Several members of the Boatbookings.com staff live on the French Riviera.  We’ve been compiling some of their insider tips to get the most out of your time on the Riviera!

- If you want a great place to sit outside in the evening, have a nice meal, listen to some music and feel the buzz – go to Juan Les Pins (near Antibes)

- There is a big difference between the town of St Tropez and Pampelonne Beach, where the St Tropez beach clubs are.  You can’t walk between the two. Go to St Tropez town in the morning, shop, see the yachts and have a coffee by the water, then have your skipper take you to Pampelonne Beach for sunning and a long, late afternoon lunch at the Club of your choice.

- You can literally walk right up to many of the world’s largest superyachts on the IYCA (International Yacht Club of Antibes) Pier in Antibes.  Same in Cannes by the Palais des Festivals and in Monaco.

- If you’re near Cannes, anchor between the two Iles Lerins.  It feels a million miles away from the busy town, is great for swimming, and has a gorgeous view of the sunset behind the striking Esterel Rock Formation. That’s what the locals do!

- Don’t even think of driving to St Tropez in July or August between 10 am and 1pm.  You’ll just roast in your car and arrive in a bad mood. That’s why we’re here – take a boat and do it properly!

- There are great places to kayak and swim beneath the beautiful red rocks of the Esterel.  Don’t just power by on the way to St Tropez – take time to enjoy this beautiful area!

Please add more suggestions here on the blog, or on our Facebook page – we’ll be publishing the best on Boatbookings in our French Riviera Section.  Enjoy!

At a recent open house in Fort Lauderdale, Boatbookings was invited to tour 190’ Mi Sueño, launched last month from Trinity Yachts and available for charter in the Western Mediterranean. Mi Sueño incorporates all of the elements of style and design that continue to distinguish Trinity yachts as a very desirable charter brand.

Stewart Bridges of Patrick Knowles was pleased to show us around the spectacularly luxurious yacht. Classically sophisticated interiors integrate an abundance of exotic Honduras Mahogany, Wengé, Maple Burl and Lace Woods. The entry flooring is sumptuously laid out in Cosmos granite with Sahara Gold inlaid border. The entry way also features special storage for close to 500 bottles of wine.

Mi Sueño features accommodations in six generously proportioned ensuite staterooms with an optional smaller seventh cabin, regularly configured as the gym, that is equipped with four Pullmans suitable for staff, nanny or body guards. A two-person wheelchair accessible elevator conveniently services three interior decks.

The split level, full-beam master suite, located on the main deck, measures a voluminous 800 square feet.The king bed, positioned on the upper level, faces an arc of panoramic windows for spectacular 180 degree views. A lounge area with TV is just a couple of steps down and there’s a private office area off to the starboard side.

The yacht is designed with voluminous deck spaces and the flybridge is equipped for touch and go helicopter operations. On the upper level a large Jacuzzi, a small cold water pool and a bar entertainment area beckon outdoor fun. A maximum of 14 guests will enjoy being totally pampered by the expert crew of 16, dedicated to providing the perfect charter experience.

Length Overall: 189.99’

Beam: 33.33’

Draft: 8.01’

Max Speed:19 Cruise Speed: 17 Range: 4,000

Fuel Capacity: 22,002 Gal Water Capacity: 3,500 Gal

Engines: Twin Caterpillar 3516-CHD

Quantum XT Zero Speed Stabilizer

12 days for the price of 10, 30% off, additional catering thrown in for free – we are seeing amazing deals coming across our screens for crewed motor yachts in the French Riviera this summer.

So, during a lull in the World Cup, why not spend a few minutes planning your summer holiday and checking out the amazing specials available?  Mangustas, Sunseekers, even Power Catamarans , of all sizes and configurations are available. Just click on our French Riviera Charter Specials Page to see a listing or contact one of our brokers who know of the best specials available on the market.

We recommend bookng now – many of these specials will go away at the end of June.  We look forward to helping you plan your French Riviera Vacation Holiday this summer!

Katya represents one of those rare instances in which collaboration between the owners, their designer Jean-Claude Canestrelli, and the Delta Design Group, produced a yacht that is superbly luxurious, regally elegant, yet calming and comfortable. The stunning crème color of the ceilings and floors present a sinfully rich backdrop for dark figured khaya veneers, amboina and maple burls, and crotch mahogany woods.

