Easy Wealth, XP, and Kit

One of the biggest problems perceived in the game is obtaining wealth, XP and kit. As it turns out this is not really a problem once you reach the point where you have access to boats and the sea. This is true particularly when you reach the Skellige Isles - which happens to be at a point when you are going to want to have both extra money, earn extra XP and upgrade your kit with better weapons and armor.

The reason for that has more to do with the massive number of Smuggler's Caches found in the sea than anything else.

The Typical Smuggler's Cache

Made up of between three and four chests that are chained to barrels that are found floating in the water, the typical Smuggler's Cache is going to offer you a selection of armor, weapons, resources for crafting, and money of one of the three types.

Perhaps more important though is that the vast majority of the loot that you get from the chests at these sites is of a sort you will want to sell - which when sold to the right type of merchant tends to be pretty good in terms of coin!

The Caches are also a good source for the best Saddle Bags for your horse which will allow you to carry even more loot, which means making more money quickly and how cool is that?

Hidden Treasures

Another of the "?" markers that you will commonly encounter on land are the Hidden Treasure markers, many of which will feature a quest-flagging item like a book or paper that, when read, adds a Treasure Quest to your journal that often leads to very desirable loot.

The takeaway lesson from this is simple -- despite the fact that early on you really will be badly in need of funds, as the game progresses that no longer maintains as a pressing matter.

And About XP

At each one of these markers you will find a number of monsters guarding them - killing the monsters is how you get some extra XP out of the deal. So you should make it a point to clear out ALL of the monsters that are at or near each marker. Just saying.