I recently had the pleasure of working with Lauren Heath, our Yacht Charter Specialist at Charter Smarter, to book an incredible boat for a week-long New Year's celebration in 2025. From my initial interaction with Charter Smarter on Instagram, I was impressed by their responsiveness and personable approach.

Lauren took the lead in understanding our needs and preferences, expertly guiding us through the process of narrowing down our options. Her exceptional communication skills, attention to detail, and thoughtful approach made her an absolute joy to work with. She was incredibly responsive, answering most questions within minutes, which helped alleviate any concerns we may have had.

What truly stood out was Lauren's patience and respect when we needed time to make a decision. She provided us with all the necessary information to ensure our comfort and confidence in booking the trip, particularly when it came to accommodating my elderly parents' needs. There was no pressure or hard sell, just a genuine desire to ensure we were completely satisfied with our choice.

Overall, my experience with Lauren and Charter Smarter was one of the best travel booking experiences I've ever had. Thank you, Lauren, for your outstanding service and dedication to making our New Year's charter unforgettable. We can't wait to set sail!

The Charter Smarter website is remarkably easy to use and has everything you would want/need to know. Kristi M has been invaluable in responding to questions and offering suggestions. And she is seemingly always available. We are all very much looking forward to our BVI trip.

Charter Smarter made the booking process simple and seamless. They were highly responsive to our many questions. All emails and phone calls were handled promptly and all questions were explained thoroughly. We are beyond excited for our trip and are thankful for such an easy process! I cannot recommend this company highly enough. You are in good hands with Charter Smarter!

Just booked a Charter Smarter catamaran in the British Virgin Islands with Lauren who was very responsive and extremely helpful. The process was easy and smooth and she even provided land resort, water taxi, and trip insurance recommendations for our trip. Will follow up in November after we get back. Can't wait!

My family just completed a 7 day sail through the Exumas on the Wonderway booked through Charter Smarter. What an incredible trip of a lifetime! The entire process was seamless from start to finish. The communication from the charter smarter team was tremendous. All of the planning and execution was flawless. Thank you to Kristi, Emily and Jill from charter smarter! A huge thanks to Captain Pete and chef Allie on the Wonderway. Truly the trip of a lifetime for our family! We will be back!

We booked a 7 night Exumas sail through Charter Smarter and it was perfect! The booking process was simple and they were able to answer any questions we had. We felt supported every step of the way. As far as the charter - we were blown away! Pete and Allie were so so great. Amazing food and perfect beach days and snorkeling spots. Truly a bucket list trip and my family is so grateful for these awesome memories!!!

Lauren was amazing to work with for booking my New Year’s Eve charter in the BVIs. She communicated wonderfully throughout the whole process, answering all of my questions quickly and clearly. She made everything so easy and helped get the trip booked without any stress. I really appreciated how seamless she made the experience from start to finish—couldn’t have asked for better support!

My experience with Charter Smarter has been wonderful. Lauren Heath was very responsive and professional. She answered all of my questions and addressed my concerns regarding the contract.

I would definitely recommend Lauren to anyone who is looking for a yacht charter in the BVI.

We had an amazing trip to BVI! Jill at Charter Smarter was super communicative and helpful. Her advice on picking the right boat and crew was invaluable. Touch the Sky with Nate and Hilary exceeded all of our expectations. We can't wait to go back!

Just book my first charter and Kristi could not be more helpful! I had many questions and she answered them with patience and quick responses. She made the whole process very smooth.

We just booked a BVI Charter and Emily at Charter Smarter was very easy to work with!

She was knowledgeable, transparent and easy going, which made the process extremely smooth. Although we are not sailing until July 2026, we feel great about the investment in an amazing vacation so far!

We are planning a BVI trip for 60 Bday. Kristi and Charter Smarter have made the experience super easy. Kristi was able to provide us plenty of options for boats and length of stay for what we want to do Just put the deposit done and the booking process was so easy. Can’t wait to go sailing. Thanks again!

Kristi and team have been awesome and incredibly professional, helpful and easy to work with! Thrilled for our charter!

What a wonderful experience!!! Kristi was extremely helpful through all the steps of the process quickly responding to any questions that we had (this was our first time chartering).

Julle and Anna were fantastic!!! Service was wayyyy beyond what we expected. The food/drink was delicious and plentiful. We felt safe and cared for throughout the week. They were very thoughtful and attentive to our needs. I would HIGHLY recommend this charter service and crew!

All went extremely well and exceeded all of our expectations!! Kristi was the best - responsive, patient and helpful with booking and planning. Julle and Anna were absolutely wonderful - we felt safe the whole time with Julle and Anna’s food was absolutely incredible. The whole family loved it, all details were cared for (and then some). I will be sharing this incredible trip with all of my friends and family!!!

We booked our trip through Charter Smarter, with Kristi Marquart helping us every step of the way. She listened to what we were looking for and provided us with a list of boats that would meet our needs. Once we narrowed that list down, she provided us with the additional information we needed to get our trip booked. She was patient and very responsive. She also provided us with guidance on hotels, ferries etc. We highly recommend!

Krissy

Really enjoyed working with Emily during our booking process. As a first timer I had a lot of questions and she took care of them all!! Thank you Emily!

Jessica

Very simple process and the best vacation! We'll be using Charter Smarter for our next yacht charter, for sure!