The Owner named the yacht after their adopted Russian daughter, whom the crew adores, and portraits of her are hung throughout the yacht. Her beautifully feminine ensuite cabin is decorated in shades of pink with a bathroom of finely veined green marble, a space to delight any child. Outside areas beckon relaxation; lounging on the bow is a popular pastime with guests, or a leisurely luncheon at the outdoor table for twelve. Families will especially appreciate the well-stocked toy chest that inspires guests of any age to have fun on the water.

Katya accommodates 12 guests in five staterooms and, despite her stately presence, welcomes children onboard.
Length: 151′
Beam: 31′
Draft: 9′ 6″
Stabilizers at Anchor: Yes
Deck Jacuzzi: Yes
Max Speed: 15.5 knots
Cruising Speed: 12.5 knots

If you’ll be headed to the French Riviera for a conference or charter, be sure to download our free iRiviera iPhone app! Boatbookings has joined forces with several companies who have the “pulse” of the Riviera, and will be providing constantly updated information about happenings in Cannes, St Tropez, Monaco, Antibes and all the other renowned areas of the French Riviera. 

News, hot spots, parties, conference information, restaurant recommendations, videos, special offers, and of course our selection of great yachts for the Riviera are all featured in one iPhone app. It’s interactive, so you can add your comments and communicate with people who are in the Riviera as well.  Check it out in the App Store, and let us know if there are types of information that you’d be looking for, and we’ll try to add them!

We visited LADY IN BLUE at anchor during the Monaco Yacht Show, and received VIP treatment from the fabulous young Crew! She is a little bit older but has a certain style, and a lounge bar feel. The yacht has unusual artwork and some quirky touches making her very contemporary. Even the bathrooms have a club feel about them.

This is a fun yacht where clients can enjoy water sports by day and a party atmosphere at night, equipped with a great sound system and a relaxed and modern ambiance.

Specifications:

171ft Amels, 5 Cabins (Master, 2 doubles, 2 twins)

1981/ Refit 1998

Length: 43m

Guests: 8/10

Crew: 11

Crusing speed: 13 knots

Equipment:

Satcom

Satellite TV/ Video

Stereo music system

18ft Speedboat

12ft Zodiac

2 Waverunners

Water Skis and tows

Gymnasium

LADY IN BLUE is available in the Caribbean in the Winter and South of France in the Summer.

Please click here for more information on LADY IN BLUE

SILVER ANGEL is a 64.5 Metre, 14 Passenger Benetti newly launched in 2009.  She was designed by Argent Design of London together with Stefano Natucci. She is not subtle or sober, but neither is she ostentatious in the traditional way. She is totally deco in style, and every detail is a modern take on this theme. She is almost entirely grey, silver and black, with hints either side towards purple and auburn.

The most defining feature is the abundance of Lalique throughout, including table lamps radiating a soft magical light among the shiny silver silk and satin, the lacquered cabinets and fur throws. Lalique also features on the wall lights, the door handles and bathroom taps, as well as the bathroom accessories made to match. She is very luxurious indeed, with exquisite fabrics and furnishings and an abundance of plump cushions in every size and shade.

On the top deck there is a golf machine dispensing biodegradable golf balls used when the yacht is under way, and floating balls for when she is at anchor, so the Crew can gather them up for future use! There is a pool on the fore deck, depicting the Silver Angel herself, where guests can properly swim against a power jet. She has all the toys you would expect as well as fishing equipment and diving gear. She will not be for everyone, because of the sheer formality of her luxury. She is not a family yacht, but for corporate or private luxury, she is rather special!

Please click here to request further information.

SHERAKHAN is the most extraordinary Dutch owned charter yacht! She is 228 feet long (70 Metres) and offers 13  cabins so she can carry a much larger party than most charter yachts.

Do not be fooled by her sober exterior… When you first enter, the main dining area is a vast open room surrounded by an oval balcony, and the overall volume feels immense. The table is also laid lengthways, and together with the elaborate and slightly funky décor, it calls to mind a fairytale or the mad-hatter’s banquet! She is wildly eclectic, a bizarre and fabulous mixture of 1970s kitsch, solid Dutch pragmatism, dark woods and heavy drapes, mixed with silvery balls of glass hanging from on high.

