Trouble in the SofF

We have just sold our property in the SoF; the living costs are spiralling out of control, I recon 25-30% more than uk in the supermarkets.

A cheap lunch off 'Le menu' can't be had for less than €20, soon adds up for a family out for the day.

We.ve been here for two years now and would say the cost of living as regards shopping is about the same as the |UK, some things cheaper and a few things a little more but nothing worth changing your life for! Spiralling out of control? Don't think so!
 
We.ve been here for two years now and would say the cost of living as regards shopping is about the same as the |UK, some things cheaper and a few things a little more but nothing worth changing your life for! Spiralling out of control? Don't think so!

A supermarket bag of food is about €50 in Leclaire, nothing exotic like steak or lamb, and about £30 in Tesco.

I realise this is a very scientific analysis. :D
 

The underlying problem is that the (stinking) super rich arent. There are fewer people for whom money is no object, and as such are more frugal. If its not worth forking out for the image of St Tropez etc then there is no place for such a business model.
Oh dear, how sad, what a pity never mind. They arent the first and they wont be the last to be redundant.

It is, perhaps, a shame that the roaring 40's has finally keeled over and died, but it was bound to happen.
 
You mean CF has got better since I left? Understandable:D
Well, everything in life is relative, I reckon.
You replied to Petem that downturns seem to happen everywhere you go, but I would deny that there was any downturn in CF during the timeframe of your stay - as I said, a bit of the opposite, if anything.
Sure, CF doesn't stand a chance to compare with the flamboyant SofF, or with the Baldricks, for instance.
And never will, if I should make an easy prediction.
But that's among the pros rather than the cons, 'fiuaskme.
Each to their own, of course! :encouragement:
 
Yes, and most of the St Tropez staff were sacked and a new "untouchable" manager put in. Dunno if Porto's info is up to date, but anecdotally i've heard there is less corruption there now. Personally I can't stand the place, so i've no first hand info.

Hopefully - I,am NOT up to date -and you correctly infer there's been a looooooong over due "regime " change from pressure from the centre ,
As mentioned in an Itama on the fuel pontoon sans VHF -wife has Allways charmed a berth .
In the early days mid noughties my Gardiennes told me its was €200 , bung -but I needed to go through him to secure a place .
We never did it .
But we did do Monarco GP a few times lost count how many times.
As Infered above all that stuff is 8 hiote in the bigger scheme .
Bumpted into,Bernie E in the Coop check out Q in Gstaad last week --he was infront -interesting basket !

After a while all that St Trop 8hit is for " punter s " not real grounded folks .

Funnily
 
The exodus from "in" places like St Tropez to cheaper ports, supposedly according to the OP due to costs.
Hang on! I posted a link to an article. I am currently on my boat in the SofF and own an apartment down here. Truth be told I wouldn't be anywhere else.

You can have the miserable UK weather. I live in London now, Edinburgh for 15 years and Australia before that. Boating should be somewhere warm where you can swim.
 
Boating should be somewhere warm where you can swim.
While I wholeheartedly agree, I don't think that criteria alone would make SoF one of the most appealing destinations, in the Med context. If it weren't that the N Adriatic is even worse in terms of sea and climate, it could well be placed among the least attractive, if we are honest... :rolleyes:
 
Well, everything in life is relative, I reckon.
You replied to Petem that downturns seem to happen everywhere you go, but I would deny that there was any downturn in CF during the timeframe of your stay - as I said, a bit of the opposite, if anything.
Sure, CF doesn't stand a chance to compare with the flamboyant SofF, or with the Baldricks, for instance.
And never will, if I should make an easy prediction.
But that's among the pros rather than the cons, 'fiuaskme.
Each to their own, of course! :encouragement:

I think you need to re-read Mike and Pete's conversation lol ;):D
 
I,am doing 3/4 week stints (here now ) in the SoF ,it's seems just as vibrant ,maybe more so tbh .
Plenty of SY,s out @anchor and also plenty out of the marinas .lots of comings and goings SY wise in our marina .
It's the busy season -quit nice tbh to see so many nice boats being used .
Sea temp is 24 nice n warm ,air temp is low thirties ,but a nice breeze @ anchor .sea state calm ,

I would imagine a lot of bigger stuff heads off on an adventure --Corsica -Sardinia -Elba etc .

Plenty of new boats about ,healthy churn of moorings as folks change boats .
It is a boaters boat paradise at the mo , and for a month it's actually ok to be in the mix while it's v busy .

