Sun, sea, sand and Speedos… The quest to find the perfect beachfront property
The world has a lot to offer holidaymakers. Skiing retreats, theme parks, safari adventures and city breaks are just a few of the options. Yet it seems that what people want more than anything is a relaxing beach break. The 2013 Expedia Flip Flop Report, an annual survey completed by holidaymakers around the world, found that 46% of respondents had taken a beach holiday in the past year and that a further 64% were hoping to take one during the year ahead.
- 64% of people hope to take a beach holiday within the next year (Expedia)
- 21% of Italians exercise more before hitting the beach (YouGov)
- 90% of French people find the Speedo to be acceptable beachwear (Expedia)
Such is the popularity of beach breaks that many holidaymakers go one step further and purchase their own beachfront holiday home. In recent years, Albania has proven a particularly popular choice for this. Areas such as the pristine Adriatic beach of Lalzit Bay are attracting increasing amounts of attention from holidaymakers. In particular the award-winning Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa, which is tipped to become the most exclusive beach community in Albania and which offers apartments from just €30,000 and villas from €117,000, has experienced a surge in overseas buyers looking to own five star beachfront accommodation.
Though beach holidays are in themselves relaxing, it seems that they require serious preparation beforehand. The latest YouGov survey on pre-holiday trends, conducted for lastminute.de, found that 19% of Italians increase their exercise regime before going on holiday, while 17% go on a diet. With Italy having over 6% of the world’s Blue Flag beaches, according to the Foundation for Environmental Education, perhaps it is not surprising that the Italians want to look their best before reclining on such delightfully clean sand!
Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of Appassionata, which has renovated the stunning fractional ownership property Casa Leopardi in Italy’s Le March region as a luxury holiday home (fractions cost £185,000 for five weeks’ exclusive use of the five bedroom/five bathroom house per year), commented:
“One of the things that has attracted our owners – as well as how wonderful the house and estate are – is Casa Leopardi’s proximity to the beach. We have three Blue Flag beaches (Pedaso, Cupra Marittima and Grottamare) all within 10 km. As holiday home owners become more discerning, they are increasingly listing access to a beach as one of their key requirements.”
Spaniards are also concerned about their summer appearance, with the same YouGov survey finding that 21% exercised more before their holidays and 14% dieted. With beach names like ‘Paraíso’ (paradise) perhaps this is understandable. This stunning beach on the Costa Blanca has long been popular with holidaymakers and now leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España is offering them the chance to own their own slice of paradise with its fabulous La Vila Paradis apartments. With direct access to Paraíso beach, as well as the pool and private gardens of the development, all for just €249,000, it’s easy to see why the two and three bedroom apartments are so popular.
While the French don’t feel inclined to exercise en masse before a beach holiday, they are the most open of European countries in terms of their attitude towards that most famous of beach garments – the Speedo. While invoking strong feelings in other European nations, Speedos are highly approved of in France, with over 90% of the country’s beachgoers finding trim trunks acceptable, according to the Expedia survey.
The Villages Group, which runs the Le Village –Rainbow, a gay active living retirement community in France’s beautiful Dordogne region, features superb indoor and outdoor pools on site as well as being only 29 km from the beach of Narbonne, on the Mediterranean coast. Their eco-friendly properties start from €180,000 for those within the LGBT community looking to enjoy an active retirement. Of course, choice of suitable swimwear is left down to each individual owner!
European beachgoers were also the most permissive with regard to sunbathing topless on the beach, with 23% feeling comfortable with upper-half nudity. However, 48% of the total respondents were unhappy with the idea of dropping their tops (or more) while on the beach. For those looking for a holiday home in a place with a slightly more conservative attitude towards topless sunbathing – as well as powder-fine sand and clear, sparkling seas of course – the Caribbean has long been the favourite choice.
Within the Caribbean the island of Grenada is currently the top spot for those looking to own a holiday home overseas, having been predicted to be the fastest growing market in the Caribbean from 2011 to 2021 by the World Travel and Tourism Council. At Bacolet Bay, Property Frontiers is offering incredible five star sea view hotel suites from £248,500 as an investment opportunity that also includes four weeks’ personal usage every year. As well as access to the secluded 300m long white sandy beach on Grenada’s tropical southern shore, owners will be able to enjoy the resort’s waterfront restaurant, bars, gymnasium, swimming pool and spa.
It seems that wherever people prefer to holiday, the perfect beach property is ready and waiting.
For more information on buying a beachfront property abroad, please contact AB Property Marketing by calling 0845 054 7524, visiting http://www.abpropertymarketing.co.uk/ or emailing enquiries@abpropertymarketing.co.uk.