# Thailand vs French Polynesia (Tahiti) for a yacht charter

> Thailand is cheaper over the year, in 7 of 12 months (12 Knots, October 2026). Weather, licence, distances, cost and best months, sourced.

URL: https://catamaranindex.com/compare/thailand-vs-french-polynesia/
Last updated: 2026-10-29
Author: Catamaran Index editorial team

Thailand is the cheaper of the two for a catamaran charter in 7 of 12 months: 12 Knots' average weekly asking price runs €4,996–10,235 in Thailand against €5,009–10,592 in French Polynesia (updated October 2026). By our rules the best-weather months are May to October in French Polynesia, and we name no best-weather months for Thailand, where the southwest monsoon usually runs from mid-May to mid-October; on licences Thailand is "No legal licence found; sailing résumé" and French Polynesia is "No legal title for sailing craft" in our classification.

Sources: ([12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), checked 27 Oct 2026); ([12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), checked 27 Oct 2026); ([NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/), checked 28 Oct 2026); ([Tahiti Tourisme](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/), checked 27 Oct 2026); ([Land Development Department, Thailand](https://webeng.ldd.go.th/pv/?cd=228), checked 29 Oct 2026).

*Checked 29 Oct 2026. Prices are 12 Knots' average asking prices; weather is our calculation from NASA POWER and NOAA data; verdicts follow our published rules ([how we decide](#method)); facts are labelled ([labels](#labels)).*

## Verdict by traveller type

| You are… | Better pick | Why (our rule) |
|---|---|---|
| On a budget, flexible dates | **Thailand** | Mean of 12 Knots' monthly prices: €7,429 in Thailand and €8,466 in French Polynesia a week (14.0% apart, our arithmetic); cheapest month August (€4,996) in Thailand and January (€5,009) in French Polynesia. |
| Fixed dates | No pick | Cheaper by month (12 Knots, our arithmetic): Thailand: April to October; French Polynesia: November to March. |
| Summer holidays (July and August) | **Thailand** | Mean of the July and August prices: €5,035 in Thailand and €10,455 in French Polynesia (107.7% apart, our arithmetic); July and August fall in Thailand's southwest monsoon (Land Development Department). |
| Christmas and New Year (December) | **French Polynesia** | December: €10,140 in Thailand and €6,773 in French Polynesia (49.7% apart, our arithmetic). |
| Families with children | No pick | Thailand's score is partial (no season source in our method), so we pick none: 83 in Thailand and 73 in French Polynesia out of 100 (Thailand partial). |
| First charter, no sailing licence | **French Polynesia** | Thailand: No legal licence requirement; sailing résumé. French Polynesia: Sources differ: résumé (Anchor) vs formal certification (Moorings). No legal licence found; sailing résumé vs no legal title for sailing craft. Beginner scores on our method: 72 (partial) in Thailand and 66 in French Polynesia out of 100, so we use the licence rule only. Operators can still ask for more than the law, so confirm before booking. |
| Wants steady wind, or wants calm | No pick | Force 6 days per year (22 kn or more, NASA POWER, our calculation): 0.0 at Ao Chalong, Phuket (Thailand) and 7.1 at Raiatea (French Polynesia); French Polynesia has more. Windiest months by mean wind: July, August and September in Thailand, July, August and September in French Polynesia. |
| Warm water, snorkelling | About the same | Months at 24 °C or more (NOAA mean sea temperature): 12 (all year) in Thailand and 12 (all year) in French Polynesia. |
| Seasonal weather risk | No pick | Thailand: On Thailand's Andaman coast (Phuket), the rainy southwest monsoon usually runs from mid-May to mid-October and the northeast monsoon from mid-October to mid-February, according to Thailand's Land Development Department; our NASA POWER calculation at Ao Chalong gives about 266–360 mm of rain a month from June to September against 52 mm in February. French Polynesia: French Polynesia's warm, wetter season runs November to April and its cooler, drier season May to October (Météo-France), and in the Society Islands the rainy season's wettest months are December and January; at Raiatea our NASA POWER calculation gives about 210 mm in December against 48 mm in August. More: [weather in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/thailand/) · [weather in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/french-polynesia/). |
| Fishing from the boat | No pick | Thailand: No licence found; fishing banned in marine national parks. French Polynesia: None found (not verified) More: [fishing rules in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/thailand/) · [fishing rules in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/french-polynesia/). |

Each pick is our rule applied to the data, not an opinion; the rules are under [how we decide](#method).

