travel around the world in a yacht

Resources updated 8/28/2023 by Transitions Abroad

We were heaved to in the middle of the Atlantic, the sails of the 40-foot sloop set in such a way that the boat drifted slowly through the water, riding gently upon the heaving ocean swell that rose and fell with cosmic regularity. The puffy trade wind clouds marched across the sky in the perpetual easterly breeze. The sea itself was an indescribable shade of deep blue that exists only in deep waters far offshore, a color for which we have no word.

I was on the lee deck, wedged between the coach roof and the lifelines, bracing myself against the swell, gripping an old plastic sextant and practicing my sun sights. Engaging in a method of navigation used for centuries is to truly become one with the universe, a sensation long lost among the lives of those on shore. After plotting my line of position that I obtained by calculating the angle of the sun on the horizon, I figured we were around 26 degrees North latitude, 65 degrees West longitude, just about halfway between Charleston, SC, and our landfall in the Virgin Islands. We were seven days off the East Coast, another seven or so more to sail. We had finally adjusted to life at sea, the simple life of living in tune with the universe.

Traveling and Working as a Volunteer Crew Member

Amazingly, I was along for this trip of a lifetime as a volunteer crew member. The owner had paid my way, provided the food onboard, and would pay for a return ticket from Tortola upon our successful delivery of his yacht to the islands, where he planned to use it over the winter months. The 40-foot, French-built sloop boat was incredibly comfortable for the four of us onboard — my father, another 20-something young woman, and the volunteer French captain. We had a nicely-sized galley with working refrigeration, ample sleeping space, and plenty of food (and coffee) for two weeks at sea.

Traveling the world by sailboat is a dream shared by many but experienced by few — more often than not, thrown to the wind and destroyed by careers, commitments, and shore side attachments. But life is gratifying for those who commit to the sea — simple in its routines yet profoundly natural.

As a lifelong sailor and professional captain, I have traveled the world by every means imaginable, yet I have found that the best way to travel is under sail. For those looking for a unique way to see the world and experience life, becoming volunteer crew doing yacht deliveries is an exciting, unique, and reasonably affordable way to get around.

How to Find the Right Boat to Work On

Yacht deliveries can range from taking a neglected 32-footer built in the 1960s from Bermuda to Nova Scotia in the dead of winter (which I have unfortunately experienced) to sailing a sparkling new 70-footer in the warm Trade Winds of the Caribbean, island hopping your way around some of the most beautiful sailing grounds in the world. So it pays to do some research before signing up for any trip that is out there.

Walk to Docks to Find a Boat: Ironically, the best way to get a job as a delivery crew member is to arrive in a new port on a sailboat and walk the docks looking for work. Unfortunately, the age-old catch-22 situation rears its ugly head — you need experience to be crew, yet need to crew to gain experience. Suppose you are lucky enough to live in a sailing city — such as Annapolis, MD, Ft Lauderdale, FL, or any coastal town in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. In that case, walking the docks and talking to people is your best bet for finding a boat. The girl on my last trip found our boat precisely that way. She was a local from Charleston, SC, simply looking for sailing experience and a ride to the islands where she wanted to pursue her kite surfing passion. Since we were only three then, we welcomed her extra help, even though she had never been on a sailboat before.

Use the Internet: If you are like me, come from a rural inland town, or are otherwise far removed from the ocean, the Internet is helpful and provides another way to find a boat. Several websites are dedicated to finding crew, particularly for deliveries, and they often allow you free access. Professional delivery skippers often post ads looking for volunteer crew people, and it is usually just a matter of sending your resume, a photo, and a short email about why you want to crew that will get you on a boat. Frequently these skippers are willing to take inexperienced crew as a third or fourth member and are usually very amenable to teaching.

Take Part in “Cruising Rallies”: Increasing numbers of retired businessmen and women are buying boats with big dreams of crossing big oceans without the knowledge, skill, or confidence to do so alone. Several career sailors have recognized this problem, and "Cruising Rallies" are becoming increasingly popular in all the world's oceans. They are organized by experienced sailors with thousands of ocean miles, and together with up to 50 other boats, inexperienced sailors (primarily retirees) can cross the ocean of their dreams in the relative safety of the group with experienced leadership. Once in port, these newfound ocean sailors have the added benefit of organized parties and events to share the joys of their first ocean passage with others.

You can be a part of the increasing popularity of cruising rallies, and many of the organizations behind the logistics maintain websites and crew registers. The Carib 1500, for example, is perhaps the most popular cruising rally on this side of the Atlantic, with nearly 50 boats, all over 40 feet (and many much bigger), sailing non-stop from Norfolk, VA, to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The rally occurs after hurricane season and before the onset of winter, in early November. They also organize a return rally in May from Tortola to Bermuda. From there, the boats split up and headed east to Europe or back to the U.S.

What About Experience?

Many captains, including myself, require at least one if not two, professional or very seasoned sailors to join them on a major ocean crossing. However, like me, many are more than willing to take a few extra inexperienced sailors or intrepid adventurers along for the ride and are often willing to instruct them along the way.

The key to finding a boat to sail on is to present yourself as a trustworthy person eager to join the trip. Ulterior motives are often very apparent, and no captain is willing to take along someone just looking for a free ride.

Working Aboard the Sailing Boat

The work aboard an ocean sailing boat is difficult, tiring, and unending. A passage of even ten days sounds short, yet when you're on a watch schedule of four hours on and eight hours off, one day seems like two, and you must adapt to an utterly different way of life than the one you are accustomed to ashore. Everyone shares in all the duties involved in running the boat, from standing watch in the rain at 2 a.m. to cooking breakfast and making coffee. Then you must clean up upon arrival when the boat is in shambles, and you have not had a freshwater shower in two weeks.

