For many people, the ultimate idea of decadence is to laze in the Mediterranean sun aboard the decks of a luxury yacht. However, as with all things in life, you can have too much of a good thing, and all but the most lethargic of individuals would agree that such indulgence can soon become tiresome.

The fact is, there is only so much stimulation that the sea itself can provide and the whole point of choosing the Mediterranean as a destination for boat charter, is to enjoy the charms of the countries that share its beautiful shoreline.

However with a shoreline that extends for 46,000 km and is shared by 3 different continents and 21 different countries, the Mediterranean offers those interested in sailboat charter an almost inexhaustible choice of potential destinations. How then, does one go about choosing the ideal venue for Mediterranean yacht rental?

In order to answer this question you must first consider which type of boat you intend to charter for your Mediterranean sailing experience.

Should you choose to charter a sailing yacht, then your average sailing speed, depending on winds and weather conditions, is likely be between 8 and 10 knots (14-18km/h). Assuming 5-6 hours of sailing a day, you are looking at covering a distance of around 350km over a week long cruise.

If on the other hand you choose to charter a motor yacht, then your average cruising speed is likely to be a far more impressive 20 knots (36km/h), allowing you to easily cover distances of over 100km in a day and 700km (the distance from Nice to Rome) in a week.

If your time is limited, it is clear that you can only attempt to cover a relatively small part of the Mediterranean during your charter cruise. As a result the most popular destinations for yacht charters in the Mediterranean tend to be those where the coastal attractions are situated in close proximity.Luxury Yacht Charter in the Western Mediterranean

Popular destinations for Western Mediterranean charters include Croatia, the Cote d’Azur (The French Riviera), the Balearic Islands, and the Italian Riviera.

A typical cruise in Croatia might take you from Venice (close to the Croatian border) to Split, via the unforgettable Dalmatian Coast. This route will take you past literally thousands of beautiful islands offering countless ports and idyllic anchoring spots. This coastline also offers a host of ancient settlements and ruins, including the city of Pala with its well preserved 26,000 seat amphitheatre.

The Cote D’Azur needs little in the way of introduction and at any one time a large proportion of the Mediterranean’s yachts will be moored in one of the region’s many marinas. The Riviera is famous for its spectacular entertainment, and world-class cuisine while the towns of Nice, St. Tropez, Monaco, and Cannes are all centres of high-fashion and great shopping.

If you are looking for a somewhat quieter cruising experience then the Balearic Islands are an ideal choice. Comprised of four main islands, Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, the Balearics offer an abundance of wide beaches, rocky coastlines and historic towns. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, the Balearics are an ideal destination year round.

The Italian Riviera offers a wealth of diversity and its coastline is rich in culture and history. On the mainland, Portofino and the Amalfi Coast are particular favourites amongst the yachting community, while the picturesque islands of Ischia, Capri, and Elba are also superb destinations.

Luxury Yacht Charter in the Eastern Mediterranean

Popular destinations for Eastern Mediterranean yacht rental include Greece and Turkey.

Greece offers a mainland with a long and varied coastline, though it is arguably most famous for its thousands of islands. Here it is possible to trace a route steeped in both history and mythology, from Ithaca, home of the legendary Odysseus to Lefkada, where the 240ft White Cliff is said to be scene of the poet Sappho’s suicide.The coastline of Turkey is no less steeped in history. Amongst its coves you will find the sunken remains of ancient Greek and Roman civilisations, while high up in the cliffs, you will find ancient tombs carved into the rock. The most famous route in this region is known as the ‘Blue Cruise’. Starting in either Didim or Ku?adas? the cruise follows the prevailing winds to the port of Antalya, allowing those who sail it the opportunity to retrace an ancient and historically significant trade route.

For many people, the ultimate idea of decadence is to laze in the Mediterranean sun aboard the decks of a luxury yacht. However, as with all things in life, you can have too much of a good thing, and all but the most lethargic of individuals would agree that such indulgence can soon become tiresome.

The fact is, there is only so much stimulation that the sea itself can provide and the whole point of choosing the Mediterranean as a destination for boat charter, is to enjoy the charms of the countries that share its beautiful shoreline.

