Monaco, Saint Tropez and Capri among the world’s priciest beach destinations

23/08/2023

It’ll come as no surprise that the Principality of Monaco made the Top 10 in a ranking of the world’s priciest beach destinations, but it didn’t claim first place. Can you guess the resort that did?

Earlier this month, Travelmag.com published a list of the most expensive beach destinations around the world.

The results were based on a simple set of criteria: the average price of the cheapest available double room during the month of August 2023 for hotels with at least three stars and with a location close to the city centre and beach.

Given the enduring popularity of the Riviera’s golden duo of Saint Tropez and Monaco amongst wealthy tourists, both were bound to make the list, but neither took out the top spot.

That, perhaps surprisingly, goes to Nantucket Town, located on the island of Nantucket, which is south of Cape Cod in the US state of Massachusetts. The average price-per-night here, according to Travelmag.com’s rules, came in at $694 or nearly €640.

Next in the list comes the glittering Amalfi haven of Positano, a cliffside beach village beloved by superyacht charterers – and owners – worldwide. The price-per-night here came in at $481, far below the elevated prices of the relatively isolated Nantucket Town.

Italy’s first placed destination is followed up by Montauk, New York, which finds itself among an interestingly high number of US destinations to find themselves in the Top 20. Other big American hitters include Kennebunkport in Maine and Provincetown and Bar Harbour, both also in Massachusetts.

Mediterranean continues to seduce visitors

Despite US dominance – 11 of the Top 20 resorts listed are to be found there – the Mediterranean’s famous collection of luxury destinations is well-represented.

Saint Tropez comes in fourth place, with the average night costing $440, while Capri ($399) secures seventh and the Principality of Monaco ($381) ninth, just beating out Santa Monica in California.

Other Mediterranean hotspots to feature include Ibiza Town and Santa Eulària des Riu in Ibiza, Platis Gialos in Greece, and Amalfi and Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy.

Explore the full list for yourself here.

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Photo source: Andy Holmes, Unsplash

Sailing: Palermo-Monte Carlo gets underway, record-breaking Black Jack in the lead

by: Luke Entwistle

23/08/2023

The start of the 2023 edition of the Palermo-Monte-Carlo regatta

A 40-strong fleet began the journey from the Gulf of Mondello on Tuesday as the 18th edition of the Palermo-MonteCarlo got underway.

For 40 teams, hailing from 12 different countries, the 500-nautical-mile journey from Palermo to Monaco via Porto Cervo in Sardinia is underway. Although the race began in favourable sailing conditions, it may not stay that way.

A record out of reach?

Weather conditions for the race have been described as “variable”. Whilst the Mistral may give a boost to the most tactically adept teams, changeable conditions could play a role as the fleet nears the Principality.

The record for the event was set by the Esimit Europa back in 2015. Now named Black Jack, the boat is once again competing and looking to break the previous record of 47 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds. The record-breaking boat will be skippered by the YCM’s very own Peter Harburg, whilst renowned New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth will also be on board, as they look to create new records, weather permitting.

Black Jack in the lead

Other famous boats and sailors make up the fleet. I Love Poland, which has previously completed The Ocean Race, will be involved, whilst legendary Australian Olympic sailor Mitch Booth is also competing in the race.

In their bid to break the record, Black Jack currently have a comfortable lead. By late afternoon on Wednesday, the boat had already passed Porto Cervo with Shockwave 3 as their closest challenger. The fleet should begin to arrive at the YCM in Monaco around midday on Thursday.

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Photo source: Yacht Club de Monaco

DJ Steve Aoki looking to continue his father’s legacy as he enters team into E1 Championship

by: Luke Entwistle

23/08/2023

World-renowned DJ Steve Aoki has become the latest star to affiliate himself with the upcoming inaugural E1 Championship.

After the likes of Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, Sergio Perez and Didier Drogba, Aoki is the latest to enter a team into the first all-electric race boat series, which will take place in 2024. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Rocky Aoki, who was an offshore powerboat racer in the 1970s and 1980s.