Life at sea is incredibly raw and incredibly basic. Your world shrinks to the three miles or so you can see in every direction before the horizon curves out of view. A passing freighter is often the most exciting thing on a given day. The intense discomfort of being salty and sticky for two weeks is offset by the rewards of a cloudless night watch under a new moon. The sky is so dark you can scarcely see your hand in front of your face, yet the stars fill the night sky like an enormous diamond exploding in the center of the universe, sending fragments to every corner of space. You will see more shooting stars on one night watch than you would in a lifetime ashore; at sea, the lights of civilization do not pollute the sky.

Ocean Sailing Makes the World Feel Big Again

In our age of instant communication and light-speed travel, crossing even a short distance in a sailboat reminds us that despite our attempts to shrink the world with technology, our planet remains one enormous place. After two weeks at sea, watching a distant island grow on the horizon provides an indescribable feeling of accomplishment. The first beer ashore never tasted better, and a freshwater shower after weeks of bathing in the salty ocean is a blessing from Heaven.

If you plan accordingly and have ample time, traveling the globe by "hitchhiking" on sailing yachts is a unique and rewarding way to see the world. After the first trip, you still gain experience, and finding and sailing on additional boats becomes progressively easier. You will save thousands on airfare and gain a greater appreciation for the distances we travel so quickly through the sky. But most importantly, you will return to nature, experience life with a stronger sense of connection to the universe, and return with unforgettable stories. You will change.

Andy Schell is a professional captain and freelance writer who lives aboard his sailboat Arcturus in Annapolis, MD, and travels extensively.

Home » Blog » Buy a boat » 5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat  you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ). 

• Hull Type: Long fin keel
• Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
• Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
• Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
• Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
• Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
• Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
• Designer:Per Brohall
• Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
• Year First Built:1965
• Year Last Built:1979
• Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD) 

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

• Hull Type: Full Keel
• Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
• Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
• Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
• Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
• Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
• Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
• Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
• Displacement/Length Ratio:49
• Designer: Carl Alberg
• Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
• Year First Built:1974
• Year Last Built:1988
• Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

• Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
• Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
• Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
• Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
• Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
• Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
• Designer:Michael Dufour
• Builder:Dufour (France)
• Year First Built:1975
• Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

• Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
• Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
• Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
• Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
• Rig Type: Cutter rig
• Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
• Designer: Robert B Harris
• Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
• Year First Built:1986
• Last Year Built: 2007
• Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

• Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
• Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
• Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
• Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
• Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
• Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
• Designer: Herb David
• Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
• Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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What Size Yacht To Sail Around The World? All You Need To Know

If youre dreaming of sailing around the world, youll need to make sure you have the right size yacht .

But what size is best? In this article, well cover the benefits of both larger and smaller yachts, the factors to consider when choosing yacht size, the types of routes and their impact on yacht size, the experience of the sailing team, maintenance and upkeep considerations, and cost considerations.

With this comprehensive guide, youll be able to make an informed decision about the size of your yacht and set off on your journey around the world.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

The size of the yacht you need to sail around the world depends on the type of voyage you are planning to take.

If you are planning a leisurely cruise, then a mid-sized yacht between 35-45 feet is typically suitable.

However, if you are planning a longer-term voyage for more than a year, then a larger yacht of at least 50 feet is recommended.

In addition, you should factor in the type of weather and sea conditions you’ll be facing in your voyage, as this will determine the type and size of necessary equipment and provisions.

Benefits of a Larger Yacht

When it comes to sailing around the world, a larger yacht can provide a number of benefits.

A larger yacht provides more comfort and space for the crew, as well as more storage space for supplies and equipment.

A larger yacht also offers more stability, which is especially important when sailing in rough seas.

Additionally, a larger yacht will have more fuel capacity, which is important for long-distance voyages.

Also, a larger yacht has more room for amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping quarters, allowing the crew to be more comfortable over long periods of time.

Finally, a larger yacht is better equipped to handle adverse weather conditions, providing better protection from the elements.

Benefits of a Smaller Yacht

When it comes to choosing the right size yacht to sail around the world, size matters.

A smaller yacht can provide a number of benefits that can make your voyage more enjoyable and successful.

One of the biggest benefits of a smaller yacht is its ease of maneuverability.

A smaller yacht is more agile and can turn faster than its larger counterparts, making it easier to navigate tight spaces and shallow waters.

In addition, a smaller yacht will require less fuel to operate, making it more cost-effective and eco-friendly.

Another advantage of a smaller yacht is its ability to dock in various places.

With a smaller yacht, you wont have to worry about finding a dock that can accommodate your vessel.

This makes it easier and more convenient to explore various ports, islands, and harbors along your journey.

Finally, a smaller yacht can be easier to maintain.

With a larger yacht, youll need to be prepared to do more maintenance and upkeep to keep it in optimal condition.

With a smaller yacht, however, this is much less of an issue.

Youll be able to keep up with the necessary maintenance and repairs much more easily, giving you more time to enjoy your voyage.

Ultimately, the size of the yacht should be based on the crew’s experience and desired route.

A smaller yacht can be a great choice for experienced sailors who are looking for a more agile and cost-effective vessel, and for those with less experience who are looking for a more manageable vessel.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Yacht Size

When choosing the size of yacht for a voyage around the world, there are several factors to consider.

The size of the yacht should match the crew’s sailing experience and desired route, so it is important to evaluate both of these factors closely before making a decision.

First, it is important to consider the experience of the crew.

Experienced sailors may be able to handle a smaller yacht, while a larger yacht might be better suited for those with less experience.

This is because a larger yacht requires more knowledge and skill to navigate safely, and a smaller yacht may not have the necessary storage and space for a comfortable journey.

Second, the desired route should also be taken into account.

Depending on the route, a larger yacht may be necessary for more treacherous waters and longer voyages.

A smaller yacht will be able to navigate more easily in shallow waters, but may not be able to handle larger swells and rough conditions.

Finally, it is important to remember that the size of the yacht will affect the costs associated with upkeep, maintenance, and fuel.

A larger yacht will require more resources to keep it afloat and running, while a smaller yacht may be more economical.

All these factors should be taken into account when choosing the size of yacht to sail around the world.

