World charter cruising guide

The nights are drawing in and it looks like it might be some time until you'll be out on the water again, so why not keep your spirits up by planning a charter holiday?

If you've been put off charter holidays by the thought of cruising along in an ugly amphibious caravan that resembles more a fridge than a boat, then think again. You can hire a quality craft like a Fairline without blowing a Russian oligarch's budget.

We've done some digging and found some great charterboats in some of the world's most beautiful cruising grounds...

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France It is probably fair to say that most of us dream of one day exploring the Continental waterways, and who wouldn't? Imagine cruising at a relaxed pace, enjoying good food and wine, all against a backdrop of wonderful countryside, dotted with picturesque villages and towns or cruising the canals of Burgundy aboard a Linssen 34.9 and mooring up for the night so you can lap up the local wine. See the charter guide gallery

But you don't need to wait until you retire to make the most of inland Europe, nor do you need to make do with chartering a Tupperware box.

France Afloat is one company that offers boats rather than bathtubs, and with bases in Burgundy and the Canal du Midi, among others, they are easy to get to and free of the daunting prospect of too much heavyweight commercial traffic.

As well as the recently introduced Linssen 34.9s France Afloat offers several more ‘conventional' style hireboats including 28ft Vikings (in two to six-berth layouts) along with a number of barge-type vessels. The company also has a base on the Canal du Midi in the south of France.

France Afloat Tel: 08700 110 538 www.franceafloat.com Email: boats@franceafloat.com

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Netherlands Like France, the Netherlands has an intricate weave of waterways, and as most people here have grown up on the water it is perfectly geared to boaters.

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Most visitors head to the Ijsselmeer but this big lake tends to be sailing boat territory. Instead explore the many canals and small lakes that make up Friesland. Historically everything was transported by water here so even the smallest towns and villages are accessible by boat. You only need to cruise for 20 minutes between places and once you find somewhere, simply moor up and within minutes you can be sat ashore, beer in hand.

All town moorings have water and electricity, but if you want to escape it all there are some delightfully remote places that you can moor up at for free with only the birds to keep you company. Visit www.marrekrite.nl for more info.

Boat hire

Van Straten Yachts & Charter, based in beautiful Friesland province, is just one company offering high-quality charterboats. It has a fleet of beautifully maintained steelboats, including a Valk 1200 and a Vivante 42.

Van Straten Yachts & Charter Tel: 0031 (0)515 438 158 www.yachtcharter-vanstraten.nl

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Croatia Croatia claims to have the cleanest waters in Europe. However - perhaps due to its troubled history - it is often overlooked in favour of its Adriatic neighbour, Italy. Yet with delicious food, a vast coastline, and relics of its past scattered along its shores, there's lots to tempt boaters. And although it's getting pricier, it's worth every penny. See the charter guide gallery

And there are plenty of cruising options... From Šibenik it's 20 miles to Rogoznica, home to a well-equipped marina. From here cruise to Hvar via the sheltered bay of Senjska on the island of Solta (a useful bolthole). Hvar is beautiful but it is susceptible to winds from the south and it gets busy in summer. Korcula, 35 miles from Hvar, is protected from SE and SW winds and is a pretty and popular place. From here you can head to Lastovo - the largest island in the Lastovo Archipelago and just 20 miles from Vela Luka on the west side of Korcula - which is a great place to unwind. Nearby Vis is famous for its wealth of archaeological finds and choice of lovely beaches, while inland you will find many vineyards. From Vis motor to Balun on the east side of Biševo and on your way back to Šibenik stop off at Primosten, arguably the prettiest tourist town in the region. Boat hire

Based in the UNESCO-protected town of Šibenik, NCP has a Fairline Targa 34 and a Nimbus 320 Coupe for charter as well as a number of small cruisers.

NCP Charter Tel: 00385 (0) 22 312 999 www.ncp.hr email booking@ncp.hr

German-based Marine Project Yachtcharter has a Cranchi 32 Hardtop and a Cranchi Zaffiro 34 available for charter out of Punat, on the island of Krk in northern Croatia.

Marine Project Yachtcharter Tel: 0039 (0) 348 834 0467 www.marine-project.com email charter@marine-project.com

From its base in Trogir, near Split, Baotic Yachting has a large fleet of motorboats to hire, including a Sealine F34, a Sealine SC35 and a Sessa C35.

