Where to look for property for winter sun
Short days and long dark evenings for most of the next three months. Do you dream of escaping for some sun? You won’t be alone. Even the feel of sun on the face whilst having a coffee on a town square, or a walk along the beach – it just needs to be two or three hours’ towards the equator.
The cost of living is still high so where is best to go without breaking the bank? Here are five ideas for a shot in the arm of winter sun.
Alicante
Have you been to the Alicante area in December or January? Well if you haven’t you might find it surprisingly warm, and also unexpectedly busy. Full flights, bustling paddle courts and golf courses – it really is a year-round place these days. This province is a popular part of the mainland for foreign buyers and it’s easy to see why.
On the Orihuela Costa there’s plenty of choice if you have a budget of £200k, and go further south, towards Murcia, and prices dip a bit more. A turnkey new-build apartment costs around €250,000, but you can find two-bedroom apartments in Ciudad Quesada from €115,000.
Cyprus
Only 4.5 hours away but practically in the Middle East, Cyprus enjoys mild winters and it’s not surprising it’s become a favourite relocation destination. Its Anglo-friendly culture, lack of language barrier and tax perks are further draws.
For a budget of €250,000 to €300,000 you can get a three-bedroom home with a pool in a village in south-eastern Cyprus, around Famagusta and Protaras. But maybe you just want a lock and go? You can find a two-bedroom apartment in one of the popular areas of Paphos, such as Tala, for €179,000.
Eastern Costa del Sol
Heading east of the Costa del Sol offers excellent value and an authentic local lifestyle. Resorts like Rincón de la Victoria, Vélez-Málaga, Torre del Mar, Torrox, and Nerja showcase the charm of traditional Spanish life. Head inland to the mountain villages of Axarquia, such as Competa, if you want you money to go a lot further.
In Nerja you’ll pay around €190,000 for a one-bedroom apartment – but you can find choice with a budget of €150,000 in Torrox, including two-bedroom townhouses. You can even go skiing in the Sierra Nevada for the day!
Madeira
Love Portuguese culture but looking for even higher temperatures to warm up your winter? Head 3.5 hours flight southwest to lovely Madeira, a unique outpost in the Atlantic. It’s just been voted the world’s best island destination by the World Travel Awards for the 11th year running.
Why? Where else can you can walk through the banana or sugar-cane plantations of the hillsides (along the levada) in balmy temperatures then soak up the cosmopolitan charm of Funchal, a pocket-sized Lisbon, in mid winter? Property can be a bit more expensive than some of mainland Portugal – but not that different to the Algarve. You’ll need around €300,000 for either an older, authentic Madeiran home or a modern apartment, but you’ll find a far better choice with €400,000.
Fuerteventura
A whisker from the west coast of Africa, the warmest Canary offers amazing sandy beaches of the archipelago, and is often referred to as Europe’s Caribbean. Less developed than the other islands, its affordability is also a big draw.
Look to the biggest tourist hub of Corralejo for the best buzz – you can pick up a one-bedroom apartment from around €160,000. In other areas such as Caleta de Fuste (good for golfers) you can find properties from around €100,000, or in less popular areas a three-bedroom villa with pool for €200,000.
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