From restaurants to property, Portugal offers some of the best value in Europe, as UK holidaymakers seek out bargains
- Average holiday cost rises 7% in a single year to top £1,400 (Halifax)
- Portuguese property prices up 1.22% in the year to Q1 2014 (INE)
- Penthouse with sea views, terrace and Jacuzzi for less than €300k (Ideal Homes Portugal)
New research from Halifax has revealed that the average holiday cost has now reached £1,404 per person, a hefty 7% increase on the previous year’s figure. However, the increased cost hasn’t put people off heading overseas. In fact the reverse is true, with Halifax revealing that 56% of those surveyed headed overseas in 2014 for their main holiday, compared with 45% in 2013.
Value for money was a key concern to the survey’s respondents. 44% shopped around for deals before booking their holiday, while 19% booked well in advance in order to take advantage of ‘early bird’ offers.
Those looking for value for money from a holiday would do well to consider Portugal as their destination of choice. Chris White, Founding Director of boutique real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, explains,
“Portugal is a country with a rich heritage, delicious cuisine and welcoming attitude to visitors. It’s a wonderful place for the whole family and the Algarve region in the south is particularly attractive, benefiting from a reported 300 days of sunshine every year. The Algarve is packed with entertainment options, including world-class golf courses, water parks and retail centres, providing activities to keep the whole family occupied. Of course it also has some absolutely stunning beaches and a wide variety of water sports, including several first-rate harbours.”
Portugal’s property market currently offers excellent value for money for visitors looking to pick up a bargain second home in the sunshine. Statistics Portugal (INE) reported a 1.22% increase in property prices in the year to Q1 2014, following years of price declines, making now the optimum time to find a good value holiday home before prices rise too far.
A two bedroom penthouse apartment in the pretty eastern Algarve village of Fuzeta, for example, can be bought for just €295,000. The price includes a view that stretches out over the Ria Formosa nature reserve to the sea. It also includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en suite), a high spec kitchen and a terrace complete with Jacuzzi.
Portugal has long been a favourite with British buyers looking for a sun-drenched second home just a short flight from the UK. Seen as more exclusive than Spain and less obvious than France, it offers a rich blend of culture, quality of life and incredible scenery that is hard to resist, all within a three hour hop on a budget airline from Blighty.
Interest has certainly been keen at this year’s celebrated Overseas Property Show, which has toured the UK over the course of September and early October. Two events remain in the schedule – Newmarket on 25-27 October and Aberdeen on 31 October to 3 November. Free tickets are available from www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com and attendees are invited to view and discuss the full range of properties currently on offer from Ideal Homes Portugal.
For further details of properties currently available in Portugal, call Ideal Homes Portugal on 0800 133 7644 or +351 289 513 434, email enquiries@idealhomesportugal.com or visit www.idealhomesportugal.com.