If you are an avid fan of classic, old-school boats and ships, you should really look away now. If, however, you are a fan of glamorous yachts, and the folk who sail in them, book yourself a holiday to Cannes' Festival De la Plaisance which runs from September 10th to 15th.
Spread over the Vieux Port and the Port Pierre Canto, the show will have more than 100 new models in all sizes and price brackets. The world's top yacht brokers will be in town to talk and sell boats, and more than 500 vessels will be on display and available for sea trial. Yacht fitters, interior designers, skippers and crew hire companies will also be on hand to do business in what is probably Europe's most glamorous marinas.
Getting to Cannes
Cannes is about 40 minutes from Nice Airport. Take advantage of the Aer Lingus sale which runs until midnight on Monday. Fares on daily Nice flights are from €150 return. Ryanair has similar prices but operates flights only on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The best-known hotel in Cannes is the Carlton Intercontinental, which is home to dozens of Hollywood stars every May, rooms from €277 per night. The five-star Le Grand Hotel on the Croisette with its own beach, is on offer from €160 per night, grand-hotel-cannes.com. Taxis are notoriously expensive so use the express bus from Nice Airport to Cannes for €30 return,uk.niceairportxpress.com.
Aoife O'Connor, Joan Scales