Mackenzie

Our experience booking our charter through CharterSmarter has been great. Kristi Marquart has provided excellent customer service throughout the process, being patient, responsive & very knowledgeable when answering any of our questions and providing any information or help we needed along the way. Thanks Kristi!

Dave

Kristi, our charter Yacht specialist, was great to work with and answered all of our questions.

Pamela

There are few places quite like the BVI to feast your eyes on turquoise waters and marvelous snorkeling. Emily at Charter Smarter was super efficient and responsive throughout the booking process and checked in during our trip. The captain and chef were very accommodating for guests' activity interests and dietary wishes in spite of somewhat limited grocery items available in the islands. Both were very safety conscious and kept close watch on us.

Jennifer

Our family and friends just returned from one of the best vacations we’ve ever had, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible experience. From the start, Kristi made the planning process seamless—she was incredibly helpful, responsive, and attentive to every detail.
Once onboard, our crew, Mitch and Emma, exceeded all expectations. Not only were they highly professional and experienced, but their insider knowledge of the best destinations and ideal timing made our journey even more special. Emma’s gourmet meals were absolutely outstanding, adding a five-star dining experience to our adventure. Beyond that, they went above and beyond by assisting with taxi arrangements and recommending fantastic restaurants for the few meals we enjoyed off the boat.

This trip was truly unforgettable, and we deeply appreciate everything that was done to make it so memorable. If you’re considering a boat charter, we highly recommend Kristi and this exceptional crew—you won’t be disappointed!

Rob

Paul and Lexy were the perfect skipper-chef duo! So easy to be with, so natural, so pleasant, so capable, and so helpful at all the right times. They created a great vibe and itinerary for us to unwind, explore, and relax as a couple.

The food was terrific, the boat was modern, cool, always clean, and felt luxurious. And while we loved the snorkeling, hikes, and beaches, too - in the end I think what I appreciated the most was how easy it was just to be. The only decision we needed to make: which part of the boat to relax on when reading or catching sun. Such a wonderful time - I’d do this again in a heartbeat!

Colleen & Randy

Our recent trip in the Virgin Islands was amazing. Emily at Charter Smarter was so helpful. She responded quickly and helped us organize our entire vacation in no time.

Sean and Julia on Shangri La were the best! Extremely knowledgeable and they genuinely wanted us to enjoy every minute. The food all week was excellent. Julia was very accommodating with a selective eater in our bunch. Sean was great with our kids. Very patient and never tired of the endless questions. Loved all his drone footage too.

We can't wait to book another trip with them.

Kate

We searched several companies to find the best fit for our families to charter in the Bahamas and decided to use Kristi with Charter Smarter. We all have been very pleased with her attention to detail in finding us the best boat at the best price. She was always available to us during the crucial last minute decision-making process and her transparency and experience in the industry was invaluable. We (two families) highly recommend her and Charter Smarter!

Richard

We had the absolute best vacation and booking experience with Whiskey Business booked via Charter Smarter. We loved everything about our trip. We found it to be perfectly sized for our family of 4 and had every amenity we could want.

The crew were perfection! We consider them friends now, and definitely felt they heard our requests and managed to meet all of them. We got to see so much of the islands, but also had adequate time to relax and enjoy the scenery. It was a great mix of changing scenery without feeling nonstop!

Danielle with Charter Smarter definitely advised us well and made all the logistics of booking a charter a breeze!

Whitney

I highly recommend working with Kristi at Charter Smarter for booking your charter. Kristi went above and beyond and made booking a wonderful experience. She was very patient throughout the booking process while my charter guests and I ironed out details for booking. She answered multiple questions and offered several different options. She also made suggestions based on information I provided and offered feedback.

Kristi even provided a list of hotels, restaurants and tips for the area surrounding the yacht club/marina where my guests and I will be boarding our charter.

Thank you Kristi for such a wonderful, friendly experience and for your professionalism. 😊

Gray

Booked through Jill Bailey. We were newbies who were sent her way. She helped us through all the steps of the process, answered our dumb questions, listened to what we were looking for, and gave us excellent advice. She always responded promptly and helped us navigate the process. She ended up pairing us with a perfect boat/crew, which helped us have the trip of a lifetime. Would certainly recommend and would book with them again.

John

The booking process was smooth and everything happened as promised.

Eric

We recently returned from an unforgettable trip through the BVI aboard EvenStar, and we can't recommend CharterSmarter.com enough—especially Emily, who made the entire process seamless from start to finish. From our first conversation to the final itinerary details, Emily was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and responsive. She truly went above and beyond to ensure our trip was perfect.

Once we arrived, Captain Tim and Chef Zara took things to a whole new level. Tim was professional, fun, and knew all the best hidden spots around the islands. His calm, capable presence made us feel safe and relaxed the entire time. Zara's cooking was absolutely incredible—every meal was a highlight, and she effortlessly catered to everyone’s tastes. We’re still dreaming about her dishes!

The EvenStar itself was immaculate, beautifully maintained, and the perfect balance of luxury and comfort. Every detail was taken care of, allowing us to fully unplug and enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean.

We couldn’t have asked for a better crew, boat, or experience. Huge thanks to Emily and the CharterSmarter team for helping create one of the best vacations we’ve ever had. We’re already planning our next trip.