**[See catamarans for rent in Thailand on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=thailand&pos=compare-verdict)** · **[See catamarans for rent in French Polynesia on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=french-polynesia&pos=compare-verdict)**

We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## Side by side

|  | Thailand | French Polynesia | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly price, cheapest–priciest month | €4,996–10,235 | €5,009–10,592 | [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| Cheapest month | August (€4,996) | January (€5,009) | [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| Priciest month | January (€10,235) | July (€10,592) | [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| 12-month mean | €7,429 | €8,466 | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| Boats in 12 Knots' sample (listed / unique) | 94 / 68 | 77 / 53 | [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| Charter + food only per person, 6 people, cheapest month (like-for-like) | €973–1,113 (August) | €975–1,115 (January) | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Charter + food only per person, 6 people, priciest month (like-for-like) | €1,846–1,986 (January) | €1,905–2,045 (July) | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| True cost per person, 6 people, cheapest month | €973–1,113 (August) (partial: charter + food only) | €1,175–1,315 (January) | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| True cost per person, 6 people, priciest month | €1,846–1,986 (January) (partial: charter + food only) | €2,106–2,246 (July) | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Skipper per day | not verified (destination-specific) | €274 | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Security deposit, catamaran | €4,000–10,000 (general range) | €4,000 | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Best-value months (3 cheapest) | June, August and September | December to February | *our rule*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| Best-weather months | not named (our rules do not use the monsoon dates) | May to October | *our rule*; [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/), [NOAA National Hurricane Center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), [Tahiti Tourisme](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/) |
| Sweet spot | not named | May, June and October | *our rule*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/) |
| Months to avoid | December to February on price | July to September on price; November to April for weather | *our rule*; [12 Knots, Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), [NOAA National Hurricane Center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), [Tahiti Tourisme](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/) |
| Mean air temperature, warmest month (°C) | 29 °C (April, Ao Chalong, Phuket) | 28 °C (March, Raiatea) | *our calculation*; [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/) |
| Force 6 days per year | 0.0 days (Ao Chalong, Phuket) | 7.1 days (Raiatea) | *our calculation*; [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/daily/) |
| Warm-sea months (24 °C or more) | 12 (all year) | 12 (all year) | *NOAA mean sea temperature, our count* |
| Seasonal hazard | NE monsoon October to February; SW monsoon May to October | Wet season November to April | [NOAA National Hurricane Center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), [Land Development Department, Thailand](https://webeng.ldd.go.th/pv/?cd=228), [Météo-France Polynésie](https://www.meteo.pf/fr/climat) |
| Licence | No legal licence requirement; sailing résumé | Sources differ: résumé (Anchor) vs formal certification (Moorings) | *our classification of the sources* |
| Fishing licence for guests | No licence found; fishing banned in marine national parks | None found (not verified) | – |
| Family score, best month | 83 (March to May and November) partial | 73 (May) | *our method* |
| Beginner score, best month | 72 (March to May and November) partial | 66 (May) | *our method* |
| Average hop on our 7-day route (nm) | 18.4 nm | 18.0 nm | *our calculation* |
| Longest leg (nm) | 25.5 nm (Ao Chalong → Koh Phi Phi) | 31.3 nm (Taha'a (west coral garden) → Huahine) | *our calculation* |
| Nearest airport to base, straight line | 17.6 nm / 32.7 km (Phuket Airport) | 1.4 nm / 2.6 km (Raiatea Airport) | *our choice of airport; our calculation*; [OpenStreetMap (Nominatim geocoder)](https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/) |

Prices are 12 Knots' average weekly asking prices in euros ("Updated October 2026"). Rows marked *our rule*, *our arithmetic* or *our calculation* are ours; the others are quoted.