However with a shoreline that extends for 46,000 km and is shared by 3 different continents and 21 different countries, the Mediterranean offers those interested in sailboat charter an almost inexhaustible choice of potential destinations. How then, does one go about choosing the ideal venue for Mediterranean yacht rental?

In order to answer this question you must first consider which type of boat you intend to charter for your Mediterranean sailing experience.

Should you choose to charter a sailing yacht, then your average sailing speed, depending on winds and weather conditions, is likely be between 8 and 10 knots (14-18km/h). Assuming 5-6 hours of sailing a day, you are looking at covering a distance of around 350km over a week long cruise.

If on the other hand you choose to charter a motor yacht, then your average cruising speed is likely to be a far more impressive 20 knots (36km/h), allowing you to easily cover distances of over 100km in a day and 700km (the distance from Nice to Rome) in a week.

If your time is limited, it is clear that you can only attempt to cover a relatively small part of the Mediterranean during your charter cruise. As a result the most popular destinations for yacht charters in the Mediterranean tend to be those where the coastal attractions are situated in close proximity.Luxury Yacht Charter in the Western Mediterranean

Popular destinations for Western Mediterranean charters include Croatia, the Cote d’Azur (The French Riviera), the Balearic Islands, and the Italian Riviera.

A typical cruise in Croatia might take you from Venice (close to the Croatian border) to Split, via the unforgettable Dalmatian Coast. This route will take you past literally thousands of beautiful islands offering countless ports and idyllic anchoring spots. This coastline also offers a host of ancient settlements and ruins, including the city of Pala with its well preserved 26,000 seat amphitheatre.

The Cote D’Azur needs little in the way of introduction and at any one time a large proportion of the Mediterranean’s yachts will be moored in one of the region’s many marinas. The Riviera is famous for its spectacular entertainment, and world-class cuisine while the towns of Nice, St. Tropez, Monaco, and Cannes are all centres of high-fashion and great shopping.

If you are looking for a somewhat quieter cruising experience then the Balearic Islands are an ideal choice. Comprised of four main islands, Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, the Balearics offer an abundance of wide beaches, rocky coastlines and historic towns. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, the Balearics are an ideal destination year round.

The Italian Riviera offers a wealth of diversity and its coastline is rich in culture and history. On the mainland, Portofino and the Amalfi Coast are particular favourites amongst the yachting community, while the picturesque islands of Ischia, Capri, and Elba are also superb destinations.

Luxury Yacht Charter in the Eastern Mediterranean

Popular destinations for Eastern Mediterranean yacht rental include Greece and Turkey.

Greece offers a mainland with a long and varied coastline, though it is arguably most famous for its thousands of islands. Here it is possible to trace a route steeped in both history and mythology, from Ithaca, home of the legendary Odysseus to Lefkada, where the 240ft White Cliff is said to be scene of the poet Sappho’s suicide.The coastline of Turkey is no less steeped in history. Amongst its coves you will find the sunken remains of ancient Greek and Roman civilisations, while high up in the cliffs, you will find ancient tombs carved into the rock. The most famous route in this region is known as the ‘Blue Cruise’. Starting in either Didim or Ku?adas? the cruise follows the prevailing winds to the port of Antalya, allowing those who sail it the opportunity to retrace an ancient and historically significant trade route.

A vacation to the Caribbean islands in a yacht charter is one of the most enchanting experiences one can have. This once-in-a-life-time experience for the exotic vacations can be made more entertaining with appropriate planning and execution.

Yacht charter in Caribbean islands is a thriving business. One can hire a yacht for a fee based on the size of the vessel hired for the travel as well as the period for which it is hired. The fee charged for yacht charter also includes the salary for the permanent crew members. In addition to the salary for the crew, the fee includes provisioning allowance that includes food and beverages, docking expenses at the various harbors, fuel expense and consumables. Usually a specified sum is collected in advance by the yacht charters and any unspent money from the advance is returned back at the conclusion of the trip.

As part of the planning process for the trip to the Caribbean yacht charter, one needs to find to a reliable broker who can guide us through the process and help in optimum utilization of the money at our disposal for spending on the vacation. One thing that needs to be borne in mind is cost should not compromise for the quality of the yacht charter and the appropriate one needs to be chosen to make the trip an enchanting one on all counts. A broker can help us achieve this goal. Among the various things that need to be considered serious thought is the type of yacht charter one needs to hire and the type of facilities one can have in each of the yacht charters that are being offered for the people on yacht charter.

