Sipping Champagne in the Lap of Marbella Luxury
Many of us at this time of the year would be quite happy to walk up the plank of our mega-yacht berthed in Puerto Banús (at the ultra-select western tower end, of course), sit down to a bottle of chilled Dom Pérignon and a lobster aperitif, and instruct the impeccably uniformed crew to set sail for a day’s cruising along the coast.
Unfortunately, only a few of us can permit ourselves that luxury and we have to revert to Plan B. This can variously entail enjoying a beer in one of the port’s frontline bars as we admire other people’s mega-yachts, savouring a dish of grilled langoustine in a restaurant dining room overlooking the port… or indulging in some soothing retail therapy in the marina’s plethora of boutiques.
Obviously, Plan B is by no means an unpleasant way to spend a languid August day, allowing us to rub shoulders with the elite crowd in one of Spain’s capitals of sybaritic pleasure. Second capital, in fact. According to newly released data compiled by Luxury Spain, the luxury sector in this country enjoyed sales of €6 billion in 2016, with Marbella sharing in €1.5 billion (or 26 per cent) of that succulent bounty. This was only topped by Barcelona, with Madrid (the Spanish capital) lagging well behind in third place. Apparently, the average luxury spend in Marbella was over €2,650, which might seem rather high for those of us sipping our modest beers down the road but is not such a big deal for golden credit card-holders popping into one of the area’s high-end boutiques.
Many of the world’s premier brands have set up shop in Puerto Banús – Armani, Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Cartier, Chopard, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and Versace – and they were joined this summer by some new names (Loewe, Max Mara and Pilma), with most of them converging in the Muelle Ribera part of the marina. This, according to a report in the Diario Sur newspaper, has the sixth most expensive commercial rent in Spain, €2,280 per square metre, which for some outlets can mean a monthly pay-out of €60,000 before they even sell their first cocktail dress or diamond-encrusted watch.
At least they have a chance of recouping their expenses. If you, on the other hand, are mooring your boat in Bañus you will need deep pockets. A survey by Engel & Völkers Yachting found that Puerto Banús, with 915 berths in total, has the fifth highest mooring fees in Europe for a 55-metre yacht during the high season: a daily rate of €2,068. Heading the list is another Spanish marina, Ibiza Magna, at €3,025.
Further along the Marbella coastline, on the famous Golden Mile, the real estate market has also been emboldened this summer with a new arrival. Sierra Blanca Estates announced plans to build an avant-garde luxury project comprising 15 homes in this ultra-select residential area.
The official announcement was made at the Starlite Festival, which continues in Marbella until 26 August. The next major concert at the festival – which, in addition, to music, offers visitors gastronomy, fashion and cultural attractions – is Andrea Bocelli on 15 August.
Meanwhile, this weekend (Saturday 13 August) the festival’s main showpiece, the Starlite Gala, will be co-hosted by Antonio Banderas to raise money for children-based charities.
For those happy to travel a little further – or living in other parts of the Coast – Málaga’s renowned annual fair is officially launched tonight (Friday) with the traditional “pregón” (“proclamation”) by María del Mar Rodríguez Carnero, popularly known as “Lamari” and the lead singer of flamenco chill band Chambao, followed by a fireworks display. The festivities then move into top gear tomorrow (Saturday) with the Romería a la Victoria (“pilgrimage”) and continue until Sunday 20 August, concluding with a vibrant street parade. As in other town fairs held along the coast, the daytime activities are focused in the city centre, before revellers move to the fairgrounds on the outskirts of the city in the evening and into the early hours of the morning.
Luxury Living
Back on the Golden Mile, our featured home this week is a beautiful villa priced at an excellent €1,895,000.
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