Category Archives: Expert Commentary

Boatbookings’ Favorite Cannes Beach Clubs

Cannes is known for its luxury lifestyle, with the Croisette being the hub of high-end couture brands and ultimate celebrity spotting destination. Along this promenade, there are so many beach clubs to choose from; we’ve rounded up our favorites and why so you can make the most of your time in Cannes!

Hire a yacht for the day from Cannes to experience the Riviera to the fullest!

Vega Luna

Great for: Families with children and larger groups

Vega Luna is located in the middle of the Croisette, opposite the InterContinental Carlton Hotel; it boasts a large seating area for dining undercover, and many sun loungers, perfect for larger groups. It is always very popular with families as it is child-friendly, with a kids menu for those under the age of 12.

Maema Plage

Great for: Lower prices and a relaxed atmosphere

Maema Plage is a firm favorite amongst the Boatbookings team; it is located further from the center of Cannes, past the Radisson Blu Hotel, making it less busy and more inexpensive than the other Beach Clubs along the Croisette. Their Thai Salad and House Burger are delicious and food always comes quickly and is freshly prepared! Sun loungers are only €12 for the whole day, starting at 9 am till closing time at 6 pm.

Z Plage

Great for: Afternoon drinks and the best music

Z Plage is Hotel Martinez’ Private Beach Club, at the left end of the Croisette near Port Canto. It features a chic ‘Rotonde’ circular bar that is perfect for cocktails or some Provence Rosé. Sun loungers are available for the day for those wishing to bronze themselves before dipping into the cooling waters of the sea!

O’key Beach

Great for: Friendly staff and tasty seafood

O’key Beach is also located on the further side of Cannes past the old town and therefore is usually less busy than other beach clubs along the Croisette. The staff are friendly and some incredible seafood dishes include the Lobster Spaghetti, Salmon Burger and Seafood Pasta; portions are generous and the wine is delicious!

Rent a boat for the day to Cannes and we can book sun loungers and lunches for you at any beach club you like; just get in touch today and we’ll organize everything for you.

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Broker Ben’s Top 5 Insights for Your 2019 Charter

1. Book your 80-150’ motor yacht in Greece now, or you will miss out. Some of my top recommendations are JULIE M, BLADE 6, THEORIS, TACOS of the SEA and BARENTS SEA. Explore the secret anchorages of the Peloponnese, as well as the Cyclades hotspots (Paros, Mykonos, Milos) in 2019.

 
2. Everyone loves Italy, particularly the Amalfi Coast but have you considered Sicily? With fantastic island hopping throughout the Aeolians, chic hillside villages (Taormina) and volcanoes to explore (Etna), the area has something for everyone.
 
3. Give Ibiza a go. It has the best beach clubs and nightlife, but it also offers natural beauty and some of the finest sunsets in the Mediterranean. Check out Cotton Beach Club (Cala Tarida), Benirras Bay and Isla Tagomago for some of our top picks.
 
4. The Bahamas are the ultimate water sports playground. Easy island hopping, cerulean waters, hidden cayes to explore, it’s the perfect family retreat.
 
5. Explore somewhere off the beaten track and learn to sail in Sweden. Yacht: ICHIBAN (Swan 70) Captain Jan is the perfect teacher to guide you along your Scandinavian adventure, while Chef Kirsten will showcase the wonderful local cuisine. Bring on the Elk meatballs!
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Broker Alice’s Top 5 Insights for Your 2019 Charter

1. Book your sailing boat to beat the winter blues and head to the Bahamas before its too late! Some of my top recommendations for the Bahamas are the Lagoon 42 and 450 catamarans and Pegasus, a 40 foot Jeanneau. Either charter in Nassau, island hop around the Exumas and visit pig beach or in Marsh Harbour to anchor upon amongst the idyllic Abaco Islands.
Catamaran – Lagoon 42
Catamaran – Lagoon 450
2. Get your friends together to book the ultimate vacation sailing around Croatia this summer. Starting from Split or Trogir a two-hour sail a day in crystal blue waters can take you from quaint fishing villages to the party islands of Hvar. I would suggest the Lagoon 52 for a skippered experience, the Saona 47 or a Sun Odyssey 449 for the ultimate sailing experience.
3. Guadeloupe- find France within the Caribbean. Navigate around the archipelago of islands and immerse yourself amongst the green landscapes of this fascinating mixture of the Caribbean and French influences.
Be sure to visit the waterfalls of Grande Terre, eat Creole dishes with the friendly locals and visit Jaques Cousteau’s dive site at Bouillante which offers some of the best diving in the world, the instructors will even pick you up from your yacht to take you diving!
Sailing around this island is rugged, inspiring and sophisticated at the same time. I would suggest the Sun Odyssey 509 for exploring and sailing performance or the spacious Catana 47 catamaran for the ultimate Guadeloupe sailing trip with friends and family.
Visit my Guadeloupe blog to see why this Caribbean island needs to be on your 2019 sailing to do list!
4. August on the French Riviera – Sail from Cannes to Monaco and spend the nights at anchor overlooking some of the most glamorous locations in Europe or in the slightly smaller ports of Golfe Juan or Villefranche to avoid the busy ports of Cannes or Nice. Boats to charter are the monohulls such as the Sun Odyssey 349  or the Oceanis 48 for a romantic break or a family holiday or add a hostess on a catamaran such as the Lagoon 450 to receive the five-star treatment of the French Riviera.
5. Summer island hopping the Cyclades from Athens. Start your bareboat charter in the ancient city of Athens and spend a week exploring the iconic Cyclades islands. Spend each night on a different island and explore some of the finest Mediterranean beach clubs, ancient ruins and the traditional white rooftops of Santorini and Mykonos. Catamarans are the best way to explore these islands with friends and family but if you want to profit from some of the most idyllic winds in the world take the Oceanis 62 and profit from its sailing capabilities.
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The Very Best of Greek Gastronomy

