Saving Money in Sardinia
In the world of big-money, Western Mediterranean charters, there’s a lot of talk right now about a luxury tax being charged to guests onboard charter yachts that visit Sardinia. The tax is in the neighborhood of 10,000 euros, or about $13,400, for a single visit to the upscale Italian island.
Several charter brokers I trust were chatting over lunch at the recent Genoa charter show about ways to help their clients avoid paying this tax. As we all know, even people who can afford the world’s most expensive charter yachts don’t want to pay a single euro more than they must to get a good-value vacation.
As the brokers explained things to me, charter yachts that either dock at a Sardinina marina or pick up a mooring ball there cannot avoid payment. However, if your charter captain drops the yacht’s anchor instead and then brings you ashore in the dinghy to enjoy the sights, you pay nothing. Nada. Zip.
It’s tips like these that separate reputable charter brokers–who work hard to make your vacation the best it can be–from lousy brokers who simply reserve you a yacht and let the chips (and euros, and dollars) fall where they may.
Even if you can afford the best charter vacation that money can buy, you shouldn’t get shelled for more expenses than necessary. Make sure you work with a reputable broker who has your best interests in mind, whether you want to cruise to Sardinia or anywhere else on charter this summer.