The motor-yacht listings we read publish high-season weeks of up to €68,000 for 20–30 m and up to €148,000 for 30–45 m, before extras; the listings do not state the year, so treat them as a snapshot, not 2027 offers. On top come the APA, tax on the charter fee and an optional crew tip. An illustrative July week for 10 guests on a 35 m yacht boarding in Cannes comes to about €247,900.
At a glance
| Listings we read, high-season week | Up to €68,000 for 20–30 m and up to €148,000 for 30–45 m motor yachts (2 listings each) |
| Where yachts are based | Mostly Cannes, Antibes or Monaco; boarding in St-Tropez may mean a delivery fee |
| Extras on top | APA of 30–40%, tax on the charter fee, an optional crew tip |
| Illustration, 10 guests in July | About €247,900 on a 35 m yacht boarding in Cannes |
| Anchoring | Large yachts may only anchor or moor in permitted zones, and never on seagrass |
| The one thing to check | Which weeks the yacht counts as high season, and the rate for your exact dates |
What the listings show
July and August are high season on the French Riviera, so yachts charge their top weekly rate. The figures below are published asking rates from the listings in our Charter Price Index, read 29 October 2026. They are not the most a yacht can cost, and the listings do not say which year they are for.
| Group | Low week | High week | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor yachts, 20–30 m | €23,000 | €68,000 | 2 Mediterranean listings |
| Motor yachts, 30–45 m | €90,000 | €148,000 | 2 listings |
| Riviera Living (Princess 35M), 35.15 m, 10 guests | €118,000 | €148,000 | One listing; home port Cannes and Monaco |
The Riviera Living listing does not name its high-season months, so confirm with the broker that July and August fall under the high rate.
A typical week covers St-Tropez, Pampelonne Bay off Ramatuelle, the Îles d'Hyères (Porquerolles and Port-Cros), Cannes and the Îles de Lérins.
What is extra on a summer week
- Plus expenses. The charter fee covers the yacht and her crew; running costs are paid on top.
- APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance): an advance the captain spends on fuel, food, drink and port fees, reconciled with receipts at the end. Bespoke Yacht Charter (2026) gives 30–40% on the Riviera; Riviera Living asks for 35%. See how APA works.
- Tax on the charter fee. Ocean Independence (November 2025) gives 20% for a charter handed over in France. How your charter is taxed depends on the contract and where the yacht is handed over, so ask for the rate and its basis in writing.
- Crew gratuity, at your discretion; Bespoke Yacht Charter gives 10–15% for the Riviera.
- Delivery fee. If the yacht is based in Cannes or Monaco and you want to board in St-Tropez, the listing warns a transfer fee may apply.
Three things spend the APA faster in July and August: fuel on fast days between Cannes, St-Tropez and Porquerolles; berths, as the port of St-Tropez has few visitor berths for large yachts in peak weeks; and days ashore at the Pampelonne beach clubs, billed to you from the APA or directly.
Anchoring off St-Tropez
French rules for the Mediterranean protect Posidonia seagrass, so anchoring on it is banned. Larger yachts may only anchor or moor in the zones the authorities allow for their size, and a mooring may need booking and paying for. The captain plans where you stop; ask the broker where the yacht can stop off Pampelonne in your week.
Illustration: a July week for 10 guests
| Line | Basis | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | Published high-season rate | €148,000 |
| APA | 35% of the charter fee (listing) | €51,800 |
| Tax on the charter fee | 20% | €29,600 |
| Crew gratuity | 12.5% of the charter fee | €18,500 |
| Illustrative budget | €247,900 |
About €24,790 a guest, before flights and transfers. The APA is reconciled at the end: unused money comes back, and a heavy fuel week may need a top-up.
A smaller case: 6 guests on a 20–30 m motor yacht at the top of the listings: €68,000 charter fee + €20,400 APA (30%) + €13,600 tax (20%) + €6,800 tip (10%) = an illustrative budget of €108,800.
The French Riviera cost guide has the same sums for the whole coast.
What to ask your broker
- Do July and August both count as high season for this yacht, and is there a premium for the weeks around mid-August?
- Which year is the rate for, and is it the rate for my exact dates?
- Is there a delivery fee to board in St-Tropez, and how much?
- Where can the yacht anchor or moor off Pampelonne in my week, and does a mooring need booking?
- What is the tax on the charter fee, and on what basis is it worked out for my route?
When this is not the right choice
- Cost matters. June and September are cheaper than peak summer on many yachts, and the bays are quieter.
- You would rather watch sailing than visit beach clubs. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is held in late September and early October; the Saint-Tropez tourism office lists 25 September to 3 October 2027.
- You want emptier anchorages. Corsica is south across open water; how long the crossing takes depends on the yacht, the route and the conditions.
Questions people ask
Is July or August more expensive for a St-Tropez charter?
Many yachts charge the same high-season rate for both months, and some add a premium for the peak weeks around mid-August. Ask the broker for the rate for your exact dates and the year it applies to.
Can you start a charter in St-Tropez?
Yes, but most Riviera yachts are based in Cannes, Antibes or Monaco. Boarding in St-Tropez can mean a delivery fee to bring the yacht to you, so compare that with boarding at the home port.
Can a big yacht anchor at Pampelonne?
Only where the current prefecture orders allow for her size, and never on protected seagrass. The captain plans the stop using the current orders and the Pampelonne plan, and a mooring may need booking.
How much tax is charged on a St-Tropez charter?
Ocean Independence gives 20% on the charter fee for a charter handed over in France. How your charter is taxed depends on the contract and the handover, so ask the broker for the rate and its basis in writing.
How much should we tip the crew after a summer week?
The tip is at your discretion and separate from the APA. Bespoke Yacht Charter gives 10–15% of the charter fee for the Riviera.
Sources
- Boatbookings, Riviera Living (Princess 35M) listing, read 29 Oct 2026
- Boatbookings, Iary (Mangusta 110) listing, read 29 Oct 2026
- Boatbookings, Hunky Dory of London (Sunseeker 86) listing, read 29 Oct 2026
- Boatbookings, Tamara II (Azimut 68) listing, read 29 Oct 2026
- Ocean Independence, Yacht charter VAT explained (updated November 2025), read 29 Oct 2026
- French tax authority (BOFiP), place of taxation of short-term hire of a means of transport, including pleasure boats (BOI-TVA-CHAMP-20-50-30), read 29 Oct 2026
- Bespoke Yacht Charter, French Riviera charter cost in 2026, read 29 Oct 2026
- Saint-Tropez tourism office, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez (event listing), read 29 Oct 2026
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