Is a Boat Tour in Side Worth It?
A boat day is a fixed block of holiday time spent with strangers on someone else's schedule. For many people that is exactly the attraction. For some, it is not.
Short answer
It is worth it if you want a day on the water without organising anything: transport, lunch on most boats, swim stops and a crew are all arranged, and no money moves until the tour day. It is not worth it if you dislike fixed schedules or crowded decks, unless you choose one of the two quiet tours.
What your fare buys
A return transfer from your hotel, a crew, insurance on the tours that list it, and the boat day itself. Eight of the nine include lunch. The prices page holds the figures per tour and per age.
Set that against what you would need to arrange yourself to see this coast from the water: getting to the harbour, finding a boat, sorting a meal. The value lies largely in having all of that handled, and in being able to back out free of charge up to 48 hours before the start.
What it does not buy
- Drinks, on most boats. The Island and Relax tours are the exceptions to the rule, and the others sell them on board.
- Photographs. Onboard teams sell these separately.
- Wild animals. Dolphins and turtles are never guaranteed, however good the location.
- A fixed route. Sea and weather decide where the boat goes, and the crew may adjust the plan.
- Solitude. These are shared boats, and you will be with other holidaymakers all day.
When it pays off most
Families get a lot from it, because the crew's games take some of the load and a tired child has a ride home. Groups of friends get a ready-made party on the six foam days. Couples can have the Relax day, which costs more than most of the others and covers more. First-time visitors get to see the coast from the sea, including, on the Caretta Bay route, the peninsula of Side itself.
When to spend the day differently
If you get anxious when you cannot leave, remember that a boat has no exit until it returns. If your party cannot agree on a shared-deck atmosphere, chartering privately is a different proposition altogether. And if your flight is close, a boat day may be one thing too many; think about what would happen if it were moved. If paddling appeals more than lounging, a river day might be a better use of your time.
How to make sure it pays off
Choose the tour by what you actually want, using the comparison. Check what is excluded, bring money for it, and pack properly with the short list. Then let the crew do the rest. The worst boat days are those spent comparing them to a different boat day.
