Motorboat rental on the Costa Smeralda: a day, a week and what to know

The Costa Smeralda is the stretch of coast between the Gulf of Cugnana and the Gulf of Arzachena in north-east Sardinia: Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo, Cala di Volpe, beaches such as Capriccioli, Liscia Ruja and Romazzino. The bays sit close together and the water is bright over sand and granite. Few areas suit a motorboat as well: you move quickly from bay to bay, and the La Maddalena archipelago is not far away.

With motorboats, what matters is not only the number of seats but whether you want to sleep on board.

• Open boat or RIB for a day: for couples, families and small groups who want to swim, see the bays and be back in the evening. Many boats of this size are available without a licence; what exactly applies is shown on the boat and in the licence section below.
• Motorboat with a cabin: for a long day with shade and a toilet on board, or for two or three nights as a couple or a foursome.
• Motor yacht with several cabins: for a week with family or friends, usually with a skipper, often with additional staff. Here cabins and berths count, not just the number of people allowed.

Every boat page lists cabins and berths first; we show the maximum number of people only when the provider states it. Beds and day guests are two different numbers.

Above a certain engine power or distance from the coast, Italian law requires a boat licence; small boats with less powerful engines can often be driven near the coast without one. Your provider tells you what applies to a particular boat and decides whether to hand it over without a skipper. Larger motor yachts almost always come with a skipper.

A skipper knows the bays that are sheltered in a mistral and the harbours where a berth is free in high summer. It is not a luxury: it turns a week of planning into a week of holiday.

On Go2Boat you see the final price with all mandatory extras, such as final cleaning, from the start. On motorboats fuel is often not included: it is charged by consumption, which depends heavily on the boat and speed. Whether and how is shown in the boat's extras. If in doubt, ask beforehand how it is charged.

Berths in Porto Cervo and other Costa Smeralda harbours are in demand in July and August and cost extra. For a week, plan anchorages and book harbours early, or leave it to the skipper.

July and August are high season: warm, lively and busy. June and September are calmer, the sea is warm and it is easier to find a spot in the bays. In a north-westerly mistral, bays open to the south-east are more sheltered.