Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Also go as early as possible to really maximize your time! The sailing days can be short, which is a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it (or how hungover you are). The BVIs isa bit more intimate with a smaller amount of boats on each route. Reggae fans will love the laid back nightlife while the locals will keep you entertained in their delicious restaurants and bars. Expect quite a lot of additional expenses in the BVIs. Side Note: Ladies, this is also the best route to go topless without people gawking. You can add a host and air-conditioning to the Build Your Own package. To shop the places I shop for them, click here, here, and here! There is nightlife and partying on the islands you visit, but these are not organised by Sail Week, unlike Yacht Week on this same route. We did SO much exploring withsailing to smaller islands to swim and roaming the cute Sicilian port towns. I personally use Skyscanner because they find the cheapest flights by comparing millions of flight options from airlines and travel agent. There are a number of routes to choose from, each with their own perks. The differences to note here are the type of yacht your money gets you. They strongly emphasise creating a memorable party atmosphere but with the added twist of offering chic excursions to sweeten the deal. A few sailing routes can be compared directly, and they are in Croatia and Greece. The islandculture plays a big role in how amazing this experience is. To keep it as balanced as possible, Ive further compared each of their package tiers, and prices are per person (p.p). Classic packages offer monohull yachts on the 43-46ft range, and Luxury packages afford you access to catamarans in the 40-45ft range. Pros:Insanely gorgeous beaches, tropical climate and islands, delicious food & cocktails, catamarans, Cons:Somewhat harder to get to with flights and ferries, expensive shopping. Taking your first trip on The Yacht Week? They both provide instagramable opportunities at every turn, and the best option for you will depend on your individual needs. I also shop for them here, here, and here. Its hard to beat this route if you are looking for a party. Like I said, you'll spend all day everyday in a bikini so bring a handful of coverups to switch between. I highly suggest coming to Croatiaa few days early or staying a few days after too, at the very least, see nearbyKrka National Park. There are lots of day party options along the route and plenty of opportunities to sail out and tie up to other boats for a little sipping and swimming. The BVIs (British Virgin Islands) is a tropical route so expect beautiful sand beaches, clear blue water and lots of palm trees. More details on regatta day below. There is also the famous New Years route which I have yet to experience but looks like a blast and draws a lot more people out than the Spring routes. Due to the hot weather, even with AC on the boat it was pretty unbearable so most people got a hotel room for the night in Hydra. Because of the massive amount of tourism onthe Croatian coast and islands (on and off of TYW) do your best to be a respectablevisitor to this region. IfRichard Branson built his island home here theres a reason for it! It was actually erupting the day we were supposed to hike it, so we watched the lava explode into the sky from the island of Panarea instead. Yacht Week prides itself on being able to throw the best parties youre likely to experience, and it makes them different in this regard from Sail Week Croatia. At 3 pm the "Tropical Retro Party" at Love Bay began, and to get to it we had to hop in a water taxi. The package options are: The party atmosphere is also up there with the best, and you can expect everything from cave parties & beach parties to the infamous circle raft floating festival in the busiest weeks. You basically have two logical options: either you (1) stay in the center of Athens so that you can get out and explore Athens that night with the rest of your crew or (2) stay near your marina so that your cab ride is cheaper and you can rest that night instead (the calm before the storm!). DRAMAMINE. Each time I've gone to the Yacht Week I have made plans to meet up with my crew that night so it makes sense to plan where you will stay with them. