Question for the med based boys

[Jack Haines]

My parents moved their boat to Portimao, Portugal without air-con or a passarelle fitted and I was concerned as to how we would get on without them. In reality it hasn't been an issue at all, it cools down nicely during the evenings in Portugal and there always seems to be a cooling breeze coming from somewhere. With hatches and windows open we really haven't found the lack of chilled air to be a problem but we do have one of those Dyson fans to help out if it gets a bit stuffy.

As for a passarelle, it's not really needed in Portugal because most destinations are split between being a marina layout similar to the UK and anchorages where you use the tender to get ashore anyway. I know this is all very Portugal-centric but I just wanted to give you an idea because it sounds like you're in a similar position to where we were.

On a separate note, we have found that the reduced berthing and maintenance costs have pretty much covered the flights out to the boat for the year. However, we don't need to adhere to school holidays.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Jack

 

[rustybarge]

My parents moved their boat to Portimao, Portugal without air-con or a passarelle fitted and I was concerned as to how we would get on without them. In reality it hasn't been an issue at all, it cools down nicely during the evenings in Portugal and there always seems to be a cooling breeze coming from somewhere. With hatches and windows open we really haven't found the lack of chilled air to be a problem but we do have one of those Dyson fans to help out if it gets a bit stuffy.

As for a passarelle, it's not really needed in Portugal because most destinations are split between being a marina layout similar to the UK and anchorages where you use the tender to get ashore anyway. I know this is all very Portugal-centric but I just wanted to give you an idea because it sounds like you're in a similar position to where we were.

On a separate note, we have found that the reduced berthing and maintenance costs have pretty much covered the flights out to the boat for the year. However, we don't need to adhere to school holidays.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Jack

Have to agree with you, we spent two winters in Portugal and the weather is definitely better than the SoF. it seems to rain for an hour or less and then the sun comes out, but that does create quite a bit of humidity which condenses on cold surfaces like windows and tiled floors.

The beaches are absolutely gorgeous but the countryside is disappointing. Some traditional towns like Travira are pretty, but most of the coast has been wrecked by horrid development. Cooking is not so good, the only dishes worth trying are the chicken peri peri and the fish......everything is cooked on the barbie which gets very monotonous after a couple of weeks.

the Portugese are lovely people who actually like English speaking people, unlike the French.:ambivalence:

Would I go back for the winter....yes.

 

[Jack Haines]

Have to agree with you, we spent two winters in Portugal and the weather is definitely better than the SoF. it seems to rain for an hour or less and then the sun comes out, but that does create quite a bit of humidity which condenses on cold surfaces like windows and tiled floors.

The beaches are absolutely gorgeous but the countryside is disappointing. Some traditional towns like Travira are pretty, but most of the coast has been wrecked by horrid development. Cooking is not so good, the only dishes worth trying are the chicken peri peri and the fish......everything is cooked on the barbie which gets very monotonous after a couple of weeks.

the Portugese are lovely people who actually like English speaking people, unlike the French.:ambivalence:

Would I go back for the winter....yes.

Yes, you're right about the ugly developments. The small fishing villages around us such as Ferragudo and Arvor are very quaint but the high-rises on Praia de Roche are real eyesores and that seems to be a trend for most of the coastline: pretty village running into high-rise horror.

The countryside is on the bland side but the trip to Sagres and Cape St Vincent is well worth the effort (by car!) if it's blowing a bit.

I have to say, I never get tired of that freshly griddled fish and the local wine is excellent... and €3 per bottle!

 

[rustybarge]

Yes, you're right about the ugly developments. The small fishing villages around us such as Ferragudo and Arvor are very quaint but the high-rises on Praia de Roche are real eyesores and that seems to be a trend for most of the coastline: pretty village running into high-rise horror.

The countryside is on the bland side but the trip to Sagres and Cape St Vincent is well worth the effort (by car!) if it's blowing a bit.

I have to say, I never get tired of that freshly griddled fish and the local wine is excellent... and €3 per bottle!

Just out of interest how much is Dinner. Say Sea Bass, local wine, pudding and coffee?

 

[Jack Haines]

Just out of interest how much is Dinner. Say Sea Bass, local wine, pudding and coffee?

With a fish main, pudding, coffee and a bottle of local plonk, two people could eat for €30.

