. This is a very convenient system in Greece. You can dock for free if you have dinner or lunch at the establishment. The evening was incredibly atmospheric. You sit at a table with the sea spray reaching you. Look at your catamaran and realize

6:27 [music] the adventure has begun. The kids immediately opened the swimming season. The water here is so clear that the boats look like they're floating in the air. This was our [music] first night on the water after Lefkada, under the quiet splash of the waves and an endless starry sky.

6:49 Waking up in Port O Spilia, [music] jumping into the sea at sunrise, and having breakfast on deck with this amazing view is exactly why you should rent a catamaran. [music] But a legend was waiting for us ahead. On the second day, we set off for Ithaca. This is the very island Odysseus spent

7:13 10 years [music] trying to return to after the Trojan War. And when you [music] enter the Bay of Vathy, you understand why he was so eager to get home. The town is very picturesque. Colorful houses [music] with red roofs are scattered across the hillsides like an amphitheater.

7:38 Here, >> [music] >> we moored right at the town waterfront, opposite the statue of Odysseus. >> [music] >> And that's the whole beauty of Ithaca. You step off the [music] boat and find yourself right in the center of life. Narrow streets, little shops, and that signature Greek slow pace that people

7:59 travel to the end of the world for. >> [music] >> On the third day, our catamaran set course for Cephalonia. This is the largest and probably the most diverse island on our [music] route. If Ithaca is about coziness and legends, Cephalonia is about scale.

8:24 >> [music] >> On Cephalonia, we entered the port of the town of Sami. Actually, many people go from here to see the famous caves. But we decided [music] to have a day of absolute relaxation and not rush anywhere. In Sami, we moored in the most [music] convenient spot, right opposite a row of

8:47 waterfront restaurants. There's a special kind of chic [music] to the yachting life. You step off the gangway and 3 seconds later, you're sitting at a table. But the real gem of Cephalonia for all sailors is Fiskardo. It's called the Greek Saint-Tropez.

9:13 [music] And that's the absolute truth. It's the only [music] town on the island that was barely touched by the 1953 earthquake. >> [music] >> That's why all the old Venetian architecture is still here, with colorful houses covered in flowers, boutiques, and the most [music] glamorous yachts from all over the

9:35 world. Finding a spot to dock during peak [music] season is quite a challenge, but it's totally worth it. In the evening, Fiskardo turns into one big movie set about the high life. We just strolled [music] along the promenade, ate ice cream, and soaked in this festive atmosphere.

9:57 >> [music] >> The final stop of our sea voyage was Sivota. This is actually on the island of Lefkada [music] itself. It's a tiny, incredibly cozy bay with a few charming restaurants. We spent our last [music] night of free sailing here enjoying the peace and quiet before heading back to

10:20 civilization. And here's an important technical point for all future [music] captains. According to the charter rules, you have to return the boat [music] to its home port in Lefkada by Friday evening. So, the route actually [music] lasts 6 days. You need to be in the marina by sunset

10:42 on Friday so the technical team can inspect [music] the boat. You spend the night on board while docked in the port, and on Saturday [music] morning, usually by 9:00, you leave your floating home. But, you know, if we had just gone from port to port, we would have only seen half the beauty.

11:06 The most [music] valuable thing about a catamaran is what happens in between the towns. During the crossings, we pop into wild coves and caves hidden in the cliffs that you just [music] can't see from the shore. There are no beach clubs [music] or noise here, just us and the incredible water, which

11:28 looks like it's lit up from the inside. Believe me, when you [music] have a view like this and the catamaran is gently rocking on the mirror-like water, that's the real Greek dolce vita. [music] The kind of feeling that makes it worth taking the risk and heading out to the open sea at least once.

11:52 And now, the most useful part for those who've already started packing their bags. [music] If you book a 38 to 42-foot catamaran a few months in advance, expect to pay 5 to 7,000 euros a week. But here's a life hack. If you book at the last minute, a month or even [music] less before, you can find special offers

12:15 with 30 or even 50% discounts. But you have to look for them. We booked on the Boataround website, though there are other aggregators, too. Be sure to add these to the cost of the boat itself. A skipper is about 200 euros a day. The captain's services cost us 1,300 [music] euros for the week.

12:40 Final cleaning is a mandatory fee. [music] For us, it was 330 euros. Extra options. We ordered a safety net around the perimeter for Aurora's safety, 200 euros, and an outboard motor for the dinghy, 75 euros, though [music] we ended up not even using it. You can also rent paddle boards and

13:05 fishing rods. A very important detail about money. Just like with a car rental, [music] they will block a security deposit on your card, and it's a significant amount. [music] For us, it was 3,000 euros. Keep in mind that most cards have a daily transaction limit, which is often lower than this amount. [music]

13:25 So, check your bank settings in advance. To avoid risking this deposit, I highly recommend getting insurance, [music] either online beforehand or directly at the agency when you pick up the boat. And finally, a nice bonus, mooring fees. Unlike in other [music] European countries, they are very cheap in

13:49 Greece. On average, [music] a night in port costs 15 to 20 euros, and this price already includes water and electricity, though they aren't available everywhere. [music] And in places like Porto Spilia, mooring was actually free, provided [music] we had lunch or dinner at their restaurant.

14:10 You have to admit, [music] that's a very nice service. And the last [music] thing, fuel. We filled up the tanks when we returned to Lefkada. [music] And for all six days of active sailing, we paid only 220 euros. >> [music] >> And that's with us frequently using the generator for electricity, and most

14:31 importantly, for the air conditioning. [music] All right, I almost forgot a vital piece of advice. If you, like [music] us, are going sailing in the middle of summer, for us it was late July, make sure to get a [music] catamaran with air conditioning. To be honest, we didn't even pay

14:50 attention to this when booking, but we got incredibly lucky. We had it. >> [music] >> Many boats don't have air conditioning. But believe me, in the Greek heat, especially when you're docked in a port [music] with no sea breeze, surviving without it would be very hard. [music] The lack of cool air in the cabins can

15:10 easily ruin your entire vacation. >> [music] >> So, definitely check this point when booking. >> [music] >> You know, if you add up all the numbers I just mentioned, plus flights and car rental, the trip turns out to be quite expensive. [music] But, when you see those incredible [music]

15:34 sunsets in the open sea, when your kids wake up to the sound of the waves and [music] feed the fish right out of their hands, you realize this experience is worth every single euro spent. No hotel in the world [music] will give you that feeling of absolute freedom and bonding with your family.

15:55 It wasn't just a vacation. [music] It was a real adventure that we will definitely remember for the [music] rest of our lives. And yes, we're already dreaming of doing it again. >> [music] >> But, I haven't told you everything yet. It's impossible to visit Greece and not fall in love with its food.

16:17 And on the islands, it's extra special. [music] In the next video, I'll share our delicious food map with you, show you the most atmospheric Greek tavernas, tell you how much dinner for our whole big family costs in different [music] ports, and what you absolutely must try to get a true taste of the onion sea.

16:39 Subscribe to the channel so you don't miss the culinary sequel. Give our adventure a thumbs up and let us [music] know in the comments if you dare to try this kind of vacation. See you in the next video. Bye-bye.