The seasons are reversed: Cheaper by month (12 Knots, our arithmetic): Thailand: April to October; French Polynesia: November to March. French Polynesia's true cost is complete and Thailand's is partial, so compare the like-for-like rows first.

## Prices month by month

| Month | Thailand | French Polynesia | Cheaper | Difference |
|---|---:|---:|---|---:|
| [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/) | €10,235 | €5,009 | French Polynesia | €5,226 (104.3%) |
| [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/) | €9,938 | €5,811 | French Polynesia | €4,127 (71.0%) |
| [March](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/march/) | €9,125 | €7,493 | French Polynesia | €1,632 (21.8%) |
| [April](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/april/) | €8,165 | €9,399 | Thailand | €1,234 (15.1%) |
| [May](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/may/) | €5,324 | €9,284 | Thailand | €3,960 (74.4%) |
| [June](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/june/) | €5,062 | €9,450 | Thailand | €4,388 (86.7%) |
| [July](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/july/) | €5,073 | €10,592 | Thailand | €5,519 (108.8%) |
| [August](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/august/) | €4,996 | €10,317 | Thailand | €5,321 (106.5%) |
| [September](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/september/) | €5,016 | €10,209 | Thailand | €5,193 (103.5%) |
| [October](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/october/) | €6,671 | €9,777 | Thailand | €3,106 (46.6%) |
| [November](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/november/) | €9,397 | €7,473 | French Polynesia | €1,924 (25.7%) |
| [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/) | €10,140 | €6,773 | French Polynesia | €3,367 (49.7%) |

Difference is against the cheaper side, our arithmetic. Monthly figures are 12 Knots' published "average weekly cost" for catamarans. They are asking prices, bareboat and crewed mixed, all sizes, not final transaction prices (same wording as the destination pages).

[Best time to charter in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/thailand/) · [Best time to charter in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/french-polynesia/)

## Weather month by month

| Month | Thailand air °C | Thailand wind kn | Thailand sea °C | French Polynesia air °C | French Polynesia wind kn | French Polynesia sea °C |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/) | 27 | 7 | 28.4 | 28 | 11 | 28.5 |
| [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/) | 28 | 7 | 28.7 | 28 | 11 | 28.6 |
| [March](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/march/) | 29 | 6 | 29.3 | 28 | 9 | 29.0 |
| [April](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/april/) | 29 | 5 | 29.9 | 28 | 9 | 28.8 |
| [May](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/may/) | 29 | 6 | 30.0 | 28 | 10 | 28.3 |
| [June](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/june/) | 28 | 7 | 29.8 | 27 | 11 | 27.7 |
| [July](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/july/) | 28 | 8 | 29.6 | 26 | 12 | 27.1 |
| [August](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/august/) | 28 | 8 | 29.5 | 26 | 12 | 26.7 |
| [September](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/september/) | 28 | 8 | 29.0 | 26 | 12 | 26.7 |
| [October](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/october/) | 28 | 6 | 28.8 | 26 | 11 | 27.1 |
| [November](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/november/) | 28 | 6 | 28.8 | 27 | 10 | 27.7 |
| [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/) | 27 | 7 | 28.6 | 27 | 10 | 28.2 |

Air temperature and wind are NASA POWER monthly means at our reference points (Ao Chalong, Phuket; Raiatea), 2016–2025; sea temperature is NOAA's 1991–2020 mean at the nearest cell. All are our calculation, indicative only: mean wind is not gusts or sea state.

Thailand: NE monsoon October to February; SW monsoon May to October ([weather risk](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/thailand/)). French Polynesia: Wet season November to April ([weather risk](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/french-polynesia/)).

 Weather data obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center's Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) Project, funded through the NASA Earth Science Division (pulled 2026-10-28) ([NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/), checked 28 Oct 2026). We changed the data: we averaged the monthly values for 2016–2025 and converted wind from m/s to knots (our calculation).

