Med Marinas with Hotel/Resort facilities

I missed the 15m berthing requirement in the follow on post. You are right at that size west of Antibes impractical.

You forgot to mention that it is possible get a good kebab in Antibes should one wish.
 
wakeup said:
I haven't been to the new Genoa marina but that might also tick the box.
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If you mean the one at the airport, It doesn't have much atmosphere out of season (at least when I was there in May). It's walkable from the airport but you would find yourself in the car going places on shore a lot (all the wonders that Genoa, being a nice size city has to offer).

Of course you can cruise to so many places a short distance from there, both east and west.
 
jfm said:
Jez I'm there from tonight till next Weds. I have a boat full of visitors but will have plenty of chance for a beer/chat with you and Jimmy. You can borrow my Clio (insured any driver; has TomTom) if you want to tour around to look at marinas nearby.
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Ditto, I am here until a week Friday with a car if you want a tour of the marinas down here.
 
Have a look at Club de Mar in Palma http://www.clubdemar-mallorca.com. Pool, night club, small supermarket, chandlery and bar on site plus loads of hotels and restaurants in Palma only a short stagger away. Plus its only 15mins from Palma airport which has excellent flight connections all year round. The only downside might be that your little one could be too young to be admitted into the pool but you'd have to check that. I have to say though that it hasn't quite got as many family friendly facilities as Marina Frapa in Croatia which has 4 restaurants on site, 3 bars, pool, night club, gym, tennis courts, hotel rooms on site and a Miss Adriatic contest every year. And it will be cheaper. However you know the downsides of Croatia ie no flights in winter, weather not quite as settled as W Med and fewer boat maintenance facilities
 
Thanks all,

Unlikely to make a trip thus week due to commitments, but may well try to tie something up in September. All good points, and I like the SoF for many reasons including the fact it's a reasonably painless drive if you're going for a 6 week break.

That said, my inclination is a 15m berth in somewhere good down there is going to be at least €1000 per metre?
 
Whitelighter said:
Thanks all,

Unlikely to make a trip thus week due to commitments, but may well try to tie something up in September. All good points, and I like the SoF for many reasons including the fact it's a reasonably painless drive if you're going for a 6 week break.

That said, my inclination is a 15m berth in somewhere good down there is going to be at least €1000 per metre?
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A bit less I think. Berths are sold by berth size, not boat size, so in PV for example you have 8x3, 10x4, 15x5, 23x6 and so on. You're generally allowed 10% tolerance on length, sometimes more depending on the specific berth, but you can't exceed the beam (and in fact I think the small print states a requirement for fender allowances). A 15x5 in PV was about 11,400 euros for the year last year, although you can't get an annual contract and you pay the rent monthly. So this year I should think it's about 12k euros - but the high season months are almost twice the price of the winter months, so your mileage may vary depending on the precise dates you arrive. Iirc from last year when I did all this research, SLDV, BdA, PV, Beaulieu, St Jean Cap Ferrat, Gallice, Golfe Juan and La Napoule are all about the same on rental rates, although the specific berth sizes (and tolerance policy) varies from one port to another.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
jimmy_the_builder said:
A bit less I think. Berths are sold by berth size, not boat size, so in PV for example you have 8x3, 10x4, 15x5, 23x6 and so on. You're generally allowed 10% tolerance on length, sometimes more depending on the specific berth, but you can't exceed the beam (and in fact I think the small print states a requirement for fender allowances). A 15x5 in PV was about 11,400 euros for the year last year, although you can't get an annual contract and you pay the rent monthly. So this year I should think it's about 12k euros - but the high season months are almost twice the price of the winter months, so your mileage may vary depending on the precise dates you arrive. Iirc from last year when I did all this research, SLDV, BdA, PV, Beaulieu, St Jean Cap Ferrat, Gallice, Golfe Juan and La Napoule are all about the same on rental rates, although the specific berth sizes (and tolerance policy) varies from one port to another.

Cheers
Jimmy
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Ok, that's better than I thought. I think the marina in Croatia where mike keeps his (frapa) is going to be about €9,000 but a bit more of a bugger to get to.

St Carles stupidly cheap in comparison and for that reason alone it stays in the mix.

