With so many enticing choices, planning a boat charter vacation may seem overwhelming at first, especially if you're new to chartering. You can easily get bogged down in details and then overloaded with information. Here's how to streamline the process, starting with three simple basics.

Area

When it comes to chartering a boat, the world is at your fingertips. There are boats of all sizes and types available for charter in nearly every desirable destination. If you'll be operating the boat yourself, with you as skipper, and family or friends as your crew, first consider your experience level; some destinations offer easier boating, others more challenging. If you're new to cruising or chartering, pick a novice-friendly area. Do some quick research and look for areas with protected harbors, deep water, easy line-of-sight navigation (meaning you can see your next destination from your current location), short hops between ports, and few or well-marked navigational hazards. The British Virgin Islands is an example of a perfect first-time chartering location.

Finally, choose your dates to coincide with the most optimum seasonal wind and weather conditions in that area, information that is easily found on charter companies' websites. If you're a seasoned skipper and crew, match your area with the type of boating you enjoy most: easy and relaxed or a little more challenging. Keep in mind that license or certificate requirements for bareboat skippers vary according to state and/or country laws. Most charter companies list qualifications required to bareboat in their areas. If you don't feel like shouldering any responsibility, simply choose your dream destination and opt to charter a boat with a one- or two-person crew, usually either a professional captain only, or captain and first mate/cook. (Sometimes you'll be given the option of paying for a captain by the day until you get used to handling the boat on your own.) You'll still be able to participate fully in every aspect of operating the boat if you like, but these experienced local pros will be ultimately responsible for boat and guest safety and will have lots of great inside local knowledge to ensure you have the best vacation possible. Check out our sidebar of top chartering destinations below to see which places may be great for your next vacation.

Boat

There are boats available in all sizes and types, power or sail. Would you prefer a monohull or multihull? How important is comfort? Speed? Performance? Answer these questions, and you've considerably narrowed the search. Next, take a head count of family or friends joining your adventure. How many people are you? If you're a couple only, there are smaller boats available. More people? Great. Most mid-size charter boats can take between four and eight passengers. Decide how many cabins and beds you need, as well as how many heads and showers will suit your particular group. Some boats of even larger size typically have one or two heads.

Once you know these parameters, determine the approximate size boat you need. Many chartering websites let you enter these parameters, then present you with a list of appropriately sized boats. On most charters, other than sleeping, very little time is spent belowdecks, even for showering (many charterers in the tropics prefer showering on the stern swim platform anyway). So check the cockpit configuration as well as deck space for lounging and relaxing. Is there adequate space for the number of people you have?

Finally, pay attention to the extras that do or don't come with the boat, such as any water toys you may like — kayaks, sailboards, or paddleboards (sometimes those can be rented from the charter company). An adequate dinghy and snorkeling gear are usually included with the boat. Once you have your parameters set, choose the boat in your desired location that will be right for you.

Cost

Everyone has a budget, and you can easily choose a boat that will suit yours. You might be surprised to find that a boat vacation can be far less expensive than an equivalent land-based vacation in whatever idyllic spot suits your fancy. Prices for boats vary widely, but here are some things to keep in mind.

Almost always, prices quoted are for the whole boat, for the whole week (usually excluding provisions and fuel). You can divide the cost for the week among the people in your charter party. Larger boats are more expensive per week than smaller ones, but because you'll divide the price among your group, the more people you have, the less it will cost per person.

Catamarans are generally more expensive than monohulls overall, but provide much more living space than monohulls of the same size. New boats are pricier than older models. Some people prefer new boats and are willing to pay more for them. But if you're on a budget, remember: As long as a boat is maintained and fully equipped, age only makes a difference when it comes to price. Older boats almost always are priced lower than new ones.

Other factors influencing cost are the charter region, season (high-season rates are sometimes higher than in the area's "fringe" or low seasons), and what's included in the total price. Is it "all inclusive" (meaning it includes expenses such as food, fuel, harbor fees)? Or is it "plus expenses" (meaning food, fuel, and other fees are not included and you pay them along the way during your charter)? For foreign charters, most companies list rates and charge fees in local currency, which may fluctuate a little depending on variations of the exchange rate at the time. Once you book your boat, the company you choose will personally lend an expert hand to guide you through all the other details of your charter.