## Costs

Partial totals (Thailand): no Globe Sailor row exists, so fuel, marina fees, extras and the skipper rate are not verified and the real total is higher; the like-for-like rows in the table above count charter + food only for both sides.

|  | Thailand | French Polynesia |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee, cheapest month | €4,996 (August) | €5,009 (January) |
| Charter fee, priciest month | €10,235 (January) | €10,592 (July) |
| Fuel per week | not verified | €210 |
| Marina per night | not verified | €62 |
| Mandatory extras | not verified | €620 |
| Skipper per day | not verified | €274 |
| Per person, 6 people, cheapest month (our arithmetic) | €973–1,113 (August), partial | €1,175–1,315 (January) |
| Per person, 6 people, priciest month (our arithmetic) | €1,846–1,986 (January), partial | €2,106–2,246 (July) |

Inputs are 12 Knots' prices and The Globe Sailor's September 2026 catamaran table (secondary), food at €20–40 per person per day; the per-person totals are our arithmetic. The Globe Sailor's table does not state a period for every column: the skipper fee is per day and the port fee per night (read from the article text); fuel per week is our reading. Tax and permit lines we could not verify (never added to a total):

- Thailand: Official national park entry fees (Similan, Ao Phang Nga).
- French Polynesia: Whether a taxe de séjour applies to charter guests, and its amount.

Full breakdown: [true cost in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/) · [true cost in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/french-polynesia/)

## Licence

**Thailand.** Probably not by law, but we could not find an official Thai source: Anchor says no licence is required by law in Thailand and that charter companies ask for a sailing résumé showing you have been in charge of a boat of similar size. The Moorings rates Phuket as a Level 2 destination.

**French Polynesia.** No licence is required by law for a sailing boat in French Polynesia: the territory's official pleasure-craft rules say sailing pleasure craft, even with an auxiliary engine, need no title, which covers a sailing catamaran (our reading; the text concerns French-flag craft). Charter companies can still ask for experience: Anchor says they ask for a sailing résumé, while The Moorings lists Tahiti among regions needing formal certification, so check with your operator.

[Licence rules in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/thailand/) · [Licence rules in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/french-polynesia/) · [Sailing licence requirements, explained](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/sailing-licence-requirements/)

## Distances

|  | Thailand | French Polynesia |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day route | [from Phuket](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/thailand/) | [the Leeward Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/french-polynesia/) |
| Total, straight lines | 110.3 nm | 90.2 nm |
| Average hop | 18.4 nm | 18.0 nm |
| Longest leg | Ao Chalong → Koh Phi Phi, 25.5 nm | Taha'a (west coral garden) → Huahine, 31.3 nm |
| Nearest airport to base | Phuket Airport to Ao Chalong: 17.6 nm / 32.7 km | Raiatea Airport to Raiatea (Uturoa): 1.4 nm / 2.6 km |
| Second airport line | – | Tahiti's Faa'a airport to Raiatea: 116.3 nm / 215.3 km |

Straight line, our calculation from OpenStreetMap coordinates; the road or ferry trip is longer. Nearest airport to the base is our choice (not the airport with the best connections). Distances are straight lines between OpenStreetMap coordinates, our calculation; the road or ferry trip is longer. We make no claim about flights. Great-circle distance between OpenStreetMap (Nominatim) coordinates, Earth radius 6,371.0088 km, 1 nm = 1.852 km. Straight lines: the sailed distance is longer. Coordinates © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL ([openstreetmap.org/copyright](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright)).

## Fishing and snorkelling

- **Thailand:** No licence found; fishing banned in marine national parks. [Fishing rules in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/thailand/).
- **French Polynesia:** None found (not verified). [Fishing rules in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/french-polynesia/).

Warm-sea months (24 °C or more, NOAA mean, our count): 12 in Thailand and 12 in French Polynesia. [Snorkel and dive in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/thailand/) · [Snorkel and dive in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/french-polynesia/).

## See boats in Thailand and French Polynesia

**[See catamarans for rent in Thailand on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=thailand&pos=compare-book)**

**[See catamarans for rent in French Polynesia on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=french-polynesia&pos=compare-book)**

Listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own and change daily; the figures on this page are 12 Knots averages. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## What we could not verify

- Thailand national park entry fees (official pages not read).
- Thailand best-weather months: we name none, because our rules do not yet use the official monsoon dates.
- Flights and connections: we make no claim about them. The airport is our choice of the nearest one to the base.
- Thailand: we name no best-weather months, because our rules do not yet use the official monsoon dates.