A yacht of at least 40 feet in length is generally considered suitable for a global voyage, but the crew’s experience and route should dictate the size of the yacht for the most comfortable and safe journey.

Types of Routes and Their Impact on Yacht Size

When planning a global voyage, the size of the yacht is an important consideration.

The type of route one plans to take will have a direct impact on the size of the yacht that is chosen.

Generally, a yacht of at least 40 feet in length is considered suitable for a global voyage.

A larger yacht provides more space, storage, and comfort, but also requires more upkeep, maintenance, and fuel costs.

For those planning to sail along coastal routes, a smaller yacht may be sufficient.

Coastal routes are typically shorter and simpler than open-ocean routes, and therefore require a different type of yacht.

A coastal yacht should be able to handle the rougher seas and strong winds that can be encountered along the coast.

It should also have enough space to store supplies and equipment.

Coastal yachts are often smaller and more maneuverable than those designed for open-ocean sailing.

For those planning an open-ocean voyage, a larger yacht is usually preferred.

Open-ocean routes are often much longer and more challenging.

A larger yacht will provide more stability and comfort in rough seas and strong winds, as well as greater storage capacity for supplies and equipment.

Open-ocean yachts should also be equipped with all the necessary safety equipment, such as life rafts, life jackets, and emergency radios.

The size of the yacht should also be considered in relation to the crew’s sailing experience.

By taking into account the type of route, the crew’s sailing experience, and the desired comfort level, one can determine the size of yacht that is most suitable for a global voyage.

The right yacht will make the voyage more enjoyable and provide the necessary comfort and safety.

The Experience of the Sailing Team

When planning a voyage around the world, the size of the yacht is an important consideration.

Many people assume that the larger the yacht, the better it is for a global voyage.

However, this isnt always the case.

The size of the yacht should be directly proportionate to the experience and comfort of the sailing team.

This size of yacht allows for enough space and storage for the crew, and a comfortable ride.

However, a larger yacht may be necessary for those with less experience.

A larger yacht provides more space for the crew to spread out and more storage for supplies and equipment, which can make the voyage more comfortable.

A larger yacht also provides more stability and maneuverability in rough seas, which is an important safety factor.

An experienced sailor may be able to handle a smaller yacht more easily due to their familiarity with the vessel and their knowledge of sailing in general.

For those with less experience, a larger yacht can provide more stability and maneuverability in rough seas, as well as more room for the crew to spread out and gain experience.

Before choosing a yacht size, it is important to consider the experience of the sailing team, the route they plan to take, and the conditions they will be sailing in.

For example, a smaller yacht may be more suitable for a shorter voyage, while a larger yacht may be necessary for a longer voyage or a more challenging route.

When it comes to choosing the size of the yacht for a global voyage, it is important to consider the experience of the sailing team and the route they plan to take.

With the right size yacht, the crew will be able to sail safely and comfortably around the world.

Maintenance and Upkeep Considerations

Maintenance and upkeep considerations are important when selecting a yacht size.

Larger vessels will require more time and resources to keep in good condition.

If the vessel is new, it will likely come with a maintenance schedule, but experienced sailors should factor in the expense of routine upkeep.

This includes tasks such as waxing, polishing, and painting the hull and decks, as well as regularly checking and replacing hoses, pumps, and other essential parts.

One of the main advantages of a larger yacht is the ability to store and access more supplies and spare parts, which can provide needed peace of mind.

However, this should be balanced with the fact that larger boats take more fuel and require more resources to maintain.

Additionally, a larger yacht may require more crew members, adding to costs and possible complications.

It is important to remember that the size of the yacht should match the crew’s sailing experience and desired route.

Cost Considerations

When it comes to planning a voyage around the world, the size of the yacht is an important factor that must be taken into account.

Not only does the size of the yacht affect the comfort and convenience of the crew, but it also affects the cost of the voyage.

Larger yachts provide more space, more storage, and more comfort, but they also come with more costs.

Upkeep and maintenance costs can be significantly higher for larger yachts, and fuel costs can also be higher due to the increased size.

It is important to remember that the size of the yacht should be matched to the crews sailing experience and desired route.

Additionally, the size of the yacht should be matched to the desired route.

If the crew is planning a voyage that requires sailing in open ocean, a larger yacht may be necessary for greater stability and safety.

On the other hand, if the crew is planning a voyage that involves navigating through shallower waters, a smaller yacht may be preferable.

Ultimately, the size of the yacht should be based on the crews experience and desired route.

While it may be tempting to purchase or rent a larger yacht for comfort and convenience, the cost considerations should be taken into account to ensure that the voyage is financially feasible.

Taking the time to research and plan ahead is essential for setting out on a successful voyage around the world.

Final Thoughts

The size should be based on the sailing team’s experience, desired route, and the maintenance and cost considerations.

A larger yacht provides more comfort and storage, but requires more upkeep, while a smaller yacht is better suited for experienced sailors and those with limited funds.

Ultimately, finding the right size yacht for your crew and route is critical to a successful voyage.

Now that you know the key factors to consider when selecting a yacht size, you can confidently make your choice and have the adventure of a lifetime!.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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How to live, work, and travel the world on a yacht.

Y ou don’t need to be a billionaire to travel the high seas on a luxury yacht, hopping from port to port to experience coastal destinations. All you need to do is become a yachtie: a worker on a luxury yacht, whether that be in hospitality or as a deckhand. By becoming a yachtie, you can earn money, live for free, and travel to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world on a floating palace. But fair warning: the job isn’t completely glamorous; it’s hard work. But if you get down with the “work hard play hard” mentality, you’ll be able to set sail soon.

How to become a yachtie:

1. What is it really like to work on a yacht? 2. Yacht crew eligibility and requirements 3. 4 entry-level yacht jobs that do not require prior experience 4. Begin creating your plan of action 5. Begin networking 6. Begin day working 7. Ace your interviews 8. How to stay afloat on your first boat

1. What is it like to work on a yacht?

Pursuing a job in the yachting industry takes a lot of effort and energy, and it requires you to completely uproot your land-based life and move onto a boat full time. For the right kind of person, it’s totally worth it, but let’s face it, yachting is not for everyone.

