New Marbella Marina Has Designs on Puerto Banús’ Crown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgdfbkquXQY
Sarah Drane of the Purple Cake Factory reports from Spain that the uber swanky marina at Puerto Banús is set to face some serious competition from none-too-distant neighbour – Marbella.

Puerto Banús the catwalk of the Costa del Sol, attracts up to five million visitors each year and simply oozes wealth and glamour.  With 915 berths, the marina provides an address for some of the most elite boats, bars and boutiques on the whole of the southern Spanish Costa.  However,

Just 8km to the east, La Bajadilla marina has played a nondescript second fiddle to Puerto Banús attracting neither celebrities nor millionaires.

Yet thanks to a consortium led by Qatari Sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al-Thani, current owner of Málaga Football Club, the fishing port has been rubber stamped for a 400 million euro makeover.

Plans for an additional 500 berths arranged on a spectacular circular pier, 200m quay for cruise liners, a waterfront five-star hotel as well as a raft of bars, restaurants and shops will catapult La Bajadilla into the spotlight.

With the Marbella Town Hall holding a 3% stake in the project, the marina is obliged to be ‘emblematic’ in order to attract elite clientele and is being billed as the most important urban development in Marbella’s history.

Puerto Banús has every reason to worry that one day it will be outshone by one of its own.