The master is vast with his and hers bathrooms with quaint Victoriana bath tubs and a separate shower room. To add to the experience, the entire length of the deck on every level is convex, as it was built, so you feel you’ve entered the Golden age and ended up in Wonderland! It is a most fantastic and unusual place, perfect for a party or a charter with more adventurous guests who would appreciate her bohemian nature!

Other strong points include a large lower level spa, with mosaic floors, with fluorescent lighting emanating from the bath tub and basins, and a mosaic mermaid on the rear wall. Another key point is that she can sleep up to 26 guests, making her ideal for special family occasions and corporate charters.

Click here to for additional infomation on SHERAKHAN

The sun has returned, the Film Festival is in full swing, Monaco Grand Prix stands are assembled and ready for the race this weekend – which means that the French Riviera is fully up and running for the high season! We thought we’d devote this post to what is new for 2009, in anticipation of your visit to St Tropez, Cannes, Monaco, or anywhere in between.

First of all perhaps the major difference vs 2008 is that we now have a buyer’s market, which is great news for all of you charterers out there!  While there have lately been signs that the business is returning back to normal levels, there is still the opportunity to get good deals if you book your yacht before the end of May.  After that, many of the best yachts will be full, and the deals will evaporate.  So if  you are seriously considering a yacht of any size this summer in the Riviera, please let us know in the next couple of weeks. We’ve listed some of our best French Riviera Yacht Charter Deals here.

Event and Celebration Boats.  In the past, we’ve had to turn away many groups that had more than 12 people because, due to Maritime Law and insurance reasons, there are very few yachts on the Riviera that are qualified to carry more then 12 people.  The good news this summer is that we have several fantastic Event Catamarans that carry up to 56 people!  They are reasonably priced, designed with groups in mind, and are happy to add catering, DJs, water sports, etc.  So if you have a business meeting, birthday, wedding reception, stag party, team building event or any other reason to put a large number of people on a boat, we now have several great alternatives for you (we of course also offer motor yachts that carry up to 150 people if that’s what you’re looking for!). Click here to see one of our Event Catamarans.

More information about great new yachts for charter in our next post!

As mentioned in the first entry in the series, Club 55 is a classy beach club and restaurant that serves over 1000 meals a day in high season, although you’d hardly know it because the restaurant feels so intimate and relaxed. It is ground zero for celebrities in St Tropez, as well as well-heeled businessmen, politicians and models. If you’re planning on lunching at Club 55, you should know how it operates so that you know what to expect and are not disappointed.

Club 55 is run by Patrice de Colmont, son of the original owner, who knows everyone and watches everything that goes on in the restaurant.  He somehow keeps straight where everyone will be sitting, making sure all the celebrities get their special tables. He is one of the most well known (and well connected) men in St Tropez, but he hasn’t lost his passion for making sure his restaurant is serving great food and run with efficiency and class.

The restaurant is shaded by tamarisk trees, which keeps it cool during the hot summer.  The tables are simple white wood with chairs or benches for the larger parties.  Blue table cloths. All very simple and laidback elegant.  The menu follows suit – with many standard Provencal specialties such as baskets of fresh vegetables, plates of tiny shrimp, artichokes, steak tartar and an onion tart.  The main courses are predominantly fresh fish, normally grilled, served on large platters with excellent fried potatoes. The restaurant lets the ingredients speak for themselves.

There are two lunch servings – 1pm and 3pm.  Generally speaking, unless you “know someone” you will be eating in the second shift.  But this is not a problem, you have more time on the beach and the bar before dining, and then you leave on your boat happy and well fed for the trip back!  You should arrange for your lunch well in advance, and it’s best to have your captain or broker arrange it for you.

Thousands of people visit and lunch at Club 55 each summer, and few are disappointed.  The combination of a relaxed but impeccably maintained beach club, excellently prepared dishes from local, fresh ingredients, a beautiful beach facing many of the world’s most exclusive superyachts, and the celebrity buzz, makes it one of the primary destinations in the French Riviera.

We’ve captured a charter to Club 55 on this video, to provide a feel for the days experience.  Feel free to contact us for further details and a classy boat so that you can arrive at Club 55 in style!