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Photo: The Yacht Week / Michael Vanarey Best Routes on The Yacht Week, How to Choose Between the Best Routes on The Yacht Week. Followed by both companies Athens Route. Go check them out! If you want to sail yourself for the sailing experience, consider another route. The Yacht Week features eight different sail routes for you to choose from. Take a look to see which of the routes on The Yacht Week is the best for your ocean vacation. COVERUPS. GORPO. Also because it is small and therefore easy to transport. If you havent already, make sure you read Everything You Need To Know About The Yacht Weekas it has important information you will need to know. Click here for my favorite sundresses. In comparison, the other Croatian routes start and finish in the town of Split. Bring 1-3 of these. Prices for peak summer (July) are considerably more than the end of the season (September), which is to be expected due to the demand. This is a great time to make some new friends! Their seamless bottoms are by far the most comfortable I have EVER tried (and I own over 50 bikinis). Click here for my favorite bikinis! TYW features more unforgettable parties and uses features world-class DJs than any of its competitors. One of the best aspects of booking a trip with The Yacht Week is having the option to choose from a number of unique routes, each catering to different types of vacation experiences. Unlike Split, Athens is incredibly spread out and roads are pretty bag so getting to your marina could take a long time if you do not stay near it. A post shared by The Yacht Week (@theyachtweek). Do day and nightlife venues excite you, or do you prefer a leisurely retreat? When deciding which route is the best for you or your group, consider your ideal pacing, activities and destinations. If you are a group, you can select between monohull or catamarans when using the Full Yacht Package with the option to add any of the Sail Week amenities. I believe they call this "Riviera Chic" now but same thing. Yes, that is as weird as it sounds and no, you do not leave Athens or sail at all on day one. On the way over our skipper, Diego, very graciously took us to a bay with a few other boats to swim around for a bit. The sail back to Lavrio was the longest of them all and we ended up hitting some rocky weather on the way back! Last summer after first doing Croatia Yacht Week, I was crazy enough to go back for round II, this time for the Yacht Week Greece. There are 10 weeks that this route runs, beginning on the last weekend of May and ending in mid-September. While it is about having a great time, theres a level of sophistication that has been upheld by TYW and its guests that has kept it an amazing experience and not a trashy version of MTVs Spring Break Cancun. However, the most significant difference is that Sail Week offers a Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB) option, which considerably impacts the price you pay for a given package. From there we headed to Dokos, a secluded island with a population of only 18 people, who are Orthodox Monks and sheep herders! per The Yacht Week app. If you havent tried Boys + Arrows yet - you must. Visit inexpensive restaurants on land for authentic Greek eats and explore the islands for an adventure with a view. SEA BAND. For me, The Yacht Week Greece is the most well-balanced route of them all. I think I paid something like $6 for a roll of aluminum foil! If you are looking for hidden gems in the Greek archipelago, then this route will delight you with secluded coves, charming villages and unique coastal pine forests to explore. We saw dolphins, a smoking volcano and gorgeous islands. This is not a first-pumping electronic music destination. I havent been on the newer Montenegro or Spainroutes (which is why its not included in the comparison) BUT, I have been to Spain on my own and can imagine the sailing and nightlife are out of this world! The photos are watermarked by each photographer and you can find each of them here: Michael Vanarey, Sam Allard,Alex Broadstock, Louis Agace,Matthieu Khalaf, Sune Chee. (Well, more likebottle service at Club Vanilla but whos counting?). What is a circle raft? I also love this brand (I have black + gold and the navy colorful one), this brand, this brand, and this brand. Their website offers a tasty selection of floating festivals and unique events by partnering with festival organisers and record labels. For the build your own package, the yacht selected was a 50ft Catamaran for a group of 10 people a total of 2413 p.p (host and skipper included). Yacht Week and Sail Week Croatia are both well-established travel companies offering various sailing routes around Croatia. before getting ready for the Riviera Chic party. Youll party surrounded by breathtaking views of the coastline and end your nights dancing under the stars. Sicily is a special place for both food and culture. What makes Sail Week different from Yacht Week is the diversity of extra activities they offer. You dont want to leave the party early or sail drunk. Okay, so here we are at the all-important price comparison of the two. Become a part of the culture filled with lazy days on the white sandy beaches and floating in the blue ocean waters surrounded by plenty of palm trees and sunshine. Photo: The Yacht Week Montenegro Mike Verstraten Best Routes on The Yacht Week. The after party that night was at Malibu Bar, a club, post-dinner starting around 11pm. Grab a beer, relax in the sun, and dont complain about waiting : ). Do you prefer to spend more time on the water or exploring on land? The Yacht Week BVIs was my second ever trip on The Yacht Week and stands as my all-time favorite sailing trip. And the balanced vibes are on the Dubrovnik, Athens and Montenegro routes. Join over 1 million people and get exclusive travel tips, giveaways and more! For those that can appreciate a good party, Croatia is the best for nightlife lovers who want to spend their time dancing and partying until dawn on Hvar Island. You also get to sail to some spectacular islands, like Panarea, which is frequented bythe rich and famous for its gorgeous vistas and beautiful marina. Hi! It is basically Hawaiian attire. Bring at least 3-5! I can hardly believe it is already time to start thinking about the Yacht Week Summer 2019 but it is time to start planning! All of The Yacht Week routes are listed below: All the routes last for 7 days, keeping with the mantra yacht week. Its greatin some ways because you wont have any problem finding things to do or places to eat. Youll still find delicious Italian food here, but a traditional Sicilian meal cant be missed. You likely won't be able to pick any up there so do this now. The direction of sailing/travel for the week is: Trogir > Bol > Natural Bay > Hvar > Vis > Trogir. She is amazing. They consider it to be mid pace (compared to Croatias fact pace) and fit for the sun seekers (compared to Croatias for the all-nighters). The BVIs route hassome of the best day parties of all the routes. Sincethis route is more focused on the partying I highly suggest getting a skipper, even if you sail and its your passion. The closing party that night was at Varkiza Resort in Yabanaki and it was gorgeous (as always). Sunset Restaurant, apparently voted by many publications to have the most beautiful view in the world, was our dinner spot for the evening. Pros: Easy access tostart location, well organized, gorgeous destinations, Cons:Long sailing days, bottle service at parties can get expensive. Click here to see the latest prices (make sure you get these non-drowsy natural ones). Some of the best day parties are also on the Croatia route. This means that the boats are rafted together in the middle of the water, i.e. Follow Kiersten on her adventures! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This night you do not leave your boat, you party on the raft. Sometime before 3am we hopped back on the transfer bus and slept on the boat in the marina. When we arrived we docked and hung around town for a bit (iced coffee!) Almost all of our crews (2 boats full) had done Croatia prior and almost everyone agreed that they preferred Greece. Erimioni is a very small but beautiful town. You can select from 4 different package types: classic, premium, luxury, or BYO. Im Kiki, a California native, who left my career in corporate finance to become a world traveler. The route is actually in Sicily which is still part of Italy, but has its own unique culture and highlights. Click here to see the latest prices for my Sony a7II. My favourite destinations are Ibiza, Berlin, Croatia, Cape Town, Tulum and Portugal. Nice to meet you! Monohull (43-50ft); Capacity 8-10 (4-5 cabins), Monohull (43-50ft); Capacity 8-10 (4-5 cabins); Built 2016+. Like, 6 hours of sailing on some days. Day five was yet another insanely magical day because it started with a circle raft. Whats the difference between The Yacht Week and Sail Week Croatia? We also had lunch during the circle raft and Nic made us SUSHI if you can believe it. We once again rafted together, this time a short swim from shore, and spent the rest of the afternoon just hanging out. After dinner was an awards ceremony hosted by TYW Crew prior to the after-party at Omilos just a short walk down the road. That night we had dinner at some spot right in front of where we docked and it was delicious. Each island destination has something special to offer, whether its a donkey ride in Hydra or some island exploring. Italy was one of my favorite routes for fun-filled days. The Greece route is by far the best-organized route. Copyright 2022 The Blonde Abroad | All Rights Reserved, #ad The best travel hack for 2022! If you dont know what a regatta is then thank goodness you landed here prior to TYW. Hike to the Sveti Ivan Fortress to see the ocean from amazing heights or attend a seaside yoga session to get in touch with your inner self. Choose the best route that matches your vision of the perfect getaway to ensure your Yacht Week experience is unforgettable. The BVIs are great for ocean activities, whether you explore the caves and natural baths at Virgin Gorda or sail out for an afternoon of snorkeling. Since they graciously hire a photographer for each event it is the one week of the year that I can forget I own a camera. Pros: Original and biggest route, best nightlife, great day parties, LOTS of fun, Cons:High additionalcosts along the route, low emphasis on