“The UIM E1 World Championship not only offers me a chance to continue my father’s legacy on the water, but this time going electric. I love creating outside of my usual spaces, so I’ll be seeing you all on the dockside as we electrify racing on the water,” said Aoki.

As well as entering a team into the environmentally-conscious, adrenaline-filled novel electric racing series, Aoki will also be performing at the events. The DJ, who has previously collaborated with the likes of Linkin Park, Blink 182 and will.i.am, will therefore be mixing sport with entertainment.

“The UIM E1 Championship continues to attract leaders in sport, business and entertainment to spearhead teams to compete in our inaugural electric racing season. We are proud to welcome Steve Aoki to the E1 racing family,” reacted E1 CEO and co-founder Rodi Basso.

E1 coming to Monaco

The world’s first – and only – all-electric race boat championship will finally get underway in 2024. The first race will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, although the exact date is yet to be announced. There will then be a further race in the Middle East in February, although the location is also still to be revealed.

The flotilla will then head to Europe with two races in Venice in April and May before another, as yet unconfirmed race in Europe. It will later be Monaco’s turn to host a race in the Principality’s harbour in July, before the seventh and final race of the season in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

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Photo credit: Laurence Howe

Cap d’Ail’s Fête du Sport is just around the corner

by: Stephanie Horsman

23/08/2023

Get ready for a day of all things sports at the upcoming Fête du Sport in Cap d’Ail on 2nd September.

Fans and players, save the date for the first Saturday in September as Cap d’Ail will be celebrating sport in all its forms at the 11th edition of the Fête du Sport in the town’s Espace Marquet.

This all-ages event will feature demonstrations and chances to sign up for a variety of sports classes and activities ahead of the new school year.

The list of participants includes the Académie d’Arts Martiaux, cycle teams from the Cap d’Ail Macadam and Cap d’Ail VTT, sailing aficionados Cercle Nautique, the Nashville Gang, Sunshine, the Tennis Club de Cap d’Ail and Latin dance club Mi CUBA. Perennial favourite football will be well-represented by USCA and the AS Monaco Kids Tour.

In addition to the meet and greets with the various organisations, there will also be the opportunity to participate in a number of sporting challenges where prizes can be won.

The Fête du Sport takes place from 4pm to 7pm.

For more information, please click here.

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Photo source: John Fornander, Unsplash

EU climate policy guru, Frans Timmermans, resigns

by: Stephanie Horsman

23/08/2023

Frans Timmermans, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President, has resigned from his post. He will now head up a Greens-Labour coalition in his native country in a bid to become the Netherlands’ next Prime Minister.

Frans Timmermans has made a name for himself in the European Commission as being a strong and vocal advocate of climate change policies. As the Executive Vice-President, he has spent the past decade in Brussels working on, amongst other things, the EU’s Green Deal.

CLIMATE CZAR

Timmermans was responsible for the 2019 Green Deal, earning him the moniker of climate “czar”. He has led the adoption of landmark new policies across the bloc that will ensure Europe’s ambitious 2050 climate neutrality goals are met and has also been a strong negotiator on the international scene, with a highlight being his brokering of a deal during the 2022 COP27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Additionally, the 62-year-old was instrumental in forming the EC’s biodiversity and circular economy strategies.

PASSIONATE AND TIRELESS

“I thank Frans Timmermans for his passionate and tireless work to make the European Green Deal a reality,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on Tuesday. “Thanks to his excellent contribution and strong personal engagement, we have made great strides towards meeting the EU’s objectives to become the first climate-neutral continent and towards raising the levels of climate ambition globally.”

He is leaving the Green Deal in the capable hands of Maroš Šefčovič, the Commission’s Vice-President for Inter-Institutional Relations and Foresight and a former EU energy chief. The Slovak will also be temporarily in charge of the Netherlands’ Climate Action Policy until a new Dutch commissioner takes over.

