Mallorca Recce Booked!

[volvopaul]

Stage one of the move to the Med is under way. I have booked the flights for a weekend recce of the marinas in Mallorca.

I have enjoyed reading the threads on here talking about Club del Mar in Palma and Cala D'or so those two are on the list. I am meeting Nick Barke from BCU in Cala D'Or for a chat.

Then a look at Alcudia and Pollensa. From my "google" research I think Alcudia is in pole position but I am keeping an open mind.

Would any residents in the above marinas like to add further to the advice already on this forum as to why theirs is the best?

What should I do when I get to the marina? Just turn up in the office and say "Hello, I'd like to bring my boat here. How much will it cost?" or should I contact them first?

By the time you have had your first coffee with Nick he will have the T51 on brokerage and you into something else that's already there Peter. I'd take a look at Santa Ponsa if your not bothered about a noisey Marina.

 

[Hurricane]

Only slight thread drift
But hopefully these pics will show some of Alcudia and help with the recce

We left Sant Carles yesterday morning.
Flat seas most of the way but, as forecast we had a good swell from about 30 miles from Mallorca.
We were heading directly to Cap Formentor and then on to Alcudia.
The final run run into Alcudia saw a following sea which was much more fun.

So this was land fall

And this is the cape

I took more pics but the sun was in the wrong direction for them to be any good.
Anyway, these are of the way in - much nearer Alcudia - note the golf course

This morning, I went for a quick walk and took my camera.
Here some pics around the marina.

Here is a pic of a small bar in the marina overlooking the bay.

Then some around Alcudia town - note - this is Alcudia Port rather than the Old Town which is a mile or so inland.

And this is a special street - this is the street with the Meson Dulcinea - great steaks.

Continued on next post ......

 

[Hurricane]

Some pics of the Alcudia lagoon and beaches.

This beach is about 500m from the boat/marina.
You could swim here for free and go back to the boat for a shower.

When you are out here, you might like to check Botel - which is the local marina hotel - which I believe has the same owners as the marina.
Maybe see if there is local membership or something - there is a board in the hotel reception indicating golf and other activities available.

The hotel swimming pool is nice - infinity pool with bars - could be worth exploring.

I hope these pics are useful.
Enjoy your recce.
We far prefer Alcudia to Palma.
Palma is too commercial for us.
I think you will find the style of Cala d'Or somewhere between the two.
But thats only my opinion.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Nice pics, H. Brought back some memories

 

[Hurricane]

Nice pics, H. Brought back some memories

Especially the Meson Dulcinea - your recommendation IIRC

 

[john_morris_uk]

I do some work on the island fairly regularly and am a regular visitor to most of the places mentioned.

The comments re Andraxt (sp?) are apposite. It's no place to leave a boat in the winter... I usually stay in my friends apartment nearby so I can vouch for he place in settled weather. It wouldn't be my first choice.

Puerto Portals is lovely and I spend a lot if time driving various different power boats out of there (or being driven by YM candidates!). Some lovely restaurants but the only reasonably priced one is Diblitos in my experience. However the town is a short walk and there's lots of choice there.

I quite like Palma but it gets a bit noisy. Nice town and if you want restaurant recommends then ask. I'll get the names of the ones I've been taken to by the locals. (They were EXCELLENT!)

 

[MedDreamer]

Thanks for the pics Hurricane, bringing back very happy memories of our 6 years in Alcudia. We loved it there. As others have said the only real issue is that it is a bit breezier than the more sheltered South Coast but also much less crowded. Lots of great anchorages in the area, Formentor Bay, Cala San Vincente and "Chicken Bay" by the Night Manager house in Pollensa Bay all favourites of ours.

Agree with comments about Meson Dulcina. There are other good places to eat though. The restaurant in the marina with the large chairs with blue cushions is Bistro Mar which is consistently good and the bar overlooking the bay is Aqua which is also a sushi bar. Haven't been there for a while but it used to be excellent and they did a fabulous Japanese Mojito

For the OP, the island with the small lighthouse (golf course pic) is Alcanada which is a very popular anchorage.

A very friendly marina too, Marinero's very helpful.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Especially the Meson Dulcinea - your recommendation IIRC

It seems not everyone agrees! See post #19

 

[ELJAY]

I live in Mallorca (SW) and keep my boat in Portals. The north is beautiful in summer but deserted in winter, depends how often you will be visiting but you will need to build a network of English speaking mechanics, repairers, fixers etc which from my experience is much easier in the SW.

 

[TonyR123]

+1 for Puerto Portals. Marina not too big, nice beach next to it, cheaper restaurants up portal nous. I am a boating novice (first boat moored in portals) and preferred the smaller port, plus protection from winds/waves.

 

[petem]

Back of fag packet, what are the prices for a 14m rental berth in:

Portals
Cala D'Or
Alcudia
Palma

Thanks.

 

[MikeA]

Portals may allow you on a 12m berth for just under 18k (euros) inc fixed charge for water and electric or insist on a 15m at around 26k + metered services. Alcudia around 10k not sure about services. I think Palma will be a 15m berth and when I last enquired that was around 15k, Cala d'or, no idea how strict they are on length but I think price was between Palma and Portals, quite a few forumites there now who will have a better idea. Makes SC look a bargain, if it wasn't for the mozzies and fouling, I'd probably move tomorrow!

 

[Hurricane]

Back of fag packet, what are the prices for a 14m rental berth in:

Portals
Cala D'Or
Alcudia
Palma

Thanks.