Autopilot is redundant

Returning to St Trop -assume the old harbour quay area not the marina .
Perhaps in an increasing for want of a better word "Corbyin ester " political movement sweeping through the EU and us. Folks just wanna be more discrete ,flashing it about .
Eg if you ( press ) link you with the Genfell towers story ,and then here you are moored on a SY or big sports cruiser Managusta etc quaffing champaign --you get the imigary !

Each country will" bad guys " stories .

For me it's the LACK of discretion that's one of the reasons St Trop quieter .
As far as the shopping goes the Crossete @Cannes ,and Casino areaMonaco has much bigger ( carry a wider range-having googled it ) shops for Mrs + miss (s) ?

So where does that leave St Trop as stop over mooring ?
 
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I,am doing 3/4 week stints (here now ) in the SoF ,it's seems just as vibrant ,maybe more so tbh .
Plenty of SY,s out @anchor and also plenty out of the marinas .lots of comings and goings SY wise in our marina .
It's the busy season -quit nice tbh to see so many nice boats being used .
Sea temp is 24 nice n warm ,air temp is low thirties ,but a nice breeze @ anchor .sea state calm ,

I would imagine a lot of bigger stuff heads off on an adventure --Corsica -Sardinia -Elba etc .

Plenty of new boats about ,healthy churn of moorings as folks change boats .
It is a boaters boat paradise at the mo , and for a month it's actually ok to be in the mix while it's v busy .

Autopilot is redundant

Heading down there tomorrow for a month...you're certainly whetting my appetite!
 
As far as the fuel thing goes ,nothings changed per se with diesel ,so the only thing I can think of is the VAT exercise re faux charter game is up .
In other words Paris has instructed the local officials to snoop around ,boarding at the dock rummaging through the paper work .
SY never employed local FR anyhow ,mostly Brits and Philipeno,s --so the increase in social chargers ,that boat employing French sailed years ago .

By way of background
Italy -Has battled for years with tax evasion ,has its own "guardia Finanza " -marked cars blue lights /boats n all .
They have fought a loosing battle .
So a volt face 180 degree turn in March this year announced this --to attract High Net Worth -HNW foreigners

Locate to IT. Make it your domicile /home
Max € 100 000 tax /year on ALL world wide assets for the 13 years .
Idea is the HNWs and there Yacht,s + other paraphernalia --with the tricle down wealth stimulates the economy .
To help swing that ,ie move to IT ,then a relocation of the SY is on the cards
Everything is sooo much cheaper in IT any how .
In Fr if your property is worth over a certain amount from memory €700K then that opens them up to Tax on all your worldwide assets ( can be double taxation treaty,d --but do really want the French gov to know your WW assets ?)
Plus complicated inheritance issues .

In Italy as said above and No inheritance tax on It property --interesting to see how much time Mr + Mrs Clooney NOW spend at there nice villa compared to London in the next few years or so ?

So what the French are seemingly doing by turning the fiscal screw is scattering the flock .

N Italy is attracting the flock and new set of migrants ---HNW
 
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One thing that always puzzles me about places like St Trop is the idea that whenever a boat stops there it's necessary that any women on board have to rush into a boutique and buy designer clothes.
To me a great port has restaurants, chandlers, a cash point, fuel, water, electricity and a shop to victual.
 
By way of background
Italy -Has battled for years with tax evasion ,has its own "guardia Finanza " -marked cars blue lights /boats n all.
They have fought a loosing battle.
So a volt face 180 degree turn in March this year announced this --to attract High Net Worth -HNW foreigners
That's what I would call being economical with the truth, in terms of background.
As I'm sure you know, there's someone just N of the IT border who has done that for ages...
Maybe calling what IT is doing "self-defense" is more appropriate than "volte-face", 'innit? :rolleyes:
 
That's what I would call being economical with the truth, in terms of background.
As I'm sure you know, there's someone just N of the IT border who has done that for ages...
Maybe calling what IT is doing "self-defense" is more appropriate than "volte-face", 'innit? :rolleyes:

Agreed , pot calling the kettle -
Nice to see a change of tack --encourage folks MNW foreigners to spend ,rarther than chasing them and all others seemingly two steps behind .
Hope it all works out .
 
I am happy to report there is still no need to bung anyone any money when berthing at any of the Gosport or indeed Portsmouth marinas. The latter provides lavish shopping opportunity for all manner of ladies & gentlemans atire, the former several outlets for provisioning ;)

Henry :)
 
As much as we have had good times in the SoF they do need to get with the times. High prices and shoddy service isn't a great combo.
 
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