The upside of working on a yacht:

Get paid to travel the world in style..

• You no longer have to separate work from traveling, now traveling is part of your job. As soon as you’re off the clock, simply step onto the dock and your mini vacation begins.
• Yachts don’t go to boring, ugly places. You can expect to travel to some of the most remote and exotic destinations in the world. A few yacht hotspots include the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and the Mediterranean.

Live for free, earn cash, save money, and pay off debt.

• Even the most basic entry-level job on a yacht starts off with a salary of $2,000-$3,000 USD per month and you don’t have to have a college education to get hired.
• There is also the possibility of earning additional cash tips (tax-free) which can range from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand USD per charter (depending on the length of the trip and the number of guests onboard).
• When you live on a yacht, your living expenses are covered. You no longer have to pay for food, rent, transportation, or utilities. This can save you thousands of dollars a month.

The downside of working on a yacht:

It can be very long, physical work that requires strength and stamina..

• Contrary to popular belief, a majority of the tasks you must execute on a day-to-day basis are not luxurious.
• You may have to work 16+ hour days for weeks on end if you work on a busy boat. You may get very little rest during these trips.
• Some of the tasks you have to do are not appealing. You’ll be cleaning toilets, crawling around in tiny spaces, lifting heavy things, dealing with lots of chemicals, and getting dirty, sweaty, and wet.

You must leave your life on land, and move onto a boat full-time.

• You must be willing to drop everything and move onto a boat.
• It is a long process that requires a lot of preparation, determination, effort, energy, and time.
• Succeeding in getting a job will not happen overnight, it can take several months, and to become good at it can take several more.

2. Yacht crew eligibility and requirements

Before you can even consider pursuing a career in the yachting industry, there are 4 minimum requirements that you have to be able to meet:

• You must be at least 18 to work on a yacht.
• You must pass a seafarers medical exam such as an ENG 1. This is just a quick doctor check-up/physical. It’s around $100 USD. It is valid for a maximum of 2 years.
• To live on a boat full time, in tight quarters with other crew members.
• To work long, physically-demanding shifts — sometimes 16 hours or more per day.
• To work outside in the elements, or inside in small spaces, if your position requires it.
• You should be willing to commit to working for at least 6 months, but ideally a year when you are starting out in the industry.
• STCW-95 which stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. It’s a 5-day course (typically) that costs about $1,000.00 USD (give or take). You must complete this course physically/in person, you can not get certified online.
• Security Awareness: 4 hour $149
• VPDSD: 8 hour (stand watch) $299

Check out the International Yacht Crew Resources Directory for an extensive list of maritime schools that offer this training.

You can also learn more about eligibility and requirements in this Yacht Job YouTube Video Series .

3. 4 entry-level yacht jobs that do not require prior experience

There are all types of different tasks that need to be performed around the clock to maintain a yacht and keep it running smoothly. While some of the job positions on board are very technical and require a lot of skill and knowledge, there are 4 entry-level jobs that require little to no prior experience. The most common entry level jobs on a yacht are some variation of:

• Stewardess/Steward
• Stew/Deck/Cook

For more information about each job including tasks, responsibilities, contracts, and salaries check out this post about the 4 entry level yacht jobs for beginners.

4. Begin creating your plan of action

For an easy step by step guide with all of this information check out The Yacht Job Handbook for New Crew , with over 300 pages of great information and resources for aspiring yacht crew including how to get certified, how to create a professional resume, how to network and gain an edge, and how to prepare for interviews. Use the promo code “matador” for 50% off!

The 2 most important decisions to make before you get started:

Before you begin planning and coordinating your new adventure, you have 2 decisions to make that will determine every other action you need to take from this moment on, those are:

• When are able to make the transition?
• Which hiring port will you go to to get training and look for work?

Once you have answered these 2 questions, everything else will fall into place. However, these questions should not be taken lightly. You should plan strategically so you are at the right place at the right time when you are ready to begin job hunting.

The best times of year to look for work:

• High season Winter/Spring
• Turnover April to mid-June
• High season Summer/Fall
• Turnover September to mid-December

During the 2 high-season periods, yachts are generally on the move with a full crew and itinerary in place before they set off. While this is not the ideal time to be looking for work, it is certainly still possible to get hired. While there is a lower volume of job opportunities, there is also less competition.

On the other hand, the periods between the two high seasons are an ideal time to look for work because there tends to be a lot of turnover. Most boats will return to a major yachting hub for a couple of weeks or months to regroup after a busy season. Many crew members are either taking time off, “jumping ship” (quitting), or else they have completed their contracts and are off to spend their hard-earned money.

The 6 best ports in the world to find yacht jobs:

While yachts travel to various ports and destinations all over the world, there are a few “yacht hubs” where you can expect to find a big presence of yachts, yacht crew, and entry-level job opportunities. Your best chance of finding a job will be in one of the following locations:

• Ft. Lauderdale/Southern Florida
• Newport, Rhode Island
• Antibes, France
• Palma, De Mallorca
• St. Maarten, Caribbean
• Antigua, Caribbean

While these are some of the most well-known international yachting destinations, there are countless ports all over the world where yachts are known to frequent and pass through. If you aren’t able to relocate to one of the destinations above, do some research and try to find other locations that are more convenient and viable for you.

You will often hear people in the yachting industry say “it’s all about timing,” which is true. There are many reasons that crew suddenly quit, or get fired, and their position needs to be filled immediately. If you are available, willing, and able, you may find yourself getting interviewed and being offered a position that very same day!

Although the time of year is less important, you do still need to be physically located in or near a hiring port when you’re ready to work, especially if you are looking for an entry-level position.

