Chartering a whole boat sounds like something other families do, until you price it against a big group tour for six people and realise the gap is smaller than expected, and the day is entirely yours. This guide is for first-timers: which of our three Side charters suits which family, what the honest limitations are, and how to make the day work with children aboard.
Why a private boat works for families
On a shared cruise, the schedule belongs to the loudest common denominator. On your own boat, nap times, swim stops and lunch happen when your family needs them. On the private gulet, the captain recommends bays and your group picks where to drop anchor; on the VIP wooden boat you choose where to swim, how long to linger and even what music plays. The gentle start also matters with nervous swimmers: the river-departure boats glide down the calm Manavgat River first, and the first swim comes at the sheltered delta rather than open sea.
Which boat for which family
Small family, first charter: the wooden boat
The wooden-boat option on the VIP programme starts from €400 for the boat rather than per person, which makes it the lowest-risk way to try a private day afloat. The programme typically runs four to six hours: the shortest of the three, which is a feature, not a flaw, with young children. Infants travel free, your exact figure is confirmed in writing before you commit, and lunch menus can be adjusted for dietary needs if you tell us early.
Multi-generation trip or celebration: the gulet
The 28-metre gulet takes anything from a small family up to around 50 guests for about seven hours, so grandparents, cousins and a birthday cake all fit. Travel insurance is included for all guests, infants aged 0–2 sail free, and deck decoration for a celebration is arranged if you request it 2–3 days ahead. Bring your own playlist, the music system is included.
A special occasion within the family: the motor yacht
The 24-metre luxury motor yacht (from €640, up to 25 guests, about six hours) is the one to pick when the family day doubles as an anniversary or a proposal: the whole programme can shift to the evening on request so you return at sunset.
The fine print for parents
- Boarding is via steps on the motor yacht, and it is not suitable for wheelchair users. Toddlers need a hand up; talk to us first if anyone in the group has limited mobility.
- It is a long day. Six to seven hours on the water is glorious for most kids and too much for some. Shade, sunbeds and a freshly cooked lunch help; so does the shorter wooden-boat option.
- Safety equipment is on board and an experienced captain and professional crew run the day, but the sea is still the sea, children swim when you say so, at stops the captain has chosen for calm water.
- Weather calls are made for you. If conditions are unsafe, the captain postpones or cancels free of charge.
- Availability is on request for the VIP boats and demand is high, families tied to school-holiday dates should confirm early. The yacht and gulet run April to the end of October in the 2026 season.
Booking without the gamble
For a first charter, the terms matter as much as the boat: reservation is free, you pay on board on the day, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, so a child's fever the night before does not cost you the charter. Compare all three boats on the private charter collection page, see the full cost structure in our prices guide, and pack using the what-to-bring list. If this is one day of a longer holiday, the complete local guide to Side excursions covers the rest.