 

[John100156]

Just a few reasons why I moved my Targa 34 from Torquay in 2008, then my next boat a Seline F43 to the Med in 2011 - as others have said, book your flights and car hire early and the rest is simple, you chose when to take the boat out not the weather......:

Pilot whales taken in Gibraltar in Feb-2008

Enroute from Soller/Mallorca to SCM 2009:

Soller 2009

Grandson at helm of my old Targa 34 in the lagoon in SCM

Playing in the lagoon recently off the back of a friends F42/5 which we rafted to my F43

Columbretes a small island group and marine reserve 42NM south of Sant Carles

Peniscola castle 18NM south of SCM

One of the bays in Mallorca – 125NM SE of SCM

Some friends enjoying the weather with us in SCM 2010

Leaving SCM Marina

Up in the castle in Peniscola 18NM south of SCM

Drinks with friends in the lagoon about 2.5NM from the marina

Xiringuotos a seafood restaurant built on stilts in the lagoon 2.5NM from the marina

Sunset over the boatyard in SCM

Another shot of the lagoon outside SCM

About to leave Duquesa in 2010

Few hours after leaving Duquesa in 2010

SCM taken from the boatyard

We go out to MDL Sant Carles Mariner (SCM) frequently, it does cost more in the long run, why? Because you can actually use your boat for what it was designed to do, go out and play with friends even in winter, without the Eberspacher on (AC on my current boat but that's what annoyed me so much when I was berthed in TQ, sitting square-hulled often even in summer ;(

Don't waste time go for it...!

 

[MedDreamer]

When we had the boat in the UK we still used to book a couple of holidays per year somewhere warm and sunny.

When we moved to the Mallorca we got our sunshine fix on the boat so no need for other holidays and the money saved on the hols paid for us to fly out around 8 times a year.

When we first move out there I expected a year round season but as others have said boating is very seasonable - April/May to October. It is possible to find great days (as good as most Summer boating days in the UK) out of season but no-one bothers!

Do it, you won't regret it.

 

[lanerboy]

don't know what I am doing wrong but I cant get flights at the prices some of you lot are quoting

I have been on Easyjet and Ryan air flying from either East Mids or Luton to Barcelona so we could berth at sant carlos and most flights are coming up at £200 each approx. so 400 quid for 2 adults for a long weekend just ruins everything for me I cant spend that each time I want to go boating

what am I doing wrong I have tried loads of different dates

 

[jfm]

Sunset over the boatyard in SCM

Nice pics John. The above is sunrise, surely?

 

[jfm]

don't know what I am doing wrong but I cant get flights at the prices some of you lot are quoting

I have been on Easyjet and Ryan air flying from either East Mids or Luton to Barcelona so we could berth at sant carlos and most flights are coming up at £200 each approx. so 400 quid for 2 adults for a long weekend just ruins everything for me I cant spend that each time I want to go boating

what am I doing wrong I have tried loads of different dates

Shawn, I'm confused. Right now, for the first long weekend in July 2014: out LTN-BCN by easyjet Thursday evening 3/7/14, return Tuesday evening 8/7/14 =£90 return pp

Same times and dates for Nice are also £90 return pp

 

[Portofino]

don't know what I am doing wrong but I cant get flights at the prices some of you lot are quoting

I have been on Easyjet and Ryan air flying from either East Mids or Luton to Barcelona so we could berth at sant carlos and most flights are coming up at £200 each approx. so 400 quid for 2 adults for a long weekend just ruins everything for me I cant spend that each time I want to go boating

what am I doing wrong I have tried loads of different dates

Try this widen airport choice


http://www.skyscanner.net/?gclid=COr_s9OEs7wCFdShtAodgVYA1w

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Same times and dates for Nice are also £90 return pp

That reminds me. I ought to book some flights!

 

[lanerboy]

Shawn, I'm confused. Right now, for the first long weekend in July 2014: out LTN-BCN by easyjet Thursday evening 3/7/14, return Tuesday evening 8/7/14 =£90 return pp

Same times and dates for Nice are also £90 return pp

John

I think I have worked it out I have been trying to go out on a Friday pm which seems to be boosting the price up a lot, I cant commit to going out on a Thursday and back on a Tuesday with kids at school, well 1 now as daughter is now working

I really do keep thinking about the med and the sunshine, my heart keeps telling me to go for it but my head says I need to wait a few more years oh decisions decisions decisions

 

[GSL]

don't know what I am doing wrong but I cant get flights at the prices some of you lot are quoting

I have been on Easyjet and Ryan air flying from either East Mids or Luton to Barcelona so we could berth at sant carlos and most flights are coming up at £200 each approx. so 400 quid for 2 adults for a long weekend just ruins everything for me I cant spend that each time I want to go boating

what am I doing wrong I have tried loads of different dates

Two of us are flying Ryanair East Mids to Reus (only 50 mins by road to Sant carles) at Easter 12th - 22nd for about £240

The summer flights from Birmingham and Bristol start May 3rd.