NEW HORIZONS

Timmermans is going back to his native country, the Netherlands, to head up an alliance between the Greens and Labour ahead of elections on 22nd November. He announced his intentions to run in the election in July, following the breakdown of Mark Rutte’s outgoing government. Rutte had been the Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010. He is currently acting in a “demissionary” capacity.

The coalition between the Greens and Labour is leading the polls, with just over 17% favouring them, beating out the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy so long headed up by Rutte.

The loss of Timmermans will be felt in EU politics, with President von der Leyen saying, “Frans Timmermans’ contribution to the work of the Commission and to the European project goes beyond the European Green Deal. He has contributed to shaping many of the Commission’s initiatives, in a true collegial style.”

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Photo source: EC

What you need to know about the pension reforms coming into effect next month

by: Stephanie Horsman

23/08/2023

Here are all the big changes to France’s pensions system that will be coming into force from 1st September.

1st September signals the start date of 13 out of 31 major shake-ups to France’s revamped – yet still controversial – pensions system. Here’s a breakdown of the most substantial changes.

ABOLISHING SPECIAL RULES

Four “special regimes” for a number of professions are being abolished. These are the Autonomous Paris Transport Authority (RATP), the electricity and gas industries (IEG), clerks and employees of notaries (CRPCEN), and the Banque de France.

Anyone hired in these fields from 1st September 2023 will be subject to the new pension scheme, but for those employed prior to then, there will be certain allowances given in order to give people a chance to adjust accordingly.

This “grandfather clause” includes an adjustment to an employee’s legal retirement age of two years. RATP drivers, for example, will soon become eligible for retirement not at 52, but at 54.

MINIMUM PENSIONS

There is some good news for certain employees and workers; those who have spent all their working lives at the minimum wage and who have a full-time post. Their monthly minimum payments will be going up by €100 for those retiring from 1st September.

Minimum pensions will also now be based on the minimum wage rather than inflation.

Increases in minimums are also being planned for those who stopped work before 1st September.

“The Ministry of Labour has indicated that some [workers] will receive this increase from autumn 2023; the others from the spring of 2024 with retroactive effect from 1st September 2023,” explains an official government portal for the ministry. “This temporary difference in the payment of the valuation is explained by the analytical work necessary to determine the people who are entitled to it.”

GRADUAL RETIREMENT

The idea of slowly easing one’s way out of work was once the sole domain of salaried employees, craftspeople and traders. Now this protections covering this process are being extended to include civil servants, liberal professionals and lawyers.

In the case of refusal to transition from full-time to part-time, the employer must now justify that any part-time work requested by the employee is “incompatible with the economic activity of the company”. If there is no written response from the employer at the end of a period of two months, it is deemed to be agreed upon.

WORKING AFTER RETIREMENT

Under this part of the new scheme, people can retire but continue to work and “double dip”, receiving both pension and pay, but only under certain conditions.

According to the government, “Until now, this income subject to contributions did not give rise to any right to a supplementary pension. From now on, at the end of a period of combined employment and retirement, it will be possible under certain conditions to request a ‘second pension’ calculated on the basis of the same rules as the first pension.”

NEW “WEAR AND TEAR” FUND

The government is creating an investment fund for people who work in jobs that may cause them to incur physical problems, such as workers who are required to carry heavy loads, those obliged to be in sustained “awkward” positions at work, and workers “mechanical vibrations”.

Additionally, night workers will be able to claim hardship points from 100 nights per year, down from 120 previously.

The number of points acquired on professional prevention accounts will also now increase in proportion to the number of risk factors to which an employee is exposed. For example, an employee who is exposed to three risk factors will acquire 12 points per year or one point per quarter of exposure for each of the risks.

ORPHANS RIGHTS

Finally, children whose parents are deceased will be entitled to a pension up to the age of 25, or without limit for those under 21 and 80% disabled at the time of their parents’ deaths.

For more information on the various incoming changes, please click here.

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Photo source: Anthony Fomin, Unsplash

Day: 23 August 2023

Monaco, Saint Tropez and Capri among the world’s priciest beach destinations

Mediterranean continues to seduce visitors