localculture, weather can be unpredictable. If you don't need a full frame camera (if you aren't sure what that means, you don't need one! The Yacht Week Greece is an amazing experience and something I could not recommend more. Leading up to The Yacht Week Italy, I have to admit it was the route I was most excited about. Theres just a more Jack Sparrow feel to it. DON'T MISS HOW TO PACK FOR THE YACHT WEEK (INCLUDING A FREE PRINTABLE PACKING CHECKLIST!). In addition, there are wellness elements to enjoy in the form of sunset hikes and water volleyball to keep the hangover at bay. Its the best route for a little bit of luxe, a whole lotta ros, and some incredible sailing. The party started at 5 pm and Cava Bianco, a beautiful venue right on the water! Many days, you get gorgeous destinations all to yourself! WET BRUSH. If you plan to sleep off the boat, check out Airbnb before the week starts. You will live in these so if you have 7, bring 7 (one for everyday). Not to be dramatic but this is one of the best purchases I've ever made (especially for less than $8). This is an anti-nausea wristband! The Yacht Week is heavily focused on the party and music festival crowd. Thanks! Popular travel and lifestyle blog featuring travel tips, fashion, food and photography from around the world. Day three is Ermioni, home of the famous Yacht Week White Party (now called "Riviera Chic"). Whether its a massive raft party (where the boats are tied up in a big circle) or Carpe Diem club on Hvar, this route definitely takes the cake. Both premium brands provide similar experiences, andSWC is an excellent choice for fun-seeking revellers on a stricter budget.Their mix of parties and chic extra activities offers fantastic value when considering their premium options. They can be seen below: The Party Route, Ultra Route, and the Malta Route are party-focused routes. Yes, handmade sushi inside of a hot, swaying yacht kitchen. Yacht Week vs Sail Week: Which Is Better? I use it always but especially during Yacht Week! Upon arrival we walked around a bit and grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants along the water. Each destination has a different appeal, whether its the party of a lifetime in Croatia or the beautiful sandy beaches ofthe British Virgin Islands. With the option of these floating festivals, it is now truly world-class. An Adventure Travel Guide To Pag Island Croatia, The ULTIMATE Guide to Zre Beach Clubs, Festivals & Nightlife, First, is working on a superyacht really like what you see on. Nikki Beach the hotel offers rooms at an extremely reasonable price point, so the guys on our boat decided to book a room for the night there. Some people floated around while others who were willing to brave the heat hiked up to the top of the island (they said the view was gorgeous). You also get the incredible opportunity to trek an active volcano on Stromboli island. Fashion, Lifestyle, Packing, Shop, Beauty, Everything You Need To Know About The Yacht Week, Click here to see the latest prices for my Sony a7II, How to Pack for The Yacht Week and Bucketlust, A Detailed Guide to The Yacht Week Greece - Everything You Need to Know, Where to Travel in 2018 (My Favorite Places of 2017). The majority of the routes are in Croatia, and they follow the same itinerary except for the Hideout Festival route.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'onthebeatingtravel_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',187,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-onthebeatingtravel_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0')}; The Hideout Festival route begins and ends near the seaside city of Zadar. It was indeed a little more laid back than the Croatia version, but still filled with endless amounts of fun in one of the worlds most beautiful settings. The locals are proud to be Sicilian and eager to share their unique culture with you. The sailing in the BVIs is world-class and each destination along the route has a special and unique appeal. Love Bay has a beautiful beach and you basically spend the afternoon here drinking, playing volleyball, wading in the water, meeting next friends, etc. Since then, Ive traveled to over 70 countries and have knocked some big adventures off my bucket list. Where do I begin? Make some friends and get the party started! In Athens there are two different marinas and they are not at all near each other since Athens is very spread out. This route begins and ends in Athens, where you will get to visit the Acropolis overlooking the city below. Make sure you and your crew decide on a costume theme prior to the week starting, and dont forget to also pick up something for both your skipper and hostess! Fuel costs can also add up because of all the motoring. Pros:Gorgeous island destinations, lots of fun things to see and do, Cons:Inconvenient and expensiveshopping, remote start destination. For simplicity sake, Ive compared apples to apples again