Baotic Yachting Tel: 00385 (0) 1 2 900 130 www.baotic-yachting.de email zagreb@baotic-yachting.com

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Turkey Imagine the warm, clear seas of the Caribbean, add the green mountain scenery and deep waters of a Norwegian fjord, and sprinkle with the numerous islands of a Scandinavian archipelago and you have a picture of what boating in Turkey is like. See the charter guide gallery

Turkey is just four hours away, and with an Easyjet service to Dalaman Airport, costs around £200 per person. From Dalaman you can take a taxi to Marmaris for 125TL (approx £60), or use one of the shuttle buses for around £25 per person.

Before setting off from Marmaris, admire the rows of beautifully varnished gullets - traditionally designed two-masted wooden sailing boats that are synonymous with this part of Turkey - or have a drink and a bite to eat in one of the many waterside restaurants. You could even buy a Turkish rug.

When you leave Marmaris you can either turn right and head towards Bozburun (35 miles away), which has a large choice of anchorages and bays, and - if there's time - keep going to Bodrum (80 miles).

Going in this direction also allows you to explore the Greek islands of Rhodes (25 miles), Simi (35 miles), and Kos (75 miles) but you will need to complete customs formalities when entering Greek waters, and again when you return to a Turkish port. Luckily the £10 Turkish visa you must purchase at the airport is valid for multiple entries over 90 days. Boat hire

As well as the Bayliner 4587, Sunshine Cruising offers a Bayliner 3388, a Rodman 41, a Bavaria 33 and a Colvic 38 flybridge. Sunshine Cruising Tel: 0090 252 412 0875 www.sunshinecruising.net

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Italy Venice is the obvious choice for a boating holiday and one of the most beautiful places in the world and it can be easily incorporated into a cruise up the Italian North east coast from Porto Levante to Casier. See the charter guide gallery

Fly into Marco Polo Airport from Gatwick with EasyJet and a one-hour taxi transfer will take you to Porto Levante, where Le Boat have a charter base.

For first-timers, a thorough induction will explain how to navigate the lagoon by following the clearly marked canals, and the free moorings and the private marinas in and around Venice.

Free moorings have no facilities - not even water - and hiring bikes in this region is a must and it will give you the freedom to explore the beautiful towns along the coast. We'd recommend the vibrant town of Chioggia, the famous seaside resort of Lido, home of the Venice Film Festival.

As hireboats are unable to venture into the heart of Venice try the tying up at the free moorings on the island of Mazzorbo and take a water taxi to the centre, past the entrance to the Grand Canal to the iconic St Mark's Square.

If the tourists and expense of central Venice become a bit overwhelming try the island of Burano. With its brightly coloured houses, lace-making heritage and historic bell tower it's a haven for tourists.

Boat hire

Le Boat has 15 different hireboats in its Italian fleet, ranging from a four-berth Corvette to an eight-berth Royal Magnifique. Unfortunately they aren't the prettiest of boats but they are ideal for those with little experience as they are easy to handle.

Le Boat, Tel: 0844 463 3594 www.leboat.co.uk email sales@leboat.co.uk

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London Cruising on the Thames is a quintessentially English experience, and whether you want to go back to your boating roots or simply find out what all the fuss is about, there's nothing more romantic than a cruise on Britain's favourite river. See the charter guide gallery

Outside the main towns the banks of the River Thames have remained relatively unchanged for years, so much so that you can almost convince yourself you are in a different era.

From the Penton Hook base you have the choice of cruising downstream past Hampton Court Palace or upstream towards Windsor. We suggest upstream - eating lunch against the backdrop of Windsor Castle is a very romantic way to spend an afternoon, plus you can overnight at Bray (or moor up riverside) and eat at the highly-acclaimed (though pricey) Riverside Brasserie. Further upstream from Bray you will pass Cookham with its pleasant surroundings before reaching the stunning National Trust Cliveden House and gardens. Further along as you pass the hills, woods and meadows are Bourne End, Marlow, Hurley and Hambleden before finally arriving at the famous Henley-on-Thames.

Upstream from Henley is Wargrave, Sonning, Caversham, Pangbourne, Goring, Wallingford and many other little gems all dotted along the river towards Oxford. The real pleasure of the non-tidal Thames is that you can decide when to stay put and explore the pretty places that catch your eye, and when to push on

Boat hire

Rainbow Cruisers, based in Penton Hook Marina, near Chertsey, offers two Crownline 270 CRs for charter. Each boat sleeps up to four people and comes with all mod cons - and best of all, there are no obvious signs that they are charterboats.