5. Begin networking

Once you have relocated to a yachting hub, networking is essential for increasing your chances of getting a job. The more you expand your network, the greater your chances are of landing more interviews and getting more job offers! There are multiple channels you can use to network and find work in the yachting industry. Once you arrive at a yachting hub to begin training and job hunting you can explore the top three:

• This is an agency with individuals who help place crew looking for work on boats who are looking for crew, and vice versa. Most of them begin with you creating an account on their website and filling out lots of personal information about yourself and what type of job you’re looking for.
• Job sites/apps: there are several job sites such as Daywork123.com and apps such as Crew Compass where yacht crew jobs are posted daily.
• Social media: there are dozens of Facebook groups worldwide that are great resources for finding and posting job opportunities as well as yacht industry information in general.
• Crew networking events: these are social events that are held in some of the larger yachting hubs that enable aspiring crew to mingle with captains and other yacht industry professionals.
• Crew houses: these are affordable housing options for yacht crew that are similar to hostels.
• Day working or walking the docks at marinas, docks, and boatyards.

Check out the International Yacht Crew Resources Directory for an extensive list of crew agencies, job sites, and facebook groups that are free resources for yacht crew. Or read 7 Ways to Gain an Edge in The Yacht Industry Job Market .

6. Begin “day working”

While the ultimate goal is to get a full-time job, most new crew typically spend a few weeks or even months gaining experience by “day working” and working temporary gigs before committing to a permanent position on a yacht.

While you’re in the process of day working, you should be testing out different types of boats and positions to see which is the best fit for you. You should also start applying for full-time jobs and hopefully lining up interviews.

To avoid making costly and embarrassing mistakes, you should check out these yachtie greenhorn training tutorials on YouTube. In these quick flicks, I demonstrate some of the most common tasks you will be doing, as well as methods and techniques for doing them properly.

7. Ace your interviews

Every boat is different, and every interview is different. The one thing they have in common is that they have a position that’s open; so, they want the best candidate possible. Chances are they’re looking for someone who:

• Is qualified to do the job mentally and physically
• Is eager and willing to learn
• Is mentally stable
• Can handle working long hours, out at sea, while living in small quarters with several other crew members and personalities
• Can start ASAP
• Is willing to commit long-term

At this point, it’s all in your hands, good luck! Don’t get discouraged if you don’t make the cut for a job you were excited about; more opportunities will come along. Just continue expanding your network, gaining experience, and applying for jobs!

8. How to stay afloat on your first boat

Getting a job is a huge accomplishment, but can you stick it out? Your first few weeks onboard will either make or break you. Day working is a great way to get your feet wet in the industry, but once you go all in and move onto a boat to work full time, you’ll either sink or swim.

In the yachting industry, job security does not exist. You’re going to have to work extra hard to prove that you’re worth keeping around. It can take several months to train a new crew member. There are many mistakes you can make early on in the game such as behaving unprofessionally or doing tasks improperly that can result in severe damage, injuries, embarrassment, and lost job opportunities. If you don’t take things seriously in the beginning, they won’t waste any more time training you, and you may find yourself back on the job hunt.

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You’ll Want To Save Every Penny To Buy One Of These Extraordinary Boats

Say it with us: “I’m on a boat!”

Of course, depending on where you live and what layer of the economic strata you land in, you’ll probably be picturing something different than the person next to you . Some of us think of the humble fisherman bracing against a storm at sea. Others might be taken back to memories of their parents ditching the 9-to-5 and sailing them around the world . Others still may be thinking about the studio yacht party at last year’s Cannes.

Whatever thought or memory is conjured for you, one constant remains — those boats had to be built well, so as not to end up at the bottom of the drink. Last month, Van Dam Custom Boats showed us the mastery that goes into their stunning crafts. Here, take a peek:

In honor of that mastery, we’ve compiled a list of some of our other favorite boats we’d love to spend a day or 70 out on the water with. Some are humble, some are bombastic, some are faraway dreams. All of them are superb.

BOSTON WHALER – FISHING BOAT

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Boston Whaler (@boston_whaler)

Perhaps it’s best to start out with a little sport and utility before we get into the big hauls. A solid, well-equipped fishing boat is the first step in anyone’s sea-adventuring life. You go out, find some fish, fish those fish, and bring home dinner — all with the added benefit of knowing exactly what that dinner is . It can be a solo journey or a family affair. Either way a fishing boat is where most of us will start our water journeys.

There are so many fishing boat companies to chose from out there. Boston Whalers are always sturdy and reliable. They come completely customizable and tend to last in rough seas or calm.

VAN DAM CLASSIC RUNABOUT

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Van Dam Custom Boats (@vandamcustomboats)

A classic runabout or tender can get you from Point A to Point B in sleek style. Or they can help you get away from the Holy Grail henchmen along the canals of Venice . It’s a throwback to the days when people summered on bays and lakes and needed a water-savvy form of transportation to skim speedily across the water. Although these boats aren’t equipped to land a marlin or pull crab pots, they’re going to get you around while looking fly. And that’s worthwhile.

Van Dam is your best bet of getting behind the wheel of one of these throwback beauties — unless you’re a Kennedy or Bush and summer in New England .

POLYNEISAN VOYAGING CANOE

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paula Fuga (@pfunklove)

Long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue, Polynesians were bobbing around the Pacific on massive outrigger canoes. These canoes got the Polynesians from deep in the South Pacific all the way to the North American coast with nothing more than a couple hauls, sails, and the starry night to guide them.

Although this may be a more advanced form of sailing (outrigger canoes take some serious skills), it’d still be a blast retracing the steps of ancient Hawaiians or Polynesians across the Pacific or around the world in your very own voyaging canoe. After all, an entire culture of people spent millennia perfecting their boats to do exactly that.

