Brest vs La Rochelle

[nauticalnomad]

Can anyone give me experiences over these 2 ports for marina experiences?
I am looking somewhere to winter over?

Or if anyone has any other locations around or between these 2 areas im interested?

[Tellus]

...neither --nor, would prefer some miles inbound..f.i. river Aulne

[GRIT]

We were very happy with our winter in La Rochelle. Nice town, great services if needed. We stayed at Les Minimes, friends stayed in vieux port. They had less privacy and more noise than we did, but we walked 15 minutes to get to town, while they were "in town".

Loved it.

Good public transportation.

I have no experience with Brest.

If you're going cheap, you could anchor up "La Villaine" and have shopping nearby in Redon and La Roche-Bernard. Redon has train service, but the anchorage at La Roche-Bernard is better, and closer to town. We anchored between the bridges.

Both towns have marinas if you wish, and storage on the hard at Arzal, at the mouth of the river.
Cheers.
Paul.

[boatman61]

I'm currently in Le Sables d' Olonne..
I spent a night in La Rochelle but was not that keen.. its a 26ft HT catamaran.. 30euro/nite
Have been to Le Sables before and there's two marinas.. one on the Town Dock, (turn to stbd at first entrance up the channel) so to speak and one further up Port Olana.. where I am.. its 9euro a night cheaper than La Roch.. train in walking distance as with supermarket, bars and restaurants.. good yard, travel lift etc..
Their e-mail is portolona@wanadoo.fr
Hope I'm not breaking any rules .