Rainbow Cruisers Tel: 01784 454035 www.rainbowcruisers.co.uk

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USA Unless you have aspirations of crossing the Atlantic, the chances are the only way you'll get to discover America by boat is through a charter holiday. For motorboaters there are three main cruising grounds - Chesapeake Bay, Florida and the Pacific Northwest.

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The largest estuary in the US, Chesapeake Bay lies off the Atlantic surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. It has over 11,600 miles of shoreline to explore (including its tributaries), from the quaint fishing villages of its inner shores to marine centres with top-notch facilities.

Thanks to its sky-blue waters and tropical temperatures, Florida is a popular cruising spot. Make the most of the protected anchorages around Biscayne Bay or cruise among the maze of islands known as the Florida Keys. Beware large ruise ships though as this is a popular tourist area.

If you're looking for adventure and dream of mooring up alongside rare birds or indulging in a spot of whale watching, the Pacific Northwest and the untouched beauty of the San Juan Islands is pretty hard to beat.

Boat hire

C & C Charters, based at Kent Narrows in Chesapeake Bay, has eight motorboats for charter, including a Sea Ray 34 Sundancer and a Grand Banks 42 Classic.

C & C Charters Tel: 001 800 733 7245 www.cccharters.com

Florida Yacht Charters & Sales has a Mainship 43 Trawler and a Sea Ray 400 at its Miami Beach base. The company also has two other bases in Florida and one in Abaco in the Bahamas. You may be able to arrange a one-way charter.

Florida Yacht Charters & Sales Tel: 001 800 537 0050 www.floridayacht.com

Anacortes Yacht Charters in the Pacific Northwest has an impressive choice of motorboats, from a 32ft Bayliner and a 36ft Grand Banks to a 37ft Nordic Tug.

Anacortes Yacht Charter Tel: 001 800 233 3004 www.ayc.com

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Thailand Cruising grounds don't get much more idyllic than the waters of Thailand, littered with exotic islands and framed by some of the most pristine beaches you will find anywhere in the world.

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The island of Phuket off Thailand's west coast is the main boating area, but although the region is popular with yacht charters, motorboat charters can be harder to find.

From the boat base in Ao Po Grand Marina, head north into Phang Nga Bay for Koh Hong. You can explore the hongs by tender or go for a swim before overnighting between towering limestone rocks. From here you can cruise through beautiful Phang Nga Bay, home to several islands, including Ko Tapu, otherwise known as James Bond Island as it was here that ‘The Man with the Golden Gun' was filmed.

Anchor at the quiet beach of Koh Hong Krabi, which has a lovely white sandy shores as well as brilliant coral and a large lagoon to explore - so make good use of the snorkelling gear on board.

The following day you can cruise south to the unspoilt area of Krabi, which is simply sublime. The next day head to the Phil Phi islands, where you can swim and snorkel surrounded by colourful fish at Maya Bay in Phi Phi Le before heading to Tonsai Bay for a lively evening.

The next day head west to the beautiful island of Koh Racha Yai, another popular snorkelling spot, before cruising north back to Phuket. If you have time you may wish to stop for lunch at Koh Khai Nok, a good spot for watching dolphins feeding on the coral. From here it's a short hop to Koh Rang Yai where there's a small resort to anchor near.

Boat hire

Well-established international charter company Moorings Power has a relatively new base near Phuket and it offers a two-cabin 37ft catamaran, the 372 Power Cat. A larger catamaran is also available for charter. The 372 is a new addition to the Moorings fleet and is powered by twin 110hp Yanmar diesels giving a top speed of 21 knots. Moorings Power Tel: 0844 463 6386 www.mooringspower.com

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Australia Australia's east coast is famed for its laid-back lifestyle and sunny climes, making it perfect cruising territory. And if there's one place to cruise above all others it's the Whitsunday Islands, with their transparent waters and white sandy beaches, not to mention their close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. See the charter guide gallery

From your base in Airlie Beach you have easy access to the Whitsundays, including Hamilton Island and Whitsunday Island, home to Whitehaven Beach, often cited as the most beautiful beach in the world.