Greek cuisine offers an incredibly rich and diverse array of foods and beverages that are the result of thousands of years of living, cooking, and eating. Greek gastronomy is known for its simple and elegant flavors, quality ingredients and nutritious and healthy content. It is a journey through Greece‘s history and the culinary influences that were left by numerous invasions, be them Roman, Venetian, Balkan, Turk…even English.

One of the many joys to be found in chartering a yacht in Greece is not just relaxing in such a tranquil area on your luxury yacht, but also being able to discover, taste, and experience the unique local Greek cuisine. On your yacht you might choose to charter in any number of fantastic areas, be it around Corfu and the Ionian Islands, Mykonos and the Cyclades Islands, Skiathos in the Sporades Islands or Kos in the Dodecanese Islands, but each of these areas and indeed each island in Greece has its own unique cultural heritage and cuisine.

Greece food

The Sporades islands for example are well known for their use of dairy products and produce the most delectable spoon sweets and thyme honey. The local cheese pie and lobster and spaghetti are highly recommended!

The Cyclades islands are known for their charcuterie tradition while the Ionian islands retain more of a western European influence in its cuisine as it was the only area not be be conquered by the Ottomans in the 15th century. It  is known for its braised veal sofrito, an exquisite dish flavored with garlic, parsley, and vinegar, its Semolina pie with almonds or perhaps its delicious spiced fig cakes.

The Dodecanese islands boasts a host of dishes based on bread and grains with bulgur and cracked wheat claiming a prominent place. Look out for delicious local dish of home-made pasta with caramelized onions that the islanders make throughout most of the Dodecanese! However, regardless of where you are on your yacht charter, you will come across some of the more famous Greek dishes such as the stuffed Paschal lamb and sun-dried octopus.

Our expert broker, Lambros Tsolakis, knows everything there is to know about the best greek delicacies. Varoulko Seaside, Funky Gourmet and Bill & Coo are his top 3 recommendations! At Boatbookings, we have years of charter experience in Greece and intimate knowledge of the yachts and the best places to go. Enquire today for a bespoke proposal.

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Miami: Prepare your Tastebuds for a Culture Shock!

Miami offers a myriad of dining options, ranging from the cheap and cheerful coconut stalls and authentic Spanish gelato vendors all the way up to the top-star, fine dining restaurant experience. Miami, rippling with endless culture, never ceases to keep originality in the foreground, as illustrated by such restaurants as SuViche– a Japanese, Peruvian fusion. It’s difficult to even imagine such an unlikely pairing, but, in true Miami style, they’ve nailed it. At SuViche you can enjoy either lunch or dinner tapas-style dishes such as Tiradito, and with 3 locations across the city (Wynwood, Brickell and Miami Beach), there’s no excuse not to stop by!

Photo taken from https://www.suviche.com/suviche-sushi-ceviche-peruvian-menu-miami-fort-lauderdale
Tiradito- a speciality dish by Su Viche

Miami is renowned for its alligators, and, whether you like them or not, a restaurant called Kush offers you the chance to bite back- in true Miami style. Kush’s menu consists of alligator bites and alligator tacos- but don’t worry- you’ll also find some tasty, alligator-free burgers if you’re not feeling up to it! But, for those of you who may be interested in munching down on an alligator, apparently it tastes like a mixture of chicken and turkey! Kush is located in Wynwood, which is definitely worth a visit!

Photo courtesy of https://www.kushwynwood.com/
The interior of Kush

Another notable restaurant to look out for in Miami is NaiYaRa– a fusion of Thai, Japanese and other Far Eastern street food. This restaurant offers a vast range of high-quality seafood; even flying in rare fish and delicacies from all over the world! NaiYaRa offers original takes on some familiar dishes, for example a Salmon Taco, topped with spicy mayonnaise, avocado and truffle oil.

Photo courtesy of https://modernluxury.com/miami/features/6-miami-dishes-we-love
A Sushi Donut from NaiYaRa

Wynwood is the place to be for foodies, instagrammers and even coffee-enthusiasts. Panther Coffee, located in the Wynwood Art District, is well-renowned for -you guessed it- coffee! Panther boasts the freshest coffee around; who would say no to daily roasted coffee beans, providing that fresh, full flavour that just resonates with all of your senses? From the farm, to the table- this coffee house is simply a must for those who know what a good cuppa joe should taste like!

Photo courtesy of https://www.panthercoffee.com/
Panther Coffee

If you are up for trying new foods and embracing different cultures, then you would love a trip to Miami! Why not take it one step further and have a look into Miami yacht charter?

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