For many people, a yachting holiday is the pinnacle of luxury, equivalent to the most extravagant hotel, but with the added bonus of panoramic views of the ocean on all sides. Whether they’re equipped with helipads and swimming pools, or at the more modest end of the spectrum, a yachting holiday is a treat that any water-loving holiday-maker will enjoy.

Chartering a yacht is a great way to get the holiday of your dreams without having to compromise by sticking to someone else’s schedule and itinerary. Chartering a yacht means that you get to do whatever you want, when you want, at your own pace, so it’s a great choice for anyone who prefers to holiday their way.

For all the fun of yacht ownership without the hefty price tag, chartering a yacht offers high-end accommodation without the trappings of a hotel. You can move from place to place without having to pack your suitcase every time you fancy seeing somewhere new.

Yacht chartering terminology

If you are new to yacht chartering, then you will need to familiarise yourself with some of the terminology that may be used, including:

Bareboat: this means chartering a boat with no crew or provisions included, so this option is only suitable for experienced sailors that want complete freedom to go wherever they want.

Berth: this can refer to a cabin on board the boat, or a place at a dock where the boat may be moored.

Captain-only charter: this is a yacht that comes with a captain but doesn’t include any other crew.

Charter terms: these lay out the conditions under which the yacht is chartered and include details of whether provisions and meals are included etc.

Crewed charter: the charter includes a crew that will include a captain and a permanent crew who run everything on board during your stay.

Owner-operator: someone who owns a yacht and skippers it when it is chartered by guests.

Power cruiser: a motorised yacht that also includes accommodation.

Sailing yacht: a yacht that is primarily powered by sailing, although most have an engine on board as well.

Tandem charter: chartering more than one yacht at a time.

Once you understand the terminology, you can decide what type of charter is more suitable for your needs. Experienced sailors may prefer to have the flexibility of a bareboat charter and the fun of sailing themselves.

Those who are relatively new to sailing may prefer to opt for a fully crewed yacht so that they can focus on enjoying themselves without having to worry about wind speeds or plotting a course to their next destination. Choosing the type of charter that works best for you is the first step to your perfect yachting holiday. Even if you still struggling to find the best pick for you, you can always look at Borrow A Boat, where they’ll give you and helping hand, in deciding the best type of boat for your holiday.

Consider your budget

Chartering a yacht may offer the opportunity for a luxury holiday, but you can find a yacht charter to suit your budget, especially if you can be flexible about your destination and your timings. Choosing the beginning or end of the most popular seasons, opting for a lesser-known destination or doing some of the work yourself can make chartering a yacht more affordable.

When you charter a yacht, you will also need to pay a deposit, to factor that into your costings. You will also need to pay a security deposit on the yacht you charter, but you can cover this with insurance before your trip so it is easy to budget for these costs.

If you choose a fully crewed charter with everything included, you should have details of all your costs up front. But if you want to be more flexible, you can opt for a bareboat or skipper-only charter.

Choosing a destination

The perfect holiday can be yours when you charter a yacht and explore your ideal destination. If you want to be able to put your feet up and relax, then you can opt for the level of crew that you want, from a skipper to do the sailing, to a full crew who will do everything from cooking and cleaning to organising excursions and other entertainment for you while you are on holiday.

Then, you will need to choose a destination from one of the many amazing sailing spots around the world. Sailing seasons vary from place to place, so if you want to go at a particular time of year, you will need to consider where the weather and conditions will be optimal when you want to go.

For a European holiday, many people opt for the Mediterranean for its beauty and variety of landscapes and entertainment, and the sailing season in the Med runs from April to October. This region includes popular choices such as France, Italy, Spain, and Malta, but a Mediterranean break can also take in places such as Cyprus, Slovenia, Tunisia and Croatia .

If you fancy somewhere further afield, there are plenty of popular options including the Seychelles, the Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. Other options include places that might not instantly spring to mind such as Thailand, Fiji and the Whitsunday Islands in Australia.

Whatever your ideal holiday and wherever you want to go, chartering a yacht is a great way to make sure everything about your trip is exactly how you want it. From lazing on the deck, soaking up the sun in the middle of nowhere, to island hopping and enjoying the culture of a range of different places, your yacht chartering experience is exactly what you make it.