All a bit academic at the mo as I have to find the right boat at some point. I guess it can stay where ever it is for a bit. Focusing on the Azimut 46 as that seems to offer the best set of compromises plus there is plenty of choice. Prestige 46 comes a close second and the cranchi 48 Atlantique ticks the boxes on paper but isn't quite right - dunno why it just doesn't feel as good somehow. Ruled out going older but bigger as I think it would make berthing costs etc a bit too painful
 
Hello Jez,
I think we are a bit ahead of you .My eldest is off to Uni next month .for the past 8 Y we have enjoyed the famiily feel of La Napoule , in terms of bars, restaurants etc, and a lovely beach under the Chateau .
Lerins 15 mins Away and of course many coves under the Esterel Mountians .Some with beaches .
It's 25-30?mins down the A8, to junction 41 from the airport .
A little car is also useful for bad weather days the explore .local driving very much like home ,plenty of out of town malls,
Liddell,for kiddie food/ drinks and easy parking .( actually the € 1.65 rose is surprisingly nice)
Antibes is a terrible place driving wise and Andrea will curse you for leaving her there with kids for extended periods .
Mandelieu / La Napoule has a more French village feel .Cannes 15 min drive out of season is a great place to shop - I,ll add at both ends of the €€ spectrum .Ladies love it .Although in the season same journey may take 30-40 mins ,by Car ,but there is a train or ferry boat
Wife+ kids -alone -La Nap has CCTV as security guards, with big dogs patrolling .Criime/trouble is none existent here ( it's deflected elsewhere.) This Y wifi has been introduced, so they can get online for nowt .
Train station 10 min walk as well .lots of " normal " little hotels and plenty of appartments to rent within walking distance
Also they can hop on boat ferry to the islands ,Cannes ,Monaco,St Trop, for a day trip from the marina if dads away
PV is busy , noisey ,touristy more so ,parking/ car nightmare -
As mentioned pop along and see and feel the atmospheres of a few ports
We went for SoF ,cos its drivable from the Uk and Switzerland where spend our winters .
I have been to most IT marina s right up to Portofino :) The coast becomes very plane and boring past Menton ,not so many sheltered cove,s cos there arn,t many headlands ( excepting Portofino) .
Genoa is an excellent marina ,but Oppersite a huge port -massive ships etc, not really a family place.
Have a look at Imperia ,this is a new marina with your pool,clubhouse scenario, but I think a problem logistical speaking from an airport point of view .
Nice airport works well year round CDZ really takes some beating to base a boat .
We will be down there for 2 wks from the 7 th Sept -probably have wonder to the boat show in Cannes one day ,take the bus along the sea front ,so we can enjoy the Sunsseker hospitality -have a few drinks

One more thing you can get a kebab -+ white source in La Nap
 
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Whitelighter said:
Looking at bething possibilities in the med and I require a marina with hotel or resprt facilities - namely a pool, decent restaurant and bar (or more than one), club house/room would also be good.

MDL St Carles in spain is an obviuos one, and I am also aware of Marina Frapa in Croatia. Only other criteria is that its reletively easy to get to from the UK
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I've told you my thoughts before
And you've answered your own question.

In fact Sant Carles is actually run by a hotel manager who has brought that very feeling to the marina.
It has matured a fair bit since the the last time you were here.
Swimming pool - great bar - town a five minute walk away - lagoon for day boating.

Here's a link to the SCMCHAT photo gallery
See for yourself
Pics are a little out of date but give a good feel for the place

http://www.scmchat.com/extraweb/gallery/gallery.html

And here's the promotional video for the marina
Even JW gets in the shot!!!



John's comment about being expensive from the airport doesn't hold much water.
Yes it is 100 miles from the islands - but hey - that are fantastic cruising areas when you get there.
And from a cost point of view - it is way cheaper to berth at SC and cruise over there - even after costing in the fuel.
Couple that with the easiest place to get to by car - 6 hours from Bilbao

I've been out here for the whole of August - just living on the boat - great food - wonderful sun etc etc etc....
 