Alternately, you can spend a few years, and less dollars, custom building one yourself — there’s space in your garage, right?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bruddah Cliff (@cliff_kapono)

HALLBERG-RASSEY 64

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hallberg-Rassy (@hallbergrassy)

Full disclosure, I sailed one of these boats across an ocean. So my including it on the list isn’t negating the abundance of other great makes of sailboats on the market. I just like this one. I know it. I sailed her blind in the pitch black nights. I slept, cooked, ate, and bathed with this boat for months. And that’s the rub. You can live in this boat and make the world your oyster (also, you’ll be on the sea, so oysters can be your oyster).

For about the same price as a small house ($250,000), you can call this boat your home. Hallberg -Rassey make seriously well constructed and spacious sailing vessels that can handle any of the seven seas. A family of four to six can easily live in the 64-foot sloop. Maybe you’re making the wrong mortgage payment and it’s time to live life at sea? Well, then this is a solid investment in your future and well-being. Adventure literally awaits.

DRAGONFLY TRIMARAN

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dragonfly UK (@dragonflytrimarans.uk)

Now we’re getting into speed, class, and design brilliance. A streamlined main hull has two outer floats attached to bring the speed. Overall, this class of sailboat is for someone seeking a side of adventure with their main course of easy cruising.

Dragonfly’s Trimarans are consistently considered some of the best boats in their class for sailing competitively or leisurely . Their compact and sleek design is award-winning . If you’re thinking of getting into racing, this may be your gateway boat.

ITALIA YACHTS

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Italia Yachts (@italiayachts)

So you’ve decided to become a sailboat racer… You’ll need a boat that is hydrodynamical, built by masters who take the time to design a cruiser that can cut through the water at competitive speeds.

Italia Yachts combine the same devotion to hydrodynamics as they do to classic Italian style. Their boats are sleek. Their decks are clean and designed photo ready. The boats are big enough — and well laid out enough — for your racing team to live comfortably while you cross the sea. And they are fast .

SANLORENZO LUXURY YACHT

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julia Skop (@julia_smartyachts)

There’s another class of sailing boat that tops all of these. They’re the luxury yachts. And when you win the lottery or invent whatever it is that replaces Facebook this will be your boat. These are for the dreamers whose dreams come true. Lucky bastards.

Sanlorenzo’s yachts are nicer than most 5-star hotels, and they cost about as much as a castle . But you can probably afford that with your lottery winnings too. These boats are for the 1 percent of the 1 percent, and their luxury knows no bounds. Now, where’d I put that lottery ticket…?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by MRSUPERYACHTS (@mrsuperyachts)

A FREAKING PIRATE SHIP

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ania (@annowaa)

Childhood fantasies of buried treasure and adventure on the high seas are always fun to live out. So, why not buy a dang pirate ship? Yes, you can buy a pirate ship (or build one if that’s your thing). Whether or not you’ll find treasure or plunder other ships, well, that’s up to you.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a pirate ship on the market, but they are out there . Otherwise, you’re going to have to build one yourself. Either way, it’s the most kickass way to sail the world’s seven seas. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to roll into a new country in a foreboding, badass pirate ship with black sails and a Jolly Rodger flying from the mizzen mast?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🌙☀️🌲🍂🌸 (@curiousadventurez)

How do the wealthy travel? Bespoke flights, roadless retreats and more

When you read about billionaires roaming the globe, the travel possibilities seem endless. From pampering on a massage table in the California sunshine to trekking into otherworldly landscapes for rare animal sightings, seeing how the so-called “one percent” live offers the rest of us moments of envious escapism.

One around-the-world trip to see Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, India’s Taj Mahal and Jordan’s Lost City of Petra, among other famous sites on a private jet ? A cool $145,000. That’s rich!

But you don’t need to spend that much to be a luxury traveler. According to a 2024 McKinsey & Company survey, you’d qualify as one if you spend at least $500 per night on accommodations . That may be attainable for some in Seattle, where the annual median household income is among the nation’s highest at $115,000.

So what might you book from the West Coast as an affluent explorer, aspiring or otherwise? Buckle up for a ride around the possibilities — and some comparatively less expensive alternatives — from fancy flights and sumptuous spas to roadless retreats, below.

1. Take a bespoke flight

Expensive: TCS World Travel is a pioneer in private jet journeys. Never heard of it? You might be surprised to learn that the company launches epic excursions from modest headquarters near Seattle’s waterfront.

Some tours target a single part of the world: flying to seven African destinations over 13 days. Others are passion-driven, like a Wonders of the World Golf Tour. But the company’s bread-and-butter trip circles the globe in 24 days from Peru to Morocco.

TCS pampers jet-setters aboard a brand-new A321, a fuel-efficient jet that usually carries more than 200 passengers. But the TCS plane has seats for just 52 guests, leaving plenty of room to walk around, chat about the next stop with onboard experts, or to just lie flat in reclining Italian leather seats.

Seattleites Attila and Verna Kilic have seen a big chunk of the world over three TCS trips since 2015.

Business owner Attila, 62, likes the way TCS takes care of the details, like handling the luggage so guests can walk off the plane unencumbered.

“Even though you are going around the world, you don’t feel overwhelmed,” he says.

His favorite experience was visiting the famous terra-cotta warriors in China’s Shaanxi province and getting access to see them at eye level.

For Verna, a 59-year-old speech pathologist, an adventure in Africa moved her to take action.

“In Rwanda, we trekked to see the mountain gorillas and met the director of Gorilla Doctors. Part of the population increase in gorillas is due to their care,” Verna says. “When we got home, we did a fundraiser for Gorilla Doctors and TCS made a large donation. They give back to the places they visit.”

Around-the-world trips cost about $144,950/person for 24 days in 2025; Chasing the Northern Lights in Scandinavia tour $76,000/person, March 11-20, 2025; 844-870-6779; tcsworldtravel.com

Less expensive: Maybe you have taken a scheduled Kenmore Air flight. And your well-heeled neighbors? They charter a bespoke floatplane trip anywhere Kenmore pilots can land on water. Imagine you and your friends quickly zooming over to a San Juan Island that isn’t served by a ferry.

