OnewsO: Chartering a Yacht Is a Lot More Affordable Than You’d Think

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Chartering a Yacht Is a Lot More Affordable Than You’d Think

TRAVEL TODAY

Luxury

Chartering a Yacht Is a Lot More Affordable Than You'd Think

As a travel editor, I try not to repeat vacations—after all, there's too much world and not enough time to see it all. But there is one trip I have taken twice and am on track to make an annual tradition: The Mediterranean yacht trip.

That is quite likely the most pretentious sentence I have ever written, but please hear me out.

A couple summers ago, seven friends and I met in Athens and sailed south to the Cyclades for a week on a privately chartered catamaran. We spent days swimming in deserted coves and evenings dining at seaside bistros. Once, I jumped right off the boat and swam to a shore populated by a small church and a lone donkey. On some nights, we simply anchored in a safe harbor and slept beneath the stars.

The best part? It cost less than $1,000 per person for the week, including onboard lodging, a captain, and a host who cooked and cleaned for us—on par with the nightly rate of a two-person hotel room in peak season Greece. As Kraig Becker writes in our travel guide, updated technology and an abundance of interest from travelers has made this once exclusive vacation more accessible and affordable than ever.

Keep in mind that a basic sailing vacation is more RV-life than Ritz. You might have a shower head that pulls out from the sink, small fans instead of an air conditioner, and tiny galley for prepping simple breakfasts and lunch. But the sense of freedom and escape that a trip on the water provides is unbeatable. Besides, I certainly can't think of a better way to socially distance on vacation. Can you?

READ NOW

	Molly Fergus, General Manager

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products and services; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.