Hurricane said:
John's comment about being expensive from the airport doesn't hold much water.
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I wouldn't question the facilities of SC which I'm sure are delightful but I do question whether it's suitable for the OP's planned boating schedule. As I understand it, he's going to park his family on the boat for an extended period and commute regularly from the UK himself for long weekends. As I found out myself when I moored my boat in Denia, the very last thing you want after a heavy week at work and a delayed flight out of Luton or wherever is a long car journey from the airport to get to your boat and then to have to do the same journey in reverse a couple of days later. As I understand it, Barcelona is 150km away and the OP will probably have to use Barcelona rather than Reus to suit his long weekend travel schedule. Also, whilst I'm sure that there is some good cruising around SC, its not really practical to hammer out to the islands and back for a 2-3 day weekend. These 2 factors were exactly the reasons that I spent less than 1 season in Denia and concluded very quickly that basing my boat in the heart of the action in Palma was the only practical way of enjoying it with minimum travel hassle and easy access to the cruising area I really wanted to be in
 
Bandol or Toulon?

I "discovered" Bandol last weekend & it's Rose, thought it was ideal to base myself next year for much the same reasons - pretty,small town, good shops/restaurants/boulevarde, sheltered beach (with lifesavers & hotel service), pool at the Ile Rousse hotel, 25 min ride to Toulon airport (Ryanair to Stansted), train station

Toulon harbour would be another option, either the marina in the City itself which has a reputation as a bit rolly due to ferry traffic, or smaller marinas further out inthe harbour


Whitelighter said:
Looking at bething possibilities in the med and I require a marina with hotel or resprt facilities - namely a pool, decent restaurant and bar (or more than one), club house/room would also be good.

MDL St Carles in spain is an obviuos one, and I am also aware of Marina Frapa in Croatia. Only other criteria is that its reletively easy to get to from the UK
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Deleted User said:
I wouldn't question the facilities of SC which I'm sure are delightful but I do question whether it's suitable for the OP's planned boating schedule. As I understand it, he's going to park his family on the boat for an extended period and commute regularly from the UK himself for long weekends. As I found out myself when I moored my boat in Denia, the very last thing you want after a heavy week at work and a delayed flight out of Luton or wherever is a long car journey from the airport to get to your boat and then to have to do the same journey in reverse a couple of days later. As I understand it, Barcelona is 150km away and the OP will probably have to use Barcelona rather than Reus to suit his long weekend travel schedule. Also, whilst I'm sure that there is some good cruising around SC, its not really practical to hammer out to the islands and back for a 2-3 day weekend. These 2 factors were exactly the reasons that I spent less than 1 season in Denia and concluded very quickly that basing my boat in the heart of the action in Palma was the only practical way of enjoying it with minimum travel hassle and easy access to the cruising area I really wanted to be in
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I take your point about "hammering out to the islands" for a 2 day weekend but, as I say above, I've been here on my own for the whole of August so far and there are several UK families doing just as you say. Hubby at home working and popping out now and then to be with the family.
The family spending most of their time round the swimming pool in the sun.

I'm hoping to go off to Denia for a week or two next month so I will find out what Denia is like but I suspect that it is nothing like Sant Carles.
As to the flights - you are making far too big a thing about it.
When we were in Antibes, it could take as long to get to Nice airport as it does from here to Barcelona.
As you know Reus is serviced from the UK well at this time of the year and is only 50 mins from the marina.
In fact, you are far less likely to get a hold up on the roads between here and Reus or Barcelona - the Spaniards have been spending that European money well - each airport has three roads that can be used - the old N340 (not many of us use this) - the AP7 (toll road - always clear of traffic) - and the new A7 (which is as good as the AP7 but free to use)
All three roads route side by side - comical really but it does mean that you can plan on getting from Barcelona to the marina in just over an hour and a half.
Goodness, you could be held up on the M25 on a Friday night for longer.

Now when you consider that this is probably the cheapest place anywhere to keep your boat, SC offers a REAL option for the OP
 
Hurricane said:
When we were in Antibes, it could take as long to get to Nice airport as it does from here to Barcelona.
As you know Reus is serviced from the UK well at this time of the year and is only 50 mins from the marina.
In fact, you are far less likely to get a hold up on the roads between here and Reus or Barcelona - the Spaniards have been spending that European money well - each airport has three roads that can be used - the old N340 (not many of us use this) - the AP7 (toll road - always clear of traffic) - and the new A7 (which is as good as the AP7 but free to use)
All three roads route side by side - comical really but it does mean that you can plan on getting from Barcelona to the marina in just over an hour and a half.
Goodness, you could be held up on the M25 on a Friday night for longer.

