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Planning the ultimate charter is something that we leave to the experts. That’s why we’ve decided to get in touch with the industry’s best to discuss how they would plan the perfect yacht charter. In the first in our Planning the Ultimate Charter series, we spoke to Alex at Bespoke Yacht Charter about sunsets, local cuisine, and top anchorages in the French Riviera. This is what he had to say.
Where to go…
There are many great charter destinations in Europe but I will focus on the French Riviera as this is where 70% of the charters we book take place. What is perhaps the original luxury yacht charter destination in the world doesn’t appear to be losing its’ magic! The south of France is especially popular with first-time charterers but I also have clients that have done two-week charters here every summer for more than 15 years. September is really the best time to charter on the Cote d’Azur, the water is warm, huge crowds are gone, though the atmosphere is still superb, and perhaps best of all, charter rates are lower than in July and August.
What to do…
I would recommend an itinerary including Antibes, Cannes, Cap Ferrat, Monaco, Nice, St Tropez and perhaps the island of Porquerolles. Berths are obviously like gold dust in high season, so it is critical to book them well in advance, though if guests are prepared to stay at anchor then any itinerary can be very flexible.
Wining and dining
I am a huge fan of Mirazur in Menton. Simply stunning food in a spectacular location on the border between France and Italy. The views over the old town of Menton are magnificent and the restaurant is regularly voted as being one of the best in the world.
I also love Blue Bay at the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel in Monaco. Chef Marcel Ravin is a true pioneer, using only the freshest local ingredients in very inventive and creative ways. The atmosphere is very relaxed but the food truly amazing. It’s much more chilled out than the other Michelin starred restaurants in Monaco like Alain Ducasse and Robuchon, though they are great too!
There are also some excellent restaurants in Nice. Special mention would go to Jan, near the Port, run by South African Chef Jan Hendrik, who used to work on charter yachts! He now has his own Michelin-starred restaurant in the south of France, which is a real achievement!
I also like La Petite Maison in the old town of Nice. The atmosphere is always very lively and full of celebrities.
Unmissable anchorages
I love the Esterel coast between Cannes and St Raphael, the way the red rocks drop into the sea. Théoule just west of Cannes is a beautiful anchorage though it does lose the sun pretty early in the day. My favourite place in the world to have breakfast on a yacht! The views over the Bay of Cannes are stunning.
East of Monaco, there is a great anchorage on the Menton side of the Cap Martin peninsula. It’s usually much less crowded than the Monaco side and the water is exceptional for swimming. Epic views of the alps and over Italy!
The best sunset
The south of France perhaps lacks the amazing sunsets one gets in the Balearics and Corsica but there are still some lovely places to be as a long summer day comes to an end.
I love being on a yacht anchored in the bay of Juan Les Pins as the sun sets over Cannes and the Esterel mountains. It’s a beautiful place to be and a very popular superyacht anchorage, very popular with owners that also have villas on the Cap d’Antibes.
I also highly recommend watching the sunset of the city of Nice, either from the Colline du Chateau above the old town, or even better from Mont Boron, the hillside between Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. There’s something magical about sunsets over a city.
Local cuisine
I think simplicity is key! Anything with plenty of garlic, olive oil and fresh local ingredients. There’s nothing better than simply grilled fish for lunch that the Chef has bought in the market that morning. I also love stuffed Courgette Flowers!
Beaches for entertaining the little ones
I love Paloma Beach in Cap Ferrat and Plage Mala in Cap d’Ail but perhaps the best beach for families would be Plage de la Nartelle in Sainte-Maxime. It’s very similar to its’ more famous neighbor Pampelonne in St Tropez, great beach clubs, beautiful sand and you can walk out 2-300 meters without going out of your depth. There’s also a company offering every possible type of watersports that will come out to your yacht.
Natural wonders and local sights
The Island of Porquerolles west of St Tropez has to be seen. White sands, turquoise water, and spectacular scenery! It’s like St Barths has come to the Mediterranean!
Transport
Nice Airport has regular flights to everywhere in Europe, New York and Dubai. It’s actually the second busiest airport in France!
The roads are very busy in July and August! Fortunately, there are multiple companies offering regular helicopter services between Nice, Monaco, Cannes and St Tropez. This is by far the easiest way to get to your destination if you want to avoid a hot, sticky traffic jam. There is also a port in St Laurent du Var, just next to the airport. We embark a lot of charters there. Guests can be onboard, drink in hand within 30 minutes of the plane landing! Nice is also very popular for private jets. There is also the possibility to land at Cannes Airport on a private plane which is just next to the marina at La Napoule.
What should you pack for the charter?
Simple Mediterranean chic! Plenty of shorts, linen shirts, Tod’s driving shoes and of course the obligatory Vilebrequin swimming trunks in loud colours! Temperatures can drop in the evening, especially on the water so do bring a jacket or two.
Best charter boat for the French Riviera
The vast majority of yachts would work well for the south of France. The famous mistral can create quite a swell, so I tend to recommend that clients sacrifice speed for a more stable yacht. Top recommendation would be something like a Benetti 30m Tradition. It’s the perfect size, able to get into almost all the ports, comfortable at anchor and with plenty of deck space. A relatively slow cruising speed is not really an issue as the distances involved are small. There are of course those charterers that want to be in St Tropez for breakfast, lunch in Monaco and Portofino for dinner. For that type of charter, nothing beats a Mangusta!
Sail or motor?
The south of France tends to be more the land of the motor yacht but there is absolutely no reason at all why one wouldn’t wouldn’t enjoy chartering a sailing yacht here, though for keen sailors Corsica and Sardinia would likely make more sense.