6321 N.E. 175th St., Kenmore; Prices vary depending on destination and number of passengers; 866-435-9524; kenmoreair.com

2. Charter a yacht

Expensive: One of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen‘s cooler purchases: Octopus, a 414-foot superyacht — now available to charter. She’s got all the creature comforts titans of industry might expect: a cinema, a glass-bottomed aquarium and a vast owner’s deck with a private elevator.

For explorers, the Octopus has an ice-class hull to navigate icebergs, two helipads, seven tenders (yacht-talk for smaller boats that go where the yacht won’t fit) and even an onboard submarine Allen used to explore the depths while listening to Pink Floyd.

Boarding locations vary; Octopus sails the South Pacific through September, Antarctica from October-April; $2.2 million/week plus expenses, one-week minimum ; 415-742-8515; yachtcharterfleet.com

Less expensive: Spend an afternoon cruising aboard an Italian-designed yacht built for Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton. The Oasis, moored on Lake Union, has three staterooms and three bathrooms.

Owner Greg Holloway says repeat guests include Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, who charters day trips on Lake Washington. Holloway’s favorite destination: Desolation Sound Marine Park in British Columbia.

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1530 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle; four-hour cruise about $3,450, overnight charter about $3,700/day, six-night minimum; 206-605-5159; oasisyachtseattle.com

3. Hire a private guide, aka “a smart local friend”

Expensive: West Seattle photographer Art Wolfe, 72, takes people to his secret spots around the globe. Most years he offers a dozen trips, limited to a group of 10 photography enthusiasts.

Issaquah residents Fred Gray, 81, and Linda Parker, 75, are among them. The couple, former tech and finance workers, have gone all-in on photography since retiring 20 years ago and have enjoyed Wolfe’s tours from Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska to Romania to Namibia.

One of Parker’s special memories: seeing humpback whales bubble-net feeding on the last day of a Glacier Bay, Alaska, trip.

Gray describes Art’s trips as luxurious as each location can support, which sometimes means (fancy) tents and bumping along in an open-air Jeep with the ever-enthusiastic Wolfe setting a brisk pace.

“When I get home, I am exhausted and happy,” Parker says. “And I have great photos.”

Upcoming destinations include New Zealand (Sept. 30-Oct. 12, $13,000, airfare not included, sold out) and India (Jan. 6-19, 2025, $16,000, airfare not included); 206-332-0993; artwolfe.com

Less expensive : Wealthy people often find value hiring a private guide for a day who can immerse them in a destination. The Northwest’s premiere travel expert, Rick Steves, even hires them himself.

“Private tours are one of my favorite travel luxuries,” Steves says. “I typically hire two of these hometown experts a day while I’m doing guidebook research.”

In a place he’s visited umpteen times, Steves admits a guide reveals cool stuff he’d been walking past. “It’s like hiring a really smart local friend for a day,” he says.

Peruse Steves’ recommended private European guides in his books. In other parts of the world, he suggests a company called ToursByLocals.

Multiple locations; half-day private tours $200-$1,000; 866-844-6783; toursbylocals.com

4. Unwind at a transformative spa

Expensive : Be cool — you might spot A-list celebrities at California’s Golden Door spa. Or as its website cautions: “Please refrain from seeking out prominent individuals from the entertainment industry for undue attention.”

Most guests opt for an all-inclusive seven-day retreat ($11,950). The goal of the 160 staff members on any given day at the Golden Door is to transform the bodies and spirits of the 40 guests who stay at this storied property.

Transform how? That’s up to you as each itinerary is tailor-made including daily in-room massage, personal training and hikes through the resort’s 600 acres of Japanese gardens and citrus groves north of San Diego. Want to go deeper? Classes include self-hypnosis and dream sharing.

What to pack in case you meet Julia Roberts in the hall? Don’t stress. The Golden Door provides a wardrobe including T-shirts and a Japanese yukata, a cotton robe that guests wear to dinner.

777 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos, Calif.; four-night minimum stay $9,200/person; 866-420-6414; goldendoor.com

Less expensive : More focused on relaxation than transformation, there’s Oregon’s The Allison Inn & Spa in the wine country of Willamette Valley. The inn is known for spa treatments, featuring a curated team of masseuses with a sixth sense for how to rub away even an athlete’s stresses.

“We do have frequent celebrity sightings. A Seahawk player got married here on the Fourth of July,” says spa director Tara Calton.

The 77 rooms and eight suites at The Allison have fireplaces and free fancy snacks. But don’t fill up, because at the resort’s Jory Restaurant, the chef is creating something special with wild salmon and whatever is ripe in the property’s garden.

A good pairing from the breathtaking wine list, should you wish to splurge: a rare Romanee-Conti from Burgundy that costs $5,000. Or, from the nearby Dundee Hills, there’s a less-shocking $170 bottle of Thomas pinot noir the cognoscenti would love to get their hands on.

2525 Allison Lane, Newberg, Ore.; rooms in summer from $645/night, suites from $920/night; dinner $95; Divine Wine facial $155; 877-294-2525; theallison.com

5. Wilderness luxury

Expensive: Among the fjords of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest is Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort. The lodge’s focus was fishing when the Murray family built it over 40 years ago. Today’s guests are angling for a wilderness connection with the comfort of a wood-fired sauna floating in the bay.

Some people who come here are famously rich. A recent guest reports that a man who introduced himself as a “fisherman” turned out to be the scion of one of America’s most lucrative discount retailers.

Reservations manager Brianna Sloan describes the resort’s guests as people who spend their money on experiences. One such Nimmo Bay experience: fly-fishing via helicopter ($15,000/day, four people max).

You could hunker down in one of Nimmo’s nine cabins, but most people treat this pristine place as a launchpad for adventure into the ethereal landscape. Possibilities include taking a helicopter to a mountaintop picnic or a boat trip to view bears and whales.