Now when you consider that this is probably the cheapest place anywhere to keep your boat, SC offers a REAL option for the OP
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I've done the long weekend thing to my boat in the Med for 10yrs now and I can only speak personally but I definitely do not want to queue at a car rental desk late on a Friday night followed by a 1hr car journey. For me, long weekend trips to my boat only work if the travel hassle is absolutely minimised and that means a short taxi ride at the other end. Obviously if I could enjoy extended trips to my boat, I wouldn't mind the hassle. Thats why Palma and SoF worked well for me and so does our present marina in Croatia to a lesser extent but Denia didn't at all because it was at least an hour's drive from Alicante
 
There is a "Boatel" at Alcudiamar, a hotel in the marina; we visited Thursday, 07:30 from Southampton to Palma arrives 11:00 local. Allow an hour to the north. We were looking at a boat and away same night. There were a number of berths being advertised in marina shops (sorry, sizes were not noted!) and no shortage of places to eat, we had a good quality sea food lunch in the marina. Loads of beach space, too if thats a benefit.
 
Gentlemanracer said:
There is a "Boatel" at Alcudiamar, a hotel in the marina; we visited Thursday, 07:30 from Southampton to Palma arrives 11:00 local. Allow an hour to the north. We were looking at a boat and away same night. There were a number of berths being advertised in marina shops (sorry, sizes were not noted!) and no shortage of places to eat, we had a good quality sea food lunch in the marina. Loads of beach space, too if thats a benefit.
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Yes, Alcudiamar is an excellent family base with plenty for kids to do including a very safe sandy beach. Our boy loved it there although it's a bit bucket and spade for my taste. When we were there though, the hotel charged non residents for use of the pool
 
Deleted User said:
I've done the long weekend thing to my boat in the Med for 10yrs now and I can only speak personally but I definitely do not want to queue at a car rental desk late on a Friday night followed by a 1hr car journey. For me, long weekend trips to my boat only work if the travel hassle is absolutely minimised and that means a short taxi ride at the other end. Obviously if I could enjoy extended trips to my boat, I wouldn't mind the hassle. Thats why Palma and SoF worked well for me and so does our present marina in Croatia to a lesser extent but Denia didn't at all because it was at least an hour's drive from Alicante
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I do know what you mean. But, having been berthed in SCM since 2008, I must say that its quite easy to get to. The roads as Hurric has said are very good indeed and even the Barcelona trip is not arduous - the trip from my home to Torquay was a hell of a lot worse!

If you want to, you can also take the train from the airport which stops about 10 minutes away from the marina, very cheap indeed (circa 15 euros) it runs all the way down the coast of Catalonia. However, if you can fly to Reus, the car journey is a breeze, its a much smaller airport so car hire is not so crowded, I think the biggest queue I have experienced was two deep!

The cost of berthing is excellent value and facilities very good, I know Jez has been out, but it has matured a lot since then.

I have done the 20 week stints but last year and this year, due to work commitments, I have been taking frequent two-week stays, i'm out again 8th Oct. Also done the long weekend trips, all very easy and doable.

The town remains quaint and very Catalan. The local blue-flag beach is very shallow and safe for children and it's in walking distance (that's if you can get them out of the pool) that and the large flocks of Flamingo's and other exotic birds protected in the adjacent Ebre Delta is something special. What I also like is the large contingent of Brits that are permanently based in the marina, it just feels safe, which is immensely comforting when Lorraine goes out on her own with the Grandchildren, I often join them much later for a day or two, just before the kids go home, due entirely to work of course..........;)

Might be a good place to stay whilst you consider other options, only danger is you might just stay! Its so easy just to run out into the bay, drop the hook and take lunch, often soon joined by others.

I reckon with what you save on berthing costs it would cover the cost of a decent annual trip over to the islands and back, we last did it alone but many go in convoy.

Excellent boatyard/hoist facility with reasonably priced services, makes it all very tempting, but definitely not as exciting as say SoF, Mallorca, etc, so if that's what you like perhaps SCM may not be for you.

John
 
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