Graham

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I think I have worked it out I have been trying to go out on a Friday pm which seems to be boosting the price up a lot, I cant commit to going out on a Thursday and back on a Tuesday with kids at school, well 1 now as daughter is now working

Med boating is a hassle if you've got school age kids for the reasons you're now finding out. Flight costs are definitely higher friday night to monday morning and around half terms/holidays so unless you've got very accommodating grandparents to look after the kids for extended periods, you're stuck with higher airfares. Even then when you get to the Med its more crowded than normal because every other family with school age kids is there. The day the last one is safely packed off to uni is the first day you can really enjoy Med boating

 

[jfm]

John

I think I have worked it out I have been trying to go out on a Friday pm which seems to be boosting the price up a lot, I cant commit to going out on a Thursday and back on a Tuesday with kids at school, well 1 now as daughter is now working

I really do keep thinking about the med and the sunshine, my heart keeps telling me to go for it but my head says I need to wait a few more years oh decisions decisions decisions

Ah, ok. I was reading your words "long weekend" as meaning Thursday night till Monday night kinda thing. Yes, if you do Friday night flights out and Sunday nights return, then it is more expensive (as I know well...). Deleted User has a point about how much harder it is to do Med boating with kids at school. Arguably you can only do the school holidays and have to give up on "nipping down" to the boat for all the other weekends, when you have kids at school. It's then a personal decision as to whether that is better or worse for you than UK boating.

The other thing for weekending is that, imho, you want your boat near an airport. I'm 20 minutes from airport to boat. I kinda think the Reus/Barca 1 hour to SCM is a bit long for weekend commuting, but of course each to their own on that

Decisions decisions, as you say...

 

[Portofino]

Ah, ok. I was reading your words "long weekend" as meaning Thursday night till Monday night kinda thing. Yes, if you do Friday night flights out and Sunday nights return, then it is more expensive (as I know well...). Deleted User has a point about how much harder it is to do Med boating with kids at school. Arguably you can only do the school holidays and have to give up on "nipping down" to the boat for all the other weekends, when you have kids at school.

If they board or can be be boarded then that's the way to go .
Dog is £15 / day in kennels .
Kids £12 / day for causal boarding and they like it - with thier Mates and seem to do more prep .
We have had adults only med boating in June and Sept - + "normal " hols in the summer with kids - best of both worlds
No Hassle really

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The other thing for weekending is that, imho, you want your boat near an airport. I'm 20 minutes from airport to boat. I kinda think the Reus/Barca 1 hour to SCM is a bit long for weekend commuting, but of course each to their own on that

Thats definitely another factor in short term Med boating with kids. You need to minimise the hassle of the journey getting there and, as you say, that means minimising the length of the drive to the airport from home and from the airport to the boat. It also means using scheduled flights rather than charter flights because charter flights are more prone to delays and it means booking daytime flights rather than nightime ones. When we first started flying to the Med with our family to be on the boat, we used cheapo charter flights departing at sparrow's fart but after a couple of major delays at the ever dreadful Luton airport, we soon learnt our lesson. Now unless Easyjet or BA goes there at a civilised time, we ain't going there and hang the cost. FWIW my personal budget limit for airfares is £300 pp return. More than that and we'll go another day.

 

[julians]

I wouldn't want to go for less than 4 full days /3 nights , I've done less but it just feels too rushed.

We're a 10 minute taxi ride from the UK airport and a 25 minute drive from Palma airport, which minimises travel time as much as possible.

The most I've paid for flights is about 260 per person.

 

[John100156]

Nice pics John. The above is sunrise, surely?

Blimee John well spotted - rising in the east over the boatyard, just as you suggest...... but have you noticed the flying fish just about to re-enter the water, close to the suns reflection....they drive the seagulls mad!