## How to read the labels

- **[Secondary source]**: From a newspaper, NGO, guide or tour operator; not official.
- **[Not verified]**: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess.
- No label: Read in an official text: government, park authority, ministry or official tourism board.
- *our arithmetic*: a mean, a difference, a percentage or a per-person total we calculated from the cited figures.
- *our calculation*: a distance, a weather mean or a day count we calculated from NASA POWER, NOAA or OpenStreetMap data.
- *our rule*: a verdict. Every "better pick" is a published rule applied to the data (see [how we decide](#method)), not a ranking by any source.
- *our choice*: a reference point, an airport or a tie band.

None of this is a forecast, a safety rating or a recommendation to book a particular boat.

## How we decide

- **V1.** On a budget, flexible dates: the side with the lower 12-month mean of 12 Knots' average weekly asking prices (our arithmetic). A gap under 5% of the lower mean is "about the same" (our choice).
- **V2.** Fixed dates: no single pick. We list the months in which each side has the lower 12 Knots price (our arithmetic).
- **V3.** Summer holidays: the side with the lower mean of the July and August prices; a gap under 5% of the lower figure is "about the same" (our choice).
- **V4.** Christmas and New Year: the side with the lower December price; a gap under 5% is "about the same".
- **V5.** Families with children: the higher best-month family score on our published method (calm wind, short hops, warm sea, season); scores within 5 points are a tie (our choice). No pick where a score is partial (Thailand) or both sides share one dataset (Mallorca and Ibiza).
- **V6.** First charter without a sailing licence: the side whose licence regime is lower in the order none, résumé, not confirmed, licence required (our classification of the sources); the same regime is a tie. Beginner scores on our method are printed beside it.
- **V7.** Steady wind or calm: no single pick. We print each side's force 6 days per year (22 kn or more, NASA POWER, 2016–2025, our calculation) and which side has more; a gap within 2 days is a tie (our choice).
- **V8.** Warm water, snorkelling: the side with more months at 24 °C or more by NOAA's mean sea temperature at our reference point; equal counts are a tie.
- **V9.** Seasonal weather risk: no pick. We quote each side's weather-risk answer and link its page.
- **V10.** Fishing from the boat: no pick. We quote each side's licence rule and any warning from our fishing pages.

Constants (our choices): price ties under 5% of the lower figure; score ties within 5 points; wind ties within 2 force 6 days.

True cost per person = (12 Knots charter fee + fuel + 6 marina nights + mandatory extras + food at €20–40 per person per day) ÷ 6 people (our arithmetic, The Globe Sailor's September 2026 figures). Where a side has no Globe Sailor row (BVI, Bahamas, Thailand) the total is partial and the like-for-like row uses charter + food only for both sides.

Nearest airport to the base is our choice (not the airport with the best connections). Distances are straight lines between OpenStreetMap coordinates, our calculation; the road or ferry trip is longer. We make no claim about flights.

Verdicts are our rules applied to the data, not a ranking by any source. Means, differences, per-person totals, distances and verdicts are our arithmetic or our rules.

Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/compare/thailand-vs-french-polynesia.json).

## Sources

- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [NASA POWER: Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources: Monthly API (T2M, WS10M)](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Tahiti Tourisme: Tahiti weather](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [Land Development Department, Thailand: General climatic condition (monsoons)](https://webeng.ldd.go.th/pv/?cd=228) (official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [Météo-France Polynésie: Climat de la Polynésie](https://www.meteo.pf/fr/climat) (official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [Météo-France Polynésie: Perspectives pour la saison chaude 2026-2027](https://www.meteo.pf/fr/communiques-meteorologique/perspectives-pour-la-saison-chaude-2026-2027) (official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [The Globe Sailor: What it really costs to charter a yacht](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [OpenStreetMap (Nominatim geocoder): Nominatim search API: coordinates of airports and the Palma reference point](https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/) (secondary, not official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [NASA POWER: Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources: Daily API (WS10M_MAX, WD10M) and Monthly API (PRECTOTCORR)](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/daily/) (official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [Met Office: Beaufort wind force scale](https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/guides/coast-and-sea/beaufort-scale) (official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [Anchor (formerly Helm): What qualifications do I need to charter a yacht?](https://www.anchor.yt/article/bareboat-licences) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [The Moorings: Experience guide: Level 3 sail](https://www.moorings.com/experience-guide/level-3-sail) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [RYA: Evidence of competence abroad (ICC)](https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/abroad/icc/evidence-of-competence-abroad) (reference, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [DPAM, Government of French Polynesia: Arrêté n° 668 AM of 8 July 1993 on the conduct of motor pleasure craft (consolidated)](https://www.service-public.pf/dpam/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2018/03/arrete_no_668_am_du_08.07.93_consolide.pdf) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.

