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Destination comparison

Florida vs Thailand / Phuket

Two distinct sailing grounds — here's how they compare on conditions, cost, season, and who they suit.

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Quick Comparison

Dimension Florida Thailand / Phuket
Region US East Coast & Florida Indian Ocean
Peak season Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Shoulder May, Nov May, Oct
Sailing difficulty beginner friendly easy
Recommended level beginner beginner friendly
Avg wind (winter / summer) 15 / 9 kn 12 / 14 kn
Hurricane risk Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct None
Currency USD THB
Mid-tier price (7 days) $12,000 $9,000
Luxury tier price $55,000 $38,000
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At a Glance

US East Coast & Florida
Florida

Florida is the US catamaran gateway: huge fleets, bareboat-friendly checkout, and 300+ days of sun. November-May is the season - 75-80°F, Gulf Stream easterlies and calm Keys water. June-October brings afternoon storms and hurricane risk, but also the lowest prices of the year.

  • • 2 base marinas
  • • 3 must-visit anchorages
  • • 11 boats in our fleet database for this region
Indian Ocean
Thailand / Phuket

Monsoon June-October; charter companies often close. NE monsoon (November-March) brings steady winds. Best value in SE Asia. Cheap provisioning.

  • • 3 base marinas
  • • 5 must-visit anchorages
  • • 11 boats in our fleet database for this region

Sailing Conditions

Florida averages 15 knots in winter and 9 knots in summer. Hurricane risk runs Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct — outside these months the sailing is generally dependable.

Thailand / Phuket averages 12 knots in winter and 14 knots in summer. No hurricane season.

In terms of sailing difficulty, Florida is generally rated beginner friendly and Thailand / Phuket is easy. The difference matters: Thailand / Phuket asks more of the skipper — confidence at the helm and some experience with coastal navigation helps.

Cost Comparison

For a 7-day charter of a typical 45-ft catamaran (4 cabins, sleeps 8):

Florida
  • Low season: $4,800
  • Mid season: $12,000
  • High season: $28,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $55,000+
Thailand / Phuket
  • Low season: $3,500
  • Mid season: $9,000
  • High season: $18,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $38,000+

Bareboat base rates. Crewed typically adds ~$1,500/day (captain + hostess). Prices exclude fuel, provisioning, mooring fees, gratuity.

Anchorages & Must-Do

Florida
  • Florida Keys Overseas Highway — Key Largo to Key West - 100+ miles of reef-protected, shallow water
  • Dry Tortugas National Park — Fort Jefferson and the clearest water in Florida; a 70 nm passage from Key West
  • Everglades (Flamingo) — Mangrove wilderness and a real offshore feel just an hour from Miami
Thailand / Phuket
  • Phi Phi Islands — Maya Bay; limestone karsts
  • Phang Nga Bay (Ao Phang Nga) — James Bond island; dramatic cliffs
  • Krabi - Railay Beach — Climbers' paradise
  • Similan Islands — Snorkeling/diving
  • Koh Racha — Day trip from Phuket

Which Should You Choose?

If you've never chartered before

Both work for first-timers. The default choice for the industry is BVI; choose that unless you have specific reasons to prefer Florida or Thailand / Phuket.

If you want warmer / tropical water

Choose Thailand / Phuket. Warmer water year-round (often 75–85°F), palm-fringed anchorages.

If you want history / culture / food

Florida has 0 cultural anchorages vs Thailand / Phuket's 0. Pick by what kind of stop you want between swims.

Captain's Take

"Fort Lauderdale is the least intimidating place in the world to start a catamaran charter - the Intracoastal gives you a protected shakedown and the Keys give you your first ocean miles in tiny steps. The classic week is down the Keys with an overnight in Key West. Keep an eye on the Gulf Stream: it runs north at 2-4kt and decides every passage you make. Summer afternoons bring building storms; plan to be anchored by 15:00."

— Captain E. (2Hulls editorial charter captain), local captain · year_round note · verified 2026-09-09

Timing and Budget: Florida vs Thailand / Phuket

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Florida or Thailand / Phuket better for a first-time charter? ▾
Both work well for first-timers. Florida has beginner friendly sailing; Thailand / Phuket is easy. Most first-timers pick Florida (BVI is the canonical first-charter destination) but Thailand / Phuket is also well-supported by checkout sails at the marina.
Which is cheaper to charter — Florida or Thailand / Phuket? ▾
Thailand / Phuket is the cheaper of the two at the mid-tier: ~$9,000/week vs ~$12,000/week for Florida. Bareboat low-season starts around $3,500 in Thailand / Phuket vs $4,800 in Florida.
When is the best time to visit Florida vs Thailand / Phuket? ▾
Florida: peak Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr; shoulder May, Nov; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Thailand / Phuket: peak Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr; shoulder May, Oct; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Both are Caribbean-style (peak = Dec–Apr).
How do sailing conditions compare — Florida vs Thailand / Phuket? ▾
Florida: typical winter winds 15 knots, summer 9 knots. Sailing difficulty: beginner friendly. Hurricane risk: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Thailand / Phuket: typical winter winds 12 knots, summer 14 knots. Sailing difficulty: easy. No hurricane season.
Which has better flight access — Florida or Thailand / Phuket? ▾
Florida: Fort Lauderdale (FLL) / Miami (MIA), also Key West (EYW), Tampa (TPA) for the Gulf. Thailand / Phuket: Phuket (HKT), also Krabi (KBV), Ko Samui (USM), Bangkok (BKK).
Which is more beginner-friendly, Florida or Thailand / Phuket? ▾
Both are accessible to first-time charterers (beginner and beginner friendly respectively). Many charterers combine both on one trip.
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