From the Adriatic to the Aegean, Albania gets the SAGA seal of approval
After years of hard work, routine and commitment, retiring to a place in the sun is the ultimate dream for many seeking a calmer pace of life, warm climate and enhanced travel opportunities whilst physical and financial resources are still available. With this in mind, it’s hardly surprising that 1 in 8 Britons rapidly approaching retirement has a keen interest in retiring abroad according to research from the Centre for Future Studies (CFS).
But it’s not just traditional European destinations such as France and Spain that hold so much appeal for retirees nowadays. There are a growing number of emerging destinations in Europe that are grabbing the silver hair market’s attention.
The Balkans have seen many retirees, including a large number of Brits purchasing properties in countries like Turkey, Croatia and Albania, voted number 1 in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 destinations for 2011, snapping up bargain properties for a far cheaper price compared to Spain or France.
Albania, located on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, with its spectacular scenery, unspoilt beaches, archaeological sites and ancient monuments, only a 45 mile hop from Italy across the Strait of Otranto is fast becoming a big attraction for international property investors, large corporate companies and holidaymakers, seeing a 45% increase in property enquires in 2011 according to Homesgofast.com.
In addition, the Tirana airport upgrade and daily British Airways flights to the capital have made travelling to and from the country much simpler, a positive attraction for holiday makers and potential retirees as well several million from the Albanian diaspora that live abroad principally across Europe and North America who now have better access to their families back home.
Furthermore, one mode of transportation typically associated with the older generation, cruise liners, is growing in popularity with at least 1 in 9 package holidays taken by Brits being a cruising break with 40% of all cruises departing from a British port according to research from the Passenger Shipping Authority.
SAGA Holidays, the specialist provider of holidays for the over 50s has recognised the significant demand for cruises by creating a new touring holiday, From the Adriatic to the Aegean, that will allow visitors to embark on a 9 day exploration of Balkan nations Albania, Macedonia and Greece providing the perfect opportunity to sample a little known slice of the Mediterranean and gain a greater insight into Albania as a potential retirement location.
Ravin Maharajah, Partner of the 5* Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa located near the port town of Durres, in Albania explains,
“Albania is undoubtedly in its infancy for tourism but we are anticipating seeing a steady increase in over the next couple of years. Certainly, people are recognising that the Balkans, in particular Albania, is a worthy alternative to more traditional European retirement hotspots; this is why we applaud SAGA’s Adriatic to the Aegean touring holiday.
Those approaching retirement are beginning to show a greater interest in less commercially popular destinations seeking cheaper properties that of course provide a mild climate and a welcomed change of scenery but also a place where the cost of living is low yet the standard of living is high. And for these reasons Albania ticks all the boxes.”
Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa, a luxury beachfront development in Albania is fast becoming the desirable resort destination in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as an attractive investment choice, perfect for those seeking something different.
The 5* resort provides high-specification villas and apartments from as little as €29,000 a fraction of the cost of buying a home in one of the more established European resorts. Lalzit Bay is surrounded by superb on site facilities including a beach club, tennis courts and a wide choice of international restaurants.
For more information contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.