I was extremely lucky to be invited on behalf of YOTHA Yachts, to enjoy a weekend like no other in the South of France, to experience just what the YOTHA Yacht concept is and to step aboard one of their incredible super yachts of their 156 strong fleet.
Founded in 2016, YOTHA is the first global online interactive marketplace that offers a direct connection between yacht owners and charterers. Owners, Charter Brokers, Captains, Lawyers, Digital Marketing Experts have combined their knowledge and experience to imagine a highly innovative digital and mobile platform.
However, now with the millennials relying so much on almost everything being available at the touch of a button, YOTHA has decided to change the way yachting works and want to aim to make your trip as seamless and easy from the get go, saying au revoir to all the old paper work that used to come with the trip of a lifetime.
The new concept behind YOTHA is to simply be able to download the YOTHA app, choose which yacht and destination you would like to experience, discuss a little money here and there et voila! Your dream trip is now in at the touch of your finger-tips, quite literally. Once all the details have been finalised, your personalised YOTHA guest account will feature menus, destinations, beach clubs, shopping and wellbeing services, all at the touch of that button via the app, which can be organised as and when you desire, a bespoke concierge service to ensure complete satisfaction.
To kick start our weekend away, upon arrival at Nice airport, we were whisked away to the airports very own private heli-pad, where we departed for Monaco on board one of the Monacair very fashionable and luxurious helicopters. The short but oh so sweet seven minute journey is something we wished would last an hour, as we flew along the coast of the South of France and over the beautiful clear waters that made us feel as though we were flying over the Indian Ocean. Monacair offers the customer the chance to choose where you would like to visit, whether it be Monaco, St Tropez, Gstaad or Geneva for example, along with the further chance to choose which air craft you would like to experience your trip on. YOTHA work incredibly closely with Monacair, in order to transport guests, if they wish, to the closest port of their chosen yacht.
Upon arrival, we were greeted and welcomed onto the 143 ft turquoise mega yacht by COO Carlo Benveduti, that was built in 2014 for owner CEO Philippe Bacou. This mega yacht features five beautifully styled cabins, with eight crew members at hand and could sleep up to 10 guests, which was based in the port of Nice when not being chartered. The cool price for a week onboard? Only 170k.
After being briefed about what was in store during our two night stay, we set sail from the port of Monaco, through the bay of Nice, onwards to St Tropez and finally to Cannes, where we would disembark. Very reluctantly.
The grand tour of the vessel continued to amaze us room after room. The indoor salon was grand, with colourful art work and Swarovski crystal chandeliers, there were four stunningly designed double rooms, all with en suite bathrooms, a huge master cabin with tiled bath, shower and access to the bow of the boat, a stunning sunbathing area and jacuzzi on the upper deck along with a large dining area and an extendable table and sofa seating on the main deck. And, if a crew of eight on hand isn’t quite enough to make your day more enjoyable, maybe their toy selection hidden on the lower deck will make your day that little bit brighter; jet skis, slides, kayaks, paddle boards, water skis and diving equipment.
After sampling our first meal on board of fresh octopus carpaccio and mouth-watering panna cotta, served by the stewards in the style of silver service, we set sail for a couple of rocky hours until we docked at the port of Saint Tropez. After trying the scrumptious three course set menu at Hotel de Paris ( one of YOTHA’s partners), we wandered back through the stunning cobbled streets of St Tropez, lined with designer stores, before jumping back onboard the yatch and heading to bed, inner thoughtfully designed suite.
On the last day of our wonderful trip, we woke up and dined around the al fresco dining table on the main floor in our personalised YOTHA dressing gowns, accompanied by sunglasses ( we really tried to channel our inner Bridget Bardot). A breakfast full of anything and everything your heart desired was served along with coffee, an array of juices or the option of prosecco; the latter was most popular. After breakfast, we upped anchor and set sail to a small bay very close to our afternoon lunch destination called Club 55. Now, if you haven’t heard of Club 55, firstly google it now and secondly, it has just topped your bucket list of dining destinations. Club 55 is a beautiful rustic yet uber luxurious beach club in St Tropez, offering relaxing and snug day beds and beach loungers on the small private beach. To get to shore, the beach club sent a dingy boat out to collect us and took us ashore to dine the afternoon away. As we walked along the wooden piers over the crystal clear waters, through the hundred year old twisted trees and into the restaurant, we were greeted by the most ‘St Tropez’ diners ever. Ladies dressed in beautiful Chanel dresses with wide brimmed hats and Gucci glasses, while the men wore Vilebrequin swim shorts, open linen shirts and boat shoes, so chic.
Three hours later after a very rosé fuelled, long lunch in the sun listening to live music, we took off back to the boat and headed to our final docking of Cannes, where we disembarked and said our goodbyes before flying home.
YOTHA Yacht Charter is in a league of their own, the most luxuriously appointed vessels, fine, dining, top notch concierge service and all with the touch of your finger tips, via the YOTHA app.
W: YOTHA
T: 377 99 90 48 11
A: 5 Rue Louis Notari, 98000 Monaco
Written by Amber Lauren for Luxuria Lifestyle International