Sotogrande and Costa del Sol

[Renegade_Master]

"amongst the best things about sotogrande are the very nice peeps at suncoast, a fab place to do rya training courses".

thanks for the compliment mate cept we're at the lovely Duquesa

 

[Renegade_Master]

"Duquesa 5 miles up the road has far more life about it - better quality chips, a far wider selection of greasy spoons run by expat brits all competing to sell a big breakfast for 4 euros, plus regulation pints of lager sold by other brits in bars with large tellys showing all the premiership footy AND coronation street as well, tho the big chinese family is much"

Mark above is an extract from tcm's post. Yes hes right about the english breakfast, and also there are a couple of bars catering for the sad charaters who want to go to a pub to watch a huge TV screen showing bad tempered yobs kicking a bit of inflated leather around a field.

However he's being less than charitable as he does'nt mention the fact that Duquesa has up to 30 eating establishments/bars i.e. three chinese, two indians, three Italian, several serving steak and fish etc. There are good bars with quality live music (I guy called Clive's pretty good /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) The variety is there complete with a good atmosphere something sadly lacking in Soto, which has....... erm a couple of expensive Spanish bars and...............oh yes a bit brighter now they've got the Irish bar, but thats it.

Duquesa also has hairdressers, boat Brokers, laundry, supermacardo, beauty salon internet cafe, etc etc.... very convenient

Clive

 

[Lozzer]

Sotogrande has a number of big berths and can certainly accomdate 20m+... I have a friend who skippers a 30m boat down there so dont be put off by that.

As people say the coastline is not the Balearics but then it isnt so busy.

If you want to be seen then the place to moor is obviously Banus, but it is VERY busy. I have a friend who has a spare berth on pier 0 if you fancy it.... Day rate from the tower is 211 euro per night so private transaction you are looking at about 325 euro, I can check if you are interested.

If you like to do touristy things as well as boating then this place is great. You can visit the Alhambra palace in granda, Rhonda, Sevilla, Picasso museum malaga etc etc. And in winter you can go skiing in the morning and boating in the afternoon. I live in Nueva Andalucia and take my kids to the Sierra Nevada for the day regularly.

You do have the African coast, but dont anchor up at night the Guardia dont like it. Go into Smir it is run by Marina Marbella. Also Cueta is pleasant but I think you might be on the large side..

A must do is posing at Nikki Beach.... Every Sunday massive party, you anchor off and the guy collects you in his dinghy. Quaff copious amounts of Champagne (if that takes your fancy) eat good food and soak up the atmosphere. Lots of lovely women as well that dont charge (;-)

By the way if you like golf you will be in paradise. Within 1 hours drive you have more than 30 golf courses, many championship standard.

If you need any help then let me know.

 

[wakeup]

To the sound of more chain being yanked ;-)

OOO errrr that rules out Sotogrande then Magnum, there are axshully boats bigger than yours down there..........

 

[Magnum]

Thanks for the info Lozzer.

€325 a night in Banus - bleedin 'ell. I'll be there for at least a few weeks so I'll find out what it's all about. Until that time just how busy is it? Busy as in loads of tourists wandering around amongst the boats or is access controlled? I'm guessing the restaurants are always busy, but it would be nice to get some peace and quiet onboard.

 

[MedDreamer]

Banus is NOT the place for peace and quiet !!!

Restaurants busy (and not all expensive) but there are also bars that are open more or less all night - Sinatra's is the most notorious I believe. Great place to see fast and expensive cars and fast and expensive women though /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Lozzer]

Security in Banus is very good. It is patrolled 24x7 by more than one bloke and a dog as well.

They have just recently installed new barriers to stop people getting onto piers one and two.

Pier zero is as secure as you will get as it is almost self policing.

It is a bustling place, your boat will be in more photos than you can shake a stick at. Yes there is every car under the sun, no you wont be the biggest boat, I have just been asked to organise the berthin of a 40m yacht there...

Food in most of the restaurants is good. The Red Pepper is excellent as is Mumtaz the Idian on pier zero. Sinatras is a renowned bar but the trendy people in the know go to Pangiers, Olivier Vallier or the Suite in Puento Romano... Either way at least the eye candy is better and there not going to try and charge you, if you know what I mean...

One cool thing with Banus is turning up late at night, midnight or so, with all your deck lights on.... It pulls a crowd when you moor up.... So get some practise in Soto before you try it.....

Another thing is that your partner (if married or with someone) will love it there. loads of shops in the harbour and if that isnt enough then take your boat down to Marbella anchor off the front and then go ashore for MORE shopping.....

Anyway your choice.. I am happy to give more info if you want, just let me know and I can send you PM rather than making the thread look like a tourist ad for the Costa del Sol.

Also to answer med dreamer the 24 hour bars are not that bad as they are mainly second line... The fast cars and women well... think I answered that as well. good luck

Regards

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif it is about 28 degrees today, water is blue and flat calm.