100 Little Nimmo Bay, Mackenzie Sound, Mount Waddington A, British Columbia; June-November rates start at $8,700/person, three-night stay minimum, including meals, alcohol, hot tubs and adventure gear; 800-837-4354; nimmobay.com

Less expensive: Closer to Seattle than Nimmo Bay, but similarly secluded, there’s Minam River Lodge. Most guests hike 8.5 miles to this private inholding deep in Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness. Guests can also fly via charter from Enterprise, Ore., (about $225 each way ) landing on the grass airstrip in the lodge’s meadow.

In this river valley tucked into 360,000 roadless acres, each lodge offering feels like a miracle. Winemaker dinners! Solar power! Massages in the pole barn! But it wasn’t a miracle — it took work.

After buying a tattered hunting lodge at auction in 2011, Barnes Ellis, co-founder of Baker Ellis Asset Management, spent six years rebuilding the resort. These days, Ellis spends a lot of time flying in sides of beef and cases of wine. He couldn’t be happier.

“I get to fly an airplane, own a bar and sleep in a log cabin,” says Ellis. “It’s any boy’s dream.”

Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Lostine, Ore.; summer cabins about $695-$850/night, three-night minimum; dinners $95; 503-758-5532; minam-lodge.com

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

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Nicholas Kristof

My Travel Tips for Seeing the World’s Best Places

By Nicholas Kristof

Opinion Columnist

’Tis the season for vacations, so let me make my pitch that the best travel is not lounging at a beach resort but rather journeying into a different world. We all need relaxation at times, but nothing beats the thrill of a trip of discovery and the education that comes with it.

Mark Twain once observed that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” In that spirit, I’ve long urged young Americans to take gap years before college or junior years abroad . (One high school reader of such an essay, Spencer Cohen , ended up taking a gap year partly in Japan, became an Asia hand and is now a colleague at The Times.)

Still, there are risks, less of violence (the U.S. has more guns than other countries) than of having your passport and credit cards stolen. So I preach both travel and prudence, and on a recent book tour , I found myself often asked about travel advice I had mentioned in my memoir. So let me share a few tips for the vacation season:

1. The most memorable travel often involves encountering something unfamiliar, so consider escaping the herds parading through Paris. Indonesia, Ghana, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Morocco and Bolivia are generally safe, far cheaper than Europe and offer indelible experiences. I’ll never forget venturing deep into the Potosí silver mines in Bolivia, exploring a grim slave castle in Ghana that dispatched prisoners to slavery in America, learning how to use a blowgun while staying with families in their longhouse in Indonesia’s Borneo rainforest. The world awaits us!

2. Some of the places that you find most culturally distant may be right here in the United States. A teenager from an affluent family in the New York or Boston areas would step into a different world by taking a ranch job in Wyoming. And this is the kind of travel that is not only affordable but actually pays for the experience.

3. Be spontaneous. As a law student in 1982, I spent five weeks backpacking through the Middle East and met a couple of Palestinian students on a West Bank bus; I jumped off at their stop and spent a memorable day with them in their refugee camp hearing about their frustrations and dreams (I wrote about reuniting with them last fall). And while on a bus in the Sahara, I accepted an Algerian man’s invitation to visit his village — which turned out to be a warren of underground burrows to protect families from the extreme heat, the most unusual residential architecture I’ve ever seen. In each case, I was with a couple of friends, which made it seem safer to put myself in the company of people I’d just met, and obviously one should be as judicious as one is spontaneous.

4. One occasionally hears that adventurous travel is just for men, but some of the most accomplished foreign correspondents and overseas photographers are women, as are a majority of Peace Corps volunteers. As a man, I don’t face the same risks that women face, but I have seen female travelers — disproportionately from Australia and New Zealand — thriving as they backpack through the most remote places. Some have suggested the purchase of a cheap wedding ring; a $20 band and a fabricated husband can help keep pests away.

5. Carry a decoy wallet. If pickpockets grab it, let them run off — only to discover that it contains just a bit of cash for street purchases, a day pass for the subway and an expired credit card. But do remember to let the pickpockets escape. Years ago, in Lima, Peru, I instinctively jumped a pickpocket who was trying to grab my friend’s decoy wallet, forgetting that he had nothing much in it; next thing I knew we had a melee and a gun was being fired.

6. Carry your passport and valid credit cards and cash in a pouch that loops on your belt and is tucked inside your pants. Travelers often carry travel pouches round their necks under their shirts, but these are visible and sometimes get stolen. While I’ve had bandits make me take off my shoes and socks while searching for cash, nobody has found my pouch in my pants (I dare mention this only because I assume robbers are not big readers of my column).

7. Carry a small cable lock (those for skis are perfect) to lock your bags together so one doesn’t run off while you’re sleeping in a train or on a bench at the train station.

8. Never check a bag for a flight because then it will get lost. That means packing light and taking quick-dry clothes suitable for washing in a hotel sink. I’m fond of travel clothing from a company called Clothing Arts , and I also rely on ultralight backpacking gear such as a tiny Black Diamond or Petzl headlamp that is invaluable when the power goes out.

9. If you’re getting into a taxi or other car in a location that seems at all dubious, use your phone to photograph the license plate before you get in. The driver may wonder if you’ve texted it to a friend. And women can look for female drivers if they exist.

10. My editor doesn’t want me to say anything that might encourage readers to try something dangerous, so I won’t suggest that there is nothing like the view while riding on the top of a train in Sudan . (That was in my dissolute youth, and today I definitely disapprove of riding on top of trains.)

11. People worry about terrorists, but the most likely serious risk is probably a vehicle accident. Motorcycle taxis common in low-income countries can be perilous, while buses and trains are safer (inside trains only!).

12. Now forget all the fears this article has conjured. Go have fun. Travel should be as enjoyable as it is eye-opening. If you take precautions it will be.

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Nicholas Kristof became a columnist for The Times Opinion desk in 2001 and has won two Pulitzer Prizes. His new memoir is “ Chasing Hope: A Reporter's Life .” @ NickKristof