The best way to travel is, hands-down, aboard a yacht. It is—if you could pardon the cliché—a vacation like no other! And compared to a cruise, a yacht simply offers a more personal and unbounded experience. Indeed, there can’t be a more apt metaphor for the boundless adventure that a yacht vacation delivers than the open ocean itself.
On a yacht, you’re not stuck in some drab hotel or resort. You’re not limited to pre-planned tours and shore excursions like you would be on a cruise, either. On a yacht, you are in control. On a yacht, you can change your itinerary en route at a whim. And you won’t need to worry about contending with a crowd in your own floating luxury suite.
Of course, there are countless places to visit aboard a privately chartered yacht. And, clearly, not all possible yachting destinations were made equal. Some are better than others, and some are, well, much better than others. So if you’re scratching your head wondering where your next yachting vacation should be, well, first we’d like to say that that’s an awesome problem you have there, and second, don’t fret because we’ve got you covered.
In this article, we’ve rounded up the best places to visit for your next yacht vacation. And we’d strongly suggest you take a gander at these destinations below and plan your next yacht vacation accordingly.
1. Ibiza
We know you’ve heard of this place. When most people think of Ibiza, they think of hedonism, parties, and electronic music. But trust us, Ibiza is so much more than that. Indeed, there exists a slew of magical seaside villages and immaculate beaches along the coast of Ibiza, that it is no wonder this place continues to draw more than its share of the superyacht community each year.
Ibiza is part of the Balearic Islands, a group of islands in the Mediterranean sea that include other islands like Mallorca, Menorca, and Formentera. This means a yacht charter can include—and does typically include—an excursion to these other islands. Formentera, for instance, which is renowned across Europe for its immaculately white beaches, can be your next day’s respite after a night of Ibizan debauchery.
2. French Riviera
There is definitely something so mystical about the French Riviera that its mere mention invokes charterers to grab their passports and check their schedules. This place is, after all, one of the most glamorous charter destinations. From its beautiful coastline to its world-class restaurants, it’s really no wonder why the rich often come here to play.
What’s more, the Côte d’Azur coastline offers a slew of yacht destinations, including Monaco, St Tropez, Nice, Cannes, and a lot more else. There’s simply a bevy of opportunity at every turn. Indeed, one could—and one should—charter a yacht and visit some of the events that The French Riviera regularly plays host to, like the Cannes Film Festival, the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, or the various yachting shows that showcase the most luxurious yachts in one place. Trust us, there is a multitude of yachting pleasures to be had in this area of the Mediterranean, and if you have the moolah for it, we’d recommend you put the French Riviera high on your list.
3. Fiji
If you want a more laid-back, remote, and off-the-beaten-path kind of getaway, then Fiji, the Soft Coral Capital of the World, might just be the perfect yacht destination for you. There are 300 islands in this area of the South Pacific that are waiting to be explored, and if you’re an avid diver, hundreds upon hundreds of species of fish.
Fiji is high on any charterer’s bucket list because Fijian nature is nature at its best. And, trust us, soaking up the culture and exploring the place by hopping from one island to the next will be best done with a crewed catamaran or yacht.
4. The British Virgin Islands
This place is, without a doubt, one of the best sailing destinations in the world, and is in fact widely regarded as the boating capital of the Caribbean. Snorkel, dive, swim or just remain moored off Anegada to enjoy the sunset, it can all be done here, in and around these mystical set of islands. Visit uninhabited places and explore the various geological wonders on offer, again, the possibilities in the British Virgin Islands are nearly endless.
There are more than a few reasons why the British Virgin Islands is home to one of the largest charter fleets in the world. We suggest you check your schedule to experience those reasons first hand.
5. The Bahamas
You expected we would be mentioning this place at some point. The Bahamas, a place that has an average of 300 sunny days in a year, has got some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, after all. It is a place that simply epitomizes paradise.
The cuisine is world-class, there are more than a dozen dive sites to explore (indeed, Bahamas is home to one of the largest coral reefs in the world), and the sand—my goodness, the sand—is as powdery white as nothing you’ve ever seen. There is just so much to do in The Bahamas, which is precisely why it’s one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
6. Maldives
They don’t call this place The Pearl of the Indian Ocean for nothing. It is one of the most popular yacht charter destinations not least because of its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Indeed, Maldives will be on any diving enthusiast’s bucket list because not only does it have one of the world’s largest expanses of coral reefs, it also has one of the world’s most breathtaking natural aquariums. What’s more, there are 1,190 islands waiting to be explored!
And, what better way to explore the multitude of blue lagoons and secluded anchorages in and around the pristine beaches of Maldives than in your own privately chartered yacht?