and taken the first week of August (6th-13th) for the Original Route (TYW) and the Party Route (SWC) and staked them side-by-side. Say buh-bye to tan lines! Greece has some of the longest sailing days of all the routes. Theres a different sophistication about the nightlife making the Italy route unique from other routes. Need a PCR test, 10 Safest Destinations for Solo Female Travel, The Best Girlfriend Getaways Around the World, 10 European Destinations for Female Travelers, 10 Incredible Adventures to Have in North America, 10 Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations Around the World, What to Expect on a Luxury Galpagos Cruise, 7 Budget Travel Tips for Student Travelers, Ethical Animal Encounters Around the World, Why You Should Travel with Reef Safe Sunscreen, My Gender-Neutral Backyard Baby Shower in San Diego, The Best Babymoon Destinations in the United States, The Best Travel Products for Babies and Kids, 10 Reasons The Yacht Week Should be Your Next Girls Trip, 20 Photos to Inspire You to Go on The Yacht Week, The Ultimate Guide to The Yacht Week Italy, The Ultimate Guide to The Yacht Week Greece. After exploring and grabbing lunch we headed to the hotels to get ready for one of the most important evenings of the week! Day four was a real crowd pleaser because it was both regatta day and Nikki Beach day! There is a good dose of partying thrown in with the infamous Yacht Week circle raft (think boutique floating festival), day parties at Cavo Bianco, and beach parties on sandy beaches, complete with cocktail-sipping DJs. I know first hand that one of the hardest decisions whenbooking a trip on The Yacht Week is picking the best route. We headed there bright and early to avoid the traffic jam in the ultra-small Hydra marina and so we could spend as much time as possible exploring Hydra. Each of routes on The Yacht Week offers an itinerary filled with experiences unique to that particular route. not docked, and that to get to land you must take a quick water taxi. Before the Yacht Week Greece begins on Saturday, you must fly into Athens. Ive been lucky enough to have been on 5 trips with The Yacht Weekand wanted toshare my own experience from each trip to help you decide which route is best for you. The only BVIs bottle service youll find here is waking up under a palm tree with a bottle of rum in your hand. Its that magnificent thing you see in all of the marketing photos, where the boats all come together to form a circle raft. The market in the marina at Portorosa is extremely limited and expensive so hire a taxi and drive a ways to another nearby market to save some cash. Photo: The Yacht Week BVI / Gustav Hammarskild Best Routes on The Yacht Week. Click here to see the latest prices. Its absolutely gorgeous and you will most likely spot dolphins along the way but, it can also feel like a really long day at sea depending on your experience with sailing. So I am going to go into detail about the exact itinerary I had this year at Greece Yacht Week. Barbarellas Discotheque Undeniable 80s Nostalgia. To my surprise, I had a handful of friends go to the Croatia one this summer and they still had a lot of questions - ones specific to that exact route. Buzz Boat party (a boat with DJ booth and Void Acoustics), Tunnel raft party (like you see in the videos), Headline DJs, including the like of Claptone and Gorgon City. For your money, youll get an array of party shenanigans to experience: Add in seaside yoga sessions, a castle hike in Hvar and even convertible VW Beetle exploring in Vis, and you have more than enough to keep you entertained for an entire week. Most of whom I still remain close friends with years later. From shore side day parties and bottle service at nightlife events, youll get to live life to the fullest during this lavish route. It is entirely wheeled vehicle-free but you can ride a donkey if you want! Unfortunately, there is no option to add amenities like air-conditioning or a host to these packages. Local payment of 600 Croatian Kuna (~80) per person applies to all bookings. Adventure-seekers are sure to live it up by booking a trip with The Yacht Week. Photo: The Yacht Week Greece Adam Bertalan Best Routes on The Yacht Week. Learn how your comment data is processed. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. onthebeatingtravel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon and other affiliate programs. Because of the massive interest in this route, they now have a black and red route that runs the same route but starting and ending in opposite directions. The voyage from Lavrio to Poros was about 4.5 hours and many people continued to sleep on the way (or started to sleep since many people got home around 7 am when we were leaving). Sometime before 7:30 we headed back via water taxi. The emerald waters of the Greek islands are famed for their marine wildlife, so dolphin spotting is almost certainly something you can bank on.