I don't think many would be able to answer that question.
But I'll have a go at guessing.
My prices based on 20m (JW's length)

Portals - the most expensive - I reckon about 30,000 euros p.a - thats a pure guess
Cala d'Or - others on here will be able to confirm but I did see a 20m private berth advertised a couple of years ago for 20,000 euros p.a - so probably in excess 23,000 euros p.a directly from Yan (the marina manager/owner)
Alcudia - I could ask but I would think it might be around 20,000 euros p.a
Palma itself - there are several marinas - the cheapest being the old fishing harbour behind Real Club Nautico - a guess would be 18,000 euros for a 20m berth.
Real Club Nautico itself would probably be in excess of 25,000 for a 20m berth.

Those prices would probably include electricity and water and , of course, less for your 14m question or the OP's 15m boat.

Maybe others on here will correct my guesses

But the prices in Mallorca are a league different from the low prices that you will find on the mainland.
A 15m in SCM can be had for about 4,500 euros inc electricity, water and local taxes.
In fact, I know one that is coming up in about 3 months for about those prices.

However, I know that the OP is looking for the convenience and around the year quick access to lively holiday resorts.

 

[julians]

Port Adriano used to publish the price list for its moorings on the website,but now it just says contact the office for details,so I presume that means they're negotiable.

For what it's worth I know they allow 10% over the mooring length,but nothing over the width.

Majorca is an expensive place to keep a boat though, no doubt about that.

 

[MikeA]

Portals don't have 20m berths I think they jump from 18M @ just over 40k euros inc IVA but not services to 26M at prices I don't need to be concerned about! Private berths can sometimes be negotiated for less but if the marina is reasonably full, can be more expensive than the std marina rates. Last time I looked at Adriano, they were on a par with Portals.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Makes SC look a bargain, if it wasn't for the mozzies and fouling, I'd probably move tomorrow!

Move to Carloforte in Sardinia then! I am paying about €8000 a year to moor a 20m boat there. The water is crystal clear so fouling is minimal, the food is great if you like tuna and most of the time its too windy for the mozzies to hang on to you

 

[jrudge]

I don't think many would be able to answer that question.
But I'll have a go at guessing.
My prices based on 20m (JW's length)

Portals - the most expensive - I reckon about 30,000 euros p.a - thats a pure guess
Cala d'Or - others on here will be able to confirm but I did see a 20m private berth advertised a couple of years ago for 20,000 euros p.a - so probably in excess 23,000 euros p.a directly from Yan (the marina manager/owner)
Alcudia - I could ask but I would think it might be around 20,000 euros p.a
Palma itself - there are several marinas - the cheapest being the old fishing harbour behind Real Club Nautico - a guess would be 18,000 euros for a 20m berth.
Real Club Nautico itself would probably be in excess of 25,000 for a 20m berth.

Those prices would probably include electricity and water and , of course, less for your 14m question or the OP's 15m boat.

Maybe others on here will correct my guesses

But the prices in Mallorca are a league different from the low prices that you will find on the mainland.
A 15m in SCM can be had for about 4,500 euros inc electricity, water and local taxes.
In fact, I know one that is coming up in about 3 months for about those prices.

However, I know that the OP is looking for the convenience and around the year quick access to lively holiday resorts.

Sadly I think you will find these are all on the low side.

Cala Dor is about E38k
Palma E28k

I used to pay E7k for a 12m in Club De Mar but the 20m size is in demand :-(

 

[jrudge]

Late to this thread.

In Mallorca you will find all sorts. Consider first of all if the marina is just a boat car park ( go for the cheapest) or somewhere you will actually arrive and spend time at.

Palma has the huge benefit that it is 10 mins from the airport ( E15) so if you are visiting over weekends it is a better bet than most other places. It is also a real town that is open year round. I was at Club De Mar and would go back in a heartbeat. Nice pool, club etc and a few mins cab ride from the old town. Club Nautico is closer but I prefer the feeling of Club De Mar.

There are other marinas near palma, but for the ones when you look on the map that are a bit further away they are all about an hour by car. Alcudia is a long way --- but there is a motorway. Cala Dor looks closer ... but the motorway only goes about 25% of the distance.

Outside Plama in the winter will be dead. Really dead. Cala Dor in Feb is like a tumbleweed town. The marina has 2 restaurants open and the town ( which is a tourist town) is almost totally closed. Most other places are like this as well.

People say there is nowhere close to go from Palma - i disagree - but you can't argue that for example Cala Dor can see you in about 6 stunning calas within about a 5 minute cruise from the marina - and you would not need to be going that quickly. So great for short weekends or when you feel that pumping diesel is getting a little boring

Personally when "cruising" i tend to do slow laps of the island finding new places. so where I am based is not that important!

I dont think you can make a total mistake. If you dont like it just move on after a few months.

Jeremy

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I dont think you can make a total mistake. If you dont like it just move on after a few months.

Good summary

 

[MikeA]

Move to Carloforte in Sardinia then! I am paying about €8000 a year to moor a 20m boat there. The water is crystal clear so fouling is minimal, the food is great if you like tuna and most of the time its too windy for the mozzies to hang on to you

Yes, I looked at Carloforte last summer when the threads were running with pics of the stunning scenery. Flights would be an issue for me over the winter, I try to visit the boat every 4 to 6 weeks for a long weekend, carry out some maintenance tasks and chill. Mallorca's great for that and Portals is less the 20 minutes from the airport. I'm nearly 3 hours west of Bristol airport so am limited to flying from there, especially if it's a 4 or 5 day trip. The perfect marina doesn't exist as far as I can see, they're either highly priced, miles from anywhere, too windy (you put me off Denia!), no winter flights (Amlafi Coast, Croatia, Carloforte etc.) or very difficult to find a long term berth without leasing (South of France), so some compromise is inevitable. I do fancy a change though and would like to reduce my berthing costs, I'm going to take another look at Alcudia next week.