There are a number of yacht charters on offer including the bareboat charter, crewed yacht charter, luxury yacht charter and corporate yacht charter. Even among the bareboat and crewed yacht charters, there are sub-types such as monohull, catamaran and motoryacht.

The exact type of charter one needs for the travel trip needs to be decided and booked in advance. A number of things need to be taken care of while deciding on the type of charter to hire on. A thorough investigation of the types on offer along with its salient features, cost impact and such other things needs to be assessed and finalized such that the exotic travel plan can be much more enchanting.

Monohull yacht charters come with a minimum size of 35 feet and a maximum size of more than 45 feet. Depending upon the number of members in the party, the number of state rooms, and the showers in the boat, appropriate monohull yacht charter can be selected from among the hundreds of models on offer.

Two tier and three-tier yacht charters can also be selected depending upon the size of the team planning a holiday vacation. The yacht charter typically has adequate space to move about, apart from provision for dining and rest rooms. The catamarans are one of the types of yacht charters that can offer more fun to the team. Most of the yacht charters have a speed of around 10 nautical miles that offers great fun for sailing.

Why use a Mortgage Broke?

Why use a mortgage broker to organise your French Mortgage?
Why not go directly to a French bank?
Surely the bank is a cheaper option since I will not have the “commission” of the broker added to the cost of the mortgage?

These are some of the questions we are asked on a regular basis.

It may well be that you live in France and have a good long-term relationship with your high-street bank. If you talk to them about your French Mortgage you might receive a loan offer for your intended purchase which may satisfy your needs but………. it will probably be a mortgage product just from that particular bank.

Will your Mortgage Broker go that extra mile?

For the vast majority, and especially non-resident buyers, it is quicker and more effective to use the services of a qualified and experienced Independent Mortgage Broker. An Independent Mortgage Broker can look at your specific circumstances and then look through a panel of lenders and find you the best possible French Mortgage product for your specific requirements. It is also advantageous to choose a broker that is actually based in France. A Mortgage Broker actually based in France has a massive advantage of being able to sit in front of the lending banks and deal with any possible delays in person. They will also naturally have a better personal relationship with the French Bank lending teams. This will all equate to the customer receiving a better and quicker service.

There are some important advantages for the customer when buying a Property in France and looking for a Mortgage in France as a non-resident or even if you’ve lived here for some time.

1. We speak your language and can explain the process to you and communicate with you throughout the process. We will supply all the documentation to you in English. Plus, we’re based in France – just 10km from Cannes and Nice.

2. An experienced Independent Mortgage Broker in France has a panel of lenders which he or she uses to place your French Mortgage loan application with.  These lenders will almost certainly have international departments specialising in dealing with UK and other non-French residents purchasing a property in France. This means that the underwriting teams of these banks will understand non-French tax situations and other documentation that a French High Street bank might simply not know what to do with.

3. Brokers such as French Mortgage Xpress do not charge a brokerage fee. They receive their compensation from the lending bank on completion of the French Mortgage loan process. This fee is not added on to your application. The bank pays this directly to the Broker. The interest rate you receive in your offer will not be higher than if you applied directly to the bank in question. In many cases, the rate will be lower owing to the volume of business that the broker conducts with the lending bank.

4. Owing to the privileged relationship between the broker and the lending bank, your loan application is more likely to be treated within a faster time frame and with more consideration than if you were applying on your own or through a bank branch. The underwriting teams within the French Bank will probably prioritise the applications from your Independent Mortgage Broker.

The above 4 points are crucial to making your whole French Property purchase go as quickly, as smoothly and with the least amount of pain as possible. Plus, you will be getting a French Mortgage product that is matched specifically to your needs and requirements.

FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LA PLAISANCE CANNES 2008 Images MK PROD www.mkprod-image.com

boats and yachts at Cannes

Images of the south of France. Music courtesy of Dada Weatherman – Painted Dream Images copyright – Alan Cooke

Hi, wondered if you could show me a gallery of yachts built in the 1960s. Want to see images of the highest end, luxury yachts that would have been seen in 1960s Cannes Riviera