The best resorts and property hotspots for ski lovers in France
France is home to some of the best ski resorts in the world. If, like me, you are a huge fan of skiing and all that goes with it, there is no need to go any further afield than our nearest neighbour. There is a huge range of options in both the Alps and the Pyrenees for both beginners and expert skiers, and every level in between.Read more...
What’s ahead for the Portuguese property market in 2019?
The Portugal property market continues to go from strength to strength. It seems likely that 2018 will be looked back on as the year when the ghosts of the financial crash were well and truly exorcised.Read more...
News update: Portugal property prices up by 15%
Our property boom here is continuing, with stats showing property prices are up by 15% since last year. And growth isn’t confined to real estate either, with some exciting projects on the horizon in the tourist sector. Safe Communities Portugal has launched a new scheme to help facilitate communication between expats and the authorities in the case of emergencies.Read more...
Spain’s best winter fiestas
Winter might just be one of our favourite seasons here in Spain: temperatures are still comfortable (it’s 20ºC in the south at the moment) but the crowds have gone and it can feel like you have the place to yourself. Only briefly though, because, as any home owner in even the smallest Spanish village will tell you, it’s fiesta time. Cue fireworks, processions, good food, drink and cheer, and a chance to meet and mingle with your neighbours. Here are some of our favourite of Spain’s winter fiestas, beyond Christmas and New Year.Read more...
Noel Edmonds puts his France home up for sale
Contestants sweating it out in this year’s I’m a Celebrity include TV and radio star Noel Edmonds, someone more used to a comfy existence in the south of France! Here’s why Noel’s experience in the Australian jungle must feel like a million miles from the Côte d’Azur!Read more...
How can you get an Irish passport?
With the Brexit deadline fast approaching and still uncertainty about whether we will actually end up with a trade deal, it’s no wonder that over 160,000 people in the UK have been issued Irish passports. It guarantees the continuation of their EU rights, including freedom of movement. So what are the qualifications to get an Irish passport, and how do you apply? We spoke to a number of British citizens in different situations to find out their experiences.Read more...
Why winter in France is magical
The winter season is one of the best times to visit France for lots of reasons. True, the beach may not be on the menu aside from an appetite enducing stroll, but plenty of areas still have superb golden sunshine at this time of the year, there are all sorts of festivals going on, Christmas fairs of course and it is much cheaper to travel there. So, wrap up warm and come on a journey through winter in France, starting here.Read more...
Spain news update: property investment from overseas grows
Spain’s property market is going from strength to strength, with more and more investment from overseas buyers. For holiday home owners, this is unlikely to taper off even after Brexit. The European Commission’s Vice President has said that visas will unlikely be needed by UK nationals for short stays.Read more...
Running a holiday accommodation business in Italy
On first visiting Italy you can’t help but fall in love with the history, the culture and the food. What if you could find a way to live that Italian lifestyle and make a living from sharing it with visitors? Holidays that offer authentic lifestyle experiences have become very popular, and in turn offer property buyers many ways to make an income from their Italian home. New entrepreneurs have some very interesting ideas for a holiday accommodation business that makes the most of existing houses and brings tourists to lesser-known regions. It’s a great way for visitors to experience whatRead more...
What are the best things about living in Greece?
Someone recently asked us – in our office we are six ladies of varying ages – what the best things about living in Greece are.Read more...
Trip report from the Alentejo: the perfect spot for rural tranquility
The southern half of Portugal isn’t all about golf courses, tourist communities and beach resorts. Above the well-trodden Algarve is Alentejo, a region of sweeping plains intermingled with vineyards and sleepy white villages. Property Guides’s Richard Way dropped by and quickly discovered why anyone in search of a tranquil rustic lifestyle, one that’s rich in locally sourced food and wine, will feel immediately at home there!Read more...