Method: [methodology](https://catamaranindex.com/methodology/#compare). Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/compare/thailand-vs-french-polynesia.json).

## More

- [Thailand: charter guide](https://catamaranindex.com/thailand/)
- [Best time to charter in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/thailand/)
- [True cost in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/)
- [7-day sailing itinerary: from Phuket](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/thailand/)
- [Thailand: weather](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/thailand/)
- [Fishing rules in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/thailand/)
- [French Polynesia: charter guide](https://catamaranindex.com/french-polynesia/)
- [Best time to charter in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/french-polynesia/)
- [True cost in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/french-polynesia/)
- [7-day sailing itinerary: the Leeward Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/french-polynesia/)
- [French Polynesia: weather](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/french-polynesia/)
- [Fishing rules in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/french-polynesia/)
- [All comparisons](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/)
- [Catamaran Index home](https://catamaranindex.com/)

## FAQ

### Is Thailand or French Polynesia cheaper for a yacht charter?

Mean of 12 Knots' monthly prices: €7,429 in Thailand and €8,466 in French Polynesia a week (14.0% apart, our arithmetic); cheapest month August (€4,996) in Thailand and January (€5,009) in French Polynesia. Cheaper by month (12 Knots, our arithmetic): Thailand: April to October; French Polynesia: November to March. By our rule (on a budget, flexible dates), Thailand is cheaper. More: [best time to charter in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/thailand/) · [best time to charter in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/french-polynesia/).

### When is the best time to sail Thailand or French Polynesia?

By our rules the best-weather months are not named (our rules do not use the monsoon dates) in Thailand and May to October (sweet spot May, June and October) in French Polynesia; the three cheapest months are June, August and September in Thailand and December, January and February in French Polynesia (12 Knots, our rule). Details: [best time to charter in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/thailand/) · [best time to charter in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/french-polynesia/).

### Do I need a sailing licence in Thailand or French Polynesia?

Thailand: No legal licence requirement; sailing résumé. French Polynesia: Sources differ: résumé (Anchor) vs formal certification (Moorings). These are our summaries of the sources. Details: [licence rules in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/thailand/) · [licence rules in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/french-polynesia/).

### Which is better for families or a first charter?

Thailand's score is partial (no season source in our method), so we pick none: 83 in Thailand and 73 in French Polynesia out of 100 (Thailand partial). Thailand: No legal licence requirement; sailing résumé. French Polynesia: Sources differ: résumé (Anchor) vs formal certification (Moorings). No legal licence found; sailing résumé vs no legal title for sailing craft. Beginner scores on our method: 72 (partial) in Thailand and 66 in French Polynesia out of 100, so we use the licence rule only. Operators can still ask for more than the law, so confirm before booking. (our rules). See [families](https://catamaranindex.com/family-yacht-charter/) and [first charters](https://catamaranindex.com/beginner-yacht-charter/).

### When is the cheapest time for Thailand and French Polynesia?

The three cheapest months are June, August and September in Thailand and December, January and February in French Polynesia (12 Knots, our rule): the seasons are reversed. On Thailand's Andaman coast (Phuket), the rainy southwest monsoon usually runs from mid-May to mid-October and the northeast monsoon from mid-October to mid-February, according to Thailand's Land Development Department; our NASA POWER calculation at Ao Chalong gives about 266–360 mm of rain a month from June to September against 52 mm in February.

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