Winter in Aguadulce

[Mistroma]

I was considering Almerimar for the winter but was put off a bit by:

1) Cost of electricity (3 Euro/day flat rate)
2) Wifi (I think it's also 3 Euro/day so not a sensible option)
3) No discount for daily rate ashore in yard & time there also knocks 10% off the discount afloat
4) I'm told that the water is very hard (destroyed heating element on a friend's boat)

I've had a pretty good quote from Aguadulce. They might have quoted the wrong rate of course
I wondered if anyone had any experience of leaving a boat at Aguadulce (e.g. security, town, transport).
Is the water soft (Aguadulce might hint at "sweet water, could be an ancient marketing ploy).

 

[JVL]

Wintered in aguadulce years ago waters good, good yard you can do your own work there always was a good liveabord crowd there, good shopping eating out bars. Almeria not to far airport big shops. Ring the torre de control and ask for Jessica she speaks excellent English she will sort you a berth.

Regards

John

 

[jordanbasset]

I think re price you need to work out the total cost to do a comparative test, certainly in Almerimar even though they charged for electricity etc it still worked out cheaper than other marinas in the area. Just checked their website, seems to be under 6 euros a day, allowing for the 10% discount. On top of this you would have the 3 euros per day for electricity etc and I suspect IVA. We also bought a PAYG sim and that was good, cannot remember the cost but it was certainly was less than 3 euros a day. As for the water, the heater element on my boat also failed, but the boat was 7 years old then and not sure if it had been replaced already, a replacement cost 40 euros.
But you pays your money and makes your choice, I liked Aguadulce when we visited there.

 

[Mistroma]

Thanks very much guys, it sounds promising. I was comparing like for like quotes and Aguadulce was quite a bit cheaper with the discount they offered (not shown on web-site as far as I could see). Of course it's possible that Aguadulce quoted for the wrong length and I'll double check that one.

I'm still waiting for electricity, water & Wifi costs but they are unlikely to be higher than Almerimar. Sounds like it is worth taking the offer.

 

[silver-fox]

Just for the record, I overwintered in Almerimar and my water system survived intact both then and since.

Its a remote place, not built around a traditional port town like some marinas but I enjoyed it both the place and the company of the people I overwintered with. it does have the advantage of being big enough to support several chandlers and several boat service companies as well as the boat yard. I was able to do a mini refit there successfully as a result.

 

[[27631]]

Spent a bit of one winter in Aguadulce a few years ago.........much preferred it to Almerimar..and...much nearer to airport...did it by bus..not far at all.......liked it

 

[Mistroma]

Spent a bit of one winter in Aguadulce a few years ago.........much preferred it to Almerimar..and...much nearer to airport...did it by bus..not far at all.......liked it

I had a reply about water and electricity, both are included in the quote I was given. So lot cheaper than Almerimar when discount and free electricity/water included, pretty certain I'll make a booking.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[GrahamM376]

I had a reply about water and electricity, both are included in the quote I was given. So lot cheaper than Almerimar when discount and free electricity/water included, pretty certain I'll make a booking.

Thanks for all the advice.

Friends wintered there last year and enjoyed it so returning for this winter.

 

[concentrik]

Useful information M thanks; we are turning our thoughts to winter quarters too and are checking out Almerimar right now. Cartagena is a possibility too.

 

[Tradewinds]

We were in Aguadulce 98/99 as were Jane G (the couple, Clive and Jane, who sailed off for a week and were away 16 years!!). Thoroughly enjoyed our winter there. Great live aboard community and a nice Spanish (albeit newish in '99) suburb.

Unfortunately (according to Jane G), they walloped their prices up and everybody left.

Anyhow, according to Clive, the wheel has come full circle and now they are courting the liveaboards again.

 

[concentrik]

Having just left Aguadulce a couple of days ago we can report that:

Jessica is still there - ebullient, freindly and very helpful
The wifi is charged per day/week/month. We took 2 days, E6. A 30 day pass was E25. But in any case it was very slow, not what we would want for a whole winter, though we are datamunchers.
The water is not dulce, it's quite salty, noticeable even after going through our charcoal filters.
The Club Nautico at the marina is popular for functions like weddings and is very loud, for a long time. Ask how we know (yawn). Think all night, till 0530, with every uncle getting up and doing his turn, twice. The office know about this and said 'they are not supposed to...' but we have come to understand what this usually means in Spain!
The nearest supermarket is nearly a mile away (Mercadona or Supersol), all uphill and pretty steep to begin with. Better than uphill on the way back with the shopping, but still it's a long way, and we have bikes. The smaller 'holiday' supermarket is ok for odds and ends but is pricy.
The town itself doesn't have what we'd like for a winter stay - it's just too small. Airports are hours away by bus (5h to Murcia). All in all, though fine for a short stay, not really a winter candidate for us but YMMV.

 

[Mistroma]

Having just left Aguadulce a couple of days ago we can report that:

Jessica is still there - ebullient, freindly and very helpful
The wifi is charged per day/week/month. We took 2 days, E6. A 30 day pass was E25. But in any case it was very slow, not what we would want for a whole winter, though we are datamunchers.
The water is not dulce, it's quite salty, noticeable even after going through our charcoal filters.
The Club Nautico at the marina is popular for functions like weddings and is very loud, for a long time. Ask how we know (yawn). Think all night, till 0530, with every uncle getting up and doing his turn, twice. The office know about this and said 'they are not supposed to...' but we have come to understand what this usually means in Spain!
The nearest supermarket is nearly a mile away (Mercadona or Supersol), all uphill and pretty steep to begin with. Better than uphill on the way back with the shopping, but still it's a long way, and we have bikes. The smaller 'holiday' supermarket is ok for odds and ends but is pricy.
The town itself doesn't have what we'd like for a winter stay - it's just too small. Airports are hours away by bus (5h to Murcia). All in all, though fine for a short stay, not really a winter candidate for us but YMMV.

Andy,

Thanks for the detail. Sounds as if there are drawbacks but we'll probably be going back home over winter to sort out our house (sell or rent). I think that we can probably manage visits to supermarket as situation was pretty similar in Vigo last year. I still remember the grind up to Al Campo and flying back downhill again on the marina's dodgy bikes loaded with supplies.

We managed to get 2 Carrefour folding bikes. A bit heavier than your alloy ones but 6 gears and only £87 so no problem if they only last a couple of seasons.

Water and Wifi quality are a bit of a downer but it doesn't sound any worse than Almerimar and much cheaper for berthing,storage, water and electricity. Thanks again for the information. We were just in Gib. today to check fuel prices before leaving for Ceuta and were told it's 60p/litre for >100 litres. Running on fumes so intending to fill up after leaving La Linea.